TubeMeister 18 2-Channel 18-Watt Guitar Amp Head. Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. With the internal speaker turned off it does avery respectable job indeed, and although it doesn't produce an absolutely perfect analogue of the sound of areal speaker it's better than many. Credit subject to status and affordability. It seems we're happy for the Far East to build our computers, mobile devices, clothes et al, but for some reason it's still taboo in certain circles with guitar amps. Both the channel selection and lead boost options are footswitchable, putting three sounds at your feet. Great care has been taken to ensure accuracy in the preparation of this article but neither Sound On Sound Limited nor the publishers can be held responsible for its contents. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of the publishers. The display's readout can also be activated manually at any time by inserting aplectrum into the slot. Call or Chat for expert advice and to hear Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. MusicRadar is supported by its audience. 
Our favourite choice is a 2 x 12 for the increased spread. Summary: This amp is truly a tone chameleon, capable of delivering vintage to modern tones in one 18 Watt package. Getting it this well executed takes months of R&D, contact and constant feedback. Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 Head 2-Channel 18-Watt Guitar Amp Head. Pull it from the included padded carry bag and it's all smart Perspex front panel over a quality steel chassis and domed metal knobs. Serving up three different sounds at the touch of a footswitch, the soulful Tube-Meister 18 is the go-to guitar amp for gigging. Visually, we wondered if there was enough opportunity for air circulation and cooling, but two gigs, three rehearsals and a flat-out recording session with the TM would suggest there is. Enter before August 11, 2022. Here, we're into singing, vocal-heavy gain with high mids, or scooped metal tones with mids cut and bass and treble boosted. 18 Watts too loud in your space? 
H&K should be applauded for the circuitry too - this isn't some trick or digital emulation, and the tonal results are obvious. Call or Chat for expert advice and to hear the latest deals. Thank you for signing up to Musicradar. 
I wasnt going to originally include this clip because if theres one nit I had with the amp while recording this last night, was that at real cranked up settings, the signal compresses a lot. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. A Gear Adviser is ready to take your questions, Looking for something else? Inside, you'll find three custom-designed, through-plated PCBs that house all the main components bar the aforementioned transformers and mains/standby switches. We experimented and had hit songs as well!, Vince Clarke on sequencers: "the revolution in electronic music didnt happen with the DX7 or the Prophet-5 it happened with the sequencer", See Slash audition for a teenage band in new commercial, Real-time virtual jamming, rehearsal and performance could now be possible with JackTrip. The Les Paul with a Backup Output Jack? Weve been supplying tubes for Hughes - Kettner amps for over 20 years. Not only did I have a usable signal, it sounded like my amp was plugged into a cabinet because the dynamics that I was expecting were all there, but with the added plus of no ambient room noise.
Bring it down to 5W or 1W or even 0W! But the RedBox is a special DI in that it has speaker simulation, which means youre going to get the reactance of an amp connected to a speaker. (LogOut/ 18 Watts too loud in your space? For overdriven sounds you need the lead channel, and even there you always have the option to clean the sound up afair bit by backing off your guitar's volume control or picking weight. Despite its small size, the TubeMeister 18 weighs 5kg, most of which is accounted for by the input and output transformers. The matching TM112 1x12 cabinet, with its Celestion Vintage 30 speaker is well-finished, solidly built and worth considering on its own merits. Maybe the front-panel etching isn't ultimately up to the fastidious standards of the high-end German-made amps, but that's about it: no moans. Circling back a little with the DI, one thing that having a speaker simulation is that you get the subtle overtones and dynamics in the signal that you wouldnt get with a direct signal. Though this only really happens at stage volumes, the beauty of the TubeMeister 18 is that you can use the power soak to cut the amp down to amore neighbour-friendly 5W or 1W, but keep the high-volume feel and sound in there, albeit with less of a contribution from the speaker. So here's the first installment in no particular order. Thanks to German engineering, it can go from a roar to a whisper, shaking the boards on stage, tingling spines in the studio, and raising goose-bumps in the still of night - even during silent recording. Total Amount Payable Includes Deposit Amount. In order to keeps costs down, the company has looked to China for the TM18's manufacture. Ultimate clean headroom/volume doesn't stand up to a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, for example - lest we forget, lots of people find that amp 'too loud' - but if you use the guitar's volume control, it'll stay clean quite a way up. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. These flank its valve complement of two 12AX7s for the preamp stage and twin EL84s driving the Class AB push-pull output stage. I guess Im used to using vintage-style amps that never get that far. The TM18 features a Perspex front panel, steel chassis and domed metal knobs. Im sure H&K had the gigging musician in mind when they built the amp because its very solid. Price: $599 Street ($50 for the optional footswitch). Avoid it at your physical, financial and tonal peril. Im such a gear slut. You get the dynamics you expect when plugged into a cabinet. If you add some reverb and sit the sound in the track, you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how good the Red Box DI sounds. That you can crank it right up at one watt at home, and record with it silently, means that this little amp means big business. Lore Reverse Soundscape Generator from Walrus Audio. Can one guitar amp really meet all your needs, from night-time recording in your bedroom to rocking out at high volume on stage? The bass, middle and treble controls are common to both channels, though compromises are minimised because the overall response of each pot shifts depending on which channel you're in; H&K has chosen frequency bands that are complementary to each channel independently. The most impressive thing about this clip was at the end where the amp is picking up the overtones of the guitar. Notice: We will be closed Monday, Aug 1st for our Civic Holiday. Perched on top of its matching Celestion Vintage 30 TM112 bass-reflex cabinet, the TubeMeister 18 certainly looks the part. That DI output is in fact a Red Box, H&K's much-lauded direct output/speaker simulation device, which enables guitar players to do away with mic'ing up, and input straight to a PA or recording desk. Let the record show that quality issues should not be part of that judgement here. Laboga's The Beast follows close behind, but ignoring the built-in Red Box DI, the Egnater Rebel 20 with its 6V6/EL84 valve mix and 1-20W variable output offers similar versatility. The TubeMeister 18 sets abenchmark for this class of amplifier and it would take something very special to beat it. BA1 1UA. MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Such amps, though, have been around for some time, and German manufacturers Hughes & Kettner (H&K) pioneered this market sector with their late '80s trio of one-watt 'micro amps', the Cream Machine, Crunch Master and Blues Master. Finally, I wanted to experience that noted H & K tube sag, and see how well the amp would sustain my guitar signal. View our cookie policy. Well-finished and good-sounding matching cabinets available. My focus was on using the DI to capture my guitar sounds to see if I could get a usable recording that I could then tweak in production. I couldnt believe that when I was playing last night! Follow this product to see new listings in your Feed! What follows is some subtle overdrive in the vein of lighter Hendrix/SRV moments as you push the gain upwards with single-coils. The lead channel picks up the gain boost and spans an AC/DC-style tight rock raunch through to more late-seventies master volume Marshall territory. The available range of sounds is everything you'd expect, from aheavy rhythm crunch, through singing, mid-boosted sustain into the area of heavy riffing, where this amp's ability to clearly delineate notes really comes into focus. Featuring clean, lead and boost channels, a compact design and silent recording capability for recording tracks at any time, the Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 is a versatile head designed to excel from the stage to the studio. Lightweight and portable all the while packing 18 watts of tube power, this head is perfect for practicing in an apartment and still being able to shred in a show. Versatile, portable, great sounding, good value - the new ruler in the compact-head kingdom. Alas, both are true and the response from the world's amp makers is a continuing flow of 'lunchbox' models that appeal as much for their diminutive dimensions as their do-it-all status: practise, gig and record - all with one or two tiny boxes. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. With its gain set at 12 o'clock, the clean channel was wonderfully sensitive to playing dynamics, moving beautifully from clean to the beginnings of crunch depending on pickup selection, guitar volume and my picking weight. Every guitar or bass you purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of protection from manufacturer defects. To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. Its a winner! Final details including shipping and discounts where applicable will be displayed on the checkout page. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Studio Test: Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister18, https://guitargear.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/raw.mp3, https://guitargear.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/clean_prod.mp3, https://guitargear.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/dirty.mp3, https://guitargear.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/sing.mp3, check out this video review from Guitar World, Speaker Output: 8 & 16 Ohm (will automatically detect no switch). More, Popular
The on-board RedBox DI is absolutely killer, and provides for truly silent recording, which is a huge for late-night recording when the kids are asleep (or roommates, etc.). But with this amp, I have to be careful about cranking the amp too high. Hey! Every guitar or bass you Change). All of which means there should be plenty to look forward to in the company's latest take on the small-amp concept, the TubeMeister 18, which offers a huge amount of flexibility. By continuing to use Reverb, you agree to these updates, and to our cookie policy.
Dynamics are all retained. Add speaker simulation and theres something special that happens when you add reactance into the mix. Lovely condition in carry case with leads. Cons: This is a very minor nit, but even with a Strat, the lead channel can really compress at high gain settings. Each channel (Clean and Lead) has master and gain controls and, although they share the same set of bass, middle and treble controls, the EQ filters are voiced differently for each channel. But after playing with it for several hours since I picked it up, I simply love all the tones I can get from this amp and Ive only played one guitar through it! Huge variety of tones. Its typically a little dead when using a regular DI with no speaker simulation, thus no reactance. To be honest, I dont really care about how the thing looks and focus much more on the sounds it can produce.
Genuine flexibility on stage, at home and in the studio. We're sorry-this item is unavailable. Its one thing to DI into a DAW, but it sounds like an amp plugged directly into a speaker. The register can be accessed through, https://www.guitar.co.uk/media/catalog/product/H/K/HKTM18H_.jpg, Item is available to order from our supplier with estimated delivery time shown - please contact us for a more accurate delivery estimate, Noise Gate, Volume Pedal, Compressor and Other, Interest bearing (19.90000000% APR Representative for, Interest Bearing Credit (19.90000000% APR Representative for, Countdown (16.90000000% APR Representative for. For bigger shows, there's the included Red Box out that gives a mic a very close run for its money in a live situation. Full sound. Guides, Artist
Merchant City Music Limited Guitar.co.uk is a credit broker and is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Bring it down to 5W or 1W or even 0W! In recent years, there's been an explosion in the number of small, low-wattage valve guitar amps that are suitable for applications ranging from low-volume recording to on-stage use. Sweden, Versatile and wonderful though the two preamp channels are, it's the interaction between those, the channel master volumes, the power-soak settings and the Red Box DI output that make the TubeMeister 18 what it is. Re: Computer Music File Silo non responsive. Recording Studio in Lockerley, Hampshire for audio and music production, VINTAGE KEYS LOGO BY MARTIN PERRY - SITE PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVEN MOULSTER & THE IMPOSSIBLE KNOTS. Please refresh the page and try again. I would like to pay over months, with the first payment deferred for months. Have an account?
Indeed, turn the pots while playing and they feel responsive and intuitive in use, with a wide band of adjustment available. It offers genuine flexibility to the gigging and recording guitarist, with the bonus that the TSC system maintains optimum valve bias for tone and longevity. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Body, Warm tube tone with phenomenal dynamic range that sweeps from sparkling clean to throaty crunch, Harmonically rich tube distortion and the gain reserves to go from edgy overdrive to soaring lead sounds, Re-voices LEAD to summon modern high-gain sound that pairs plenty of punch with endless sustain, Passive voicing section tweaked to evoke the best frequency response out of each channel, Push-pull power amp that pumps out stage-approved 18 watts, Oversized transformers with tons of headroom, TSC-protected power amp featuring auto-bias and status LED, Footswitch connection enabling remote channel switching and BOOST actuation, Serial FX loop for adding effects-flavored spice to the sonic stew, Quad-stage power soak with silent recording capability, Balanced RED BOX OUT with authentic speaker emulation. The company has updated it significantly for inclusion in the TM18, and you use it via the balanced XLR output on the rear panel. After doing just those simple tweaks, I knew I had a winner with respect to a recording amp. Use our extensive knowledge, experience and customer feedback to select re-tube packages that will work great in your tube amp. The on-board RedBox DI is absolutely killer, and provides for truly silent recording, which is a huge for late-night recording when the kids are asleep (or roommates, etc.). Hughes & Kettner's TubeMeister 18 and its matching TM112 cabinet are ahandsome combination that delivers great sound on stage, at home or in the studio. We compiled the 20 most mentioned stores and quickly realized there were too many great photos we'd have to cut in order to get them all in one gallery. The two together give you agood-looking, great-sounding combo that, despite the price tag, offers real value for money. purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of The Red Box is invaluable on a do-it-all amp and here it's the most natural sounding direct output we've heard in a valve amp. "Turn the pots while playing and they feel responsive and intuitive in use, with a wide band of adjustment available.". On the right you'll find the mains input socket, the output jack and possibly the most important control the Power Soak that tames the full 18W down to 5W, 1W or 0W, at which point the only active output is the DI. And while long-gone favorites like Manny's Music (New York) and Black Market Music (San Francisco) came up again and again, there were even more current shops topping readers' favorites list. As its marketing slogan "Rock on Stage, Play at Home, Record at Night implies, it's more than capable of rocking it out on stage, of being attenuated to alevel that won't annoy family and neighbours and of being used in its 'silent' mode as aDI'd recording source. I bought it used from a good buddy who had only gigged with it once, and to be honest, didnt know too much about it. The TubeMeister's selectable output level, FX loop and built-in Red Box DI give it the necessary flexibility to cover all these bases, and this amplifier sets abenchmark in its class that will be hard to beat. A 4 x 12, while huge fun, rather defeats the object of the teeny, tiny box. Oops, looks like you forgot something. Prices include VAT. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. That's not to say that the 1W setting was bad in fact it sounded and felt very good but the 5W sound just worked that bit better for the way Ilike to play. Also, when switched on, that blue LED glow is pretty cool. IMPORTANT: Hitachi Personal Finance rounds down the monthly payments, which may result in your total amount payable being less than the total cash price. My thought behind getting this amp was to get a usable signal that I could then process in Logic and add the texturing there. When I finished the rhythm track for this, I immediately smiled. You can check avalve's bias point and determine if pairs match any time you wish all that is needed is apick. Designed and engineered in Germany but manufactured in China, the TubeMeister 18 is an elegantly restrained, Perspex-fronted, black and silver little number that comes complete with its own carrying bag. I daresay that it is pretty much the most versatile amp Ive ever owned; not only from a tone standpoint, but also from a power standpoint.
If it sounds good and looks great in the process, Im not going to complain. As a bonus, check out this video review from Guitar World. They're no strangers to innovation either, having launched anumber of 'firsts' in their 27-year history: the first all-programmable amp in 1985; the Cream Machine in 1987; the first DI box with abuilt-in speaker emulator in 1988; the first programmable valve guitar preamp in 1989; and so on right up to the first valve amp with backup direct to memory stick in 2009. Outwardly, the TM18 lives up to H&K's visual hallmarks. Rock on stage. To start off, whether plugged into a cab or outputting directly from the DI into an audio interface, this amp is dead quiet when idle, except at high gain settings where the power amp will hum just a tiny bit. There's asocket for the optional FS2 footswitch that overrides the Channel Select and Lead Boost switches, and abalanced, speaker-simulated XLR DI Out, from the integral Red Box DI. Learn how your comment data is processed. The power soak switch enables you to drop to 5W, 1W or silent mode. Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 Tube Amplifier Head with Carrying Case, Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 2-Channel 18-Watt Guitar Amp Head +FS 2 Switchhead Pedal. Thanks to German engineering, it can go from a roar to a whisper, shaking the boards on stage, tingling spines in the studio, and raising goose-bumps in the still of night - even during silent recording. There was a problem. Summary: This amp is truly a tone chameleon, capable of delivering vintage to modern tones in one 18 Watt package. The TubeMeister 18 with the optional speaker cabinet is avery neat combination, whose full 18W is plenty enough for asmall gig. The register can be accessed through http://www.fca.org.uk. Bring in the Lead Boost and you're into that higher-gain territory where scooped mids rule. The front-panel Channel Select switch does what its name suggests, and its Lead Boost sibling re-voices the Lead channel to give amodern high-gain sound. Its a small nit, and when I gig with the amp, Ill probably either paint dark lines or stick some thin pieces of colored tape to the top of the knobs so I know where Im setting things. Sign in to see your saved items. But granted, I had the Master wide open, and the gain knob at 3pm. ", Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 Amp Review, Hughes & Kettner Launches the StompMan - Premier Guitar , Helmer's How-Tos: 8 Steps to Float Your Strat Trem, Phil Collen on What Your Vibrato Says About Your Ego, First Look: Eastwood Black Box Pedal Series, Mojo Hand FX Introduces the Octaverse Reverse Octave Delay, FareesThe Saharan 6-Stringers Visionary 'Blindsight', GALLERY: 20 Coolest Guitar Stores in the US - Volume 1, Top 10 Acoustic Guitars: Rig Rundown Best-Ofs, Mod Garage: The Alternative Brent Mason Telecaster Wiring, Fjord Fuzz Aims to Usher in a Psych RevolutionIn More Ways Than One, Way Huge Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Revamped Red Llama Overdrive MkIII, Hooked: Tamino on Soundgarden's "Limo Wreck". *Please note that the minimum deposit on a financed order is 10%. The sound starts to compress, the amp becomes more involving to play on and you can balance feel and tone to suit your playing style and your sound. Through the Perspex, you'll see a pair of 12AX7 preamp valves and two EL84s for the class A/B, push-pull power section, flanked by hefty transformers that at least hint at a healthy shouting voice. Bias is readjusted only when the amp is powered up and idling: it's disabled whilst you are playing. Free Standard Ground shipping (48 contiguous states, some overweight and Used/Vintage items excluded). You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. TubeMeister 18 545; 1x12 cabinet 329. For TubeMeister, Mr. Hughes and Herr Kettner packed all their know-how and over a quarter of a centurys passion for tube amps into a remarkably compact chassis. While I love my vintage-style amps, and will continue to gig with them, I have a feeling that Ill be getting a of mileage from the TubeMeister 18. But its close. (LogOut/ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. All rights reserved. The carry handles are at each end - one hand or two - and barely five kilos is bordering on laughable for a valve guitar head. And courtesy of the built-in Red Box and silent recording capability, you can lay down pro-quality tracks at any time day or night. Four blue LEDs illuminate the front panel when power is applied, and the whole package is genuinely attractive to look at. Computer Music File Silo non responsive. You can even switch the output section off entirely and just take it from the DI output. H&K have gained areputation for meticulously engineered amplifiers with, to my ears, aclear, musical voice that gives their amplifiers real presence. 704348. Right in the middle of the rear panel sits aH&K innovation: the two LED indicators and pick-activated switch of the Tube Safety Control system. while others help us to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. You might surmise that guitarists don't like carrying heavy boxes. Speaker Output: 8 & 16 Ohm (will automatically detect no switch). ET usually ship the same business day. Whilst an A/B comparison with amicrophone on the speaker showed up the inevitable differences, listening to the DI in isolation didn't give me any cause for complaint. Since I had a usable signal, I wanted to fatten it up a bit and add some reverb to give the sound more space. Pauls a killer player, and he really brings out the gorgeous tones the TubeMeister 18 can produce. For practice and recording, as you might have guessed, the 5W setting was also my favourite. Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. Bath Recording through the Red Box DI output with the speaker output turned off worked well, and produced avery, very usable sound. SEK Re-tube your Hughes - Kettner TubeMeister 18 Amp with our specially selected vacuum tube sets. Meanwhile, you can continue playing and the amp will get you through the gig. Switching down to five watts or one watt gives you more sense of the power amp at lower volumes. to guide you through your entire shopping experience. Find answers at our, Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. Heres why you can trust us. Superb direct out. Size isn't everything, but we've seen considerably smaller on similarly rated amps. It might be doing H&K a disservice to suggest its amps sound entirely like other marques, because there's no doubt it has its own tonal take on things. It didn't take me long to settle on asound and control setting that gave me exactly what Iwanted: atouch-sensitive clean sound that Icould crunch up at will with pick and guitar. We may also share information about your use of our website with our partners. Winding up the master volumes on either channel brings output valve distortion (and speaker distortion) into play. 704348. Havent tried it with any of my Les Pauls just yet, and Im anticipating that theyd be quieter. Super-responsive EQ makes for tons of tone shaping possibilities. Tube Safety Control (TSC) keeps power tubes biased properly for optimal performance. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. Shop, Hollow & Semi-Hollow We use cookies to analyse site usage, provide social media features and personalise content and ads.
The figures shown are an illustration based on the cost of goods. The two side-by-side LED indicators are assigned to the corresponding output valve. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. I daresay that it is pretty much the most versatile amp Ive ever owned; not only from a tone standpoint, but also from a power standpoint. If you only learn 5 Steely Dan guitar chords, make time for these, Watch a 21-year-old Amy Winehouse bring the house down with a red Stratocaster and talk about her love for the guitar, Technics at 50: how the SL-1200 series accidentally changed music forever, 10 essential guitar solos and what you can learn from them, Legowelt shows off his cheap 'thrift store' vintage synth collection, Gregg Rollie on the recording of Santana's Abraxas and the classic instrumental Samba Pa Ti: "We put things on there that nobody would do.
Orangewood Guitars Oliver Acoustic Giveaway! Play at home.
Our favourite choice is a 2 x 12 for the increased spread. Summary: This amp is truly a tone chameleon, capable of delivering vintage to modern tones in one 18 Watt package. Getting it this well executed takes months of R&D, contact and constant feedback. Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 Head 2-Channel 18-Watt Guitar Amp Head. Pull it from the included padded carry bag and it's all smart Perspex front panel over a quality steel chassis and domed metal knobs. Serving up three different sounds at the touch of a footswitch, the soulful Tube-Meister 18 is the go-to guitar amp for gigging. Visually, we wondered if there was enough opportunity for air circulation and cooling, but two gigs, three rehearsals and a flat-out recording session with the TM would suggest there is. Enter before August 11, 2022. Here, we're into singing, vocal-heavy gain with high mids, or scooped metal tones with mids cut and bass and treble boosted. 18 Watts too loud in your space? H&K should be applauded for the circuitry too - this isn't some trick or digital emulation, and the tonal results are obvious. Call or Chat for expert advice and to hear the latest deals. Thank you for signing up to Musicradar. I wasnt going to originally include this clip because if theres one nit I had with the amp while recording this last night, was that at real cranked up settings, the signal compresses a lot. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. A Gear Adviser is ready to take your questions, Looking for something else? Inside, you'll find three custom-designed, through-plated PCBs that house all the main components bar the aforementioned transformers and mains/standby switches. We experimented and had hit songs as well!, Vince Clarke on sequencers: "the revolution in electronic music didnt happen with the DX7 or the Prophet-5 it happened with the sequencer", See Slash audition for a teenage band in new commercial, Real-time virtual jamming, rehearsal and performance could now be possible with JackTrip. The Les Paul with a Backup Output Jack? Weve been supplying tubes for Hughes - Kettner amps for over 20 years. Not only did I have a usable signal, it sounded like my amp was plugged into a cabinet because the dynamics that I was expecting were all there, but with the added plus of no ambient room noise. Bring it down to 5W or 1W or even 0W! But the RedBox is a special DI in that it has speaker simulation, which means youre going to get the reactance of an amp connected to a speaker. (LogOut/ 18 Watts too loud in your space? For overdriven sounds you need the lead channel, and even there you always have the option to clean the sound up afair bit by backing off your guitar's volume control or picking weight. Despite its small size, the TubeMeister 18 weighs 5kg, most of which is accounted for by the input and output transformers. The matching TM112 1x12 cabinet, with its Celestion Vintage 30 speaker is well-finished, solidly built and worth considering on its own merits. Maybe the front-panel etching isn't ultimately up to the fastidious standards of the high-end German-made amps, but that's about it: no moans. Circling back a little with the DI, one thing that having a speaker simulation is that you get the subtle overtones and dynamics in the signal that you wouldnt get with a direct signal. Though this only really happens at stage volumes, the beauty of the TubeMeister 18 is that you can use the power soak to cut the amp down to amore neighbour-friendly 5W or 1W, but keep the high-volume feel and sound in there, albeit with less of a contribution from the speaker. So here's the first installment in no particular order. Thanks to German engineering, it can go from a roar to a whisper, shaking the boards on stage, tingling spines in the studio, and raising goose-bumps in the still of night - even during silent recording. Total Amount Payable Includes Deposit Amount. In order to keeps costs down, the company has looked to China for the TM18's manufacture. Ultimate clean headroom/volume doesn't stand up to a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, for example - lest we forget, lots of people find that amp 'too loud' - but if you use the guitar's volume control, it'll stay clean quite a way up. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. These flank its valve complement of two 12AX7s for the preamp stage and twin EL84s driving the Class AB push-pull output stage. I guess Im used to using vintage-style amps that never get that far. The TM18 features a Perspex front panel, steel chassis and domed metal knobs. Im sure H&K had the gigging musician in mind when they built the amp because its very solid. Price: $599 Street ($50 for the optional footswitch). Avoid it at your physical, financial and tonal peril. Im such a gear slut. You get the dynamics you expect when plugged into a cabinet. If you add some reverb and sit the sound in the track, you'll be pleasantly surprised at just how good the Red Box DI sounds. That you can crank it right up at one watt at home, and record with it silently, means that this little amp means big business. Lore Reverse Soundscape Generator from Walrus Audio. Can one guitar amp really meet all your needs, from night-time recording in your bedroom to rocking out at high volume on stage? The bass, middle and treble controls are common to both channels, though compromises are minimised because the overall response of each pot shifts depending on which channel you're in; H&K has chosen frequency bands that are complementary to each channel independently. The most impressive thing about this clip was at the end where the amp is picking up the overtones of the guitar. Notice: We will be closed Monday, Aug 1st for our Civic Holiday. Perched on top of its matching Celestion Vintage 30 TM112 bass-reflex cabinet, the TubeMeister 18 certainly looks the part. That DI output is in fact a Red Box, H&K's much-lauded direct output/speaker simulation device, which enables guitar players to do away with mic'ing up, and input straight to a PA or recording desk. Let the record show that quality issues should not be part of that judgement here. Laboga's The Beast follows close behind, but ignoring the built-in Red Box DI, the Egnater Rebel 20 with its 6V6/EL84 valve mix and 1-20W variable output offers similar versatility. The TubeMeister 18 sets abenchmark for this class of amplifier and it would take something very special to beat it. BA1 1UA. MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Such amps, though, have been around for some time, and German manufacturers Hughes & Kettner (H&K) pioneered this market sector with their late '80s trio of one-watt 'micro amps', the Cream Machine, Crunch Master and Blues Master. Finally, I wanted to experience that noted H & K tube sag, and see how well the amp would sustain my guitar signal. View our cookie policy. Well-finished and good-sounding matching cabinets available. My focus was on using the DI to capture my guitar sounds to see if I could get a usable recording that I could then tweak in production. I couldnt believe that when I was playing last night! Follow this product to see new listings in your Feed! What follows is some subtle overdrive in the vein of lighter Hendrix/SRV moments as you push the gain upwards with single-coils. The lead channel picks up the gain boost and spans an AC/DC-style tight rock raunch through to more late-seventies master volume Marshall territory. The available range of sounds is everything you'd expect, from aheavy rhythm crunch, through singing, mid-boosted sustain into the area of heavy riffing, where this amp's ability to clearly delineate notes really comes into focus. Featuring clean, lead and boost channels, a compact design and silent recording capability for recording tracks at any time, the Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 is a versatile head designed to excel from the stage to the studio. Lightweight and portable all the while packing 18 watts of tube power, this head is perfect for practicing in an apartment and still being able to shred in a show. Versatile, portable, great sounding, good value - the new ruler in the compact-head kingdom. Alas, both are true and the response from the world's amp makers is a continuing flow of 'lunchbox' models that appeal as much for their diminutive dimensions as their do-it-all status: practise, gig and record - all with one or two tiny boxes. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. With its gain set at 12 o'clock, the clean channel was wonderfully sensitive to playing dynamics, moving beautifully from clean to the beginnings of crunch depending on pickup selection, guitar volume and my picking weight. Every guitar or bass you purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of protection from manufacturer defects. To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. Its a winner! Final details including shipping and discounts where applicable will be displayed on the checkout page. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Studio Test: Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister18, https://guitargear.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/raw.mp3, https://guitargear.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/clean_prod.mp3, https://guitargear.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/dirty.mp3, https://guitargear.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/sing.mp3, check out this video review from Guitar World, Speaker Output: 8 & 16 Ohm (will automatically detect no switch). More, Popular
The on-board RedBox DI is absolutely killer, and provides for truly silent recording, which is a huge for late-night recording when the kids are asleep (or roommates, etc.). But with this amp, I have to be careful about cranking the amp too high. Hey! Every guitar or bass you Change). All of which means there should be plenty to look forward to in the company's latest take on the small-amp concept, the TubeMeister 18, which offers a huge amount of flexibility. By continuing to use Reverb, you agree to these updates, and to our cookie policy.
Dynamics are all retained. Add speaker simulation and theres something special that happens when you add reactance into the mix. Lovely condition in carry case with leads. Cons: This is a very minor nit, but even with a Strat, the lead channel can really compress at high gain settings. Each channel (Clean and Lead) has master and gain controls and, although they share the same set of bass, middle and treble controls, the EQ filters are voiced differently for each channel. But after playing with it for several hours since I picked it up, I simply love all the tones I can get from this amp and Ive only played one guitar through it! Huge variety of tones. Its typically a little dead when using a regular DI with no speaker simulation, thus no reactance. To be honest, I dont really care about how the thing looks and focus much more on the sounds it can produce.
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, "We asked PG readers what is the coolest guitar shop they've been to in the US. It's worth mentioning that the mid control has a significant effect on the tone, which is particularly useful when you switch again to the lead boost mode. The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers. It's safe to unplug the speaker in the power soak's silent position only. Our Gear Advisers are available The only nit Id have with respect to its physical appearance is that the level dots on the knobs can be a bit difficult to see from certain angles because of the chrome finish. This amp has it all for me; especially in the recording department.Genuine flexibility on stage, at home and in the studio. We're sorry-this item is unavailable. Its one thing to DI into a DAW, but it sounds like an amp plugged directly into a speaker. The register can be accessed through, https://www.guitar.co.uk/media/catalog/product/H/K/HKTM18H_.jpg, Item is available to order from our supplier with estimated delivery time shown - please contact us for a more accurate delivery estimate, Noise Gate, Volume Pedal, Compressor and Other, Interest bearing (19.90000000% APR Representative for, Interest Bearing Credit (19.90000000% APR Representative for, Countdown (16.90000000% APR Representative for. For bigger shows, there's the included Red Box out that gives a mic a very close run for its money in a live situation. Full sound. Guides, Artist
Merchant City Music Limited Guitar.co.uk is a credit broker and is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Bring it down to 5W or 1W or even 0W! In recent years, there's been an explosion in the number of small, low-wattage valve guitar amps that are suitable for applications ranging from low-volume recording to on-stage use. Sweden, Versatile and wonderful though the two preamp channels are, it's the interaction between those, the channel master volumes, the power-soak settings and the Red Box DI output that make the TubeMeister 18 what it is. Re: Computer Music File Silo non responsive. Recording Studio in Lockerley, Hampshire for audio and music production, VINTAGE KEYS LOGO BY MARTIN PERRY - SITE PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEVEN MOULSTER & THE IMPOSSIBLE KNOTS. Please refresh the page and try again. I would like to pay over months, with the first payment deferred for months. Have an account?
Indeed, turn the pots while playing and they feel responsive and intuitive in use, with a wide band of adjustment available. It offers genuine flexibility to the gigging and recording guitarist, with the bonus that the TSC system maintains optimum valve bias for tone and longevity. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Body, Warm tube tone with phenomenal dynamic range that sweeps from sparkling clean to throaty crunch, Harmonically rich tube distortion and the gain reserves to go from edgy overdrive to soaring lead sounds, Re-voices LEAD to summon modern high-gain sound that pairs plenty of punch with endless sustain, Passive voicing section tweaked to evoke the best frequency response out of each channel, Push-pull power amp that pumps out stage-approved 18 watts, Oversized transformers with tons of headroom, TSC-protected power amp featuring auto-bias and status LED, Footswitch connection enabling remote channel switching and BOOST actuation, Serial FX loop for adding effects-flavored spice to the sonic stew, Quad-stage power soak with silent recording capability, Balanced RED BOX OUT with authentic speaker emulation. The company has updated it significantly for inclusion in the TM18, and you use it via the balanced XLR output on the rear panel. After doing just those simple tweaks, I knew I had a winner with respect to a recording amp. Use our extensive knowledge, experience and customer feedback to select re-tube packages that will work great in your tube amp. The on-board RedBox DI is absolutely killer, and provides for truly silent recording, which is a huge for late-night recording when the kids are asleep (or roommates, etc.). Hughes & Kettner's TubeMeister 18 and its matching TM112 cabinet are ahandsome combination that delivers great sound on stage, at home or in the studio. We compiled the 20 most mentioned stores and quickly realized there were too many great photos we'd have to cut in order to get them all in one gallery. The two together give you agood-looking, great-sounding combo that, despite the price tag, offers real value for money. purchase from Musician's Friend (electric or acoustic, New or Open Box) includes two years of The Red Box is invaluable on a do-it-all amp and here it's the most natural sounding direct output we've heard in a valve amp. "Turn the pots while playing and they feel responsive and intuitive in use, with a wide band of adjustment available.". On the right you'll find the mains input socket, the output jack and possibly the most important control the Power Soak that tames the full 18W down to 5W, 1W or 0W, at which point the only active output is the DI. And while long-gone favorites like Manny's Music (New York) and Black Market Music (San Francisco) came up again and again, there were even more current shops topping readers' favorites list. As its marketing slogan "Rock on Stage, Play at Home, Record at Night implies, it's more than capable of rocking it out on stage, of being attenuated to alevel that won't annoy family and neighbours and of being used in its 'silent' mode as aDI'd recording source. I bought it used from a good buddy who had only gigged with it once, and to be honest, didnt know too much about it. The TubeMeister's selectable output level, FX loop and built-in Red Box DI give it the necessary flexibility to cover all these bases, and this amplifier sets abenchmark in its class that will be hard to beat. A 4 x 12, while huge fun, rather defeats the object of the teeny, tiny box. Oops, looks like you forgot something. Prices include VAT. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. That's not to say that the 1W setting was bad in fact it sounded and felt very good but the 5W sound just worked that bit better for the way Ilike to play. Also, when switched on, that blue LED glow is pretty cool. IMPORTANT: Hitachi Personal Finance rounds down the monthly payments, which may result in your total amount payable being less than the total cash price. My thought behind getting this amp was to get a usable signal that I could then process in Logic and add the texturing there. When I finished the rhythm track for this, I immediately smiled. You can check avalve's bias point and determine if pairs match any time you wish all that is needed is apick. Designed and engineered in Germany but manufactured in China, the TubeMeister 18 is an elegantly restrained, Perspex-fronted, black and silver little number that comes complete with its own carrying bag. I daresay that it is pretty much the most versatile amp Ive ever owned; not only from a tone standpoint, but also from a power standpoint.
If it sounds good and looks great in the process, Im not going to complain. As a bonus, check out this video review from Guitar World. They're no strangers to innovation either, having launched anumber of 'firsts' in their 27-year history: the first all-programmable amp in 1985; the Cream Machine in 1987; the first DI box with abuilt-in speaker emulator in 1988; the first programmable valve guitar preamp in 1989; and so on right up to the first valve amp with backup direct to memory stick in 2009. Outwardly, the TM18 lives up to H&K's visual hallmarks. Rock on stage. To start off, whether plugged into a cab or outputting directly from the DI into an audio interface, this amp is dead quiet when idle, except at high gain settings where the power amp will hum just a tiny bit. There's asocket for the optional FS2 footswitch that overrides the Channel Select and Lead Boost switches, and abalanced, speaker-simulated XLR DI Out, from the integral Red Box DI. Learn how your comment data is processed. The power soak switch enables you to drop to 5W, 1W or silent mode. Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 Tube Amplifier Head with Carrying Case, Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 2-Channel 18-Watt Guitar Amp Head +FS 2 Switchhead Pedal. Thanks to German engineering, it can go from a roar to a whisper, shaking the boards on stage, tingling spines in the studio, and raising goose-bumps in the still of night - even during silent recording. There was a problem. Summary: This amp is truly a tone chameleon, capable of delivering vintage to modern tones in one 18 Watt package. The TubeMeister 18 with the optional speaker cabinet is avery neat combination, whose full 18W is plenty enough for asmall gig. The register can be accessed through http://www.fca.org.uk. Bring in the Lead Boost and you're into that higher-gain territory where scooped mids rule. The front-panel Channel Select switch does what its name suggests, and its Lead Boost sibling re-voices the Lead channel to give amodern high-gain sound. Its a small nit, and when I gig with the amp, Ill probably either paint dark lines or stick some thin pieces of colored tape to the top of the knobs so I know where Im setting things. Sign in to see your saved items. But granted, I had the Master wide open, and the gain knob at 3pm. ", Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 Amp Review, Hughes & Kettner Launches the StompMan - Premier Guitar , Helmer's How-Tos: 8 Steps to Float Your Strat Trem, Phil Collen on What Your Vibrato Says About Your Ego, First Look: Eastwood Black Box Pedal Series, Mojo Hand FX Introduces the Octaverse Reverse Octave Delay, FareesThe Saharan 6-Stringers Visionary 'Blindsight', GALLERY: 20 Coolest Guitar Stores in the US - Volume 1, Top 10 Acoustic Guitars: Rig Rundown Best-Ofs, Mod Garage: The Alternative Brent Mason Telecaster Wiring, Fjord Fuzz Aims to Usher in a Psych RevolutionIn More Ways Than One, Way Huge Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Revamped Red Llama Overdrive MkIII, Hooked: Tamino on Soundgarden's "Limo Wreck". *Please note that the minimum deposit on a financed order is 10%. The sound starts to compress, the amp becomes more involving to play on and you can balance feel and tone to suit your playing style and your sound. Through the Perspex, you'll see a pair of 12AX7 preamp valves and two EL84s for the class A/B, push-pull power section, flanked by hefty transformers that at least hint at a healthy shouting voice. Bias is readjusted only when the amp is powered up and idling: it's disabled whilst you are playing. Free Standard Ground shipping (48 contiguous states, some overweight and Used/Vintage items excluded). You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. TubeMeister 18 545; 1x12 cabinet 329. For TubeMeister, Mr. Hughes and Herr Kettner packed all their know-how and over a quarter of a centurys passion for tube amps into a remarkably compact chassis. While I love my vintage-style amps, and will continue to gig with them, I have a feeling that Ill be getting a of mileage from the TubeMeister 18. But its close. (LogOut/ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. All rights reserved. The carry handles are at each end - one hand or two - and barely five kilos is bordering on laughable for a valve guitar head. And courtesy of the built-in Red Box and silent recording capability, you can lay down pro-quality tracks at any time day or night. Four blue LEDs illuminate the front panel when power is applied, and the whole package is genuinely attractive to look at. Computer Music File Silo non responsive. You can even switch the output section off entirely and just take it from the DI output. H&K have gained areputation for meticulously engineered amplifiers with, to my ears, aclear, musical voice that gives their amplifiers real presence. 704348. Right in the middle of the rear panel sits aH&K innovation: the two LED indicators and pick-activated switch of the Tube Safety Control system. while others help us to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. You might surmise that guitarists don't like carrying heavy boxes. Speaker Output: 8 & 16 Ohm (will automatically detect no switch). ET usually ship the same business day. Whilst an A/B comparison with amicrophone on the speaker showed up the inevitable differences, listening to the DI in isolation didn't give me any cause for complaint. Since I had a usable signal, I wanted to fatten it up a bit and add some reverb to give the sound more space. Pauls a killer player, and he really brings out the gorgeous tones the TubeMeister 18 can produce. For practice and recording, as you might have guessed, the 5W setting was also my favourite. Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. Bath Recording through the Red Box DI output with the speaker output turned off worked well, and produced avery, very usable sound. SEK Re-tube your Hughes - Kettner TubeMeister 18 Amp with our specially selected vacuum tube sets. Meanwhile, you can continue playing and the amp will get you through the gig. Switching down to five watts or one watt gives you more sense of the power amp at lower volumes. to guide you through your entire shopping experience. Find answers at our, Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. Heres why you can trust us. Superb direct out. Size isn't everything, but we've seen considerably smaller on similarly rated amps. It might be doing H&K a disservice to suggest its amps sound entirely like other marques, because there's no doubt it has its own tonal take on things. It didn't take me long to settle on asound and control setting that gave me exactly what Iwanted: atouch-sensitive clean sound that Icould crunch up at will with pick and guitar. We may also share information about your use of our website with our partners. Winding up the master volumes on either channel brings output valve distortion (and speaker distortion) into play. 704348. Havent tried it with any of my Les Pauls just yet, and Im anticipating that theyd be quieter. Super-responsive EQ makes for tons of tone shaping possibilities. Tube Safety Control (TSC) keeps power tubes biased properly for optimal performance. Contact our experts for a recommendation of great alternatives. Shop, Hollow & Semi-Hollow We use cookies to analyse site usage, provide social media features and personalise content and ads.
The figures shown are an illustration based on the cost of goods. The two side-by-side LED indicators are assigned to the corresponding output valve. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. I daresay that it is pretty much the most versatile amp Ive ever owned; not only from a tone standpoint, but also from a power standpoint. If you only learn 5 Steely Dan guitar chords, make time for these, Watch a 21-year-old Amy Winehouse bring the house down with a red Stratocaster and talk about her love for the guitar, Technics at 50: how the SL-1200 series accidentally changed music forever, 10 essential guitar solos and what you can learn from them, Legowelt shows off his cheap 'thrift store' vintage synth collection, Gregg Rollie on the recording of Santana's Abraxas and the classic instrumental Samba Pa Ti: "We put things on there that nobody would do.
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