HK Grandmiester 36

[Top-L]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

Sounds like a weak JSX. EL84s have no punch, not really suited for high-gain, imo.

Like the features, the tone is good, but can't get past the EL84s. Will never own another one. I had one of the PV Classic 120 EL84s. Just an 84 power section in 2 rack spaces.

Probably pretty good for direct to PA, but then so is a Fender Mustang. Thats alot to pay for a Chinese amp, add another 200 for the footpedal. IMO, solid state power is better than EL84s.

If you want to surprise yourself, do an AB comparison between that and the Fender Mustang V head.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

Sounds like a weak JSX. EL84s have no punch, not really suited for high-gain, imo.

Like the features, the tone is good, but can't get past the EL84s. Will never own another one. I had one of the PV Classic 120 EL84s. Just an 84 power section in 2 rack spaces.

Probably pretty good for direct to PA, but then so is a Fender Mustang. Thats alot to pay for a Chinese amp, add another 200 for the footpedal. IMO, solid state power is better than EL84s.

If you want to surprise yourself, do an AB comparison between that and the Fender Mustang V head.

Have you played a Grandmeister? It's most-definitely NOT weak. And comparing to a Peavey Classic is completely irrelevant. I've owned or had in my possession some AWESOME rock/metal amps over the past few years. Bogner Twin Jet, Engl PowerballII, VHT Pittbull Ultra Lead, Lickliter Rage Prototype, Marshall 2203X, Elmwood M60, Bogner Shiva, Bogner XTC Classic, Bogner XTC 101, Marshall DSL50, Marshall 6100, Splawn Quickrod, Splawn ProMod, Hughes & Kettner Triamp Mk I.

Trust me... this Grandmeister holds its own with ANY of them -- Chinese-made or not. It's pretty awesome. My ONLY concern about it is reliability since there's so much going-on in there. But the tone is just awesome. You're not going to get better tone from any sub-$2K head, and you're not going to get more features and versatility in ANY tube head and ANY price. I no longer find myself GAS'ing for the few boutique high-gain amps that I haven't owned. Maybe the SLO... simply because I've never tried one. But that's about it. It'd take a SLO or Friedman at this point for me to even be interested. But H&K Grandmeister really is that good if it's dialed-in correctly.

 

[Top-L]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

Have you played a Grandmeister? It's most-definitely NOT weak. And comparing to a Peavey Classic is completely irrelevant. I've owned or had in my possession some AWESOME rock/metal amps over the past few years. Bogner Twin Jet, Engl PowerballII, VHT Pittbull Ultra Lead, Lickliter Rage Prototype, Marshall 2203X, Elmwood M60, Bogner Shiva, Bogner XTC Classic, Bogner XTC 101, Marshall DSL50, Marshall 6100, Splawn Quickrod, Splawn ProMod, Hughes & Kettner Triamp Mk I.

Trust me... this Grandmeister holds its own with ANY of them -- Chinese-made or not. It's pretty awesome. My ONLY concern about it is reliability since there's so much going-on in there. But the tone is just awesome. You're not going to get better tone from any sub-$2K head, and you're not going to get more features and versatility in ANY tube head and ANY price. I no longer find myself GAS'ing for the few boutique high-gain amps that I haven't owned. Maybe the SLO... simply because I've never tried one. But that's about it. It'd take a SLO or Friedman at this point for me to even be interested. But H&K Grandmeister really is that good if it's dialed-in correctly.

I believe its really good. I have been a tube purist for many years, but I like 6L6 tubes. They seem to hit harder and the tone has more edge. EL84s are too smooth and don't have the same heft for high gain, but they get the job done.

My recent discovery of the Fender mustang series has caused me to question the source of good tone. The preamps in the Mustang Floor, when played through a 6L6 power section, are VERY credible. They respond to pickup changes and stomp boxes like a real amp and I have A/Bed vs the same amp/speaker miced w/ a 57 and its almost identical. The power section, the speakers, and the miking are still primary contributors to tone.

My point is that if you are looking for a gig worthy light, easy to transport unit with tons of features, you might consider a Fender Mustang for $300 or so. I guarantee you will get just as good sounds to the audience, with even more versatility. If the grandmesiter was priced around 500-600, being chinese made, it would make sense to me, but its $1400 with the pedal. You could get an AXE-FX for that. I'm not saying its tones/features are bad, just that its overpriced for what it is, imo. At the point you are running EL84s, you really don't care what 6L6s or EL34s bring to the table- you might as well be playing solid state.

Edit: I'll got to GC and play a Grandmeister, but you should go try a Mustang V head. You'll see what I mean.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

Anyone else tried the grandmiester? Yours still tripping your trigger Red Label?

 

[Red_Label]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

Anyone else tried the grandmiester? Yours still tripping your trigger Red Label?

I sold it off several weeks ago. But only because I was going old school and wanted to pick up my second Ceriatone single-channel plexi clone (JTM 45). I've imposed a pretty strict one-in, one-out policy on myself regarding guitars and amps this year (not with pedals though)... so I had to sell the Grand. But I talk it up to anyone who shows the least bit of interest because I can honestly say that it's one of the best amps I ever had... and certainly the most versatile/capable by far (and that includes Bogner XTCs, VHT UL, Engl Powerball II, H&K Triamp, etc). I don't think that you can touch the Grand for anywhere close to the money. And of course, there are VERY few other amps out there with a tube amplifier section and quality digital FX... all assignable to 128 patch locations. The amp is awesome and I could easily see me picking another one up down the road.

The only thing I worried about with it was longevity. There's a LOT going-on in that little box and I worried about it dying on me. It tends to run a bit hot. Played it every day and gigged it once and no issues though.

 

[Mad-Max]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

Not gonna lie, ever since I saw one of my favorite bands post about using these amps on a collection of club gigs and even on festival runs, it's been making me GAS really hard for one of these. They would seem small but are VERY mighty!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

They are great for 80s through modern radio rock tone. They are dog balls for what I do. I can see why people like them, and if I explained why I don't I would probably sound crazy, so yknow. Buy a half-broken amp from the 60's and spend at least $150 on every single effect you need and thank me later.

Or dont, just play music.

 

[Drunken Bowling]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

Been eyeing the Tubemiester 36 since it came out. But, they have added another gain stage for the new version and dubbed it the Grandmiester 36. Better than before IMO.

A few vids popping up on youtube. This one is pretty cool showing it in an open setting. Me likey!

http://youtu.be/OHVYJIeHWAk

Anyone play one yet?

Damn, that's not bad at all!

 

[BloodRose]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

Not gonna lie, ever since I saw one of my favorite bands post about using these amps on a collection of club gigs and even on festival runs, it's been making me GAS really hard for one of these. They would seem small but are VERY mighty!

supposedly, Josh Rand of Stone Sour is using them on tour

 

[Red_Label]

Re: HK Grandmiester 36

supposedly, Josh Rand of Stone Sour is using them on tour

I used to think that if I ever got the call to hit the road as a replacement lead guitarist for a national country-rock or radio rock act (playing arenas and such)... I would grab-up a couple of Bogner Shivas or XTCs (both of which I've owned) and base my road rig around those. After getting the Grandmeister, I decided instead that I would grab about 4-5 Grandmeisters (if I could find them) and bring my pair of V30-loaded Line6 4x12s. I'd only run two at once, but I'd want several spares, because I just don't trust such capable all-in-one amps to be able to survive the rigors of the road. Could have a couple of pedals on a small board (wah, volume/expression, and the MIDI pedal made for these amps) and couple each of my Strats and LPs and play any style of music that I normally play on this rig. My Ceriatone pexi-clones and expansive pedalboard would do the trick just fine, but I think I'd rather leave those babies home safe and sound.