All user reviews for the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 Head

I admit, I can be dazzled by sparkly things. When I saw the first ad for the Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister 18 I was excited, with its blue glowing front panel. It looked fantastic, and the description of features sounded like just what I was looking for. I bought the Tubemeister 18 Head to use in my rig. I play in a local band that gigs about twice a month, and this amp suits my purposes perfectly.

Power Soak

The power soak was what I was most interested in. Being able to adjust the volume through wattage output rather than the master volume is a big advantage, especially when using pedals. Distortion pedals are affected by volume, but using the power soak does not cause volume discrepancies like using a master volume. 18 watts is great for gigs, 5 watts is perfect for rehearsal, 1 watt is best for at home practicing, and turning off the output and sending out through the built-in Red Box is great for recording. In certain situations I have even sent my signal out to the main mixing board via the Red Box. I would rather mic my cabinet, but sometimes that just is not possible. Having a built-in DI box is a great feature.

FX Loop and Channels

The serial FX loop is great for effects that you do not want going through the lead channel. I have a reverb pedal going through mine all the time, I will speak about why in a bit. You can hook-up a footswitch to go between the clean and lead channel. There is a boost feature that can be added on top of the lead channel, but not onto the clean channel. This is really good for going from a clean sound to full out lead by having the boost pre-trigger then switching to the lead channel.

The Sound

I do not use a footswitch with my Tubemiester 18, because it works really well with pedals. I have yet to find a pedal that does not sound good going into this amp, and believe me I have plenty to try. The sound of this amp is so good it made me rethink the rest of my signal chain. When I bought the amp I was using a multi-effects device that included amp modeling. The amp models masked the tone of the amp so much I had to do something different. I ended up going to individual pedals which allowed the amp to really shine.

TSC

Another nice feature is TSC, Tube Safety Control, which monitors the tubes in the amp. I have yet to have an issue, but it is nice to give the back of the amp a quick glance to make sure everything is running fine.

Portability

The amp head is very light, and easy to transport with the included gig bag. I keep a speaker cabinet at my band’s rehearsal space, and a cabinet at home for practicing. This makes it easy to go back and forth from home to practice. I still have to take a cabinet to gigs, but that is a given anyway. It can handle 8-16 ohms speakers.

Extras

This amp looks fantastic on stage. This may not be a reason to buy an amp, but it is a nice benefit. A very sturdy metal enclosure protects the inner workings on the amp. The 3-band EQ is great for dialing in your tone, but the true tone of the amp is so good it will not take too much twisting to find the sweet spot.

Complaint

There is no reverb on this amp. Like I said, I was using a multi-effects device when I initially bought the amp head so the fact it had no reverb did not bother me. I had reverb aplenty already. When I switched to pedals, then I had a problem. I ended up buying a reverb pedal, and put it on my pedalboard. Once I realized that I left it on all the time I removed it from the board, and now it sits on my amp fed through the FX loop, where it sounds best.

Final Thoughts

This is a great sounding amp. The clean tone is very crisp, and allows each note of the chord to be heard clearly. It takes pedals really well, and has a very good dirty sound. The distortion is not enough by itself for a heavy metal player, but for the rock crowd it is plenty good enough. Add your own distortion pedal, and you can take this amp to thrasher heaven. It is a perfect size and wattage for gigging in bars and clubs. It has a very modern sound with all the sonic benefits of tubes.

Lamp, 1w 5w 18w adjustable 0w (headphones or direct) very practical home studio and concert (direct output + transplanted in parallel on general enclosure)
I leave the description on manufacturer website
But:
Compact, lightweight, rather pretty
Simple

UTILIZATION

Simple Config, clear manual
Setting eq common between the two (clean or distortion)
But the size being reduced can not have everything I note 8

My adjustment Adjustable base:
Treble -5
Mid -2
Bass +3

Home 0w or 1w,
repet 5w group, and small concert hall and once 5w 18

SOUNDS

Yes: blues, rock, jazz no hard
Its clear, very friendly (with good bass adjustment)
A little distortion on the lens or not very pleasant (note not my priority as -1)
D 'or use only clean channel with distortion pedal
Boost really powerful (too)

Gibson Les Paul guitar and amp vox AC30 2 greenback

OVERALL OPINION

Almost 2 years
Yes orange, vox train, palmer
+ Adjustable Watt
+ Direct output position
+ Clean sound and ease SETTINGS
+ Crunch (it takes a little searching by against)
+ 4cables method
+ Transportability

Its distortion-
Common-tuning the two outputs

Very good value for money, yes I would do this choice

Small head of all-tube amp 18W
2 channels, 1 boost
XLR output with HP calculator

UTILIZATION

Simple and classic config, controllable with a standard 2 channel footswitch.

SOUNDS

Very good clear sound, the settings are effective, we can get very bright or very round sound without saturating with good presence.
Distortion channel: big disappointment for me, not a super grain crunch rather cold actually. No presence (currently lamps there?) ... Fetching of metal sounds, not enough gain and boost only adds a very rough appearance to the whole. Impossible to leave the mix group.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it once again, no sound, no grain, unusable group what ... Good after this is only my opinion metalhead, but apart from the clear, I do not like at all this amp, I sold and replaced by a Laney IRT studio for the same price offers much better sound quality and a wider range of sounds (and spring mix it!)

head tube amp, 2 EL34 equipped for power and two 12AX7 preamp for.
all switchable 1W, 5W and 18W speaker for HP 8 or 16 ohms and little more equipped: a position to be able to play via an XLR therefore relay on the mixing console to play with headphones.
a more wear indicator lamps and a return effect. but no reverb ... ALTHOUGH at this price, we will quibble about that.

UTILIZATION

on cattle in itself was two separate channels (but the power is not assignable independently as on more efficient heads):

One clean and one saturated lead + button to distos more strong.

NB: the two channels share the same EQ!

the clean channel:

this channel is very easy to use: you rule the gain is equalized, it is mounted master. this amp can have a nice clean (do not dream and that we will have a sound Tween), a little too vague for my taste but it adds a charm to him. Once 10am exceeded the gain knob that crunch. what kind of sound I have not been seduced more than that, so I will not dwell on it.

saturated channel (finally!):

like the previous one, easy to use, we rule the gain is equalized, we do fart master and we are left with a typical distortion of our friends Hughes & Kettner! me that attracted me immediately because the 1st time I tried it, it was a customer who came to order at the store and this was the best surprise for small all-tube head that I could test (Orange Laboga, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Blackstar (yerk!), Vox and Bugera <- MDR).
The sound of this channel is hot, not too specific or too runny. you can get good distortion rock has a typical saturation metal pushing the gain in its entrenchment and engaging the boost.
For the more subdued kind Jazz distortion or change lamps or buy another head.

Being primarily a metalhead, I recommend enter Sovtek for the preamp to get a good distortion busy in the midrange.

SOUNDS

"Question: Is it your style of music?"

Unfortunately not enough because I play everything and it is still too typical rock (the reason I went to Mesa)

Regarding sounds, those seeking the lens, past your way, this is fat but no more.

I played it with:
-Les Paul Gold Top 1958 to 1957, standard 2008/2012
-Ibanez JEM7V7-WH
-Select telecaster Gold
Jacobacci-studio 3
-Dean Razorback 10,000

HP H & G 1x12 "HP mesa 4x12" and 2x12 "of my design

in 1W can be played at home but stay around the clean and put a good distortion pedal
in 5W, heat lamps and the roundness of her begin to be felt well on the clean as the distortion
in 18W, it has all the power needed to make repeated group and make small concert without sound in a bar (for after you have transplanted) 2 channels are hot and lamps are very well feel.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it for 4 months until I go to my Mesa, and sometimes I miss it because its simple setting is so much more obvious that correct ...

the feature I like least is the lack of rate distortion but for the 40th over and a little elbow grease (but really good) by changing the lamps can level the problem.

what I like most is its price / quality ratio that I find quite exceptional!

with the experience I would definitely did because I was advised more than 20 people in 4 months are all super satisfied, and I plan to redeem myself!

Manual is your friend.

UTILIZATION

I use a loop to WP8, an Orange 2x12 and DI most of the time to save for cleaner, but it is a (small) compromise. A purist would be taken over by a real studio microphone with cab and proper equipment I guess.
Side head not rocket science, basic and effective. For group play with the 2x12 it has all the fields to express themselves and it is monstrous, no more, no less. See in overall opinion for choosing the firm: for toilets, go to Vox (not what I ever said that?)

SOUNDS

Due to its simplicity, I think it may suit all but extreme cases specific or particular really his research. It is intended rather modern but allows a lot of things depending on the hardware you put it in front or behind. And it is precisely from where we can really think outside the box.

DI output and DSP reverb, I love the grain it transmits. I found this little combo lamp of the same brand tried it several years ago and had really liked me. Except that TubeMeister is more accurate for saturation. Besides the lead channel is really interesting, but the boost ok here quickly becomes rough (gain has its limits). I think we should keep in mind that the boost is a function and not a solo channel. The clean is pretty neutral in the sense that we recover the soul of the guitar perfectly magnified.
The lamps are original (Chinese) and the sound is already typed. The presence of dynamics, gain, power.

Equalization is well staged. Note that it is different from one channel to another. The lead is enriched midrange and treble. Enough that it is clearly heard (note pun Tinlin). Returning to our buttons ... The sonic palette of this small anabolisé is vast. From light to very distorted with Standard LP is really good (this incidentally buttons volumes and tones are very useful huh).

OVERALL OPINION

I knew his H & K for quite some time and this is the sound I wanted so no hesitation on this side . I place between the marshall and Orange, there is a little of both mixed to the original sound. Having tried these two brands more vox (I do not like to suspect quality) in the same category before buying TubeMeister, nothing has me excited. Mesa Boogie off budget. Otherwise side Bugera Ampeg and I think there is good but never tried so it's only a priori.
After it is a matter of taste and need. The DI for example, is essential for me in a home studio.

The choice of the firm is important and for my part I did not like the 1x12 intended for him. In comparison with an Orange 1x12 and I both said in Celestion v30, Orange has a different sound, more dynamic feel of a sound less muffled. Like what the design of the box great interest. I opted for the Orange 2x12 (Jim Root) as well ... I tried it, just like that, and worse to see here I have seen and heard and passed the box

The +:
small, practical, versatile, good sound, red box

The United:
A reverb as you know them have been generous Hugues and Kettner.
Not a fan of the genre neon blue tuning key but it is fashion and I think people are wow this is beautiful (rewahou do it when they hear it)! She ate my whole celebrity that little head ... biiiip

Tube amp 2 channels equa common. 15, 5, 1 watt. 8-16 ohms output, effects loop, XLR output, footswitch jack for.

UTILIZATION

No need to book.

SOUNDS

I play in a rock cover band 70 and hard rock. 2 guitar + drums
basse.Pour starting power is more than enough to play the scene groupe.Pour I transplanted any clear façon.Son very clean and lead channel blues rock to metal.
I do not color detail you sounds, everyone has his ear and his own taste, but for the police, floyd, for it is clear and to the heavy style ozzy deep purple one is good.

In the loop I put a Line6 M5 + wampler fake tape echo + mxr eq to finish in a Intellifex for facace reverbes.En whammy + boss + cs2 + muskett wampler Plextortion.
Fender Strat + + gibson sg gibson lp p90.

OVERALL OPINION

I can not count my amp, I needed an amp for home, stage and répètes.Ca been 2 years and I still this is a sign. In one watt sound is too matte I don 't like but 5 w for home is bon.C is in 15 w it well and slap my pedals come out great.
Home studio in the red box is just to troubleshoot, you lose the whole point of an amp (the movement of HP) but it can be done. It is either a wired or a vox NT12 bedrock 12 percent or 2 x 12 bugera.

Yes I would do this choice for its versatility, its price, its size.
Overall rating 8/10.

All-tube amp to power 18w max.
2 x 12 to the preamp AX7 and 2 x EL84 for amplification.
Classic 3-band EQ 2 + channel a boost, DI output, and affets loop.

UTILIZATION

Modulation between master and gain allows a multitude of sounds from the purest light, an aggressive distortion and this through a bluesy crunch well and that, whatever the channel ...
The documentation is well done, but we really need, as it is intuitive and conventional operation. This is not a criticism but more in my opinion.

SOUNDS

In terms of sound,

The clean sounds are superb, well crystalline and it can become very hot even if you push the master in the last third of the race

The overdrive channel can sound pretty rock that is very clean and really neat.

The boost for me as a true third channel which allows for large saturations.

The head is connected to a cab Vox VN112, I like the rendering of the Greenback cab that gives me everything I want in terms of rendering.

I plug in all my guitars either on this amp with the same happiness (Vigier, Strat, Gisbson Tom Marceau)

OVERALL OPINION

I went on this model after using a small combo Vox modeling.
There is another world, really nothing to do, I use it for over a year and I would do this choice without hesitation.
Of course if I had a budget more so the question arises differently though!

Head lamp amp has two channels more boost. 18W / / 5W / / 1W / / Silent -> Red Box. No reverb. Loop insert.

UTILIZATION

Super simple. Its fairly neutral, but of excellent quality. Not need the manual. The concept is really great.

SOUNDS

I am forced to wait two weeks before posting an opinion on this here little head.
This is one of the best purchase I have ever made. It allows me to have a unique configuration for the repetition, the scene, recording at home ...
I use it with my 4 cables method GT Boss 100. The preamp very advantageously replaces the amp sim pedals, which I still keep all the quality effects. Icing on the cake, the GT 100 will set the channel change the head ... and there, this is America.
Because you can add and even drive the clean channel, simply by putting more input in the loop that takes the preamp. And lead channel switch for passages supported.
Side power amp is perfect too. By repeating, I play and sometimes even 18W 5W, 1W at home, and when I want to record, I am silent. The Red Box makes really pretty and can make the model quite well.
Head (5 kilos) can be transported easily in his saccoche, I leave the baffle (Palmer 1x12 with Eminence Governor) to local ...

OVERALL OPINION

If I do it again this choice? YES and rather than ten times. And in addition, the head is really aesthetically successful.

Tube amp
- 12AX7 (x2) + EL84 (x2)
-Effects Loop
18/5/1 and 0w-powersoak
-2 Channels (clean and lead)
Built-output red box
Integrated No effect.

UTILIZATION

Get an acceptable sound is very simple because this amp sounds great, but very modern.
Disconcerting at first appear inaccessible vintage sounds, and yet ..
All depend on the used cab, guitar and change (very beneficial for that matter) lamps.
Used with a Marshall 1936 lead cab mounted Celestion G12T-75 (x2 12 inch), I was not a big fan of his that I drew. With the hp, its' drool a little while with others in vintage 30 cab it sounds much better!
I count at least one change on my hp cab to balance it all.
When the lamps are Chinese origin and is frankly not with them that are making the most of this beautiful head. So I changed the benefit of two of EHX EL84s for power tubes and Tung Sol pre-amp and Sovtek in clean lead. Result: The amp that sublime dramatically!
Last thing, it is important to use his distortion pedals on the lead channel with the gain shift, otherwise swarm of bees guaranteed!

SOUNDS

I play with a Gibson lp rise seymour ahb-2 in bridge and emg 85 neck.
With this config, the metal is affordable, if the boost the amp is switched on.

OVERALL OPINION

Used for 1 month, it is difficult for me to tell you about its reliability objectively.

Everything has been said before by other users
I insist on the possibility to switch powers watts 05/01/18

UTILIZATION

Very simple configuration.
We obtain easily the right sound.
No need for manual use this amp, so simple and so effective.

SOUNDS

It is suitable for my use and it very well, all or most styles, but tend metal.

The sounds are very good, but for me, it sounds neutral, I do not have the type Fender, my reference is Fender clean tones, the TubeMeister is not even replace a Fender, but it is still very good job, it's not bad, it's just a matter of sound identity. Anyway, I find this amp and I appreciate more and more its sound identity.

Crunches are fine, then I began to better appreciate a true festival, it is very comfortable and easily obtained the crunch you want.

In distortion, it is the top, you can go from hard rock to metal, carefree and power in some one chooses to use. The guy is small, but it sends, and the heavy, 18 watts are more than enough for group play, even with a drummer who hits, 18 watts is already strong, it tells me that.

At home, position 1 watt enables big sound reasonable volume without necessarily grow.

Many sustain the notes last, last, I rediscovered my guitars, it's really extraordinary sensation, it reacts like a real big amp is impressive, however, we will not have the real high gain, but not far .

OVERALL OPINION

For 3 months
I tested other gear sometimes more expensive and were below.

Everything is ok, I see nothing as default, in addition, it is beautiful, with its LEDs lit, it's nice.

The value for money is absolutely amazing, I do not know for reliability, I've had too little, for now, it works great and is behind a lot of much more expensive amps, including mesa boogie Mini correct (yes)!

So amazing value for money,

I would do this choice, no doubt, not once but twice!

2 channels + boost Lead channel
18W power (2xEL84).
Two 12AX7 preamp upstairs.
Effects loop.
Red Box symmetrical output with speaker emulation.
POWERSOAK 18w/5w/1w selection with recording function and silent.

UTILIZATION

Very simple to use ... Even a 5 year old child would use ...

SOUNDS

Bought 4 months ago, I was initially a little disappointed by the sound of the machine ... I explain:
Tested in store, I had a crush on the grain so special about Hughes & Kettner, especially saturated sound.
Got home, and plugged into a cabinet Orange 1 X 12, I did not recognize that I had heard :-(
Though I connect my entire collection of guitars (Jim Root Telecaster, Washburn N2, Les Paul Studio, Epiphone Gothic explore rise Seymour, Mexican strat ...), no configuration could go to the heat lamps ...
After returning to the store I had expliquation: that little head sounds really good condition to push the master over the quarter ... below, the sound seems "skinny", whether clean, crunch or lead ...
Once the knob pushed a little higher last quarter we appreciate a clear very faithful to the microphones guitars connected, as comfortable in arpeggios in casseroles funk. In crunch (without lead boost) is a delight, and the gain will take you to the sounds of blues riff until Angusiens. Finally, the boost can even leave the metal riffs based on the shovel you choose.
Attention, even 1 watt, that little head heavy to send the decibel level ... in 18 it can even repeat a battery. Finally, transplanted by a sound, it will play on stage without any problem.
Only small downside, connecting pedals ... Once my Blackstar HT Dist connected, whether live or in the effects loop, the rendering is really ugly, then it sounds perfectly in rehearsal plugged into a JCM 900 ..

OVERALL OPINION

In summary, an excellent head lamp all for a very good value for money, provided you can push a little volume to be!

07/08/2012:
See all the details already made relevant by previous users. It is true that a shared EQ settings on both channels is a bit short as technical option, but it was perhaps the tribe to pay for a super head at an affordable price. 8/10

UTILIZATION

07/08/2012:
Use child who has already had an amp in the hands, tube or not. Get lost, it would be worthy ... a dork?
The manual, I opened the instructions for pre-heating lamps (that's specific to this type of material), and those relating to auto adjust the bias, to own this amp, one of the reasons that took my decision to buy. Otherwise, the manual ... : Whistle: 9/10

SOUNDS

07/08/12:
I rather rock and prog, with a 7ender Telecaster Stratocaster and a DIY kit mounted micro 7ender CS 69 (this is for single coils), and an imitation microphones mounted Langcaster LP (that's for doubles). Specifications are in my profile.
This head accepts both as each other, preserves the snap of SC, and does not betray the bold and the couillu Humbucker. So I think it is a success, the amp is at ease in all registers that I explore, the Crystal clear and lighter than raucous and angry. Only the barrier of heavy, as it is, it seems inaccessible, but it's not my record that it does not handicap me.
Until then, I have used it without cab (I have a 1X12 based G12H30 under construction), live sound card or dynamics processor by taking on the Red Box setting 0 watts. I have a delay and a EHX Memory Toy Fuzz Angry Fuzz from Visual Sound: Everything goes perfectly, and I confess that my first requirement is met: the clarity of my two 7ender is preserved. 8/10

OVERALL OPINION

07/08/12:
The overall opinion will spoil due to the failure of which I have just been victim: a head that has three and a half months that loose, that's not acceptable! Woodbrass tells me that the symptoms seen, it has every appearance of being a tube of destruction! And I'll never guess, Emile, the tubes being consumables are guaranteed for three months (it's not big, a lamp, but in the ass, it still hurts).
So back workshop. If this is a lamp, it is for my mouth anyway, so they'll charge me like everywhere else, but if it's more serious is SAV, and then I'll be more circumspect in regard to quality "offered" by Hughes & Kettner.
Simply put, the shot was done in 30 seconds: a current record (the head was never released and never leave my HS, I work alone at home), suddenly one of the losses of its when we hear the usual battery of effects pedal makes his last breath, then his back, and when I attack a succession of treble riffs and bottom of the handle, I have a crackling on each note of the riff, accompanied by flashes IN head, then over her if not a rumble (that produced by an amp when you put his finger after a jack not connected). Only the full electrical failure puts the all-zero, before the incident does not recur in the same way if we retry the experiment.
There, between the summer holidays the SAV of the importer and my own vacation, I'm not going to rerecord this head before the end of September. When one has tasted the stuff (oh, a whole head lamp, it m'change Pod, sure!), The large glands that cares!
So when it works, this cute little head like everyone is a gem! When she stranded, it is a bitch! And my annoyance is proprtionnelle the pleasure that I took with it in ten hours of recordings ... no more, alas!
So my overall score will be necessarily halfway between perfect and zero or 5/10, knowing that I obviously have the honesty to publish this notice in the coming weeks (well, not before October, eh ... so ... Because time) to share my printer back on after sales service and the future of this product in my hands.
In the meantime, in addition, I could judge the creature connected to a true dedicated 1X12 cab.