Hiwatt Pedalsmith 50 50W Tube Guitar Amp Head - Black

For generations of guitarists, the classic Hiwatt DR504 has represented the ideal pedal platform, marrying crystalline clarity with massive dynamic range, towering headroom and an exceptionally responsive feel. The Hiwatt Pedalsmith 50 carries that celebrated formula forward in a modern 50W tube head built to remain clear, powerful and authoritative beneath even the most ambitious pedal-based rigs. High and Low inputs feed both Normal and Brilliant channels simultaneously, letting players blend the two voices for precise control over warmth, attack and definition, while a three-position Filter switch further reshapes the amp's tonal response. A pair of EL34 power tubes delivers substantial clean headroom and a sharp, immediate response, giving pedals a firm, articulate foundation at performance volumes. Complete with a post-preamp effects loop for placing modulation and time-based effects after natural valve preamp gain, the Pedalsmith 50 brings classic Hiwatt pedal-platform performance into a thoughtfully evolved modern design.

Linked Normal and Brilliant Channels for Detailed Tone Blending

The Pedalsmith 50 reworks Hiwatt's familiar Normal and Brilliant channel architecture with linked inputs inspired by modified '70s Hiwatt amplifiers associated with Pink Floyd. Rather than requiring an external patch cable to combine the channels, both the High and Low inputs feed the Normal and Brilliant circuits simultaneously, allowing their independent volume controls to shape the balance between fuller, warmer response and brighter attack. The High and Low inputs provide different gain ranges for matching the amp to different pickup outputs and playing approaches, adding another layer of control before the signal reaches the tone stack. From broad, full-bodied cleans to brighter, more immediate textures, the linked design makes channel interaction a central part of shaping the Pedalsmith's voice.

50W EL34 Power for Headroom and Immediate Response

A pair of EL34 output tubes drives the Pedalsmith 50 with substantial clean headroom and a sharp, immediate response, providing a powerful foundation that lets the character of guitars and pedals remain clear and defined at performance volumes. Solid bass response keeps the low end firm beneath drives, fuzzes and other gain effects, while the amp's dynamic character preserves articulation and playing nuance throughout the signal chain. Bass, Middle and Treble controls provide familiar core EQ shaping, with Presence adding control over upper-frequency bite and definition. A three-position Filter switch introduces three circuit variations that shift the amp's treble and bass response, providing another way to tailor its fundamental character around different guitars, pedals and cabinets.

Post-Preamp Effects Loop Expands the Pedal Platform

The Pedalsmith 50 extends Hiwatt's celebrated relationship with pedals by giving players useful placement options on both sides of the preamp. Drives, boosts and other pedals can feed the front of the amplifier and interact directly with its linked channels and valve preamp, while the clean post-preamp effects loop provides a dedicated path for modulation, delay and reverb after preamp gain has been created. This helps time-based and modulation effects retain clarity and separation even when the front end is being pushed. For players who build their sound through the interaction of amplifier and pedalboard, the Pedalsmith 50 offers a flexible signal path backed by the headroom, definition and dynamic response needed to keep complex rigs articulate.

Classic Hiwatt Headroom for the Modern Pedalboard

The Hiwatt Pedalsmith 50 takes the qualities that established the DR504 as an enduring pedal platform and refines them around the demands of contemporary rigs. Its linked Normal and Brilliant channels provide detailed control over the amp's foundational voice, while the Filter switch adds another dimension of tonal shaping for matching different instruments, cabinets and effects. The 50W EL34 power section supplies the clean authority and immediate response to let carefully built pedal sounds retain their character, while the post-preamp loop creates a natural home for effects that benefit from placement later in the signal path. Clear, powerful and highly responsive, the Pedalsmith 50 is a modern Hiwatt designed to put the player's entire rig in its best light.