Hughes and Kettner Tubeman Three-Channel Preamp Pedal
No longer available at zZounds
Combines a high-quality tube preamp with speaker simulation in a remarkably compact format.
Overview
Several years ago the original Hughes & Kettner Tubeman set a new standard for studio preamps, and that standard holds to this day. Tubeman combined a high-quality tube preamp with speaker simulation in a remarkably compact format. So compact, in fact, that it could very conveniently be used for both home recording and pro studio sessions with very professional results.
This same concept has been taken to an even higher level in the new Tubeman. The R&D team that created the Hughes & Kettner TriAmp revamped Tubeman's tube circuitry to give it even greater expressiveness and responsiveness. The speaker simulation has been upgraded to match that of the new RED BOX PRO for added realism. The feature list now incorporates improvements suggested by Tubeman users from all over the world, for increased convenience and flexibility. The result is the Tubeman Guitar Recording Station, and it will change the way even the most demanding users think about recording guitar - without microphones, without a recording booth, and without hassles. Guitar recording in a new dimension.
The new Tubeman offers 3 tube channels, each accessible directly via footswitch, and each with separately adjustable controls. In the studio this gives you a very live feeling, where you can switch in real time from clean to crunch or lead and back. On stage this lets you use the Tubeman as a smart live amp. Simply connect from the To Mixer-output to the live mixing console, and suddenly a 3-channel guitar amp is… read more standing before you on stage.
In addition to its highly effective 3-band EQ, the new Tubeman offers a special Voicing control on Channel 3 (the 'lead' channel) very similar to the one that was highly praised in the Tube Factor. This one simple control makes it easy for you to dial up a broad range of amp characters and find your own sound fast.
The compact metal housing of the new Tubeman is built rugged to handle abuse as a pedal, and is equally at home sitting next to the mixing console, taking up less space than a notebook.
Features
Tube preamp with 12AX7 tube 3 channels, for clean, crunch, and lead sounds
Master 3-band EQ
Voicing control in Channel 3
Click-free channel switching with no delay
Outputs both with and without Red Box cabinet simulation for use To Mixer or To Power Amp
Rugged metal housing for use anywhere: on the floor or on the console read less
This same concept has been taken to an even higher level in the new Tubeman. The R&D team that created the Hughes & Kettner TriAmp revamped Tubeman's tube circuitry to give it even greater expressiveness and responsiveness. The speaker simulation has been upgraded to match that of the new RED BOX PRO for added realism. The feature list now incorporates improvements suggested by Tubeman users from all over the world, for increased convenience and flexibility. The result is the Tubeman Guitar Recording Station, and it will change the way even the most demanding users think about recording guitar - without microphones, without a recording booth, and without hassles. Guitar recording in a new dimension.
The new Tubeman offers 3 tube channels, each accessible directly via footswitch, and each with separately adjustable controls. In the studio this gives you a very live feeling, where you can switch in real time from clean to crunch or lead and back. On stage this lets you use the Tubeman as a smart live amp. Simply connect from the To Mixer-output to the live mixing console, and suddenly a 3-channel guitar amp is… read more standing before you on stage.
In addition to its highly effective 3-band EQ, the new Tubeman offers a special Voicing control on Channel 3 (the 'lead' channel) very similar to the one that was highly praised in the Tube Factor. This one simple control makes it easy for you to dial up a broad range of amp characters and find your own sound fast.
The compact metal housing of the new Tubeman is built rugged to handle abuse as a pedal, and is equally at home sitting next to the mixing console, taking up less space than a notebook.
Features
Tube preamp with 12AX7 tube 3 channels, for clean, crunch, and lead sounds
Master 3-band EQ
Voicing control in Channel 3
Click-free channel switching with no delay
Outputs both with and without Red Box cabinet simulation for use To Mixer or To Power Amp
Rugged metal housing for use anywhere: on the floor or on the console read less
Specs
Input Impedance: 1 Megaohm
Min. Level: - 40 dB
Nominal Level: - 26 dB
Max. Level: + 17dB
Output to Guitar Power Amp Impedance: 220 ohms
Ack Max. Level: + 12dB
Output to Mixer Impedance: 220 ohms
Jack Max. Level: + 6dB Max.
Current Consumption: 540 mA at 13.1 V
Max. Power Draw: 7.1 VA
Tube Type: 1 ECC 83 or 12AX7A
Dimensions (W x H x D): 220 x 80 x 215mm (8-5/8 x 3-1/8 x 8 in.)
Weight (with Power Supply): 2 kg (4 lbs.)
Min. Level: - 40 dB
Nominal Level: - 26 dB
Max. Level: + 17dB
Output to Guitar Power Amp Impedance: 220 ohms
Ack Max. Level: + 12dB
Output to Mixer Impedance: 220 ohms
Jack Max. Level: + 6dB Max.
Current Consumption: 540 mA at 13.1 V
Max. Power Draw: 7.1 VA
Tube Type: 1 ECC 83 or 12AX7A
Dimensions (W x H x D): 220 x 80 x 215mm (8-5/8 x 3-1/8 x 8 in.)
Weight (with Power Supply): 2 kg (4 lbs.)
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
(45 ratings)
Submitted November 17, 2004 by a customer from yahoo.com
H & K Tubeman Customer Review
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
This product is good if you are adding a bag of tricks for a recording session. I can definitely hear it on some of my music but probably I will have to combine it with other sounds to achieve the guitar sound I am looking for. Depends on the style of music but for anything rock or blues this should work rather well. For metal you might feel it is a little underpowered.
For a quick on the fly DI guitar box this unit is awesome and the speaker emulator sounds like the real thing, unlike what I've heard from the digital modelling amps so far.
Sound
I am a metal player and this unit didn't have enough distortion even set at "blitz" on channel 3. The clean channel has a great sparkling tone. The rhytm (channel 2) has a nice blues overdrive sound comparable maybe to a Vox. The lead channel (#3) goes from bluesy to 80s "Metallica" sounding distortion. For some purposes a little tame.
Features
The reason I it 8 is because of the eq's - they're only in the master section, so whatever you set up for one channel must work for all channels. The other compaint I have is the way all knob labeling is done in black lettering on an aluminum brushed chassis - try seeing this playing live or even in the rehearsal studio. There could've been better care taken in that department, at least maybe with different color knobs for each channel. There is a "cool" illumination backlight coming from the insides - maybe they could've used the… read more light for something useful, like showing the knob labeling? Probably H&K thought that when kids see this in a concert hall they'll go nuts buying the Tubeman, but at that price I doubt that it will happen. The best thing on this preamp box is the tube sound. Coming from only a single tube in teh preamp channel that is really commendable! Very nice sustain! The power amp out delivers the line signal the way you'd expect. The speaker emulation out is truly great compared to other similar units I've tried. This one actually sounds believable! Just for that function it is probably worth the cash in the studio (you can always use a different distortion source before clean channel 1 if you're looking for different sounds).
Quality
Built very solid and sturdy. I am giving it a 9 because of the power supply. The only thing I feel can go bad on the road is the power supply adapter and if it does you are toast cause you have to call H&K to replace it (can you say proprietary?)
Value
If you're into recording direct guitar and have enough other effects or computer plugins for sound treatment this pre is a good value. It has a tube inspired tone and it does everything well for a DI recording box. On the road it is also OK if you can overlook the lack of good labelling on the knobs.
Manufacturer Support
I give them 5 because before buying this unit I sent them an email asking a question about the product - I still haven't heard from them 2 months down the line. I hear that once you purchase it gets better but we'll see...
The Wow Factor
Great look, especially the extremely "sexy" blue light that ads an insight into the working of the Tubeman. Unfortunately for me I was hoping for more tubes and less solid state, especially at this price. Compared to similar products, especially Mesa's take on the same concept, the H&K sounds definitely better!
Musical Background:
Active musician, freelance engineer, band manager
Musical Style:
Metal (thrash, death, prog., power) read less
Sound
I am a metal player and this unit didn't have enough distortion even set at "blitz" on channel 3. The clean channel has a great sparkling tone. The rhytm (channel 2) has a nice blues overdrive sound comparable maybe to a Vox. The lead channel (#3) goes from bluesy to 80s "Metallica" sounding distortion. For some purposes a little tame.
Features
The reason I it 8 is because of the eq's - they're only in the master section, so whatever you set up for one channel must work for all channels. The other compaint I have is the way all knob labeling is done in black lettering on an aluminum brushed chassis - try seeing this playing live or even in the rehearsal studio. There could've been better care taken in that department, at least maybe with different color knobs for each channel. There is a "cool" illumination backlight coming from the insides - maybe they could've used the… read more light for something useful, like showing the knob labeling? Probably H&K thought that when kids see this in a concert hall they'll go nuts buying the Tubeman, but at that price I doubt that it will happen. The best thing on this preamp box is the tube sound. Coming from only a single tube in teh preamp channel that is really commendable! Very nice sustain! The power amp out delivers the line signal the way you'd expect. The speaker emulation out is truly great compared to other similar units I've tried. This one actually sounds believable! Just for that function it is probably worth the cash in the studio (you can always use a different distortion source before clean channel 1 if you're looking for different sounds).
Quality
Built very solid and sturdy. I am giving it a 9 because of the power supply. The only thing I feel can go bad on the road is the power supply adapter and if it does you are toast cause you have to call H&K to replace it (can you say proprietary?)
Value
If you're into recording direct guitar and have enough other effects or computer plugins for sound treatment this pre is a good value. It has a tube inspired tone and it does everything well for a DI recording box. On the road it is also OK if you can overlook the lack of good labelling on the knobs.
Manufacturer Support
I give them 5 because before buying this unit I sent them an email asking a question about the product - I still haven't heard from them 2 months down the line. I hear that once you purchase it gets better but we'll see...
The Wow Factor
Great look, especially the extremely "sexy" blue light that ads an insight into the working of the Tubeman. Unfortunately for me I was hoping for more tubes and less solid state, especially at this price. Compared to similar products, especially Mesa's take on the same concept, the H&K sounds definitely better!
Musical Background:
Active musician, freelance engineer, band manager
Musical Style:
Metal (thrash, death, prog., power) read less
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