Hughes & Kettner

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

Hughes & Kettner
TypePrivate
IndustryAmplification
FoundedNeunkirchen, Germany (1984 (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
Websitehughes-and-kettner.com

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 speaker emulation device, the Red Box, providing the sound of a speaker 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 Rotosphere,[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]

References
  1. "Hughes & Kettner". GAK. Retrieved 2 February 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/. August 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. "The 33 best modulation and filter pedals of all time". Music Radar. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  7. Astley-Brown, Michael (October 2020). "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. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. "Review: Hughes & Kettner era 2 Amp". Guitar World. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  10. "Rush go steampunk for Time Machine tour!". Music Radar. 6 July 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  11. "Tommy Thayer Reflects on Going from Kiss Fan to Spaceman to the End of the Road". Guitar World. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  12. "Interview teaser : Tommy Thayer von Kiss". Guitarbass (in German). 5 January 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  13. "Marillion's Steve Rothery and Mark Kelly have nothing to fear". Music Players. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  14. "Killswitch Engage Guitarist Names Strangest Guitar He Ever Used on Recording, Details Gear From New Album". Ultimate Guitar. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  15. "Kytaroví velikáni - Adam Dutkiewicz a Joel Stroetzel". muzikus.cz (in Czech). 18 November 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  16. "Guitar master Joe Bonamassa shoots from the hip about selecting the right effects pedal". Music & Musicians Magazine. February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. "Rig tour: Pendulum". Music Radar. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  18. "Nunno Bettencourt's Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment". Uberpro Audio. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  19. "Rig Rundown: Tony MacAlpine". Premier Guitar. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  20. "Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 5 Amp review". Premier Guitar. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
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