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Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 Combo
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Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 18 Combo
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« I am proud of my Hughes and Kettner!! »

Published on 03/27/12 at 06:33
This is a small (in size) combo lamps of 18 watts mawimum (but they are watt lamps, nothing to do with 18 watts of transistors).
It has an effects loop, a three EQ knobs which are however not common between the two channels.

There is no effect board. on the other hand, it has a sound attenuator that allows us to reduce the sound from 18 to 5 or 1 watt. It really is a definite plus. It also has an output D / I (Red Box) invented by Hughes and Kettner it seems to me to record directly from the amp (it is beyond my expertise there).

There is also a Tube Safety Control System (TSC) which PAIR lamps ui them automatically and promotes their longevity, especially when the amp is placed in standby.

The amp is very professional, it is very beautiful and we feel that this is not the stuff of shit but quality, congratulations.

The characteristics of the amplifier:

18W Combo 2 Channel Tube
Celestion Custom 10 "
Pre-amp 2 channels (clean / lead) tube
Power amplifier tube
Power attenuator and 4 positions 18/5/1W silence for registration
Lamps pre-amp 2 x 12AX7
Power tubes 2 x EL84
And master gain controls per channel
3-band EQ low, mid, treble
Lead boost switch, reverb
HP Output 8/16 Ohms
Effects loop send / return series
Output D / I (Red Box) XLR
Technology TSC (Tube Safety Control), self-bias and status LEDs
Carrying handle, dust cover

Dimensions 395 x 360 x 260mm
Weight 9.4kg

UTILIZATION

While there, I do not put 10 because of one thing ...
Why not have thought to put a headphone jack on this amp, the sound is so beautiful, we would have liked to connect headphones and use it and finally it may be possible via the output D / I, but I do not think, they would have explained in the instructions).
The instructions are clear and precise otherwise. It includes everything without difficulty and without knowledge of crazy.

On the main, the sound, one needs only a few moments to work on a sound basis, is magnificent. We have fun while finding its sound quite easily.

SOUNDS

This is the biggest so: the sounds are excellent.
Whether the clear sound, playing with gain and master, remains pure if you want even at high volume. Basically if you mount the master thoroughly without putting gain, the sound is pure and breathless! If we add the gain, then we can get a crunchy sound.
For the Lead channel, then there is the same, it will play with the gain and master (both existing and settings for clear sound, and for its saturated), to find his sound. One can easily find a rather bluesy, rock sound and even a large saturation. Lead sounds are really beautiful, you understand why this amp has no effect board.
It is true that for a fuzz or a saturation-type metal, it will go through pedals or multi-effect but as I said, you need to listen to the amp to realize the beauty of the sound it delivers.

I play with Gibson 490 pickups in neck and bridge, and split-and either double or single, the sound is excellent. This amp has nothing to envy to other models Fender sold much more expensive.

Note the presence of a boost that can give a few more decibels for solos. Think it&#39;s good enough!

OVERALL OPINION

So here I was a peavey classic 30 with a Celestion Vintage 30. I loved this amp, especially for her but I had a pond can not play because of a lack of master. It was quite heavy, not easily transportable and deprived him of standby and helpless as a headphone jack.
With the TM-18 Tubemeister not combo version, I really find what I wanted. The sounds are beautiful, you can go from a power of 18 watts to 5 or 1 watt. The amp is nice, not too heavy and not too big, so it is transportable at will, even if the cover provided is not of exceptional quality, it has the merit of being supplied.
The presence of standby keeps the heat lamps and switch instruments without turning off.
But above all sound (including the clean sound) is beautiful, and you can really get a whole range of different sounds with this amp. One branch, it sounds and we already want to play on it even though we have not yet done its settings.
If I were to summarize:
Pros: The sound, the power attenuator, TSC technology (those with a Peavey Classic understand me), the quality / weight, aesthetics (especially on with this beautiful blue and clear glass to see heated lamps), the manufacturing quality of the amp and then the price still reasonable although it is not given.
The -: no headphone jack (too bad it would have been complete), the cover that would be little better and the pedal FS-2 of Hughes and Kettner, essential, which is not sold (that said, for about 25 euros, you can find it used, that&#39;s what I did).