The Hiwatt DR504H is a Hiwatt amplifier, currently around $4439.98. Close alternatives include the Hiwatt DR103H and the Hiwatt Custom 20 SA20C 2x10 Combo. It pairs well with the EarthQuaker Devices Hoof and the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret.
Hiwatt DR504H
Hiwatt · amplifier
The Hiwatt DR504H is the 50-watt head version of the Hiwatt Custom DR504, the mid-power variant of the iconic DR Custom series. Sharing circuit lineage with the famous DR103 100W head, the DR504H delivers the defining Hiwatt character — extraordinary clean headroom, punchy and bright British tube tone, tight low-end — at 50W of output. David Gilmour and Pete Townshend helped establish the DR Custom series as the benchmark for clean British tube amplification power.
- british
- bright
- massive
- punchy
- tight
- serious hiwatt tone
- headroom
- punch
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Hiwatt DR504H is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Blues
Pedals that stack with the Hiwatt DR504H
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof
EarthQuaker Devices
25% matchWhere this leans bright, EarthQuaker Devices Hoof answers back warm
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret
Catalinbread
23% matchThe high headroom tone has headroom to spare — Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret gives it saturated to fill it with
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
23% matchGreer Mizuki blue leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Mooer Trelicopter
Mooer
17% matchInto Hiwatt DR504H, Mooer Trelicopter is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps
BBE OptiComp
Bbe
15% matchBBE OptiComp is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Hiwatt DR504H gives it exactly that
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
14% matchInto Hiwatt DR504H, MXR Analog Delay is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Catalinbread Cloak
Catalinbread
13% matchCatalinbread Cloak is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Hiwatt DR504H gives it exactly that — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchInto Hiwatt DR504H, Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
Hiwatt Hi-5
Hiwatt
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar
amplifier
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt DR20/0.5 Head
Hiwatt
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt Custom 20/40 'Studio/Stage' Head
Hiwatt
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
70% similarity“The DR Custom voicing — massive clean headroom, bright and punchy British character, tight low-end — translates at 50W with more natural power tube saturation accessible than the DR103 at the same stage volume.”
Hiwatt Custom 20 SA20C 2x10 Combo
Hiwatt
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt DR103 Combo
Hiwatt
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt Leeds AC60
Hiwatt
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Hiwatt Custom DR20H
Hiwatt
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Bad Cat Black Cat
Bad Cat
92% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Hiwatt DR504H (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Hiwatt DR504H?+
The closest matches in character are the Hiwatt DR103H, the Hiwatt Custom 20 SA20C 2x10 Combo, the Hiwatt DR103 Combo. Budget picks: Hiwatt Hi-5, Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar, Hiwatt DR20/0.5 Head.
What pairs well with the Hiwatt DR504H?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: EarthQuaker Devices Hoof, Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret, Greer Mizuki blue — Where this leans bright, EarthQuaker Devices Hoof answers back warm.
How much does the Hiwatt DR504H cost?+
Around $4439.98 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).