Hughes and kettner???

[Grizzly_Diesel]

So im looking go get a new amp to record with. Ive pretty much decided on h&k. Im decifering between the 18 watt and the 36 watt head. Ive played the 18. But ive never played the 36. Anyone have any expierence with these? Do they sound the same just one with more power? I found a 36 watt for $150 more tjan the 18. Is it worth the extra money?


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[Synapsys]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

I suppose you're talking about the Tubemeister series. 36 watts will give you more headroom than 18 watts, and since there's the integrated Power Soak, you can choose 36, 18, and 5 watts, 1 watt and Speaker Off.

I'm going for the Grandmeister 36 when I sell my Line6 DT25 combo and extension cab, because its fully independent channels are more suited to what I play.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

I have a Tubemeister 18 head, 30th Anniversary edition. I haven't played a 36, but if I had it to do over, I would have saved up and gotten it instead, for the crunch channel and the two banks of EQ.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

I haven't had a chance to try the 36, but I've heard a lot of good things about it. I really like my 18, so I would figure that the additional features and wattage will be worth the extra $150

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

Get the Grandmeister. Besides its onboard digital FX, its got more tonal and drive options. I used the Ultra channel exclusively for OD tones on the two Grands that I had. I just turned the gain almost all the way down (with boost engaged). It was just a more massive, full sound than the other OD channels. The Tubemeisters do not have near the options that the Grand has. Yes, it's more expensive... But I guarantee you'll like it better. You can switch to any sound with the press on a button on the footswitch. What's not to love about that?

 

[Synapsys]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

Get the Grandmeister. Besides its onboard digital FX, its got more tonal and drive options. I used the Ultra channel exclusively for OD tones on the two Grands that I had. I just turned the gain almost all the way down (with boost engaged). It was just a more massive, full sound than the other OD channels. The Tubemeisters do not have near the options that the Grand has. Yes, it's more expensive... But I guarantee you'll like it better. You can switch to any sound with the press on a button on the footswitch. What's not to love about that?

From the YT videos that sold me on it, I gather each channel has its own voicing, rather than being more flavours of the same base tone. And the fact that it has fully independent channels is way more convenient then having shared EQ between different channels is also a plus for me.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

Yeah, another amp I dont need but have been Gassing for since they came out. Sadly, the only one Ive been able to play is the baby.. But it was impressive for what it is. But I know Id want the 36

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

From the YT videos that sold me on it, I gather each channel has its own voicing, rather than being more flavours of the same base tone. And the fact that it has fully independent channels is way more convenient then having shared EQ between different channels is also a plus for me.

Yup. I thought that the 5,18, and 36 watt Tubemeisters were great amps until the Grand showed-up at my local shop. After that, I couldn't get excited about the regular TubeMeisters any more. The Grandmeister just flat-out spanks them on every level. Tone, FX, features, versatility, dedicated foot-switcher, etc, etc. It's an awesome little amp and I'd still have one, but would rather spend my limited man cave time with my Friedman and Splawn heads.

Still... I gigged the Grandmeisters a couple of times when I had them and they were awesome amps. For one gig, I went DI out straight to the house and didn't even use a cab, and it sounded great. Such a perfect Swiss Army Knife. With a Grandmeister and one of my Anderson strats, there's not a single gig from any genre that I wouldn't have total confidence in being able to haul that rig in and have it sound awesome.

 

[devastone]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

They just introduced "Deluxe" 20 and 40 watt versions that are supposed to be voiced more like the Triamp, might be worth checking into.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

Love that little Tubemeister 18. I also have gassed for a TM ever since they came out. But the GM certainly is impressive. Wish it wasn't so powerful, 20 watts is about as big as I would ever want (I already have several amps in the 30-40 watt range).

 

[Bobisadrummer]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

I have a 30th anniversary 36w Tubemeister. I'm not a big fan of the crunch and lead channels dirt found them a tad fizzy, but that's ok, I use a Marvel Drive, TS7, OCD, EQD Talons or a Blunderbuss fuzz depending on what kind of dirt I want. The clean channel is awesome though! I've been running it through their TM 112 1x12 cab, and I'm actually picking up a second TM 112.

Originally I was in your shoes, looking at a lower wattage amp for recording. I only ended up getting the 36w head because I found a really good deal for it. $745 + $65 shipping for the head AND cab! I couldn't pass it up. Personally though, if I was to do it again, there's other amps that I'd get for JUST recording. I'm glad I have the Tubemeister 36w for gigging though.

For home recording, I'm currently using a Laney IRT Studio I got for $350. It's a great little amp with a built in usb audio interface and a built in boost.

Other amps I'd look into are the little 20w Peavey Mini Heads (Classic for bluesier stuff, Valveking for pretty much anything and the 6505 MH for high gain stuff). Fender has a new series called the bassbreaker which has a 15w head coming out soon (actually planning to get this because I want a single channel amp) and the new Deluxe versions of the Tubemeisters coming out soon have even better recording capabilities with their improved DI output and cab simulation.

 

[Ravensha]

Re: Hughes and kettner???

I am downsizing my live rig, and have been looking at these online and have not played on them.
Have any of you used the midi switching? I am wondering how fast the channels switch - and if there is noticeable signal gap or delay when switching channels.