Hughes & Kettner Guitar Bass Amplification User Manual
Guitar & Bass Amplification 2006
english
Beyond the Limits
When we set out to build guitar amps more
than 20 years ago, three distinct breeds
roamed the sonic jungle
– those that purred
with sparkling clean tone, those that growled
with throaty crunch sounds, and the state-of-
the-art amp of the day that roared with feral
rock sound. But gradually guitarists began
to expect more from an amp. Increasingly
dissatisfied with the limited sonic spectrum
of these one-sound wonders, players started
toting an array of amps into the studio. And
soon gigging rigs followed suit, growing
more complex and difficult to manage.
Players’ desire for more options sparked our
vision of a new generation of guitar amps for
a new generation of guitarists. We aspired
to engineer advanced sound-sculpting tools
that would unite the best of the disparate
sonic worlds of clean, crunch and overdrive
in a single housing. Bona fide instruments
that impose no limits on spontaneity and
expressive powers!
The Tone of Hughes & Kettner
The last 50 years birthed but a few of
distinctive electric guitar sounds. Like
most guitarists, we are fascinated by the
inspirational power of these trademark tones.
And our amp designs are steeped in this rich
tonal heritage.
We respect the legacy but continue to strive
for perfection, painstakingly fine-tuning our
amps to improve on classic sounds.
The fruits of our labors are here for all to hear:
Every channel does what a good amp should
– and so much more. Collectively, these
channels deliver the versatility you expect,
the responsiveness you demand, and the
tone you deserve. Whatever tonal treasures
you seek, you’re sure to find them here!
Ultimate Tone. Ultimate Flexibility
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Inspiration through Innovation
Look at an amp and you’ll see applied
science; listen to a good one and you’re
hearing art. An amp is an instrument with
a distinctive personality and playability.
As such, it is a source of inspiration that
has a decisive impact on your music. We
believe our amps to be the stimulus for your
creative activity. And that’s why we are so
deeply committed to bringing the benefits
of innovative ideas and exceptional sound
quality to every class, from the newbie-amp
to the high-end flagship.
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e Master Class: Handcraed Art of Performance
Our company is powered by a passion for
tone. We know that it takes a lot more than
a fistful of valves and branded speakers to
make great amps. You have to obsess about
every detail. And it’s not just the design, the
workmanship or the quality of components.
The magic is in the right combination!
Our Custom Class amps are the fruit of our
never-ending quest for perfect tone and
performance. It is this pursuit of excellence
that makes Hughes & Kettner
®
Custom
Class amps unique instruments for unique
musicians, designed to satisfy even the most
discriminating guitarists’ demands. Looking
for the ultimate? You’ve found it.
Our Custom Class is not about yesteryear’s
designs that limit your playing flexibility. Nor
are these amps about this month’s flavor.
They are the perfect marriage of classic tones
and modern f lexibility. These treasure-troves
of tone are built to go the distance in all
respects.
Custom Class
They are handcrafted in our German
custom-shop, just like you’d expect from
products in this class. But despite boutique
credentials such as hand-wired circuitry
and superior grade hand-selected tubes,
we engineer these amps using 21st-century
manufacturing and cutting-edge testing
methods. And that translates to dramatically
diminished tolerances and variances for
unprecedented reliability and consistent
sound quality.
These amps look awesome. But under that
stylish skin, they are tough as nails
– built
to take a pounding and keep on sounding!
Featuring heavy-duty stainless steel chassis,
they are rugged, reliable and roadworthy
pieces of performing art!
Whatever your favorite flavor
– The Shadows,
Slade, Santana, Sting or Slipknot
– you can
count on our Custom Class amps to give you
the definitive sounds you’ve come to expect
from Hughes & Kettner. Today and at every
gig for many moons to come!
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TriAmp® MK II is your first choice for
awesome sound and total tonal flexibility.
This definitive all-tube, Custom Class amp
puts the most sought-after sounds in amp
history at your fingertips. It’s all there, from
vintage Californian clean to ‘60s British jangle
and from classic rock tones to nu metal
meltdown. TriAmp puts an end to carting
an armada of amps around for the sake of
versatility – and adds crucial performance
features for stage use.
Each of the amp sections features two
channels, dedicated 3-band EQ and Master
controls. Remote channel switching comes
TriAmp® MK II
courtesy of the included Stageboard. The
built-in effects loop is configurable in serial
or parallel mode, and the optional MSM-1
MIDI module adds remote MIDI switching
capabilities. This turns TriAmp into the hub of
every cutting-edge sound system. This amp is
the real deal, boasting a staggering 13 hand-
selected tubes in a non-compromising design.
Finally, all-tube tone and total versatility come
together in one awe-inspiring masterpiece
of rock art
– what more could you want in an
amp?
Three of the finest classic tube amp
designs rolled into one!
e Ultimate Tube Head
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TriAmp MK II
Custom Class all-tube design : 13 tubes!
Three classic amps in one with 6 channels:
Amp 1: Channel A – Vi ntage Californ ian Clean
Channel B – Vi ntage British Clean
Amp 2: Channel A – Classic British Ro ck
Channel B – Vi ntage British Rock
Amp 3: Channel A – Du otone-like Overdrive
Channel B – Modern US Hi Gain
“Tight” Switch in Amp 1
FX-loop mode switch (serial or parallel)
Stageboard
included
Power amp: four EL34 tubes / 100 W at 4, 8 or 16 Ohms
Half-power switch
Optional M SM-1 MIDI remote module
750 x 340 x 256 mm ; 22 kg / 49 lbs
Custom Class
Stageboard included
MSM-1 MIDI Module (optional)
Add the MSM-1 module to turn TriAmp
into a full-fledged sound system with MIDI
switchable channels and FX loop switching
(including serial/parallel modes).
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Custom Class
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Duotone
Custom cla ss all-tube design
Two Channels: Clean and Overdrive
Switchable b oost on Overdrive Channel
Independent triple-band EQ s per channel
Tube-driven parallel effects loop
Master Controls: Prese nce, Master 1, Master 2, Ef fect
Dual Master for 2 foot-switcha ble output volume presets
Power amp:
Head - four EL 34 tubes / 100 W
Combo - t wo EL34 tubes / 50 W
Speaker: 1 x 12
" Celestion® Vintage 30 (combo)
Footswitc h included
750 x 320 x 250 mm; 24 k g / 53 lbs (head)
670 x 560 x 250 mm; 27 kg / 60 lbs (combo)
Duotone®
e Supercharged “British” Classic
So we went on to build the first off-the-rack amp
to offer all of these special tweaks as standard
features: You get supercharged classic rock
tones thick enough to slice with fat, dynamic
overdrive, a top-drawer clean channel, a tube-
driven effects loop, and even a dual master. And
with a 100-watt Duotone head and a Celestion
®
Vintage 30 equipped 50-watt combo on offer,
the choice is all yours. Duotone
– all of the real
sounds, none of the limitations!
Duotone
®
delivers to-die-for tone, but
takes the one-sound-wonder of vintage
amps a significant step further. When we
set out to design this modern classic, we
collaborated with an amp-tuning specialist
to embrace the pros’ most frequently asked
for modifications. The top four demands
are more tone, more attack, a tube-driven
effects loop and a clean channel that merits
its name!
Truest British and beyond…
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No frills for the ultimate sonic thrills…
The amp of every purist’s dream: If you have
always wished for an amp that responds to
your every touch, then this one’s for you!
Determined to create a truly uncluttered
amp with point-to-point wiring, we sought
to go the shortest distance between guitar
and speaker cabinet. Everything else had to
go. Forget the master, effects loop and fancy
switching frills
– our no-nonsense blueprint
left no room for interpreters that might
dilute the message. Just one channel with
3-band EQ, a volume control, and selected
superior components
– that’s it.
Puretone™
Purist Pleasures
This disciplined approach yielded one of the
world’s most responsive and articulate amps.
And if you feel the EQ gets in the way, simply
dial it out by using the Growl knob.
Puretone pumps out far more volume than
you’d expect from a 25-watt amp sporting
two EL34 tubes. Hence the two-stage power-
soak that lets you enjoy the aural rapture of
a Class A power amp breaking up
– without
blowing out your eardrums.
Puretone is the non-stop ticket to tonal
heaven for real players!
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Puretone
Custom cla ss all-tube design, Class A
Single channel with 3-Band EQ
Growl kno b for tapering of f the EQ up ‘til Bypass
Head and combo versions available
Power amp: t wo EL34 tubes / 25 W
Two-stage power so ak for power reduct ion
Speaker: 1 x 12
" Celestion® Vintage 30 (combo)
625 x 320 x 260 mm; 17 kg / 38 lbs (head)
625 x 520 x 250 mm; 25 kg / 55 lb s (combo)
Custom Class
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Alex Lifeson, the iconic guitar player for
Canadian progressive rock band Rush, has
amazed fans all over the world for more
than 30 years. His reliable partner in tone is
our state-of-the art TriAmp
®
. As a gesture
of gratitude for Alex‘s faith in our work, and
to offer a very special treat to you, we have
collaborated with him to create this unique
signature model: The venerable Plexiglas
front panel is inscribed with Alex’s signature
and backlit in a stylish shade of purple. The
amp‘s exterior boasts hip black crocodile-
style covering
– one look and you‘ll be
hooked!
The first 500 amps include a special Rush CD,
tour book and certificate signed by Alex.
TriAmp® Alex Lifeson
Signature Model
Custom Class
Custom Cabinet CC 412 A30 / AL
Of course, we have created a special version of
our acclaimed Custom Cabinet CC 412 A30 to
match the unique look of the Alex Lifeson model.
TriAmp Alex Lifeson
Signature Model
Custom Class all-tube design : 13 tubes!
Three classic amps in one with 6 channels:
Amp 1: Channel A – Vi ntage Californ ian Clean
Channel B – Vi ntage British Clean
Amp 2: Channel
A – Classic Br itish Rock
Channel B – Vi ntage British Rock
Amp 3: Channel
A – Duotone Overdrive
Channel B – Modern US Hi Gain
“Tight” Switch in Amp 1
FX-loop mode switch (serial or parallel)
Stageboard
included
Power amp: four EL34 tubes / 10 0 W at 4, 8 or 16 Ohms
Half-power switch
Optional M SM-1 MIDI remote module
750 x 340 x 256 mm ; 22 kg / 49 lbs
Alex is more than merely a world-class
guitarist
– he‘s a standup guy who‘s
supporting the cause of children‘s wellbeing.
We are donating 50 $ to UNICEF for every
signature amp sold.
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Custom Class
zenTera® is everything today’s player has
hoped for. And more: Imagine having the
milestone sounds of ever y great guitar rig
of the past 50 years at your beck and call.
Imagine being able fall back on 17 vintage
amp classics on stage every night, without
breaking the bank, your back or your guitar
tech’s morale with quirky ancient gear.
Imagine no more, zenTera
®
is here!
zenTera
®
is an awe-inspiring amp for
professional players seeking a sound system
with total tonal f lexibility. Its amp models
were conceived with carefully selected and
extremely rare vintage beauties providing the
sonic blueprints. Adjusting automatically to
offer the original amps’ control ranges, even
the knobs feel authentic! zenTera
®
’s effects
were designed with the same attention to
detail
– a virtual collection of classic stomp
boxes awaits, including the TS-808 overdrive,
Small Stone™ phaser, and a whole lot more!
zenTera®
e definitive Custom Class
modeling amp
The milestone tones of amp history
in a single amp…
zenTera® was engineered with the working
guitarist in mind and features a classic
control panel with easy access to all standard
functions and customizing options. Its mixer
out provides speaker simulation to make life
easier on stage or when recording late at
night. Skip the mic and simply plug straight
into the FOH desk or your computer’s audio
interface to enjoy killer sound!
So if ultimate tone and f lexibility are your
prime objective, and you’ve always wanted
a collection of the greatest guitar rigs of
the past 50 years (and wouldn’t mind the
best classic and modern effects thrown in),
zenTera
®
is here to satisf y your gear-lust. This
collection of digitally modeled amps will put
a genuine analog smile on your face!
Amp modeling, finally done right!
“Nice try” is probably what comes to mind
when you hear “guitar amp modeling.” Many
great products out there give you all sorts of
modeling bells and FX whistles – and they even
do it cheaply! But that digital aftertaste still
lingers. That might be OK for some, but we
are determined to deliver amps with real
tone & feel for serious players!
This is where DSM (Dynamic Sector Modeling)
comes in: After years of painstaking research,
we managed to create a new technology
that authentically recreates the acoustical
and electrical properties of the modeled
amp. Our DSM amps’ virtual sectors interact
just like the hard-wired components in their
physical counterparts. In fact, our models are
so amazingly accurate that they capture each
amp’s trademark subtleties in every aspect.
If you know and care about tone, check out
DSM and prepare for a sonic revelation that
may forever change your perceptions. As
many reviewers worldwide attest, DSM is
convincing enough to convert even true
tube believers!
DSM™
Dynamic Sector Modeling
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