Hughes and Kettner goes Digital? - Early Review

[johncowan]

I'm pretty sure that I saw H&K is introducing a Digital Modeling Amp? *Anyone try it out yet? *(Jay, I know you are a big H & K fan, any word?)

[rgr]

They've had digital amps out for a few years now, at least in Europe. *I've never tried one but have read some really good reviews of them.

Roger

[jay ratkowski]

My feeling is... no matter how good of a job someone does, it's still a digital amp. *I more of a purist in that sense. *I don't think any company can ever reproduce the nuances in sound that different tubes can give you. *No one can reproduce the way years of smokey clubs can change the wood in your cab. *The list goes on and on. *

I haven't looked into the H&K digital jobs yet... but they make great amps, so I'm sure it's a superior one if that's your style.

[Christopher Chen]

I checked out the new amp at the website last night and it lists for something like, $3499!!! DAMN! With that kind of money I can get a Triaxis, a 50/50 poweramp and a 4 by 12 Rectifier Cabinet and still have spare change enough to get me a used jem

[alienx]

Yep, unfortunately a very expensive amp indeed. I haven't checked it yet but I will do it at next occasion. And, the other amp I wanna check is the one from Roland, which is basicaly a VG-88 in combo amp version. The technology of digital modeling is maturing. Now it starts getting really exciting.

I agree that it will not be possible in the "near" future to emulate all the environmental factors of aging and diversity in ambiance. But, I think we will soon embrace very different effects as Hendrix etc. did in the late 60's. Get ready guys, 96bit sampling and morphing and ... hell lot of processing power is coming. The only thing that lacks is an artist like Hendrix who will direct/inspire the processing gurus like he did to Roger Mayer.

Cheers Alien!