Hughes and Kettner Switchblade Guitar Amplifier Head (100 Watts)
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zZounds Gear Experts Say...
Clean, crunch, lead, and ultra channels. Digital multieffects.
Overview
The World's first fully-programmable tube amp with digital Multi-FX!
For another first in guitar amp history, Hughes & Kettner has packed all the features guitarists have long been dreaming of into one amp: A genuine all-tube design and the boundless versatility of amp modeling. A bona fide tube amp. With tube-driven pre and power amps. And 4 channels that put the full arsenal of classic tones at your fingertips, from spine-tingling clean and crunch to singing lead and crushing ultra saturated sound. You don't need external effects, because reverb, delay and the most popular modulation effects are already on board in top-drawer digital quality. Best of all, you can store all amp and effect settings in up to 128 presets and activate them live on stage at the touch of a button. And that means your sounds perfectly matched to your songs. No more panicky button-pushing between numbers. And today's sweet-spot settings are saved many tomorrows to come.
Switchblade.
No compromises in features.
No compromises in handling ease.
And certainly no compromises in all-tube tone.
For another first in guitar amp history, Hughes & Kettner has packed all the features guitarists have long been dreaming of into one amp: A genuine all-tube design and the boundless versatility of amp modeling. A bona fide tube amp. With tube-driven pre and power amps. And 4 channels that put the full arsenal of classic tones at your fingertips, from spine-tingling clean and crunch to singing lead and crushing ultra saturated sound. You don't need external effects, because reverb, delay and the most popular modulation effects are already on board in top-drawer digital quality. Best of all, you can store all amp and effect settings in up to 128 presets and activate them live on stage at the touch of a button. And that means your sounds perfectly matched to your songs. No more panicky button-pushing between numbers. And today's sweet-spot settings are saved many tomorrows to come.
Switchblade.
No compromises in features.
No compromises in handling ease.
And certainly no compromises in all-tube tone.
Specs
Channels: clean, crunch, lead, ultra
Effects: reverb, delay, mod FX (chorus, flanger, tremolo)
Effects loop (parallel / serial switchable)
Power amp: 4 x EL34, 100 Watts
Speaker-output: 1 x 4 ohms, 1 x 8 / 2 x 16 ohms, 1 x 16 ohms
Dimensions & weight: 29.5 x 11.25 x 10.16 in.; 38.8 lbs
Effects: reverb, delay, mod FX (chorus, flanger, tremolo)
Effects loop (parallel / serial switchable)
Power amp: 4 x EL34, 100 Watts
Speaker-output: 1 x 4 ohms, 1 x 8 / 2 x 16 ohms, 1 x 16 ohms
Dimensions & weight: 29.5 x 11.25 x 10.16 in.; 38.8 lbs
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
(12 ratings)
Submitted February 25, 2007 by a customer from msn.com
H&K Switchblade Amp Head Customer Review
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Sound
I have several boutique amps (Naylors, Bogner), vintage Fenders, a Marshall Silver Jubilee, modern amps (PV JSX, modded PV Classic 30, HK Tube 50). I have tried all kinds of digital modeling amps and was never happy with them. I've been gigging with the HK Switchblade head for a month and I've been really happy with it. It covers a WIDE variety of tones and the built in effects really sound good live. I'll probably switch to a 50 watt combo for size, but this is a great gigging amp. My advice is to start programming by using the rock star preset manual they recently came out with. That was a HUGE help.
Features
The midi pedal with tap tempo works well. I also have a marshall 2 button footswitch that I use to turn the effects on/off and loop on/off. Unfortunately, I still have to take a wah and tuner. If these were included, I could go without anything. And I could live without a wah if the tuner was built in. I used a Line6 MM4 modulation modeler in the loop for easy access to effects on any preset and it worked well. A friend uses a TC Electronics Gmajor in the loop and it works well too.
Ease of Use
This amp is VERY tweakable. At first I didn't like it. Then I got the rock star preset manual and got a much better idea of what worked for me by trying all the settings.
Quality
Seems well made, but not as tough as my other amps. I keep… read more it in a case as I don't think it will handle bumps as well as other amps.
Value
It covers a lot of ground for the price.
Manufacturer Support
I had contact with the company through myspace and that's how I got the new rock star preset manual. They were helpful and fairly prompt. A friend had a warranty issue on his Switchblade head and frankly, the service was extremely slow and frustrating. Once he had to send it back for repair and it took way too long. He had another issue right when they sent it back to him and it took several phone calls, several unfilled promises from HK and then he finally received new tubes that took care of the problem. Frankly, they really need to improve their service on warranty repair work.
The Wow Factor
The technical marvel part is what sets this amp apart. I'm happy to be done with 5 different gain pedals on my board. I get it all from the amp.
Musical Background:
Active musician
Musical Style:
Rock, pop, country, disco - variety cover band read less
I have several boutique amps (Naylors, Bogner), vintage Fenders, a Marshall Silver Jubilee, modern amps (PV JSX, modded PV Classic 30, HK Tube 50). I have tried all kinds of digital modeling amps and was never happy with them. I've been gigging with the HK Switchblade head for a month and I've been really happy with it. It covers a WIDE variety of tones and the built in effects really sound good live. I'll probably switch to a 50 watt combo for size, but this is a great gigging amp. My advice is to start programming by using the rock star preset manual they recently came out with. That was a HUGE help.
Features
The midi pedal with tap tempo works well. I also have a marshall 2 button footswitch that I use to turn the effects on/off and loop on/off. Unfortunately, I still have to take a wah and tuner. If these were included, I could go without anything. And I could live without a wah if the tuner was built in. I used a Line6 MM4 modulation modeler in the loop for easy access to effects on any preset and it worked well. A friend uses a TC Electronics Gmajor in the loop and it works well too.
Ease of Use
This amp is VERY tweakable. At first I didn't like it. Then I got the rock star preset manual and got a much better idea of what worked for me by trying all the settings.
Quality
Seems well made, but not as tough as my other amps. I keep… read more it in a case as I don't think it will handle bumps as well as other amps.
Value
It covers a lot of ground for the price.
Manufacturer Support
I had contact with the company through myspace and that's how I got the new rock star preset manual. They were helpful and fairly prompt. A friend had a warranty issue on his Switchblade head and frankly, the service was extremely slow and frustrating. Once he had to send it back for repair and it took way too long. He had another issue right when they sent it back to him and it took several phone calls, several unfilled promises from HK and then he finally received new tubes that took care of the problem. Frankly, they really need to improve their service on warranty repair work.
The Wow Factor
The technical marvel part is what sets this amp apart. I'm happy to be done with 5 different gain pedals on my board. I get it all from the amp.
Musical Background:
Active musician
Musical Style:
Rock, pop, country, disco - variety cover band read less
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