Electric Guitar Amps > Hiwatt Guitar Amps > CP103

Hiwatt CP103 Signature Series 'Pete Townshend - The Who'

This amp is designed to the same spec as the one extensively used by Pete Townshend of 'The Who.' It is based on the ever popular Custom 100 head but with more gain and a more responsive treble and bass control network. This is in addition to four independent pre-amp channels, two Brilliant and two Normal inputs, four individual volume controls and a master volume. There are 4 x EL34s, 4 x Ecc83s, Partridge high grade transformers, a switchable 4, 8 and 16 ohm output impedance and 100 watts output.

The stage amplifier Pete Townshend used almost exclusively from 1970 to 1982. He began using the Hiwatts model after using modified Sound City L100 amplifiers with Hiwatt badges, which he used beginning late 1968. The first actual Hiwatt models featured the same circuit as the CP103 but did not feature the “The Who” branded control panel faceplate. The first CP103 models with “The Who” faceplates appeared in 1970.

CP103 specifications
Pete had seven of these amps custom-built for him based on the Hiwatt DR103 design between 1969 and 1976 by Dave Reeves of Hylight Electronics with the following factory modifications: