Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Well I Got My Amp Ordered!

Posted by: shatterd Mar 29 2010, 11:51 PM

Just ordered a Hughes & Kettner Switchblade 50 watt combo, complete with Midi stage board for the floor. 4 channels(clean, crunch, lead, ultra) and built in rack of effects(delays, reverbs, modulations). Here's a short sound clip I found on youtube. Nice crunch, pretty hot, plenty of gain, and also a very nice clean channel too. The crunch channel has a british flair to it...kinda Plexi like. The higher gain channels sound more modern sorta like a Mesa Mark V.

Lead...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4TIe0Ph_NY

Ultra....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8UEkh-gO8A

One thing I really like about this combo is that it is mostly a closed back combo. It wasn't cheap(around 1,600 US dollars, so I'm hoping for Mesa-Marshall quality. Will consider a TC Electronic Nova system later for effects.

I hope to have a video up this weekend with this amp, as I'm working on a lesson now and want to record it with the new amp. It's a progressive rock piece from GMC in style of Dream Theater/Petrucci.

Posted by: Fran Mar 29 2010, 11:59 PM

Sounds like an awesome amp mate, congrats!

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Mar 30 2010, 12:08 AM

Congrats on getting it mate! Its a very good amp!

Posted by: Sollesnes Mar 30 2010, 12:42 AM

Congratulations! I just recently bought a new amplifier as well. Ah, lovely days!

Posted by: Gitarrero Mar 30 2010, 07:47 AM

Cool, a switchblade. I once played it in a store, couldn't afford it though...

Posted by: audiopaal Mar 30 2010, 08:48 AM

Congratulations on a great amp

Posted by: sted Mar 30 2010, 11:09 AM

I think you'll be very happy with that purchase mate, H&K are right up there in terms of modern high gain sounds and the quality will be top notch for sure.

Gratz!

Posted by: MickeM Mar 30 2010, 11:17 AM

Great amp! Still enjoying mine. Too many buttons and channels for a simpleton like myself that's all.

Posted by: Sensible Jones Mar 30 2010, 01:04 PM

Awesome piece of kit!!
Congrats!!!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 30 2010, 03:15 PM

Seems to me you have one hell of an amp! COngratulations, may it serve you well

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Mar 30 2010, 05:05 PM

Some nice sounds, congratz

Posted by: Stephane Lucarelli Mar 30 2010, 05:22 PM

It's seems to be a great & versatile amp, congrats man. And post some sound clips as well!

Posted by: shatterd Mar 30 2010, 11:05 PM

Thanks for all the encouraging words regarding the amp. I'll be posting a youtube vid soon so we can all hear the amp demonstrating one of the lessons I'm working on.

Posted by: shatterd Apr 2 2010, 03:46 AM

Well the new H&K Switchblade came yesterday and I can't stop playing it. It's just so perfect for me. The perfect type of modern hi gain that I like. Nice rich tube saturation and overtones. Good clean channel. Plenty of gain for any type of heavy stuff. Very good 'usable' effects. Came with a nice midi floor board that I can set up presets on and store them. I'll never need another pedal LOL!!! It has a nice low end to the tone...almost as if I were playing thru a cabinet....but it's a combo. It's a closed back type of combo so I'm sure that helps. The gain is sorta like a Mesa...Mark IV or Rectifier in that it is very warm and modern sounding....but it's a little creamier than Mesa....kinda like a drop of british in there from the EL34's. It's very loud as you would expect from 50 watts. The EQ's are very responsive and drastically change the tone...meaning lots of versatility.

I'm not saying this is the best amp ever, I'm just saying that it is the best amp I've ever owned and played. Now I will dive into my GMC lessons and hope to get in my first band in the next year or so. Love the Switchblade!! Based on first impressions....I give it 5 stars out of 5!

P.S...youtube vid in the works(using new amp on one of the GMC lessons...with backing track)

Posted by: maharzan Apr 2 2010, 06:24 AM

Congrats man.. looking forward to your video with that awesome amp.

Cheers!

Posted by: sted Apr 2 2010, 07:57 AM

looking forwad to the demo mate!

Posted by: Bondy Apr 2 2010, 11:08 AM

I love those switch-blade combos, jealous English guy over here lol.

Posted by: Zsolt Galambos Apr 2 2010, 11:54 AM

Sounds just great! Awesome choice, man!

Posted by: shatterd Apr 11 2010, 11:33 PM

Well I'm almost ready to record my demo based on a progressive rock lesson here on GMC. It has taken me a little longer to master because there are a few fast parts in there and I was having a bit of trouble getting it up to tempo...130 bpm. But I've been practicing it today like a mad man and I'm almost there. I really want to show off the new amp as well. One more thing is that I'm out of discs for my video cam and need to get to the store to get some more. But I hope to have the vid up in the next day or two. Thanks for all the feedback. My wife went out today and left me at the house alone...so I got to play the amp loud. It's crazy how loud is 50 watts through a 12 inch Eminence speaker. I can't imagine needing more power than this even if I get into a band. I was at a club not too long ago and the band's guitarists was using a 50 watt Mesa Mark IV combo and he was totally destroying the place with it. I guess I could always get me a 2x12 cab and run my combo through that if needed. But needless to say I'm very happy with this Switchblade. It was money well spent. Quite an upgrade from my Peavey Vypyr Tube 60. If I ever need a 100 watt head I would surely consider getting the Switchblade head. I can't even turn my combo volume up to half way because it will blow out my windows in the house. It seems to hold together at loud volumes. It doesn't get muddy at all.

P.S...how many of you guys out there play a 50 watt combo for your live gigs?..and do you ever find yourself needing more power like with head and 4x12 cab??

Posted by: ZakkWylde Apr 11 2010, 11:37 PM

50 watt is 90% as loud as a 100 watt head! You will NEVER EVER have the nned to crank your amp to the max - the only upside of having 100 watts is more clean headroom and more punch in your overall sound.

Posted by: sted Apr 12 2010, 11:42 AM

yeah, I agree with Zakk, I destroy our drummer with my amp set to 45 watts for the hi-gain settings, i use the 90 watt setting only for cleans channel or to add headroom to the crunch.