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Description

Unleash your creativity with the Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36, a guitar amplifier head designed for musicians who crave versatility and power. This amp head is not just about volume; it's about delivering the essence of your sound with clarity and precision. With its three-channel design, you can seamlessly transition from pristine cleans to gritty crunch or searing leads, making it a perfect companion for any musical journey. Whether you're in the studio or on stage, the Tubemeister 36 adapts effortlessly with its switchable power soak, allowing you to select from 1, 5, 20, or 36 watts, tailoring your output to suit any venue.

Crafted with an EL84 power amp and a 12AX7 preamp, this head draws inspiration from Hughes & Kettner's flagship TriAmp mkIII, ensuring a rich tonal palette that resonates with both warmth and bite. The individual three-band EQs for each channel provide the flexibility to sculpt your sound exactly the way you envision it, while the integrated effects loop ensures seamless integration with your favorite pedals and effects.

Designed with the modern guitarist in mind, the Tubemeister 36 combines the best of technology and tradition, offering a robust build and a sleek, stylish look. It's more than just an amplifier; it's a tool that amplifies your musical expression.

Key Features:

  • Three-channel design: Clean, Crunch, Lead
  • Switchable power soak: 1, 5, 20, or 36 watts
  • EL84 power amp and 12AX7 preamp
  • Individual three-band EQs for each channel
  • Integrated effects loop for pedal compatibility
  • Compact and durable design for gigging musicians

Product specs

Brand Hughes & Kettner
Model TubeMeister 36 3-Channel 36-Watt Guitar Amp Head
Finish Black
Year 2012 - 2021
Made In Germany
Categories Guitar Heads
Color Family Black
Electronics Tube
Impedance 8 ohms
Number of Channels 3 Channels
Number of Inputs 1 Input
Output Power (Watts) 36
Power Tube Type EL84
Reverb None

FAQs

What types of music genres is the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 best suited for?

The TubeMeister 36 is versatile, excelling in rock, blues, and metal genres due to its three channels (Crunch, Clean, and Lead) and powerful EL84 tubes, allowing for a wide range of tones from clean to heavily overdriven.

Does the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 support silent recording?

Yes, the TubeMeister 36 features a 5-stage MIDI programmable power soak with silent recording capability, making it ideal for home recording without disturbing others.

Can I use the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 for live performances?

Absolutely, the TubeMeister 36's 36-watt output and oversized transformers provide ample headroom for live gigs, ensuring your sound cuts through in band settings.

Does the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 have built-in reverb?

The TubeMeister 36 does not have built-in reverb; however, it offers a switchable serial FX loop, allowing you to add external reverb and other effects easily.

How does the MIDI functionality enhance the Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36?

The TubeMeister 36's MIDI functionality allows you to program and switch between different power soak levels, channel settings, and effects loop configurations, offering flexibility for live performance and studio use.

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HUGHES & KETTNER Tubemeister 36 Head

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HUGHES & KETTNER Tubemeister 36 Head

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TubeMeister 36 | Hughes & Kettner

Hughes & Kettner

Hughes & Kettner

Video thumbnail for Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36 by Chris Kesner

Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36

Chris Kesner

Chris Kesner

Video thumbnail for Hughes and Kettner - Tubemeister 36 METAL - Maxx Blois-Rosetti by Maxx Blois-Rosetti

Hughes and Kettner - Tubemeister 36 METAL - Maxx Blois-Rosetti

Maxx Blois-Rosetti

Maxx Blois-Rosetti

Video thumbnail for Review  "Hughes & kettner tubemeister 36 head"  By POP WORAVIT by POP WORAVIT

Review "Hughes & kettner tubemeister 36 head" By POP WORAVIT

POP WORAVIT

POP WORAVIT

Video thumbnail for Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 und Cabinet TM212 mit G-Lab GCS-1 by Musiker TV

Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 und Cabinet TM212 mit G-Lab GCS-1

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Musiker TV

Video thumbnail for Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 Clean by accordoTV

Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 Clean

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Hughes & Kettner TubeMeister 36 overview

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Reviews

PROS

  • Versatile wattage settings for bedroom to full blast playing

  • Wide variety of tones, from clean to metal

  • Unique channel blending between clean and distorted sounds

  • Direct recording capabilities with Red Box feature

  • Lightweight and portable

  • Maintains quality sound at any volume

  • Effective for a range of genres: Funk, Blues, Hardrock, Metal

CONS

  • Reverb may have a high-pitched tone

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36 Guitar Amp Head.

Comparisons

  • The Deluxe 40 is perceived as having a very bright tone, which can be managed by adjusting the high EQ, unlike other models which may not require such adjustments.

    Source
  • Owners seeking tighter low-end for extended range guitars often upgrade to a Mesa Mark IV, finding it vastly superior for handling drop tunings.

    Source
  • The TubeMeister 18/36 is described as slightly fuzzier compared to the Deluxe 40, which may influence decision-making for potential buyers considering tonal preferences.

    Source
  • Compared to Orange amps like the DT30, the Tubemeister 36 has more features, making it more complex to dial in but offering a broader range of tones.

    Source

User experience

  • The Tubemeister 36's clean tones are consistently praised, though feedback issues arise when excessively increasing gain on the lead channel.

    Source
  • When using a 2x12 cabinet, the TubeMeister Deluxe 40 is noted for its loudness, often requiring minimal volume settings even in outdoor gigs with PA systems.

    Source
  • Owners find this amp sets a high bar for first-time tube amp users, offering a deep and rewarding exploration of tones.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The amp's lead channel is noted for being "ballsy" but often lacks the high-gain necessary for modern metal without pedal assistance.

    Source
  • The Tubemeister 36's clean channel excels when paired with high voltage Two Notes tube pre-amp pedals for enhanced harmonic content in prog rock/metal.

    Source
  • Owners report that the TubeMeister Deluxe 40's 40-watt power is sufficient for medium-sized gigs, with ample headroom even when paired with a 2x12 cabinet.

    Source
  • Users find the Tubemeister 36 suitable for heavy blues styles akin to Stevie Ray Vaughan, indicating its versatility for blues rock tones.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • A common mod is using a Precision Drive pedal with the Tubemeister 36 to achieve more gain for 7-string guitars in Drop A tuning.

    Source
  • Some users have swapped in JJ gold tubes to increase gain across all channels, noting a subtle gain improvement without significant tonal change.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The EQ for crunch and lead channels is shared in the TubeMeister Deluxe 40, with separate drive and master controls for these channels, offering nuanced control over sound shaping.

    Source
  • The Tubemeister 36 includes three channels, reverb, MIDI control, and Redbox out, offering significant versatility for sound shaping.

    Source
  • The TubeMeister Deluxe 40 has a redesigned drive section and upgraded Redbox features, allowing for cab size toggles and bypassing cab sims, unlike the basic Redbox on the 36.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • The Tubemeister 36 is considered more complex to service than hand-wired amps but potentially easier than Mesa amps, suggesting moderate serviceability.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 19 Ratings

5 star
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blastmaster69

Tubemeister 36

Don't let its size fool ya this thing rocks. It can be played in a bedroom on the headphone setting or on the 1 watt to 5 watt settings. If you want the tubes to do some work set to 5 watt setting and turn the gain up on the clean setting and get your SRV on. 18 and 36 watts are a kick in the N@TZ firing on all cylinders at this point. Crunch and Distortion channels have a wide variety of tones just sit there and dial in your sound. From crunchy to metal you decide....!

ralph_mbeki

Super amp

Epsecially the channel between clean and distorted is something you won't find on many other amps. Also the soaking options are super and red box... when you record as I do directly into the computer, it's the way to go. The reverb has a high pithces tone in it...which would be the only flaw of this great amp.

jimmarchi1

everyone complains the digital reverb on these has ghost notes... the other issue I have with the tubemeisters is the complicated PCB with MIDI and DSP componenents inside a cathode biased amp in a small box that gets VERY hot. Bad combination... use caution when gigging. I have definitely seen the tubemeister 18s with broken reverb and switching.

patrick_h

Mega Teil!

Klein aber Oho! Von Funk, Blues über Hardrock bishin zu Metall alles kein Problem für das Kleine ,,Klangmonster".

seth_r2e

Amazing

The head is quite light, all things considered. It sounds really good at any volume due to the power soak wattage settings.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how James Bell X uses Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36 Guitar Amp Head

James Bell X

...
Verified via YouTube

James uses this head in several videos

See how Alastair Greene uses Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36 Guitar Amp Head

Alastair Greene

Guitarist

...
Verified via Photo

Alastair is on the H&K artist page talking about his Tubemeister 36

See how Manuel Rodriguez uses Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36 Guitar Amp Head

Manuel Rodriguez

Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

En este video se ve a Manuel tocando con un Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 36 Guitar Amp Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Crafter Seg 450
Crafter Seg 450 Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
1

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