All user reviews for the Hughes & Kettner Switchblade 50 TSC Combo

This is one great amp from Hughes and Kettner. The switchblade is a very versatile amp in the metal category. This combo is the exact same as the 100 watt combo but in a 50 watt version. You get the same great features and tone as you would the 00 watt. However, the tone will be a little looser and not have as much headroom as the 100 watt version.

This amp is a cross between a Triamp and a Coreblade. You get the same channels and features of the Triamp with the voicing, but also the versatility of the Coreblade. What this means is that you have a midi 128 presets that can be store within the amp itself. You also get the effects like delay, modulation and reverb built into the amp. Plus you have TSC technician on board that will bias your amp and also let you known if you are experiencing tube problems.

This is the same amp as the head version but just in a combo. You get all the same great features and tone as the head but a 2x 12 inch speaker combo.

UTILIZATION

Channels Clean: Californian, Crunch: Classic British, Lead: British Hi-Gain, Ultra: American Hi-Gain
Power 50 Watts
Poweramp Shipped with 2x EL34, but also 6L6GC applicables
Preamp 2x 12AX7
Modeling No
Effects 3 independant Digital-FX processors: Reverb, Delay, Modulation (Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo)
Effects Loop serial/parallel
MIDI built in
Footswitch/Stageboard MIDI-Board FSM-432 included
Switching Functions 4xPreset, Bank up, Bank down, Tap Delay
Special Features Tube Safety Control (TSC) ;all Controls are fully programmable, included MIDI-Board
Presets 128 user presets
Speaker Outputs 1x 4 Ohms, 1x 8 Ohms or 2x 16 Ohms, 1x 16 Ohms
Speakers 1x 12'' Eminence Rockdriver 60
Dimensions 600 x 500 x 285 mm
Weight 22,8 kg/ 50 lbs

SOUNDS

This amp has a great tone and a little more spongy than the 100 watt version simply because of the cut in wattage. Still same features and overall tone. This amp has the tone of the Triamp and the versatility of the Coreblade. So if you need something that covers a lot of ground then this a great amp to start. This combo is going to sound a little different then the head unless you have a matching cab with the same speakers. Speakers are like filters and they change the amp's character a bit coming out out o the cab. So if the amp is voiced to those speakers then you have exactly the way is was designed.

This amp also has some effects build right into it. You have the option of some delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, and tremolo and also some added reverb to help color your tone a little bit. You also have a button on the front of the control panel that allows you to click in the effects loop and then even more versatility by clicking in the serial effects loop.

This amp has three channels and six modes. Each channel has two different modes of operation. For the clean you can get a nice Fender like clean and click the next mode you'll get a British style clean much like a Marshall plexi. On the second channel you have a crunch channel. The first mode is a classic rock tone from a Marshall style voiced amp. Next you have then a hot rodded tone from a Marshall style amp. This gets you great vinatge classic rock tones for music such as AC/DC or Led Zeppelin. The third and final channel you get over the top gain and distortion. The first mode is a hot rodded British gain for most hard rock and metal. Then to top it all off you have an insane amount of gain for the second mode. This mode is for modern playing or dripped tuning. Great for modern metal and hard rock.

OVERALL OPINION

I have seen these amps as low as $1250 for a new one, which is a great price for an amp this versatile. It is a mix of tub and digital so if you can't handle a digital amp the this is a miss for you. I would recommend this amp to anyone who needs a good gigging amp that can get a lot of work in and be extremely versatile for covers songs and a 2-3 hour set list.

- Combo-tube preamp with 12AX 2x 50w, 2x EL34 power. - 4 channels (clean, crunch, lead, ultra) - EQ treble, mid, bass, presence - multi-effect section, three independent effects: reverb, delay and modulation (chorus, flanger or tremolo) - noon bulit in, 128 presets (64 factory presets) - BB 4 presets, bank up, bank down, tap tempo - TSC = tube safety control system (allowing for optimal adjustment between the lamps at any time without intervention of a technician) - effects loop series or parallel - HP 12 Eminence Rockdriver 60 - + / - 23kg It has everything you need and more.

UTILIZATION

The config is simple and the manual clear they're going very fast. The 50 watts are present, this combo is very powerful. almost too powerful to play in bars. I've never needed to mount the master beyond 3 - 3.5 (10). It is difficult to play very low volume because like many amps, the sound comes rather suddenly at the start of the race with a master volume pot up more "soft" for the rest of the race of the volume pot. There are 64 factory presets are not bad, we can find a good sound quickly enough alone based on the sounds that already exist. But there are ways to spend a lot of time to sculpt the sound you love. It is possible to store through the south channel, volume, EQ, gain, reverb, delay and modulation for each different preset. Only the master volume is obviously not memorable. Manipulation of memory are very simple. The 128 presets (4 x 32 banks) are a real plus for this amp, especially live. They can record a variety of settings. Besides the additional MIDI capability when using a MIDI pedal to control the amp more external effects. The twelve o'clock péalier provided includes 4 buttons to recall the presets (A, B, C, D), 2 buttons bank up and down a button and tap / tempo. interesting that a small demo is worth a thousand words: part 1: part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vpe71_DIO8

SOUNDS

The sounds are pretty good. This is not a vintage amp, but rather modern. They, however, is very versatile. The clean channel provides crystal clear sound, EQ is effective. A touch of reverb and chorus can be very nice. The crunch channel is the one I use most, it goes from light bluesy crunch with good saturation in AC / DC. Effective. I really like. It should be noted that the crunch channel, lead and ultra, when you push the gain to bottom, the boost is engaged, providing an additional gain. Not bad for a solo setting. The channel should lead to a good OD rock / hard rock. The Ultra channel has lots of gain. It is very effective for the solos. We can also play good hard rock or heavy metal. The lead channel and the channel even more ultra generate a lot of breath. No miracle lamps with outbreaks in the preamp ... This is not disturbing during the game, it is more when it stops playing. I found the solution by making a noise gate in the effects loop set in series. The breath is very attenuated. The multi-effect is simple but well made. Only the delay is very good has 3 adjustment knobs (one for the others). We might have preferred more opportunities for modulation but we'll say it enough. It was not the best clean, it did not crunch the best, or even the best disto, but he knows everything and rather well.

OVERALL OPINION

I use this combo for almost a year now. I tried various amp before buying it. - Marshall JVM 205: cleans good, very good distos, but I could not find good crunch despite 4 Channel - Orange AD30: very cool, very rock, but not versatile at all - Vox AC30: very good too but as the Orange lack of versatility - Fender Supersonic 22: nice, nice cleans, nice crunch, but lacks fishing disto - Mesa Boogie 5:50: very nice clean, very nice crunch, good rock distos well (not for metal ) I have long hesitated with the Mesa but finally I chose the Switchblade because it is super convenient and very versatile live. After about a year of use, lots of rehearsals and a week's concerts, I am always fully satisfied. I paid 1300 euros new and he is widely given its versatility, multi-purpose and steering noon. The TSC is also a plus when changing lamps (no need for a technician to adjust the bias). NB: For me, 8 is an excellent rating. A 10 should be attributed only to hardware exceptions.