bmusic - Product News and Reviews

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 op-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.

Hughes & Kettner Swithcblade
Hughes & Kettner® launch Switchblade total recall all-tube amplifiers
The world’s first fully programmable tube amps with digital Multi-FX

(19.01.06, NAMM/Anaheim) The new and revolutionary Switchblade series combines superior tube tone with the sound flexibility of fully programmable amps. Switchblade provides 4 fully programmable tube channels, digital multi-FX and even includes a MIDI-board for instant access to 128 user presets.

"These amps were created for demanding players looking for genuine tube tone and the flexibility of modern amp concepts, Switchblade delivers both and puts an end to sacrificing tone for flexibility!” Six hand-selected tubes (12AX7 and EL34) are at the core of Switchblade’s design. Its four channels are optimized to cover a wide range of tones from California clean to British crunch and classic rock to contemporary American hi-gain Nu Metal.

The amp’s FX-section provides considerable effects power, featuring three independent blocks that all work simultaneously (Delay, Modulation and Reverb). The user interface offers classic tube amp look & feel - but is fully programmable for a total of 128 different tube tones at the touch of a button! The included MIDI-Board enables full control over the amp’s features right out of the box: It offers 4 preset select switches, bank up/down selector and a tap-switch to set the delay time and a 2-digit display.

Switchblade is made in Germany by the same development team that has created classics like the Triamp MKII amplifier and Tube Tools pedals.

Hughes & Kettner Swithcblade Family

Key Features

100W Head, 100W 2x12 combo and 50W 1x12 combo versions

2 x 12AX7 and 4 x EL34 Tubes (2 EL 34 in the 50 W combo)

4 Channels: CLEAN, CRUNCH, LEAD, ULTRA (High-gain)

Total Recall: 128 user presets, all settings memorized

Multi-FX section with 3 independent FX blocks: Reverb, Delay, Modulation (Chorus/Flanger/Tremolo)

Programmable external FX-loop (serial or parallel)

Combos with genuine Eminence® RockDriver speakers

Made in Germany

Switchblade Rear View
Switchblade Pedal

Switchblade Foot Switch (Included)

Technical specifications

Channels: Clean, Crunch, Lead, Ultra

Effects: Reverb, Delay, MOD FX (Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo)

Effects loop (parallel / serial switchable)

Poweramp: 4 x EL34, 100 Watts

Speaker-Output: 1 x 4 Ohms, 1 x 8 / 2 x 16 Ohms, 1 x 16 Ohms

Dimensions & Weight: 750 x 286 x 258 mm; 38.8 lbs

The Switchblade Head will be available from May, 2006 and pricing and pre-order information can be found HERE.. Estiimated delivery dates and pricing for the 100 and 50 watt Combos will be available soon.

The full range of Hughes & Kettner guitar amplification available at bmusic.com.au can be seen HERE. Renowned Hughes & Kettner Guitar Effects and direct recording and live sound tools are available HERE