Members Tiki Love God Posted July 14, 2011 Members Share Posted July 14, 2011 I play in a covers band and have just got the Switchblade because it seems like an amp that can do it all well sort of amp. I know that there are other amps that can do a great clean, or a great Crunch sound, or a great lead sound but there are not that many amps out there that can cover all bases and allow you to set up sounds at different levels for the parts you need in each song. For that it does get a 10.The only thing I feel is that it needs a little warming up in the Tube and most probably a Speaker replacement (please don't suggest a Vintage 30, these only sound acceptable in a 4 x 12, other than that they sound too focused and basically crap) I was thinking of a G12H anniversary or a Classic Lead 80. I don't want a speaker that will break up too early or will be too shrill. I have a G12-65 in another combo and love the lead tone but for heavy rythm it just sounds horrible.Also any valve recomendations, pre-amp especially as that is where the distortion is generated.A few further comments on this amp. I may have a newer moddle but the Midi Floorboard seems pretty good (touch wood!)The TSC should make this a lifesaver at gigs as max 5 mins and a new set of power tubes can be in and running without any BIAS worries There are comments about a diode being used to boost the pre-amp section but is that not basically what a Distortion pedal does?Just because there are digital effects in there should not detract from this being an all tube amp. If you run a line 6 in the loop of any other amp that = the same thing, maybe worse as the FX in the switchblase are in parallel so the tone stays tru.There is a hum reduction circuit on the back which can be used to reduce the hum once you change valves, so far I have found this better than my old Blackstar series one 45 combo which had no bottom end/low mids at all. Talk about thin sounding.Finally when tweeking tones I have found it better to start with the knobs around 9am and the adjust from there. They are very interactive and work Bass, Middle, Trebble and then Presence as I find high gain has a tendancy to get ugle pretty fast.You also find that a better tone means that sometimes you don't need as much gain as you think. Listen to most albums out there and you would be surprised to hear how much clearer the guitar tone is, the key to the sound is getting the power section to cook a bit and put more body in the tone.Any suggestions greatly appreciated.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HKSblade1 Posted July 14, 2011 Members Share Posted July 14, 2011 Those are decent choices for speakers. My cab has the older gb's in it so I dial mine up a bit different than a standard v30 etc. Minimize treble on each ch when you crank the amp up. Set presence as needed. I use Les Paul's so I keep both about mid way. Tubes stock are fine, but you can try the Tung Sol's (preamp) since many using the SB like those best. This is a hybrid amp so some of the preamp drives are within the digital stage. I use mine a ton for covers and this amp works for any era of rock tunes. Balancing the dirt sounds against the clean is the tricky part, plus there are many independent volume and gain adj plus the master. Set the amp at volume (or as close to) you would play on stage for best results. Don't adjust at bedroom levels and expect to just run the master.. gain of other ch's will be all over the place. Set master Define Clean level Set Crunch and Lead levels close to clean ch. Boost master when needed. Remember to press the store button and save to the location on your foot controller. I store three banks of presets. First bank is Clean/Crunch for older stuff like beatles and stones tunes. Second bank is for Classic stuff/80's rock (Marshall type tone heavy on the fx). Third bank is Modern Rock/metal. Each bank config for Clean, OD, Med gain, High gain/ Boost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tiki Love God Posted July 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted July 15, 2011 Thanks for the reply, first practice with it will test its tone. looking forward to really opening it up. Still niggling if i should have got the Egnater Renegade but I do like the switchblade and get the feeling that there is something in there that I need to bring out. Can only tell when playing in a band situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Narita Posted July 15, 2011 Members Share Posted July 15, 2011 Originally Posted by HKSblade1 Those are decent choices for speakers. My cab has the older gb's in it so I dial mine up a bit different than a standard v30 etc. Minimize treble on each ch when you crank the amp up. Set presence as needed. I use Les Paul's so I keep both about mid way.Tubes stock are fine, but you can try the Tung Sol's (preamp) since many using the SB like those best. This is a hybrid amp so some of the preamp drives are within the digital stage. I use mine a ton for covers and this amp works for any era of rock tunes. Balancing the dirt sounds against the clean is the tricky part, plus there are many independent volume and gain adj plus the master. Set the amp at volume (or as close to) you would play on stage for best results. Don't adjust at bedroom levels and expect to just run the master.. gain of other ch's will be all over the place.Set masterDefine Clean level Set Crunch and Lead levels close to clean ch.Boost master when needed.Remember to press the store button and save to the location on your foot controller.I store three banks of presets. First bank is Clean/Crunch for older stuff like beatles and stones tunes. Second bank is for Classic stuff/80's rock (Marshall type tone heavy on the fx). Third bank is Modern Rock/metal.Each bank config for Clean, OD, Med gain, High gain/ Boost. That part in big red?.....That part is crucial for anything you use and do (genre-wise)...if you use clean that is. Wether you have a 2 channel Crate or Axe-FX....always set up your clean first, and dial in the rest of the tones to it. Very important for things like Switchblade or any multi-preamp/FX. Sometimes it can be a bit of a compromise...as your OD can sound just a little better with just a little more gain/volume. But then you go back to the clean and you either have no headroom or it's suddenly not very clean. Nice post 'blade! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Hi, I saw this post and had to jump in. Its been about 2 months that you've had the amp...did you get it to warm up? I am considering buying the same amp ( a 50 watt SB combo)...and I'm not sure, because I can't hear this amp anywhere!!! Also, can you get a really good clean sound? Some say its always a lil crunchy. Iplay in a cover band and like my big rig but its such a hassle moving it around. So a 50 watt tube amp with presets would be a God-send. So: after 2months of use..does it cut it?????????????????????? GtrGeorge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thefyn Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 I hated that amp. Best tweak I ever did was sell it. I tried speakers, boosts, pickups, guitars etc it was always getting lost in the mix live or fed back like crazy when you hit a sweeter spot. I had the head though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted October 7, 2011 Members Share Posted October 7, 2011 Owwwwwwwwww...... sounds like Fyn hated this amp. I hope my ears like it better..I ordered one used from GC. The said I could return it if it really sucks. I hope I don't have to. But Tiki....you owned it...what do you think, now that you've had it for a while? Ever get a good clean sound? Do the Fx spillover when you change a preset? Is it a do-able live amp in a good cover band??? GtrGeorge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted October 22, 2011 Members Share Posted October 22, 2011 Hey its been a while but Id still be interested in any comments you all have about the Hughes and Kettner Switchblade. I bought a 50 watt combo version and it seems ok..but Id be into other peoples experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bish0p34 Posted October 22, 2011 Members Share Posted October 22, 2011 I have one, and I love the amp...through a different speaker lol. I put an Eminence Wizard in my combo in mine and it sounded better. I also have the head and it sounds great through my oversized Mesa 2x12. The amp works great for cover bands, and sounds better with Mesa tubes in it. I still use the combo for smaller gigs. I never got a good fat low gain sound out of it though, and the clean is a bit sterile without the fx. A little chorus and reverb though, and I got a good sound out of it. if you have the footswitch where the cable is attached, you'll have problems. There's too much extra wire in the tip that eventually starts touching each other and grounding your signal out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted November 29, 2011 Members Share Posted November 29, 2011 Bishop, thanks for the input.. so far so good, for me. Is it THE best amp Ive owned..not really..but it is quite usable. I do like the very clean clean-sound..other feel its to sterile but I like that (call me weird). The dirt sounds I am still tweaking. I do feel the I could improve this with a bterr or different speaker. ..When I run extension cabs I like the sound better. So Maybe I will just take that speaker and put it in my combo. And Tube changes, if that doesnt make it better. It isnrt bad, and for the price I am not sure there is a better gig amp out there. I am dissapointed in the competition. Its 2011 and there are so few combo amps that are affordable and allow a pro musician to play a gig (like I do)..in a reasonable way (quick set-up time, fx on board, tubes, reasoanable weight etc). What speakers do you recommend? Do you think there are any good mods for this amp? GtrGeorge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted December 23, 2011 Members Share Posted December 23, 2011 BUMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted January 11, 2012 Members Share Posted January 11, 2012 BUMP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted January 12, 2012 Members Share Posted January 12, 2012 BUMP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted January 23, 2012 Members Share Posted January 23, 2012 BUMP Dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarbilly74 Posted January 23, 2012 Members Share Posted January 23, 2012 No mods, it's a pretty complex circuit to begin with. As for speakers, I like CL 80s best with modelers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted January 27, 2012 Members Share Posted January 27, 2012 Guitar Billy, thanks for the post... yeah its a complex circuit..but luckily a few parts can be tweaked (tubes,speakers). I still like my Switchblade..but I wish It was all tube..there is a teeny tiny amount of Solid State going on...and sometimes I hear that and Im not into it. But it does alot well, and its portable..so its got that going for it. I think H/K could improve it a bit and then it would be KILLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GtrGeorge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bish0p34 Posted January 27, 2012 Members Share Posted January 27, 2012 If I'm not mistaken the diode doesn't kick in until you turn the gain all the way up and the little light appears. Sort of like Spinal Tap...turn the gain up to 11. Does the Coreblade use a diode as well? It's stupid expensive though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 Bishop I dont know if the coreblade does this.....in fact, I thought the little light came on to let you know you just passed your previous setting (the one you have saved into memory). No matter, its a good amp....and if it had a little more tubeness to it..I'd be 100% happy. As is, it is certainly good enough..and I am very picky about my live sounds. If you see any of the videos of me playing (since Oct 2011) its the H/K switchblade getting heard. (See youtube HolidayRoad,Long Islands Favorite Cover band). Or just go to reverbnation.com/holidayroad or myspace.com/georgebarrysolo Rock on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bish0p34 Posted February 4, 2012 Members Share Posted February 4, 2012 The "original value" light on the left of the amp is what lights up right as the knob hits the value you saved on the preset. According to the manual when the "boost" light comes on, it boosts certain frequencies yadda yadda... I've noticed that it always seems to sound better without the boost. I read somewhere that the boost is the diode kicking in. As long as it works for you, you're golden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted February 7, 2012 Members Share Posted February 7, 2012 Bishop, thanks for the reply..this makes alot of sense,,,because I dont like it when the tone gets that oomph..its not an organic sound to my ears. Its grainy..most likely it IS Diode distortion. I like tube distortion much better. So I'll just back it off and not kick that in. With that...I still will have a bunch of good Rock tones to work with. Its a good amp, and I am getting better with knowing how to use it. Thanks again GtrGeorge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bish0p34 Posted February 7, 2012 Members Share Posted February 7, 2012 Originally Posted by GtrGeorge! Bishop, thanks for the reply..this makes alot of sense,,,because I dont like it when the tone gets that oomph..its not an organic sound to my ears. Its grainy..most likely it IS Diode distortion. I like tube distortion much better. So I'll just back it off and not kick that in. With that...I still will have a bunch of good Rock tones to work with. Its a good amp, and I am getting better with knowing how to use it. Thanks again GtrGeorge You're welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted February 23, 2012 Members Share Posted February 23, 2012 anyone else care to chime in????? Im still looking for others who use this amp and have experience with it. I think we are a tiny bunch, it seems. GtrGeorge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted March 6, 2012 Members Share Posted March 6, 2012 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bish0p34 Posted March 7, 2012 Members Share Posted March 7, 2012 Read Billy's threads about it. Seems to like it, but it's not right for what he's doing.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted March 9, 2012 Members Share Posted March 9, 2012 Thanks, I will... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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