Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

[RockinProf]

Hey all,

I have an H&K Tubemeister 18/12 sitting in the gear closet as it was an impulse buy/reliable spare amp. Since I bought it I liked it less and less. Swapped tubes, speaker... anyways, on a sabbatical from teaching duties and have time to tinker. Ended up pulling the thing out and put in an old Celestion G12T 75. I’ve never found that speaker appealing in anything, but this amp really likes it. Tightens the floppy bass and tamed the shrill top.

If you have a Tubemeister and find it meh, try a G12T.

 

[devastone]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

The stock speaker in those is the 70/80, so pretty much any change should be for the better.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

I have the head, at low volumes it's tough to dial in, but cranked up through a 4×12 or 2×12 it's pretty good. Its not the best amp I own, but i like the silent recording built in, and it's small size made it an ideal backup amp to take to gigs, when i was still in a band.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

I have a 20 deluxe and a grandmeister 40 deluxe. They are supposed to be less bright than the 18/36, but I haven’t tried them personally.

I have changed the tubes to mullards and use them with a Man-o-war loaded cab, which is the eminence version of the g12t75, among several other speakers.

It can be a little cutting with a JB but in the mix it keeps up with a 6505. I have been very happy with the sound, I’m even looking to get a TubeMeister 40 deluxe as a backup.

The tone controls are very interactive on them too. Spending some time dialing in makes a huge difference in tones on these.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

A G12-T75 usually is the shrill top end.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

Those amps sound like they were designed for people who secretly prefer digital amps but want to brag about their tubes on forums.

Congrats on making one sound good.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

A G12-T75 usually is the shrill top end.

I don’t find this to be the case at all. I hear a subdued high end with a lot of lows and low mids.

I know this speaker gets a bad rap but I have zero issues with it. I think it sounds pretty damn good.
I have one paired with a Splawn Small Block (greenback clone at 55w) in two 2x12 cabs. It’s a huge sound.

 

[RockinProf]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

Along with the G12T-75 I’ve found that it seems to sound best with plain Jane Sovtek EL84s (that’s even compared to NOS RCAs and GEs, JJs and of course the OEM Chinese ones). They seem to free up the low mids. The preamp tubes have very little difference, makes me think there are a lot more op amps pushing the preamp than I expected. This is across a pile of guitars, mostly with vintage output pickups.

Jerry’s final thought:
I would not buy this amp again. I bought it with my eyes (power soak, silent out, tube safety...), not my ears. If you have one, don’t blow a ton of money on tubes, the speaker is far more applicable to revoicing this amp.

 

[formula73]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

Those amps sound like they were designed for people who secretly prefer digital amps but want to brag about their tubes on forums.

Congrats on making one sound good.

Bahaha!

 

[Diego]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

I tried a few H&K amps and something about their EQ curve bothered me a lot.
They just feel so dry and tight, they have no bloom or warmth.
They're aimed at modern metal and it shows.

The same store brings Jet City and I far prefer their amps. Cheaper, fatter and warmer sounding while still heavy as ****.

 

[Synapsys]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

Those amps sound like they were designed for people who secretly prefer digital amps but want to brag about their tubes on forums.

Congrats on making one sound good.

Thank you. Mine sounds fine

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Actually got a good tone out of an H&K Tubemeister

I have a very old UK made G12-100T that was pulled out of a old Fender combo & it’s a fantastic speaker! I’ve been in several situations where I’ve gotten a new amplifier that’ll sound like garbage through it’s own speaker or even my Creamback loaded closed back 2x12, & then I’ll try it through that speaker & it’ll sound great!

It’s been my experience that this happens with higher gain tube amps for the most part. Personally I think that the speaker’s (& this applies to the G12-75T as well) scooped EQ helps to even out nasty, nasally, mid range that would be exaggerated by a Vintage 30 or something similar? Also your right about the low end through these! If you’re amplifier has a tendency to get a little flubby in the bass end these speakers will tighten it right up....

Not to mention the fact that they are basically indestructible!!! That thing sat in my 1X12 under my friend’s 120W 6505 for years as it’s main speaker cabinet. He played out with it, band practice, Etc. & then finally gave it back a couple years back. It came back sounding & working just as good as ever! It currently sits under my Blackstar HT-40 which is definitely one of those higher gain amps that has a very nasally mid range, especially what passes for a clean tone.....