Hughes and Kettner Review: Edition Blue 30W 1X10 Combo Amp

History:

Purchase: I was looking for an amp that was versatile enough to be used at home for practice, but also with a big enough sound and sufficient capability to be plugged into stage amps. I was looking to get an affordable 30-watt amp that would replicate the sounds of 60s-era rock/rhythm and blues. I purchased this amp from musicansfriend.com for $209.00.

What I Like About This Hughes and Kettner Edition Blue 30W 1X10 Combo Amp: This amp has a fantastic, solid mellow sound that is perfect for my Rickenbacker 330. For anyone who wants to play classic 60s-style rock, rhythm & blues, and folk rock type music -- you simply HAVE to hear this amp. It is unreal. Although it's all solid state, you could never guess it from the way it replicates the sound of a tube amp. The spring reverb jangles exactly like the old amps too. The blue lighting on the control panel is not just a gimmick, by the way. It really provides a good visual aid.

What I Do NOT Like About The Hughes and Kettner Edition Blue 30W 1X10 Combo Amp: The lead channel provides a nice distortion when set low, but I find it too harsh for my liking at higher settings.

Hughes and Kettner Edition Blue 30W 1X10 Combo Amp Quality Rating: Mine is a 30-watt model (you can also get it from H&K in 15-watt). It has 2 channels (clean and lead), 3-band EQ, a 10" Jenson speaker, effects loop, reverb control, CD-input, line-in and line-out jacks.

Review Summary: Don't be fooled by the low price -- most amps this cheap sound cheap. This one doesn't! I suspect it's got a lower price only because it's assembled in South Korea -- not Germany like Hughes and Kettner's other models. For all of you young people like me that doesn't happen to have an old Vox or Fender tube amp in the attic, this amp is definitely worth double the price and more.

Rating of this Hughes and Kettner product: 5

This Hughes and Kettner Edition Blue 30W 1X10 Combo Amp Guitar Amplifiers Review Submitted By: Donnie

Review Date: 2003-07-22