Hughes & Kettner Cream Machine

after a lot of experiments,I find this sounds best with an 12au7 in the power amp and a low gain 12 ax7 in the preamp....this thing is so cool,you can connect to a guitar speaker,to an hi fi monitor,directly to a mixer,to a P.A.
with the master half way I have a smoother biting sound...with the master on 10,it's pure tube aggression...crunches like a real mother

this is definitely a must -have....a super compact TUBE AMP in a small box...that's right,not a tube distortion pedal ,but a TUBE AMP in miniature...complete with vintage paper bobbin output transformer. this REALLY is a STACK IN A BOX,no $%^&!

this is top German engineering...it feels so solid,dont make the mistake to think you can toss it around...treat it as you would treat a tube amp

been playing for 12 years,I have owned a quite a bit of tube amps...however the Cream Machine it's so nice,so small,so cute,hell I cant believe they made a tube amp that small. who needs this line 7 $%^&, LOL

easy...just figure out well about those output,download manual.

man...everybody should have that...it may have 2 sounds,beats the crap out of any line 6 thing. With the master half way or lower and the gain cranked,you get a smooth but biting distortion...with the gain very low and a single coil,you get a really nice clean sound...with master full up and gain high,you get an angry sound,crunchy and expressive...yeah I love it.

only,IF the master is already at max or very high and you crank the gain on full,the whole gain structure becames unbalanced,basically for a simple reason: the CM output transformer becames TOO saturated. The CM has INCREDIBLE amounts of gain,so this is understandable....it's NOT a fault.
But,if you use master full up,just mind that the gain does not go past 3 o'clock...that's A LOT of gain already. read the other VERY detailed review by the other user below. THE CM ROCKS!!

VERY well built...the size of a car mini hi fi!

everybody should know this...t should have been very popular but because it's so sophisticated it was not well understood...simply,there is not another device like that. you can have good preamps,sure,but this is a TUBE AMP

it looks easy,however it's array of output are oncredibly verstile...but you gotta know how a tube amp works. For example,you can connect the CM to even a powered hi-fi monitor,for a complete excellent tube amp setup. however,not many knows that ONLY the cabinetulator output should be used for that...if you use the 'mix 'output you can blow your hi fi monitor because of the high uncompensated frequencies. Download the cream machine manual,it's available on the internet of you search.
the CM is much more than it looks..not many really know about it,read below for a VERY detailed explanation of why I consider the CM an unbeatable product that ,even being built 19 years ago,outclass ANY guitarist recording device,and it stamps all over the POD line 6....the CM is SUPER PORTABLE TUBE AMP

Contrary to what many believe,the Cream Machine is not only a preamp,but a complete tube amp( tube preamp + tube power amp).

The built in power amp of the Cream Machine (CM for short) let the user to achieve POWER AMP distortion ,beside the bog-standard preamp distortion that is much easier to obtain,found in zillions of preamps and some pedal like the Tubeman. The CM ,for all purposes,has a properly built SINGLE ENDED TUBE power amp,complete with a tube output transformer. That really put's it in it's own league,because stand-alone tube preamps ONLY have the preamp,no power tubes or tube output transformer is found...the result is a smaller sound than what's obtainable in devices like the CM (and I dont know of other devices built like that,which really makes it unique)

Yet,this is a remarkable difference,because many guitarists know that when their favourite tube amp's master volume (NOT the gain control) is cranked up ,the sound gets bigger,bolder,the amp seems to react differently,it becomes much more touch-responsive and there is a different 'snarl' in the sound.

Well,believe it or not,that's exactly why the Cream Machine was built. To get THAT sound,specifically the type of power amp distortion found in the famous British amps (Marshall JCM 800,Vox etc). Crank the CM's master past 12 o'clock and you start hearing the growl of it's incredibly tidy tube power amp.

The CM is an highly complex guitarist's device: it has a BUILT IN POWERBRAKE,and the excellent RED BOX it's also built in(that alone costs about # 55).

The only other way to get a similar setup,would be to buy a tube amp,a powerbrake and a Red Box ,and the resulting setup would be far more expensive...plus,you would lose a lot in terms of portability,you would have a setup that is heavy and difficult to carry around.The CM is a tiny half-rack unit,and,in true German fashion,it's built like a brick. Everybody knows of the level of German build...

Also,the CM has an overwhelming array of outputs,guaranteed to make it so versatile that makes a Line 6 Pod a toy in comparison. Note also that the CM is able to power a 4x12 cabinet,to get about 3 watts of cranked tube tones!

Lastly,I copy here what it's written in the manual ,should you find this useful ( dont forget to read the raving reviews at harmony-central.com)!

The Cream Machine : 'Tuned British Overdrive'.

'' The Cream Machine produce those tube overdrive tones which normally require massive volume levels to achieve. It's great for really over-the-top Metal overdrive,too. The exact amount of preamp or power amp overdrive can be set by using the Gain and Master controls. Single coils are no problem...there's plenty of gain to get that warm ,singing overdriven Strat sound you've always wanted.''

What else? Well you can use the CM as a POWER tube distortion 'preamp',in front of your tube amp OR in it's effects loop.

Heck,that's the only tube amp that allows you to even directly connect to a powered HI-FI monitor,via the 'Cabinetulator' output.DO NOT use another output for an hi fi speaker,though

The Cream Machine beats devices like Damage Control Womanizer,Demonizer, Nanohead....basicly the CM is much more difficult to design and construct than the afore-mentioned devices

are you joking...this thing is built like a MINI TANK!!

incredibly unique...as I said beats devices like Damage Control Womanizer,Demonizer, Nanohead...the Cream Machine is simply a very advanced super compact tube amp! unmissable

just an update on my earlier post! I said that the preamp overdrive was 'somewhat harsh' ,and that WAS because the preamp valve was a bad no-name one,it had a nasty sound. I have replaced it with a new one,and now IT KICKS ***!!!

I have also replaced the one in the power amp,so now it's a 12ax7 in the preamp and a 12 au7 in the power amp. (electro harmonix,but I will try new old stock valves,but for now i am an happy monkey)

AND, the cream machine is even a lot more silent...it has huge gain,so some noise IT'S to be expected,this s not a crappy digital distortion generator,with no background noise,but with no tone/personality either. but it's about the same noise if you overdrive the input of a marshall plexy with a powerful booster and crank the amp very high. So really that does not make the cream machine more noisy than an old marshall.

BTW,this excellent little box it's more marshall than mesa (the latter I dont like,I prefer an old marshall type sound)

I am really starting to appreciate this device...now it has a great sound,it sounds great with a good cabinet,100 per cent true tube amp sound! top marks from me,the cream machine is ahead of it's time even by today's standards,let alone 20 years ago,when it was made!
beats the hell out of toys like the line 6 Pod!!!

very easy to use...less so with the outputs on the back

sound quality depends on what you expect....I think the preamp sound is somewhat harsh,the gain is way too extreme,and it's very noisy even with moderate gain. However it can be improved if very low noise valves are used,but it's not easy to discern where to find low noise valves and which are the ones.
this box really has one sound,but it can be a good sound if you work around the limitations

seems well built

it's a good box if you really are a tube nuts and you find digital guitar processors ,including the line 6 stuff,absolutely terrible.
or you might like more one of the line 6 boxes...

I love the Cream machine overall sound,but most of all it's power tube distortion...I prefer a 12au7 in the power amp,as the original schematic suggests.

it makes me feel I am playing thru some classic amp when I crank up it's master volume. I use pre and post EQ to really take adavantage of the true potential of the Cream machine

many people think that the Cream machine is very short on features because it only has a channel and no EQ.
But if you think about it:

1.this is a real tube amp (not just a preamp or a tube pedal...the Cream machine does a big difference here)in a super compact size.

2.it has a real tube power amp which overdrives very nicely,via powerbreak built in. This tube power amp overdrive is very different and much more difficult to achieve than preamp mondo distortion....
Power amp overdrive in this little box? Ah!

3.the built in Red Box is very useful...it will not make a super produced sound for you! it's task is mainly to get rid of an high frequency that is present in unfiltered audio tube circuit. this ,I find,is a difficult frequency to find and cut,even with a parametric EQ. I have tried and it's very time consuming. the Red box does it for you,then you take it from there,that is,add post EQ!

4.You can connect the Cream machine directly to almost anything: guitar speakers,hi-fi speakers,mixers,you name it! if try any of this with other valve amps,you will damage them!

So ,even before we get to the sound,I think the Cream machine has features to spare!!!

I modify amps,so I know something about build quality,and I think the CM kicks ass even in that department. just treat it as if it were a tube amp,because it is

I have been playing for about 10 years...owned quite a few valve amps,Seymour Duncan,Marshall,Peavey.

I remember that in all this time I have always seen some used Cream machine in some shops or private advertisments,but I never gave it too much importance,I thought it was just a practice amp,rather than a recording amp and everything in between.

Once I have even tried it,with the master volume so low that it probably made a run of the mill sound...little I knew that I could crank it up because of the powerbreak,and I knew even less about it's being a valve amp!

I can only say that had I understood earlier what the Cream machine really was,I would have saved myself a lot of grief and wasted time (too long stories for me to tell or you to care about them). I would have bought it 10 bloody years ago and still use it to this bloody day...it's just unbeatable for convenience!

I even see some users here that bought a Cream machine for 45 dollars!! this is mental....45 dollars dont even buy the crappiest transistor ,waspy sounding pedal

shame on Hughes & kettner that they dont make those anymore!!

WITH THE RIGHT TUBES....excellent......Disregard what people are saying regarding using "such and such tubes" and "such and such (12AT7 / 12AY7/tubes)....if you have access to several, try several combinations....a good starting point would be 12AX7 preamp / 12AT7 power amp (left and right tubes looking at the top of the unit)....I've heard a few people swear by 12AU7 in both the preamp and power amp...I think not...Try it yourself and decide....I found it too clean and not enough power....I'm using a vintage early '60s Mullard 12AX7 preamp and vintage Sylvania 12AT7 power amp tube.....I'm in tonal heaven....My suggestion is to forego the AU7 in preamp, start out with AT7 (progress to AX7 preamp if needed) and go AT7 power amp, if this doesn't work for you, try AU7 power amp....and so on...honestly, the AX7 power amp breaks up too early...MY REVIEW IS BASED ON MULLARD 12AX7 PREAMP / SYLVANIA 12AT7 POWER AMP TUBES....Stock is an "8"

Basic features...Front Panel / Gain (preamp volume) / Master (power amp volume)....suit to taste.....Back Panel...you're own you're own.....

Nice unit. Tweaking of the tubes/combinations yields pleasant tone, but both tubes (preamp and power amp) are extremely interactive, so be prepared to change out several tubes to get "the tone"...

I'm playing a Steve Vai Jem FP 77.
The Cream Machine is GREAT,to blues/rock over Metal,and everything in between.
It can be a little noisy,but oif you are reak bothered by that,just set a noise gate in front.It has never been a problem for me.
I think the sound is exellent.

I think it was made first in the 80?
I play rock/blues and metal,and The Cream Machine is offering me plenty of variations.
I use it home in my flat,because it has THAT tube sound at reasonable levels.
There are plenty of power to home recording,and practice too.

I bought my first "Crunchmaster" over 20 years ago,and the guy that bought it,still use it and there have been no trouble with it at all.
The Cream machine I'm using now,is at least 20 years old,and there have never been ONE problem.
I would trust it enough,to use it without a backup,although a such always is a good thing.
But IMO,the Cream machine is so good buildt with good components,that problems almost never occur.(Judging from all the satisfyed customers I have heard about).

The things I have heard about H/K custom support have only been good.
My self I have never had to use it.

I have been playing about 35 years.I have a Boogie Cal.50 combo gigs.
If I lost my Cream Machine,I would be forced to buy one of the new EXPENSIVE stuff,like Sheldons true tone 3,or Lexicons 284.
I love the easy way,I can get a TRUE tube tone(power amp saturated!!)and play it without being kicked out because of loud playing.This baby have THE tone,at great levels(low).
The only thing I can compare it with,must be the new Sheldon true tone 3,Lexicons 284 and Cornford Harlequin.
If the CM should have a modification after my taste,it would be an EQ of some sort.

I play this sweet thing with Les Pauls (Gibson & Kortmann), Tele (Kortmann) and Strat (Kortmann). The first thing you hear when using a guitar with single coil PUs is a whirring. But when you hit the strings, you'll get everything you'd expect! A creamy overdrive sound with real tube feeling. You can go from crunchy blues to ass-kicking metal just by turning the two front-knobs. I prefer the following setting: gain twelve, master three.

Not that versatile, but perfect for what is was build for - ROCK! Gain, Master and Output knobs, 2 inputs (one on the real panel ... good for rack-work), a lot of different outputs (one with speaker simulation, one power amp out (1 Watt) and more) and a footswitch. I really miss a direct headhone out - that would be great!
I use the cream machine mainly to record song ideas directly into my computer - use the cab. mix output, go into a cheap Zoom 9001 multi-effect, headphone out into the line in of the computer. Not very professional, but it works.

I own this tone-monster for 12 years by now without problems at all! Even the tubes are still quite good sounding!

Never had to deal with them ... but heard only good things about their service!

I really love this tiny overdrive-monster! I owned a lot of tube amps but I rarely found an amp with a that good sounding and convincingly overdrive-sound! Since I found one better sounding amp by now, I only use my cream machine for recording purposes and it still does what it did the last 12 years ... it gets you where ever you want to be!

Half-rack 1-1.5 watt all-tube amplifier. Seven different output options. Footswitchable. In conjunction with a 12" cabinet, it's all I need for home use.

I use it with a bunch of Fender teles (both single and humber-equipped), a Gibson SG, a, '85 Schecter PT, a Maton Mastersound, a Gretsch Committee and various Japanese lawsuit-era Les Pauls. For practising or late-night recording, I run the guitar directly in to the Cream Machine and use a combination of the Mix Out directly into my 2x12 Orange cab and the Cab Mix Out going straight to the board. I've toyed with the idea of changing the tubes for something with a bit more clean headroom but I figure, I've got about four amps that do the clean-slightly overdriven thing beautifully, what the hell do I need another one for? This thing travels seamlessly from pushed Vox to screaming triple rectifier - pauses - and keeps going until it reaches a screeching out-of-control "help, we're all gonna die" type distortion that sustains for days. Which frankly, isn't very useful but it sure is fun to mess around with. At reasonable gain levels, with the master set at about eight, through a decent cab, this thing sounds great. You can't expect it to feel like you're rocking a stadium with a wall of marshalls though, because at this kind of volume, no matter how perfect the circuitry, that's never gonna happen. The "cabinetulator" isn't the best I've heard but it's totally useable, especially in conjunction with a close-miked real-world cabinet, putting back some of the low EQ you lose mic'ing a cab at these low volumes.

It's gotta be 15-20 years old and no problems yet. That's a good sign.

Never needed to deal with them.

Been playing for about 20 years, I own too much gear to list (about 8 acoustics, 20 electrics, 10 amps and about a zillion effect pedals). If it were lost or stolen, I doubt I'd find another one but I'm curious to try some of those low-power THD amps, the univalve, etc.