The Custom 20 is a Class A "cathode bias" amp designed to deliver its full character in the overdrive territory. Capable of beautiful, pure clean Hiwatt tones, it's also a premier choice platform to magnify pedals with its elegant, natural compression.
Its low wattage and its compact size make it an ideal amp for studio or intimate stages.
Unlike the powerful Hiwatt amps, which design maintains a pristine clean sound at high volumes, the Custom 20 asks you to push its gain control all the way to 12 o'clock to reveal a rich and natural drive sound at a manageable volume.
Just beyond the clean tone breakup where the sweetspot is, it feels easy-to-play, inspiring and delivers immediate playing pleasure. It's a plug-and-play model which keeps the signature Hiwatt sound and accentuates the character of each guitar it's played with.
Its distinctive style depends on the instrument it's playing and generously rewards the extreme EQ settings necessary to get the most out of the whole thing. It's so effective that it's almost an instrument in its own right.
Like other Hiwatt amps, it features Harry Joice's distinctive military-grade wiring. It also features the brand's beloved Partridge™ transformers and is hand-wired in England.
This 1x12 combo version of the Custom 20 is equipped with the F25-25 watt model specially developed by Fane Acoustics™ for Hiwatt amps. With its modern design, it perfectly captures the amp's character while meeting today’s expectations. It pushes the upper mids, giving it a clear, articulate, and punchy sound, but without being harsh to the ear. It also feels like a much more present guitar. Once pushed to its limits, it produces a subtle saturation that helps the guitar cut even more through the mix.