What a BEAST!!! Still play a comb bass amp from this company on small gigs.....build is great on everything they make. Looking forward to playing this new toy.
I am reminded of the Blu AMP1 combined with a GigRig combined with a modeling stage. None of these are new, but if they've been assembled in a novel way that works well, that is good enough reason to build and sell it.
Very nice review, thanks. Hopefully H & K has resolved the issues with the FSM-432 MK III foot boards before this release with it integrated in a floor pedal amp. We have failed switches in 3 of them now, with two different users. Unfortunately they have been little help.Would be sad to see that others buying this new now have to deal with that, as we are currently. Nothing like being on stage and your preset won't switch.
My biggest question and concern would be, does this unit have a fizzy sound like all of the H & K line? I have owned several and got rid of them because I couldn’t take the fizz that is part of their tone.
@@tonymarinelli7304 i'm searching for a easy to work with thrash amp with this di thing coming in handy. would you say this does a great thrash tone or are there better options and wil kemper do it better. Thing with the kemper is, can't load in new profiles somehow, really annoying.
The H&K amps are fantastic. Yes they can be a little on the thin/bright side, but for an easy to gig with amp and effects rig they are hard to beat. The audience doesn't care about your custom built Mesa Mark V 25 tube head, but save it for the album tracks. I love my Grandmeister 36 and matching pedal for simple grab and go gigs.
Blackstar TVP ID SERIES is literally the same thing that Hughes is doing now and it is much cheaper and better sounding. Actually i had the tubemiester 18 and dialed in the sound i had on my blackstar using the el84 and isf feature. The upside is the blackstar gain doesn't have that weird highend like the hughes. I do like the floorboard idea but Blackstar did it first and they do it better and at a fraction of the price!!
Agreed. I have had 4 variations of the original ID series over the years and was looking at the H&K Grandmeister series but felt that the high end was too fizzy where the ID (with emulated power tubes) was actually better sounding to me than the real thing. Problem is Blackstar never made a floor version of the ID which I would have LOVED. However, I am intrigued by the Black Spirit Combo not only for the "true analog" approach but because the cabinet design is supposed to mimic a 4x12 at 1/4 the size. I understand this unit has the power amp built in so all you need is the speaker cab but I would want the ported cab they just came out with to get that huge sound. So the question is.... Black Spirit combo with the footpedal or this unit with the H&K ported cab?
i think it's a different level. Had a grandmeister once, didn't like it. blackstar is cheaper, and the sound probably is also. maybe this sounds better then the el84's or something. el84's in gm sound really thin.
Love the plexi tone from this BSF. I've been using Boss GT-10 for 10 years for live gigs, clean, slight overdrive tones are good, effects good, never been happy with basic rock crunch. Been waiting for significant upgrade in tones before getting new unit, and for something that features four great tones with some basic effects. AxeFX is not going to happen for me (option paralysis), I want something simpler, this may be the unit. Also, every modeler I've tried has "plastic" feel to the string response, does the response on this feel right?
@@mikew2256 Right! and he said he offered the AMP1 design to H&K but they weren't interested so he started his own company. Seems like they changed their mind.
@@gingataff It gets even more involved. Apparently he had a great deal of input in the Tubemeister and Grandtubemeister designs. And of course the AMP1 has a tube in it for the power amp stage. He was quite scathing of class D if I'm remembering correctly.
Mike W although the Amp1 is also class D, so he solved that problem by using the tube to mimic the feel and drive from the power stage.i wonder if that’s what H&K magic technology does as well?
Can this go straight into a porta studio tascam dp32sd with no cab in use without damaging unit???? Using my monitor speakers on porta studio for sound????
It would need to have a stereo poweramp to do stereo sound...technically its two seperate poweramps, or you would need a 2nd amp for the 2nd channel. I didn't even know this existed until 10m ago, but I'm 99% sure the class D amp inside is mono.
You could always grab a different floor unit...like the Fractal AX8, Kemper Stage, Helix LT, Headrush, GE300 etc, along with a pair of Active FRFR cabs, like Friedman ASM, Matrix, Atomic CLR wedge, Zilla, QSC K12 or KSM12 etc. Your whole rig would be 75 pouhds...and thats with a Les Paul. The Atomic CLRs for example are coaxial 2 way monitors with a 500w reference power amp specifically designed for the custom made speakers. You would have: Guitar, floor unit, two 35 pound boxes with nice handles, a guitar cable and 2 XLRs. Those CLRs can sound like any cab ever, and as a bonus you now have a portable PA that will piss off the neighbors...*IN STEREO* The whole rig could fit in a Honda Civic, it records, its a PA, wait till you hear delay through FRFR, its ultra modern, it sounds incredible, you can mix on CLRs...thats how honest they are, and you can move it solo in 2 trips.
Direct 7 feature is a simple concept but I prefer different tones custom to my liking for all different kinds of music. No pedals needed, except a wah imo. H&K is leading the digital amp game!!! $1000 is expensive, but that's basically what you would spend on the BS200 and footswitch anyways, maybe $799 would sell out Fractal Audio, Kemper and Helix
Okay this is interesting so when did the guy that's showing him the black spirit quit using catner and start working with Thomas blug because he doesn't work Hughes and kettner anymore?????
Its not modelling anything. Its a Class D solid state power amp with digital control of an all analog circuit with 4 uniquely voiced channels. The reverb, delay and modulation effects are digital, but the core tones are analog.
@@robertwellington2616 Hey Jack. Yes my comment was regarding why more companies have not done this. So convenient to control everything in a stomp box type rig. Pretty cool. Take care.
This makes me realize that the only reason Helix, Kemper, Headrush, etc aren’t powered is so they can sell us powered cabs too. Bastards. H&K for life.
I use my helix lt with an amp in 4 cable method or straight to the mixing board, I don't want to pay extra for an integrated power amp. I do think there should be versions with and without, like the non floor kempers.
Class D has some other advantages too. When it's on but just sitting there, it doesn't draw much power. Even when it's cranked, it throws off a lot less heat than just about any other power stage. This means not having to heat sink so much -- and heat sinking might be a large part of why the case is metal.
It was developed in the 1950s. Those of us around in the UK at the time might remember that one of the first Sinclair designs was a class D amplifier. I remember building one from a project in the late lamented Radio Constructor magazine. Class D didn't become really viable until fast MOSFETs were available.
Not worth the price at all!! For 1k you can find a 1970s fender tube amp on craigslist fix it up and still have money left over. Plus the fender amp woukd blow this thing out of the water!
you could get the blackstar tvp stuff and have about $700 toward a new guitar or whatever. This is meant for someone who does only want one kind of tube amp as their base tone. I set my Blackstar using different banks for the different rigs i would use. One would be an ac30 style clean tone for the first patch and the other 3 a marshall style crunch, hi gain and lead. One another bank i would have a fender style clean and mesa style crunch, hi gain rhythm, and lead. So if you a one amp style guy this kind stuff isn't your thing but it is great for live and home recording if your like me and use multiple styles of tone. just some food for thought
James Akers totally agree - but for £1k you can get Boss Katana head, matching cab and have £400 left to buy a decent cheap Lenovo laptop to use with the Katana tone studio software so you can model your own tones and download patches...
Hendrix1127 why a fixer upper Fender amp? You can get an egnater tweaked 15 head for new $400 or used mint for less. It’s a great amp and a 1x12 cab for $299. Total than $700. But tax these days still less. And it can do Fender, Vox and Marshall. Cleans to very high gain. Don’t confuse it with the tweaker 40 that had an issue.
@@tonepilot look online. Guitar center ebay cl even at fender you can buy a tibe amp for 299 up to 1k. Brand new reissues or vintage used. Not to mention fender amps are the strongest and loudest amps. Also you cant recreate a real tube amp sound from this digital device nor will you ever get as sweet of a sound out of this compared to any fender tube amp. So for 1k id rather get any fender amp and have an actually great sound compared to this which imo sounds like ass....not to mention you never see professional players...ie george lynch paul gilbert evh and so on using something like this because they know better. So Id rather have something professional rather than a wannabe trying to emulate the real thing...plus that damn fizzy noise would drive me insane
I like this relaxed talk about how you personally would use the equipment
What a BEAST!!! Still play a comb bass amp from this company on small gigs.....build is great on everything they make. Looking forward to playing this new toy.
instaBlaster...
Now this video is better than the other channel who just made a review in this gear.
I am reminded of the Blu AMP1 combined with a GigRig combined with a modeling stage. None of these are new, but if they've been assembled in a novel way that works well, that is good enough reason to build and sell it.
i always dig behind the scene and bloopers
I'm only 2:30 in and this is so much more informative than that vid with the other bald guy.
Great review Phil. I was asking myself all the same questions you had.
Very nice review, thanks. Hopefully H & K has resolved the issues with the FSM-432 MK III foot boards before this release with it integrated in a floor pedal amp. We have failed switches in 3 of them now, with two different users. Unfortunately they have been little help.Would be sad to see that others buying this new now have to deal with that, as we are currently. Nothing like being on stage and your preset won't switch.
Buy that man a beer!
Jason Johnson hold my beer...
My biggest question and concern would be, does this unit have a fizzy sound like all of the H & K line? I have owned several and got rid of them because I couldn’t take the fizz that is part of their tone.
They are pretty fizzy so if you are not into that you might not dig it.
what's all the fizz about. :p. gotta try this one. also have a kemper and like it, but damn that thing works aggainst me at the moment.
arjan snijder The fizz is on the top end, it drives me nuts
@@tonymarinelli7304 i'm searching for a easy to work with thrash amp with this di thing coming in handy. would you say this does a great thrash tone or are there better options and wil kemper do it better. Thing with the kemper is, can't load in new profiles somehow, really annoying.
arjan snijder I’m not sure if this will get you in Thrash Territory, pretty close
Amazing product. This is a great alternative to the Kemper or headrush. Amazing
The H&K amps are fantastic. Yes they can be a little on the thin/bright side, but for an easy to gig with amp and effects rig they are hard to beat. The audience doesn't care about your custom built Mesa Mark V 25 tube head, but save it for the album tracks. I love my Grandmeister 36 and matching pedal for simple grab and go gigs.
Blackstar TVP ID SERIES is literally the same thing that Hughes is doing now and it is much cheaper and better sounding. Actually i had the tubemiester 18 and dialed in the sound i had on my blackstar using the el84 and isf feature. The upside is the blackstar gain doesn't have that weird highend like the hughes. I do like the floorboard idea but Blackstar did it first and they do it better and at a fraction of the price!!
Agreed. I have had 4 variations of the original ID series over the years and was looking at the H&K Grandmeister series but felt that the high end was too fizzy where the ID (with emulated power tubes) was actually better sounding to me than the real thing. Problem is Blackstar never made a floor version of the ID which I would have LOVED. However, I am intrigued by the Black Spirit Combo not only for the "true analog" approach but because the cabinet design is supposed to mimic a 4x12 at 1/4 the size. I understand this unit has the power amp built in so all you need is the speaker cab but I would want the ported cab they just came out with to get that huge sound. So the question is.... Black Spirit combo with the footpedal or this unit with the H&K ported cab?
To each their own Im not fond of Blackstar products at all
i think it's a different level. Had a grandmeister once, didn't like it. blackstar is cheaper, and the sound probably is also. maybe this sounds better then the el84's or something. el84's in gm sound really thin.
Love the plexi tone from this BSF. I've been using Boss GT-10 for 10 years for live gigs, clean, slight overdrive tones are good, effects good, never been happy with basic rock crunch. Been waiting for significant upgrade in tones before getting new unit, and for something that features four great tones with some basic effects. AxeFX is not going to happen for me (option paralysis), I want something simpler, this may be the unit. Also, every modeler I've tried has "plastic" feel to the string response, does the response on this feel right?
Try the Headrush line of product
So if this is an amp head you run it straight into a speaker cabinet?
Yes you can power 1 or 2 cabinets with this no problem at all
@@PhillipMcKnight Thank you Phillip, love your channel. I'm very interested in this floor amp.
Reminds me of a Bluguitar Amp.
Just watched a vid a couple of days ago where Thomas Blug says he used to work for Hughes and Kettner!!
@@mikew2256 Right! and he said he offered the AMP1 design to H&K but they weren't interested so he started his own company. Seems like they changed their mind.
@@gingataff It gets even more involved. Apparently he had a great deal of input in the Tubemeister and Grandtubemeister designs. And of course the AMP1 has a tube in it for the power amp stage. He was quite scathing of class D if I'm remembering correctly.
Mike W although the Amp1 is also class D, so he solved that problem by using the tube to mimic the feel and drive from the power stage.i wonder if that’s what H&K magic technology does as well?
Can this go straight into a porta studio tascam dp32sd with no cab in use without damaging unit???? Using my monitor speakers on porta studio for sound????
Phil, I tried the combo version @ Sweetwater's gear fest, and I could not get a solid (non-breakup) clean tone. Really bummed me out.
I got clean and super super loud infront of thousands of people. It had to be set to something else. Maybe I should go through the settings I use
Hey Philip, which would you prefer, this unit or the Bluguitar Amp1?
Great video! I have a question, I have a 1x12 speaker cabinet, only can handle 60w. Can I use this amp with my cabinet? Thank you very much!
I feel Thomas Blug is involved in this??
Noticeable delay between channels changing😕
Is it possible to add a stereo volume pedal after the amp to get stereo sound???
It would need to have a stereo poweramp to do stereo sound...technically its two seperate poweramps, or you would need a 2nd amp for the 2nd channel.
I didn't even know this existed until 10m ago, but I'm 99% sure the class D amp inside is mono.
I have a stereo rig, and my god does it sound massive. It completely fills the room in all corners.
@@rickfeith6372 ...hope next version will come with a stereo out...
You could always grab a different floor unit...like the Fractal AX8, Kemper Stage, Helix LT, Headrush, GE300 etc, along with a pair of Active FRFR cabs, like Friedman ASM, Matrix, Atomic CLR wedge, Zilla, QSC K12 or KSM12 etc.
Your whole rig would be 75 pouhds...and thats with a Les Paul. The Atomic CLRs for example are coaxial 2 way monitors with a 500w reference power amp specifically designed for the custom made speakers.
You would have: Guitar, floor unit, two 35 pound boxes with nice handles, a guitar cable and 2 XLRs. Those CLRs can sound like any cab ever, and as a bonus you now have a portable PA that will piss off the neighbors...*IN STEREO*
The whole rig could fit in a Honda Civic, it records, its a PA, wait till you hear delay through FRFR, its ultra modern, it sounds incredible, you can mix on CLRs...thats how honest they are, and you can move it solo in 2 trips.
@@rickfeith6372...yeah right..I prefer the black spirit because of its simplicity, like a pedal and also it's signal path is analog...
This vs mustang iii v2 when phil?
This is cool. Do you have any idea the price?
In the UK around £900.
$899-$1000 US
What cab were you driving?
As a warehouse worker, you have to love the euro pallet.
Can this be used directly to the PA?
That thing it EPiC! Pricey but if you have the dough a great product!
Ñisssssssssce 🎸
What will yous guys prefer Kemper stage or the hughes and kettner floor rig?
Kemper duh
Direct 7 feature is a simple concept but I prefer different tones custom to my liking for all different kinds of music. No pedals needed, except a wah imo. H&K is leading the digital amp game!!! $1000 is expensive, but that's basically what you would spend on the BS200 and footswitch anyways, maybe $799 would sell out Fractal Audio, Kemper and Helix
Its not digital
Okay this is interesting so when did the guy that's showing him the black spirit quit using catner and start working with Thomas blug because he doesn't work Hughes and kettner anymore?????
Very informative - Cheers.
Is this a tube amp?
TJ Nugent solid state.
No it is a solid state that models tube
Its not modelling anything. Its a Class D solid state power amp with digital control of an all analog circuit with 4 uniquely voiced channels. The reverb, delay and modulation effects are digital, but the core tones are analog.
Nice Review and Demo Phil. Is it an Amp also or do you need a separate Amp or Powered Cab?
I think I'll wait for the Behringer version.
awesome
Can we get just the amp in a pedal with midi.
They should do a versus video on the sound of the amp 1 iridium or Mercury edition bluguitar and this black spirit amp thing
Which Ibanez AZ guitar are you playing?
Great info but please tell of the lack of voltage suck and efficiency class D is great for git,s and the sort ! xo
I have the head model.. it sounds great.!!
What kind of Roadstar do you have?
So, can you use this to push a cab without running it through an amp? Or did they answer this and I just missed it?
Shaun carter It seems that it acts as the amp head so there isn't a need to go through a head or a power amp.
It's has a built-in 200 watt class D amplifier. They discuss it about 3/4 of the way in.
Get that man a beer!
How many of these do they expect to sell in such a competitive market? Musta cost a bunch to design and manufacture these. Don't know how they do it.
Phil, you were trying to make a 'Scene' preset...
Phil "By the way, we're in Germany" McKnight
You can't see the knob position at all... Crazy there's not a backlit indicator dot.
floor amp. or flamp.
Flomp
@@phreak1118 i think i like this more 🤣
AWESOME!
Tuner ????? Expression pedal ?????
i've been wondering why more amps are not made like this. Put it right it front of you for complete control. Now make a low watt model that kicks ass.
Stratisfied Becca this is for the floor.
@@robertwellington2616 Hey Jack. Yes my comment was regarding why more companies have not done this. So convenient to control everything in a stomp box type rig. Pretty cool. Take care.
The head is $1000, how much is this? Seems expensive jmo
This makes me realize that the only reason Helix, Kemper, Headrush, etc aren’t powered is so they can sell us powered cabs too. Bastards. H&K for life.
they do have a powered kemper rack... this stuff is so outta my price range tho so whatever lol
I use my helix lt with an amp in 4 cable method or straight to the mixing board, I don't want to pay extra for an integrated power amp.
I do think there should be versions with and without, like the non floor kempers.
Jonah Covers the Helix should’ve come powered. It’s a big pain to hook it up. Especially, at the rack’s price.
@@robertwellington2616 It's why I haven't bought one.
I want this........... Guitar
funny that a floor pedal amp has to be placed on a table to be demoed.
Hxstomp still wins 🤷🏻♂️
WOW !
I really need one i'm poor ;(
Class D has been around a long time in Car Audio too
Class D has some other advantages too. When it's on but just sitting there, it doesn't draw much power. Even when it's cranked, it throws off a lot less heat than just about any other power stage. This means not having to heat sink so much -- and heat sinking might be a large part of why the case is metal.
It was developed in the 1950s. Those of us around in the UK at the time might remember that one of the first Sinclair designs was a class D amplifier. I remember building one from a project in the late lamented Radio Constructor magazine. Class D didn't become really viable until fast MOSFETs were available.
Floor amps are the way forward.
Not worth the price at all!! For 1k you can find a 1970s fender tube amp on craigslist fix it up and still have money left over. Plus the fender amp woukd blow this thing out of the water!
@@tonepilot thx
you could get the blackstar tvp stuff and have about $700 toward a new guitar or whatever. This is meant for someone who does only want one kind of tube amp as their base tone. I set my Blackstar using different banks for the different rigs i would use. One would be an ac30 style clean tone for the first patch and the other 3 a marshall style crunch, hi gain and lead. One another bank i would have a fender style clean and mesa style crunch, hi gain rhythm, and lead. So if you a one amp style guy this kind stuff isn't your thing but it is great for live and home recording if your like me and use multiple styles of tone. just some food for thought
James Akers totally agree - but for £1k you can get Boss Katana head, matching cab and have £400 left to buy a decent cheap Lenovo laptop to use with the Katana tone studio software so you can model your own tones and download patches...
Hendrix1127 why a fixer upper Fender amp? You can get an egnater tweaked 15 head for new $400 or used mint for less. It’s a great amp and a 1x12 cab for $299. Total than $700. But tax these days still less. And it can do Fender, Vox and Marshall. Cleans to very high gain. Don’t confuse it with the tweaker 40 that had an issue.
@@tonepilot look online. Guitar center ebay cl even at fender you can buy a tibe amp for 299 up to 1k. Brand new reissues or vintage used. Not to mention fender amps are the strongest and loudest amps. Also you cant recreate a real tube amp sound from this digital device nor will you ever get as sweet of a sound out of this compared to any fender tube amp. So for 1k id rather get any fender amp and have an actually great sound compared to this which imo sounds like ass....not to mention you never see professional players...ie george lynch paul gilbert evh and so on using something like this because they know better. So Id rather have something professional rather than a wannabe trying to emulate the real thing...plus that damn fizzy noise would drive me insane
Just not a fan of the H&K sound.
Ibanez eww
?? Whats wrong with Ibbys? They have realky brought their A game in the last couple years.
I honestly cant believe how bad these sound.