Hughes & Kettner

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Hughes & Kettner
TypePrivate
IndustryAmplification
FoundedNeunkirchen, Germany (1984; 38 years ago (1984))
FounderHans and Lothar Stamer (CEO)
Headquarters
St.Wendel
,
Germany
Area served
Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Australia
Key people
Hans and Lothar Stamer
ProductsAmplifiers
Websitewww.hughes-and-kettner.com

Hughes & Kettner is a German manufacturer of instrument amplifiers, cabinets and effects boxes.

History[]

The company was founded in Neunkirchen in 1984 by two brothers, Hans and Lothar Stamer, and moved to St. Wendel three years later.[1]

It is cited as a "long and good standing reputation as a maker of solidly performing tube amplifiers".[2]

In 1989, Hughes & Kettner offered the first realistic Leslie speaker emulation device, the Red Box, providing the sound of a Leslie without needing a microphone.[3] In 1997, the company designed the Rotosphere, a tube-powered effects pedal simulating the sound of a rotary cabinet, similar to a Leslie, but in a much smaller form factor.[4] It has been used by guitar players but also but some keyboard players, such as Jon Lord.[5] In 2011, Music Radar named the Rotosphere as one of the best modulation and filter pedals of all time.[6]

The company is actively producing new models, both tube and solid-state amplifiers. In 2020, the company released the 50W Spirit Nano amplifier head, which combines a transistor amplifier with a Red Box Leslie simulator.[7][8] The era 1 and era 2 are general purpose amplifiers that are suitable for acoustic guitars and microphones.[9]

Notable users[]

Notable users of Hughes & Kettner products include Rush's Alex Lifeson[10] and Kiss' Tommy Thayer, who have signature amplifiers by the company (The TriAmp MKII Alex Lifeson and the Duotone Tommy Thayer).[11][12] Marillion's Steve Rothery is a longtime user of the Rotosphere and prefers it to other Leslie simulators.[13]

Other Hughes and Kettner users are Joel Stroetzel who has used the company's Rostophere,[14] Adam Dutkiewicz,[15] Joe Bonamassa,[16] Peredur ap Gwynedd who uses a GrandMeister 36,[17] Nuno Bettencourt,[18] Tony Macalpine,[19] Michael Wilton and Allan Holdsworth.[20]

Hughes & Kettner made a custom rig of steampunk styled guitar amplifiers for Rush's Time Machine Tour in 2010.[10]

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Hughes & Kettner". GAK. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. ^ Hunter, Dave (2013). 365 Guitars, Amps & Effects You Must Play: The Most Sublime, Bizarre and Outrageous Gear Ever. p. 251. ISBN 978-0760343661. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. ^ Dorian, A. "Hughes and Kettner Redbox Classic". Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ "User reviews: Hughes & Kettner Tube Rotosphere". en.audiofanzine.com. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  5. ^ "The classic Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere rotary pedal: true Leslie speaker sounds in compact form". blog.hughes-and-kettner.com/. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. ^ "The 33 best modulation and filter pedals of all time". Music Radar. April 14, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Astley-Brown, Michael. "Hughes & Kettner unveils tiny, super-affordable 50W Spirit Nano amp heads". Guitar World. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Hughes & Kettner's new Spirit Nano Heads could be affordable micro marvels". Music Radar. October 1, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "Review: Hughes & Kettner era 2 Amp". Guitar World. July 11, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Rush go steampunk for Time Machine tour!". Music Radar. July 6, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Tommy Thayer Reflects on Going from Kiss Fan to Spaceman to the End of the Road". Guitar World. March 12, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "Interview teaser : Tommy Thayer von Kiss". Guitarbass (in German). January 5, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "Marillion's Steve Rothery and Mark Kelly have nothing to fear". Music Players. January 20, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Killswitch Engage Guitarist Names Strangest Guitar He Ever Used on Recording, Details Gear From New Album". Ultimate Guitar. August 23, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  15. ^ "Kytaroví velikáni - Adam Dutkiewicz a Joel Stroetzel". muzikus.cz (in Czech). November 18, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  16. ^ "Guitar master Joe Bonamassa shoots from the hip about selecting the right effects pedal". Music & Musicians Magazine. February 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  17. ^ "Rig tour: Pendulum". Music Radar. November 11, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  18. ^ "Nunno Bettencourt's Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment". Uberpro Audio. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  19. ^ "Rig Rundown: Tony MacAlpine". Premier Guitar. November 12, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  20. ^ "Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 5 Amp review". Premier Guitar. February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
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