Hughes & Kettner Cream Machine

As indicated, I bought this unit used. I had a chance to check out other reviews before buying it, and the overall response seemed positive. However, there is a notable divergence of opinion on whether it is a versatile piece, or whether it is simply a one-trick wonder. I'm writing this to assure everyone here that it is indeed very versatile. When I first received the unit, it sounded horrible. I play a Strat copy equipped with EMG pickups, and I couldn't get any sounds out of the H&K other than heavy metal distortion. It was okay for what it was but not worth the investment. It was also extremely noisy. So what happened? I replaced the lousy Chinese 12AX7 with a Philips unit, and the tones have been heavenly ever since. I mean this thing sounds _good_. As good as a triode is ever going to get. I'll be experimenting with various combinations NOS and Tesla tubes in the near future, so I may post an update soon. But suffice it to say for now that if you find one of these things, especially for around $100, BUY IT WHILE YOU CAN. I usually drive a clean MOSFET power amp with this little box. My settings: Tube Amp out 3:00, Gain 8:00 to 10:00, Master Volume 1:00. (My thanks to August.) I also had to turn down my guitar's pickups considerably to get a clean response. Very sensitive to input.

Gain, Master Volume, & "Tube Amp" controls, 2 inputs, 3 preamp outputs (dry, "mixed," simulated cabinet - switchable b/w instrument and line level), 1 amplifier output, preamp bypass switch.

There's a lot of solid state circuitry here, and I don't know how rugged all of it is, but I hope to keep this box as long as I can play! I take good care of my stuff, but if I get a chance to buy a spare at a reasonable price, I'll do it in a heartbeat.

I haven't dealt with the company. The manual is listed online, but it's not terribly useful. Schematics are also available from various sources for those who want to modify the thing. I hope H&K rereleases the Soundmachine series, but they need to do so at a low price point.

I'm not the most experienced guitarist, but I know what sounds good to my own ears. If you're on a budget, then you can't beat this thing. I probably paid too much for mine (okay, I did), but it is worth every penny to me. It's useable as a practice amp, although I must say that all three level controls affect the gain, so it won't get totally clean that way. In any case, it rewards persistence.

This thing was apparently designed to get the sound of a 1968 50 watt Plexi thru a 412 cabinet - they absolutely nailed it. Sounds good with a LesPaul and humbuckers (very smooth - maybe this where the "Cream" name came from) and just about what one would expect with a Strat. Haven't tried any other guitars because there are no others that matter, right?

One channel -- no tone controls -- Drive and Master Volume Controls. Several output options - best is the 412 cabinet simulator but nice to have all the others. This is a one man dog, as it were, but it really bites well. The tonal range is more than one might 1st assume, though.

No problems so far. I assume all will be well, German machine and all that. Uses a 12at7 and a 12ax7.

Good telephone support. This is a rather simple box but it's nice to know anyway.

I have Fender, Marshall and Vox amps. They are a pain in the ass to record with. These little single tone oriented processing boxes are a Godsend. I love this one. I would buy it again and wish I had been turned on to it earlier.

Very straightforward. Entire schematic is printed on the outside of the metal case describing, in very simple graphic terms, what to plug in where. If you must (see comments later, I had the occasion to "must"), you can go to H&K's website and download the user manual there.
It is very simple to use ... three knobs and two switches, 8 1/4" phone plug jacks. The knobs are: master (controls the overall output volume), gain (the amount of overdrive into the "tube amp" section), and, on the back, a knob called "tube amp" (which, in concert with the other two can sweeten the sound a bit.

I play both a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Stratocaster electrics and an Ovation Balladeer electric acoustic. My typical "rig" consists of guitar to the Cream Machine to a Boss PSM-5 to (effects loop) Boss DD-5 Digital Delay to a Boss CH-1 SuperChorus to a soundtable or to my Peavey Classic practice amp. If I go to the sound table, I use the cabinet emulator out output to a direct box to the table. If I'm on my amp at home, I go with the "mix out" into the normal channel of my Peavey. On either the emulator or mix out ports, the footswitch engages or disengages the overdrive of the Cream Machine.
I play for our church services (very contemporary Christian and Christian rock music), so I was looking for a preamp to bring color to the guitar rather than the ultra-clean sound of going direct into the table from the guitar and effects rig. The Cream Machine did everything I had hoped. It can drive a heavy distorted lead, a mellow overdriven sound or a miked cabinet clean sound.
Even at very low volume levels, with the gain set high I can get the feedback squeals and rich harmonics normally requiring very loud amplifier outputs.
At high gain levels, though, it is very sensitive to sound from the guitar ... even a slight brush against the strings will produce an overdriven growl through the box.
It lacks any tone controls so all that has to be done at the guitar, in the effects chain or at the sound table (but that's where I prefer to do it anyway).
This box was the answer to my prayers to get a high quality, professional preamp without the need to mike an amplifier. It's extremely small footprint (about the size of a Tom Clancy hardcover novel) makes it absolutely great and the instrument in jack on both the front and the back of the box is a nice touch.

I do use it without a backup. It is a solid piece of equipment, although I guess it could blow a tube eventually. I've never had any problems with it.

I sent Hughes & Klettner an email letting them know how happy I was with my purchase and I received an almost immediate reply. Although, be advised that the person replying and I share the same college alma mater (which may have had an affect on his response time).
Otherwise, I found their website VERY helpful. When I bought the unit, the footswitch seemed to be malfunctioning on the mix out/emulator port ... it wouldn't switch the effect to clean, it would simply cut the signal completely. The website provided a technical manual which described the function of two microswitches within the casing which were set improperly. In seconds, I had a fully functional unit.

Note that I got a special deal on the purchase because the H&K Blues Cruncher (I think that's what it is called) didn't seem to be working (probably the same microswitch problem), so they sold me this unit at the price they would have charged me for the other box. I think it's list is more like $250.
I won't play without it, even if I'm using my own amp. Some of the musicians I play with who demand a miked amp have tried it and are very willing to use it instead.
Well worth the purchase price.

This is the infamous H&K All-Tube Cream Machine: Recording preamp, practive amp and DI box.
Two Knobs: Pre gain and Master Level (Post Gain)
This is not a versatile box. It is meant to sound like a heavily overdriven tube poweramp. Theres not a lot of sounds in this guy. Just varying amounts of saturation, and NO EQ.
You'll want to use an outboard EQ after it. It has very little low- end. As far as ease-of-use, it is simplicity defined.

If you want a raging distortion generator, this unit is for you. It doesn't have channels, just a bypass. It can drive a 412 stack at practice volume ( or most any other real-speaker load), but the lack of EQ may limit its usefulness in this capacity. Run it into an EQ and something like a Nanoverb then into your stereo for a nice little setup.
Creates great tube sounding distortion, but lack of EQ may limit its usefulness. Going direct to a board or a stereo with an EQ, no problem.

Manual is available on the H&K website

This is a nice little box if you're building up modules for rock music. It is not incredibly useful by itself unless you just want to play like you're plugging into a raging stack with no reverb.
Run it through a little reverb and into your stereo and you have a happening little box. Absolutely raging.