After the many, many videos watched, in-store demos, etc over the last 3 years of so many amps....I have to say I have a complete hardon for Hughes and Kettner right now. Well, been hard for their stuff for a while, as I posted my interest in the Switchblade a couple of years ago, and the Tubemiester recently. But it is full on at this point.
Everybody has certain tones they are looking for. Which is why there is no one 'best amp ever' out there.
But H&K pushes MY tonal buttons right now. I returned the Fender Mustang to GC (although it was a lot of fun to play around with), and have decided to take that $, save for a month or 3, and get what I really want and just be done with it.
Here are some of the links that get me going on these amps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIRriWTGqHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCWscNz8HGQ
And even this older one of the Switchblade:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYmZYHrqnjE&list=RDlvRJoaD8oa4
I just love the overall tone of these amps. And listen to how the amps respond to the playing and picking styles. Very responsive.
Now....which one do I get.....To be continued.....
Well, I was unimpressed by the second link, and very very impressed with the Thomas Blug clips, especially the first one. Get that amp--not sure which one it is. And while you're at it, get that guy's hands, fingers, highly modified '61 Strat, and his soul.
Johnny,
I was originally interested in the 5 watt and the 18 watt. After reading up, neither gets good reviews, but from the 36 watt on up, they seem to be pretty good.
I'm sure you're probably looking at a bigger one anyway, but just in case you were thinking the 18 watter....
Also, I think the 36 watt demo sounds pretty good, he's just obviously EQ'd and gained it more for metal tones AND, at the beginning of the demo, he says that's the direct to record sound, not the amp> speaker in the room tone. So, for live use with a good speaker, probably even better tone.
just looked at the cost of the 36. It's around the cost of the Mini Rec. Used it would be around the cost of a used Mini Rec, TA30 or TA15 or Budda SD18,
Unless you need more watts, I'd look hard at those before buying the H&K. If you need more watts, TA30 or Budda SD 30 would KILL! (If you want an SD18, I might sell you mine).
LOL Charger.....I'll never have his Soul or his Strat...or his fingers for that matter. The amp he is plugged into in the first clip is the Grandmeister 36. All tube, but with the ability to store up to like 128 presets (like modelers). Somewhere around $1100 for the head.
The 3rd link was the first H&K all tube amp to have that 'preset storage' the newer Grandmeister has....aka the Switchblade. Like I said before, I've been interested in the Switchblade for some 2-3 years. The perfect gig amp having the complete versatility of say a VettaII, but with all tube tone. The footswitch is killer too....easy to navigate banks and presets.
I am actually driving to Tulsa tomorrow morning (Saturday) to look at a Switchblade 100 watt 2x12 combo (with footswitch). The guy posted it just today for $650. There are a number of youtube vids of the Switchblade....and of course most are 'metal' oriented. But of all of the vids I've seen, the best (and fewer and far apart vids) tones out of it are between blues/classic rock to moderate heavy metal (80's hair). And that is where I live :)
Will report back tomorrow night if I like it and buy it.
And here is one with him playing the same tune as clip 3 on a newer amp (not sure which one it is)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdTZFAMxDdc&list=RDlvRJoaD8oa4
Report....dude sold the Switchblade before I got there. Didn't even call me to call me off...as he knew I was traveling. Closest I've been to punching somebody in the face HARD in a long time. Good thing my wife was with me to pull me back. For the first time in about 10 years, I was seriously pissed off and wanted to knock that guy into next week.
But my wife cooled me down. And probably saved me from some sort of an 'assault record'.
Anyhoo....I did not get the Switchblade.
But in retrospect...I have a damn fine woman I can call 'my wife'. Cute as hell, mouth like a sailor, and yet keeps me out of trouble.
Carry on...
Johnny — Apr 19, 2014And here is one with him playing the same tune as clip 3 on a newer amp (not sure which one it is)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdTZFAMxDdc&list=RDlvRJoaD8oa4
Nice, and excellent playing
Johnny — Apr 20, 2014Cute as hell, mouth like a sailor, and yet keeps me out of trouble.
Sounds like a winner to me, congrats, you scored big.......