Hughes and Kettner GrandMeister Guitar Amplifier Head (36 Watts)

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Hughes and Kettner GrandMeister Guitar Amplifier Head (36 Watts), Main
Hughes and Kettner GrandMeister Guitar Amplifier Head (36 Watts), Back
Hughes and Kettner GrandMeister Guitar Amplifier Head (36 Watts), Main Hughes and Kettner GrandMeister Guitar Amplifier Head (36 Watts), Back
Control analog tone and on-board effects remotely from your iPad. Use the power soak mode to run at 36, 18, 5, 1 or even 0 watts for maximum tube breakup.

You'll struggle to find another piece of gear that brings as much to the table as the Hughes and Kettner GrandMeister guitar amplifier head. This amazingly versatile tone machine offers an adjustable 36 watts of power, four independent channels of sonic force, four EL84 power amp tubes and three 12AXT preamp tubes, a switchable dual break point noise gate system, onboard effects including reverb, chorus, delay, and other effects, presence, resonance, and three-band EQ controls, and a built-in RED BOX system that accurately simulates a 4x12" cabinet for quiet recording or practice sessions. Beyond all this analog-tube goodness, you get high-tech tools like iPad interface capability, and storage for up to 128 presets. You'll ever be short on options once you discover all the features this brainy, brawny amp head has to offer.

Four Channels of All-Tube Tone

Your ears and axe won't be able to get enough of the sound this amazingly versatile head dishes out. You have clean, crunch, lead, and ultra channels. Each has a specific characteristic that brings heaps of warm and all-analog tone to the table. Don't forget to take advantage of the different wattage settings switch on the GrandMeister's back panel. Lower wattage settings allows each tube to respond differently to your input, creating subtle changes that really bring out the individual character of your guitar, depending on your setup and playing style. If you're into experimenting with tones, this Hughes and Kettner head… read more is your new playground!

Remote Control and 128 Preset Slots

If you prefer a tablet-based interface to dial in and store your tones, then get the iPad app and take advantage of the GrandMeister head's remote-control capabilities via MIDI connectivity. You also have 128 slots to save the settings of every tweakable feature the front panel offers. Simply pick your settings, then press the store button on the head, then hit your MIDI controller footswitch. The flashing store button means your setting has been saved and can be easily recalled within seconds at any time.

TSC Automated Bias Control System

One awesome feature you won't find on just any tube amp is the GrandMeister's TSC automated bias control system. This system allows the head to automatically control the bias of the power amp to make sure that you're getting the most efficient use out of your tubes. Not only does this lead to greater overall sound, it can also help extend the longevity of your tubes. Every guitarist knows that less maintenance on gear is always a plus.

Built-in Hughes and Kettner Red Box

If you prefer a stripped-down rig (or just want to keep your volume under control), your GrandMeister amp head has a built-in Red Box cabinet emulation feature that eliminates the necessity of a cab. Simply plug straight into a mixer for recording sessions or live performances. There are two cab choices -- classic and modern. Explore each setting to see which sound applies to what your ears are seeking.

Discovering and Shaping Your Sonic Signature

The knobs on GrandMeister's front panel each employ smart rotary feature that allows you to find and store your settings. There is a lot to experiment around with, so be sure to take your time and really get to know your GrandMeister. When you engage your FX access button, more effects come into play -- the treble becomes a delay control, the mid becomes your feedback control, the bass becomes a delay time control, and the volume control lets you chose which effect you want to use. You have chorus, flange, phase, and tremolo. The gain control also acts as an intensity knob for each effect. Keep in mind that all settings are programmable, so once you find a sound you like, store it so you can recall it whenever you need it for the right occasion. With 128 slots, you've got plenty of room to store your sonic creations!

Features:

- All analog tube amp head
- Adjustable wattage settings -- 36, 18, 5, 1 and 0 watts
- Four EL84 power amp tubes
- Three 12AXT preamp tubes
- One 1/4" instrument input
- Four TS outputs
- One XLR mic cable output
- Four independent channels -- clean, crunch, lead, and ultra
- Master volume, presence, and resonance control
- Switchable boost for each channel
- Remote controllable via MIDI controller, interface, or your iPad
- Program and save up to 128 different presets
- FX ACCESS switch provides delay, chorus, and other modulation effects
- Switchable dual break point noise gate system
- Onboard reverb
- Three band EQ control
- Midi in, out/thru
- Built-in RED BOX genuinely simulates a 4x12" cabinet for quite recordings
- Automated Tube Safety Control readjust bias of power tubes for enhanced performance
- 16.98 pounds
- Effects loop
- FSM 432 MKIII MIDI footswitch controller sold separately read less

- Channels: Clean, Crunch, Lead, Ultra
- Power: 36 watts
- Reverb: Digital Spring Reverb
- Poweramp: 4x EL84
- Preamp: 3x 12AX7
- MIDI: In, Out/Thru
- Protective Cover: Softbag included
- Dimensions: 446 x 171 x 152 mm
- Weight: 7.7 Kg

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 716-297-2920
Manual

Hughes and Kettner GrandMeister Amp

The Hughes and Kettner GrandMeister 36 is an all analog tube amp with four independent channels: Clean, Crunch, Lead, and Ultra. The 36 watts 4xEL 84 power amp is based on the TubeMeister 36, but the 3x 12AX7 preamp is completely redesigned and offers the widest tonal spectrum they ever included in an amp, from sparkling clean to highest gain. Independent gain, master, EQ settings and even presence and resonance control plus a switchable boost for each channel provide you with all the versatility a guitarist could wish for.

How? The GrandMeister's Smart Rotary Controls allow each channel to have its own set of controls with only a minimum of pots since each control is fully remote controllable and programmable. That means you can create any sound you want, store it on 128 presets, and recall it via MIDI controller, interface or your iPad.

iPad? Yes, the complementary app for iPad enables you to check the setting of every single control, adjust them, assign names to the presets, and remote control the amp with your iPad -- everything in real time. And the best news: the remote control is just the icing on the cake -- all controls are accessible directly on the amp or the matching MIDI board FSM 432 MK III (not included).

And if you still feel there is something missing you might want to take advantage of the on-board effects and add some delay, chorus or one of the other modulation effects. By simply pressing FX ACCESS you can make the Smart Rotary Controls for the channel settings now work as effects controls, which keeps your user interface well structured and clear. The GrandMeister is also equipped with digital reverb as well as an intelligent dual break point noise gate, measuring the guitar signal at the input, but cutting the noise between the preamp and effects loop.

However, the GrandMeister wouldn't be called a Meister if it weren't for all the great features that made the Meister series so successful. The Power Soak is capable of converting the amp's output into heat and tone and thereby gives you the opportunity to break 36 Watts down to 18, 5, 1 and 0 Watts -- it goes without saying that the Power Soak is programmable and controllable via MIDI as well. Hence you can enjoy the full tube sound at home without annoying your neighbors and even do silent recording at night. The built-in RED BOX genuinely simulates a 4x12" cabinet and sends the signal directly into the mixer, which makes it an amazingly helpful tool in the studio as well as on stage. And last but not least: The TSC (Tube Safety Control) is an automated system that constantly monitors and readjusts the bias to ensure the power tubes operate reliably and deliver the best possible tone.

The GrandMeister is the dream amp for every guitarist who wishes for unlimited access to great tube tone, including effects -- all at a touch of a button.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (1 ratings)
Submitted August 5, 2016 by Phillip L in Barnesville, GA

"The ultimate amp!"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Let me start by explaining a little about myself. I've been playing for about 20 years now and I have been through many amps over that time. I've had a pure love/hate relationship with tube amps, I disliked the limited array of tones available from them, the prohibitive cost, and the massive size and weight. For a time I used modeling exclusively because as a gigging guitarist the flexibility of a modeling rig cannot be denied. When you can go from a beautiful sparkling clean to a nasty overdrive with a single button click it's hard to not be happy with that. And to do it with a single floor unit vs an entire rack of gear of half a stage of pedals is even better. I finally convinced myself to go with tube amps and I went through a few, the most useable being the Marshall JVM410H, it offered great flexibility and tone but weight nearly 70lbs! I stopped gigging and just became a home player and home recording artist. I had the Marshall JCM 800 2203x which is an absolutely wonderful and amazing amplifier in it's own right but it is extremely loud, far far too loud for home use. So, what was I to do? Marshall doesn't make a useful small tube amp, the DSL line leaves a lot to be desired. I tried modeling again, but after months of tubes I just couldn't go back. One day I was offered one of these awesome Hughes and Kettner amps in trade for my Marshall 2203. I was very hesitant but I watched some demos and decided to go for it. The Marshall was literally so loud that I hadn't even… read more played in weeks because my wife and children just couldn't take it, even with the volume on 1. So, in the interest of actually being able to play the guitar at home I got the little grandmeister and I am extremely happy that I did. The grandmesiter amp is, in my opinion the ultimate amplifier. The clean channel is so beautiful, it can do bell like, spanky, chimey, it will do anything that you want it to do. Then add some reverb, delay, etc and it really comes to life, kick in the boost and you've got amazing late 60's silver/blackface tones. The crunch channel is pure Marshall goodness, when the gain is kept low it's very much like a JTM 45, bringing the gain up gets you into super lead range easily. You can go from AC/DC, Zep, Sabbath, you name it and this amp will do it. Again, kick in the boost, toss on some effects and you have an all in one solution for anything classic rock.The lead channel picks up where the 1959 SLP stops and the 2203 begins. Low gain gives a nice thick crunch sound, very late 70's type of tone. Going higher on the gain brings you though Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, etc. It will easily get into Metallica range, and then you still have the boost! Ultra, this one really sets the amp apart, it is Mesa Boogie voiced. Imagine having a dual rectifier in the same box as a JCM 800, a 1959SLP, and a JTM45, with a little silver face in there too.. That's what you get with this amp.

Sound
As mentioned above, this amp will do anything and it will do it all very very well. Clean goes from perfectly clear and bell like through Fender twin, really amazing.Crunch is a tour of late 60's through late 70's Marshall tones. Anything you grew up listening to is on this channel. Lead, from late 70's rock to Metallica, it does it all. Having a Marshall voice it's great for hair metal, thrash, glam, etc. With the gain backed down it also provides a nice muscular classic rock tone.Ultra. Mesa inspired and THICK. Huge bottom end on this one, takes all of the fizz out of the lead channel and replaces it with a massive scooped sound which works for any kind of modern metal. I am constantly amazed at how great this amp sounds. Any guitar plugged in sounds great and anything I am in the mood to play can be done. There is a tone in here for everything. I am also amazed with just how well this amp fills the room with a 2x12. It sounds so much bigger than it actually is.

Features
There are so many features on this amp that I do not even know where to start! Let me start here, if you have ever used modeling, like a line6 pod you will be right at home. When you turn the knobs and save your preset the knob location is now saved to that preset. For example, say you set the knobs all at 6 and save the preset. After you've saved the preset you play around with it and now all knobs are at 10, when you click the button to go back to your preset the knobs will be on 6. Without actually moving, the knobs locations are remembered by the amp, so no matter where the knob actually is the sound you hear is of the knob being where you stored it. It may sound crazy or confusing but its really simple and is the greatest feature of this amp for someone who gigs.. How many times have you gotten to the show and had to fix your EQ because it got moved in transit to the venue? NEVER AGAIN! In addition to that, you have build in reverb. Very good reverb at that. There are effects, phaser, flanger, chorus, tremolo, delay. You can run 2 at a time plus the reverb, so you can make some EPIC tones with this thing or use them lightly for a truly massive tone.There is also a noise gate which works at the front and back of the amp, so it's like running 2 intelligent gates, very very useful. Built in H&K redbox DI. This allows you to connect an XLR cable to the back, hook into your D.I into a DAW and record direct from the amp. Or run into FOH and have your stage volume from the speaker cabinet and the room volume through the PA.Build in attenuation. This is my favorite for being a home player. The amp puts down 36 watts, but you can turn it down to 18, 5, 1, or none. So, you can have insane tone at 1 watt! You can truly crank it and still listen to the TV. One of the more useful features here is also the ability to run without a speaker cabinet. Most tube amps cannot be powered on with no speaker, this one however has an internal "dummy load" which means that you can show up to the gig, plug in an xlr cable and play your show without even having a speaker cabinet at all! It's also great for recording because you can sit it on the desk next to your computer, hook into the DAW and be completely silent while recording. It doesn't get better than that for apartment dwellers.

Ease of Use
Very very simple to use once you learn what everything does. Be sure to read the manual and it will all make perfect sense.

Quality
This head is made in China, that made me very nervous when I got it but after having it for a little while now I can say that I am not worried about that in the slightest anymore. I have been in the amp to replace tubes and everything is made to a very high standard. The workmanship is great and everything is solid.

Value
Extremely great value. This amp does so much, direct recording, effects, power attenuation, 4 channels.. It's literally the only amp you will ever need to buy.

Manufacturer Support
n/a

The Wow Factor
To me it's extremely high. The blue light inside the amp through the clear front panel is enough WOW for most people but the real magic is when you start to play. This amp has so much going for it that I say WOW each time I play the thing.. It's just that great. I honestly wish H&K would make this amp in a full sized 100 watt package for live performance. But then again, why do they need to? This amp is MORE than capable of gigging and again with it's dummy load and direct out you don't even need a cabinet to play an arena gig. Jeff Waters of annihilator uses these for FESTIVAL shows. You can go to this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN13mFGqfDc that is me with my personal grandmeister to see just what this thing will do! Also, as always I must mention zZounds. I did not buy this amp from them since I traded for it used but I HAVE to say how awesome zZounds is. They have a great selection, answer the phone as soon as you call, have the BEST service anywhere and best of all they allow someone like me with not so good credit finance wonderful gear. zZounds is the best and I am truly grateful for them and their payment plans..THANK YOU zZOUNDS!!

Musical Background:
20 years of playing electric and acoustic. read less
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