Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

[Chistopher]

Which of these amps would you recommend as the best lunchbox head? They are fairly similar, but the 30th anniversary comes with louder NOS EL84s, and the 20 has a cathode follower, fancy controls for the DI box, and a those 2 extra watts. I'm looking toward the 30th anniversary because it can be bought used for $450, which is $50 more than the standard. The 20 is probably my last choice because I can't find it used and new it's $700.

Is the 30th anniversary worth $50 over the standard, and the 20 $250 over that? I don't think $250 for 4 extra switches and a cathode follower is worth it, but I'd like the know what y'all think.

 

[jayylmao]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

I'd go with the 20. I had the 18 and I would have loved the extra red box settings. I ended up running the fx send through an IR when practicing at home and recording. Overall I think it's a good amp but I got rid of mine because I wanted separate eq for the crunch and clean channels. The "lead" boost on the crunch channel was pretty noisy.


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[Synapsys]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

Since it's my main amp, I advise you go up the ladder (wallet permitting, of course) and fetch a Grandmeister 40 Deluxe.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

Yeah, if I had the choice I'd go for the 36 watt version because of the control layout, but that's a bit larger than I need for these purposes. The grandmeister is also pretty good, but again too large.

 

[playas]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

The only difference in specs I could see between the 18 and 20 for example was NOS tubes...which really wouldn't be worth the extra second-hand. Nevertheless it's very possible there is something more pushing up the price that I missed.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

I did notice that the 30th anniversary comes with Sovtek tubes as opposed to the nameless Chinese ones (who knows, they might be voiced similarly), and there are some minor cosmetic differences such as a gloss finish and "30th anniversary" carved in the glass.

If I ran H&K, I'd combine the 20 and 30th anniv models. I'd make it so the 30th one had Sovtek, two more watts, the extra features on the DI box, and "30th Anniversary" embossed on the top.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

Since it's my main amp, I advise you go up the ladder (wallet permitting, of course) and fetch a Grandmeister 40 Deluxe.

May I ask why do you find it worth the price difference, when compared to the Tubemeister 36? Thanks, I am considering one of the two, as well.

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[Synapsys]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

Prior to my purchase, I A/B'd the GM40D with a TM20D and a TM36.

For my needs, the GM40D excels at versatility, as long has on is used to H&K's trademark "hi-fi" sound.

For usabilty, the amp has 4 channels going from cleanest of cleans to highest of high gain. It does give a Recto or a 6105+ a good fight, for what Metal players are concerned.

The gain levels are consecutive between channels, meaning highest gain on the Clean channel is followed by the lowest gain level on the Crunch channel. The EQ is also more responsive than on the TMs, and the amp isn't trebley as the TMs are. The voicing on all four channels is quite warm, as I felt the voicing on the clean and crunch channels on the TMs to be colder. Of course, everyone's ears are different, but on the GM40D I can go from Fender clean to Marshall Crunch to Marshall High Gain to Mesa/Peavey brootalz, and all type of gain and sound in-between.

Than there's the control factor: everything on the GM40D, apart from the Master Volume, is MIDI controlable. For someone trying to keep a small amount of gear and corresponding real estate, a GMD40D and a MIDI board is all you need to play live.

On top of all this, is time for some ear candy: The amp can also have Boost on/off on each channel, and the voicing on the boost is different on each channel. To keep things quiet, there's a noise gate, it's threshold controlled via a pot on the back of the amp, and, to keep the real estate really small, really good built in effects: Modulation (Chorus, Tremolo, Phaser and Flanger, one at a time), Delay and Reverb. Not really pristine or vintage effects, but all are really usable (As a matter of fact, I'm only using a wah as an outboard effect).

If other effects are available, there's also an effects loop.

As extra but useful features, there are 4 power levels available (which of course affect the behaviour of the amp accordingly): 40W, 20W, 5W and 1W. Silent recording is also possible if using the Red Box Out (DI box with speaker emulation), which also works really well if plugged to an interface or mixer for silent practice with headphones.

Considering all, and even if more expensive than any of the TMs, both the features and the quality of sound made this amp a real winner for me.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

That's almost comical, considering the price difference.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

Prior to my purchase, I A/B'd the GM40D with a TM20D and a TM36.

For my needs, the GM40D excels at versatility, as long has on is used to H&K's trademark "hi-fi" sound.

For usabilty, the amp has 4 channels going from cleanest of cleans to highest of high gain. It does give a Recto or a 6105+ a good fight, for what Metal players are concerned.

The gain levels are consecutive between channels, meaning highest gain on the Clean channel is followed by the lowest gain level on the Crunch channel. The EQ is also more responsive than on the TMs, and the amp isn't trebley as the TMs are. The voicing on all four channels is quite warm, as I felt the voicing on the clean and crunch channels on the TMs to be colder. Of course, everyone's ears are different, but on the GM40D I can go from Fender clean to Marshall Crunch to Marshall High Gain to Mesa/Peavey brootalz, and all type of gain and sound in-between.

Than there's the control factor: everything on the GM40D, apart from the Master Volume, is MIDI controlable. For someone trying to keep a small amount of gear and corresponding real estate, a GMD40D and a MIDI board is all you need to play live.

On top of all this, is time for some ear candy: The amp can also have Boost on/off on each channel, and the voicing on the boost is different on each channel. To keep things quiet, there's a noise gate, it's threshold controlled via a pot on the back of the amp, and, to keep the real estate really small, really good built in effects: Modulation (Chorus, Tremolo, Phaser and Flanger, one at a time), Delay and Reverb. Not really pristine or vintage effects, but all are really usable (As a matter of fact, I'm only using a wah as an outboard effect).

If other effects are available, there's also an effects loop.

As extra but useful features, there are 4 power levels available (which of course affect the behaviour of the amp accordingly): 40W, 20W, 5W and 1W. Silent recording is also possible if using the Red Box Out (DI box with speaker emulation), which also works really well if plugged to an interface or mixer for silent practice with headphones.

Considering all, and even if more expensive than any of the TMs, both the features and the quality of sound made this amp a real winner for me.

Did you couple it with the H&K midi pedalboard?

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[Synapsys]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

Yes I did.

The store I got it from had a promo on the release of the GM40D, ended up getting both the amp and controller for €1.000. TM36 was going for €700 and theTM20D for €600. Comsidering the gear involved on the deal, the tonal differences between the amp, and all the pluses I already mentioned, it was a no brainer.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

Yes I did.

The store I got it from had a promo on the release of the GM40D, ended up getting both the amp and controller for €1.000. TM36 was going for €700 and theTM20D for €600. Comsidering the gear involved on the deal, the tonal differences between the amp, and all the pluses I already mentioned, it was a no brainer.

Yes you got indeed a very good offer, I would have been probably doing the same. How do you like the pedalboard? Is it made of plastic like they say? I would be not at ease with a plastic pedalboard [emoji29]

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[Synapsys]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

I play in Rock and Metal bands, and stomping hard on stuff is kind of my trademark. It's made of metal with plastic accents (function indicators and display area).

Absolutely no issues with either the amp or the control board. My others pedals on my pedalboard are a Korg Pitchblack Poly Tuner, a Fender volume pedal and a MXR CAE MC404 wah.

 

[Emopunk]

Re: Tubemeister 18 vs 18 30th anniversary vs 20 deluxe

I play in Rock and Metal bands, and stomping hard on stuff is kind of my trademark. It's made of metal with plastic accents (function indicators and display area).

Absolutely no issues with either the amp or the control board. My others pedals on my pedalboard are a Korg Pitchblack Poly Tuner, a Fender volume pedal and a MXR CAE MC404 wah.

Good to hear that.. it is for sure not the cheapest accessory, after all.

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