All user reviews for the Hughes & Kettner Switchblade 100 Head

Amp 100W lamps
4 EL34 and two 12AX7
FX of the same type as MATRIX 100
Look Beautiful.
Settings? Apart from its clear nothing conclusive. Matrix is ​​the spitting ...
Note 10 for the favorite and the test store.

UTILIZATION

I just bought this amp. The store at low power, it sounded good round full of brilliance, good looks in + .... In rehearsal pushed the normally c Kata! Its flat, notes confused and imprecise, zzzzzzz a note after each solo saturated ===> Deception.
I use 2 Stratocaster, a standard and a signature of Ritchie Blackmore in 1997 with 2 Seymour Duncan pickups.
In effect: a Boss Chorus, a Marshall Guv'nor and a JackHammer
+ After a week of looking for a suitable, I gave up the guitar input on the front for me to plug into the Return. I do not spend more than the amp and it gets better, but the sound does not really shine.
The manual is as usual with nickel Kettner. To read it, I bought the beast of the century.

SOUNDS

* I pass, I look even more.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for two weeks, I like his mouth, but not the preamp, which must agree to only scratch or active humbuckers.
before this, I used an H & K 1990 MKII transistor, it suited me well, but a little old and toussotte.
A remake? Eh be no! The JM 900 is much better, but ...

Amp any lamps (4 lamps amplification) of good quality
Strange: 2 lamps preamp but I have not seen the difference with other amps I've tried the configuration of which was more traditional.
Easy to use connections from the first.
Built-in effects really practical: average reverb, delay, chorus + + FLAGS + tremolo: satisfactory.

UTILIZATION

Important asset of this product for guitarists working in PM: 127 ability to set different equalizer settings (based store). direct access to these settings via the supplied bracket.

sounds: 4 separate channels (one clear, a crunch, a lead ultra + 1). super easy to use, knobs obey the finger and the eye. One branch is regulated, it sounds!

To my things, I use a G-major (TC elec.) Controlled with a MIDI foot controller and it works perfectly to chain many sounds that I use in my group, without of course altering the sound of the amp.

I confess, to find his own sound is not immediately obvious, but one senses immediately the potential of the beast. There is still time to pass.

Manual: hyper clear and functional, it is useful to refer to the operation of the South.

SOUNDS

This amp has a strong personality it is hard to tame at first. Fan of metal and heavy guitars detunées this amp is for you. I did the test with a scraper if granted and it was good Swedish death metal for my taste. Personal I rather atmospheric rock / prog and the sound is a bit greasy, but it still goes great with the budget I had available (I would have preferred a triamp 3000 euros but the head was not an option ).

I use a marshall 1960 cabinet and marriage is quite convincing.

I use an Ibanez RG 250 (6 string) and a Start and these two very different models agree well with the switchblade.

The clear sound: excellent in keeping open and a good attack for the solo.
The crunch is average but it sounds especially in the busiest as the head defends best, very nice grain, both organic and precise (thank you lamps). The head has a sacred subject in saturated fat extreme (ultra sound).

Be careful to keep the "light foot" on the serious story we still hear the bass player ...

OVERALL OPINION

It's been one month that I use in rehearsal + 1 trial recording (it promises!) And no signs of weariness in the distance.

Best: the metal grain well, the midi interface, price, the look ...

Lowest: the crunch, the reverb, its weight, serious not always easy to master.

In this price range, playing on the lamps is still happiness. As the first all-tube amp, I think it's great considering the price.

All-tube head amp, 4 channel, 100Watt, average unless all the south of which it is dowry. There are effects on it, but hey I bofbof prfre use hand pedals.
Prcise I notice that I put back a little note, I also prcise I do not play mtal, I use sounds mtal for electronic components or rock, but I do not pr tends in any way make a styl prpondrant in my game

UTILIZATION

It has the quality of its default ... This means it offers a clear and DGIG panel and 4 channels. Clarity is an advantage, the default is not seen the forcment rglages on which we play.
I explain: I play the clean, I put the gain 10am, I make a "store", I go in I put the gain crunch 13h and I "store". If I will return to clean the button will not turn 10 but remain 13h 13h (the sound will be heard, however much one with the knob enreigstr 10am) ... cel and the four channels with all possible parameters Eq, Gain, Volume. The knob could also not of endless knob is to say that in my case, so when I will return to clean I move the gain knob I'll move suddenly from its position recorded position tural / Physical or a sudden large rises if we had just gain the lead channel oversatur ...
But when you take the time to do its presets, we have a clear head with 4-channel rgalges compltements indpendants.
It may be an advantage as a inconvienant ... It never moves as recorded numriquement ... but we no longer see the rglages ... Gnial in RPET in fixed premises and in the studio or big scne, galre live in bars o will require four channels of sound depending on location.

SOUNDS

The clean sound is pretty dynamic, brilliant, close enough to a peavey, close enough to a JCM2000 with a little lens.
The crunch is quite modern and a little cold, cepandant versatile enough we can go up to the saturation trslgre of AC / DC, but the sound is not Marshall, it is colder, less low-mdium, more dynamic, too.
The channel distortion seems a little aseptic ... amp looks like a lamp that mimics a imation the pod or the sound of a MT-2. So beware, a light and sound can be filled with something, it's true, the good, but trs typ "nomtal". That is a distortion trs trs trs clean and compress relativment low mdium but comes out well in the mix I think, add any fawn mdium is quite pretty, in removing is quite against dplaisant. So should a roll.
The lead channel is a little heavier, powerful and darker than the troisime canal, but the distortion is of the same grain, only the stamp gnral change, and the gain, too, can go 4 beyond the 3 (but is it really useful?).
I think that is a good amp, APRS can not like what ct asceptiser a little, surfed the distortion but it will rev out all the sytle that require a very s own (everything nightwish, linkin park but minus the punk genre calif offspring, but for all mtal just shred or symphonic you really try)

OVERALL OPINION

Likes:
the 4 channels indpendant
clean and crunch sounds, a little less distortion
twelve o'clock the memory

I like least:
galre redo all of the presets by changing the bar.
the ct too ascptis the distortion (but some love a).

For 1500 the price of the head, it's really trying, and several speakers DIFFERENT to change a little the characters.

Everything said before t ...

UTILIZATION

This is my first head! Before I played on a marshall EMG (the old transistor). So I'm not going to compare with the other heads that I could try that hate spcialiss stores.

Do you get a good sound easy? Yes ... Anyway APRS is a minimum of tweaking is good but it is not the mission.

The manual is clear and sufficient for a beginner like me (level stuff) is quite enjoyable, in 4-5 pages says it all.

SOUNDS

So my style is the speed melodic power metal (malmsteen, etc. ...). heloween Small precision: I have an ENGL cabinet, and an American Series Stratocaster E.
For the style is the ultimate, Grosse precision in the treble, as in the bass. APRS is clear that I have an AIM compared to ENGL powerball, but I could not (in any fawn I could not get through to me).

The four channels are clean, crunch, lead and ultra.
The clean channel seems rather nice knowing that I have on my guitar EMG pickups. I am not a connoisseur but hey it seems to me that this is not the main asset of the head even if a good rest.
The crunch channel, I nel'utilise rarely (if at all) so I'll refrain from comment.
The lead channel is very cool for a few solos old trs is good. As against it must adjust the reverb if it's the cata.
The channel ultra dchire. This is the one I use most. Whether in the treble or the bass is clean and neat. For the palm-mute is hell. The large net well, what better for metal?

OVERALL OPINION

I've had two weeks, and I can not get enough (that would be very unhappy when APRS even two weeks).
What I like most is his accuracy, and distortion. The appearance too! This is not the most important, but frankly I find this machine esthetic trs (we can see the lights shine behind the grille). Laying on my ENGL cabinet is hell.
Provided the pedal is good, has its settings can be stored on any channel, and an adjustable switch to another knowing that even the volume setting is retained. I understand that the other heads that there is no Systm? That sounds weird but good APRS all possible I do not know much. That's a need to beware of me. Because I did not ssay MODELS much before I get it. So to compare it is not obvious (as I told you, I will compare to the famous AIM to ENGL powerball). That said, if your fan of metal, you can type in the trs trs luxury, go for it! Becaufe the net, new, 1190 is guaranteed for two years. The report seems to me excellent quality price, and then OK, so it's east metal, but still quite versatile.
Try a worth it.

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 TSC version but doesn't have the TSC or a built-in tube technician. It automatically biases the amp to extend tube life, shuts down defective tubes. So you have everything as the other amp as the TSC other than that particular feature.

UTILIZATION

Channels Clean: Californian, Crunch: Classic British, Lead: British Hi Gain, Ultra: American Hi Gain
Power 100 Watts
Poweramp 4x EL34
Preamp 2x 12AX7
Modeling No
Effects 3 independent 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
Special Features All Controls are fully programmable, included MIDI-Board
Presets 128 user presets
Speaker Outputs 1x 4 Ohms, 1x 8 Ohms/2x 16 Ohms, 1x16 Ohms
Suggested Speaker Cabinet VC 412 A/B 30, VC 412 A/B 25
Dimensions 750 x 286 x 258 mm
Weight 17,6 kg/40 lbs

SOUNDS


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 $800 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.

The Hughes and Kettner Switchblade 100 head is a programmable four mode (yes, FOUR) single channel amplifier head that features a singular EQ with bass, middle, treble and presence controls. It also has a master volume control. Pretty cool.

Oh yeah, I should mention that it also comes loaded with a host of onboard digital modulation, delay and reverb effects. It also has the ability to save 128 presets in the included footswitch. It's basically like having a tube amp that has an integrated effects switching system all in one convenient package. Here's the full list of features:

Channels:
Clean: Californian
Crunch: Classic British
Lead: British Hi Gain
Ultra: American Hi Gain

Power 100 Watts
Poweramp 4x EL34
Preamp 2x 12AX7
Modeling No
Effects 3 independent 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
Special Features All Controls are fully programmable, included MIDI-Board
Presets 128 user presets
Speaker Outputs 1x 4 Ohms, 1x 8 Ohms/2x 16 Ohms, 1x16 Ohms
Suggested Speaker Cabinet VC 412 A/B 30, VC 412 A/B 25
Dimensions 750 x 286 x 258 mm
Weight 17,6 kg/40 lbs

UTILIZATION

Surprisingly, it's not nearly as difficult to get a good tone out of this amp as it may seem. It reacts much like any modelling amp as far as setting up presets goes, and that's quite honestly the hardest part of using this amp. Setting up a core tone to use is as simple as turning controls until you get a tone that you desire. This amp has a bunch of different tones available for sure and once you get over the expected learning curve that it takes to get used to dialing in tones you should be fine. It's basically a single channel amp with different modes so if you think of it that way... it might be a little bit easier to wrap your head around as opposed to thinking of it as an uber complex four channel amp with all these effects and sounds to think about too.

SOUNDS

I've tried this amp with a whole different slew of guitars, but have come to prefer it with superstrats that feature humbuckers. I find it to have a very eighties type of character overall tonewise, especially with the effects engaged, and playing lead stuff through this amp makes me feel like it's 1988 in the Troubadour.

Each of the modes provides a different sort of tone and it's a gradual increase in gain/saturation with each mode. The clean mode reminds me a lot of a modern Fender... not quite as spongy/warm as a vintage one, but still with that nice lush clean headroom. The crunch mode is like a slightly more refined Marshall JCM800 to me. The lead mode is like a Bogner/Soldano amp (and is my favourite mode) which is very mid heavy and smooth sounding. The Ultra mode is akin to a Dual Rectifier or Peavey 5150... not for the faint of heart! It gets to the point where the levels of gain can be unmanageable but for those who want it... it's there.

The effects, though they're digital and sound like it, provide a good range of tones and textures that match well with the amp sounds and aren't obtrusive or cheap sounding. It's definitely a convenient factor to have them built right in and the ability to save different presets with them too.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all this amp is a fantastic amp for someone looking for a whole plethora of tones in one easy and reasonably laid out package. It's a stellar all in one unit. As an amp the tones are not nearly as good as some of the better tube amps out there, and the effects don't come close to the top notch stuff by TC and Eventide, but I wouldn't expect that from a modelling amp. It sells for anywhere from $1400-$1700 new, but can be had for as low as $700 used if you look... really a killer find for that kind of price.

If you're looking for an amp that is a great and versatile "all in one" amp with effects, you can't really go wrong with the H&K Switchblade 100.

Head lamp 100W, 4 channel, programmable, intgrs effects (delay, chorus, flanger, tremolo), footswitch noon.

UTILIZATION

The beast is very well thought out and extremely versatile. You can record 99 banks of 4 presets. Then, there's more that the recall via pdalier.
Rglages the effects are via a knob divided into three types of effects: the more you turn, the more frquence effect increases. However, the delay has rglages more complete, which is apprciable (delay, feedback, etc..). The same pdalier is equipped with a switch for tap tempo. Very convenient.
Only small BMOL I find: rverbe Whereas the effect is, so if you want dsenclencher effect is the dsenclenche rverbe. Too bad, I think.

SOUNDS

You can almost do anything with.
The clean sound is very good, very crystalline, but not too cold. This can be done by pushing the gain cruncher, but if you want a sound that remains clear in all circumstances, no problem.
The crunch channel is nice, even if I have trouble exploiting low saturation. It gives a nice distortion by pushing up the gain boost.
Lead and Ultra channels each offer very specific on distos, ranging from low levels of gain saturation very levs. Rside the difference in tone: each has its own personality (the Ultra as the mtal plus shipping).
The effects are good quality.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had 2 years, and I think I did not exploit all its capabilities. Its strength is its versatility and its sounds of very good quality.
I have not tried other models, since the era of my purchase, no other amp did not offer many possibilities for this award.
Today, I would compare well a JVM 410H.