Hughes & Kettner Attax 100 Head

I have been playing for about 11 years now, and have had gigs requiring everything from country to deathmetal to jazz, and back again, and this amp has singlehandedly been able to go through all of them with very little aid from pedals. It's technically a 4 channel head, but only 3 usable channels in a live situation. If you need more than that for one song, you may want to consider rewriting the song, since most audiences will hate you anyway. It has a killer effects loop setup which allows a precision blending that most amps simply do not even attempt to have. This means that the tone from my guitars will not be lost to ANY pedal, but the effect from a chorus or delay will be present. The MSM1 would have been better off if it had been included. I have used every stinkin feature this amp has though, and each part worked exactly as I would have expected it to.
It's a hybrid amp. Tube preamp to a solid state setup. It makes sense when you consider the number of channels the amp has to juggle.

Okay. Let's be honest here. The Ruby tubes that come stock with the head are garbage. They just sound terrible. I did a little experimenting with a variety of tubes and fell in love with the AX7WB. Most amps use WA(Peavey) or WC( Marshall). You can adjust the distortion to personal taste by just replacing one variety of tube with another, and it's not much of a chore. You spend about as much on the Sovtek tubes as you do on a pack of strings. If you can't afford that, then get a job.
I read reviews where people complain about how the clean clips at 7, but just about every tube amp does this, and the problem is easily overcome by using the master for your master volume and not the clean channel for your master volume. (DUH!) If it's not loud enough for you clean, then consider running the head through a PA, since there is a line out jack just for that sort of thing.
Once I put in the WB, I never had to go to a different line, since the head has so many channels to chose from.

I am considering replacing the reverb unit, but that's after owning the amp for 6 years. It's been through hell and back on tours, and the springs have just been jostled one to many times. Tubes hae a HUGE impact on this head, and the minute you notice a change in tone, switch them. I've never had to do this more than once every 9 months though. It's a real workhorse amp though.

LOok at the last catagory for this one. The amp is great for durability. Yeah, the footswitch cable is flimsy, but if you managed to destroy the cable, then you shouldn't have had this anyway, since you probably are a rank beginner who doesn't know how to care for equipment.

It really is a great amp. I would easily choose it over MOST of the amps on the market. The Legacy from Carvin is one of the few amps that I personally would choose over this, because of the versatility. This amp really does sound great though, and almost completely eliminates the need for distortion type foot pedals.

Check other reviews for features, but it does have everything you will ever really need. I would however wrather the footswitch control the channels and reverb instead of the channels and FX loop. Bought it on EBAY used.

Oh the sound, I run a LP Black Beauty with a SD JB in it and an OLP MM1 Axis I hotrodded completely but the pickups are Dimarzio Tone Zone. With my OLP I find the amp hard to control and sounds too warm but with my OLP It screams like crazy, keep in mind that this amp is very sensitive to what guitar you use. The voicing of this amp is definitely metal straight up, but you must know...This is NOT a super high gain amp. It is designed to let the original tone of your guitar shine through and let your pickups push how much you want. That's what a good sound is anyways. I play live with this as well as the other guitarist in my band who uses the attax 200 head, in a live situation these are KILLER amps, always put mids in and this thing cuts through. Another suggestion is to match it with the Attax cab with Rockdrivers, it will handle the amazing bottom end better than any cab.

Very reliable amps, the only thing you need to ever do is replace the tube every year or so. I do have one complaint thought, if something breaks, you are stuck waiting a LONG time for your repairman to order parts from headquarters in Germany where H and K is based, but once they get the part, it's all good.

Only dealt with them through email and they always responded with all the info I needed. Email and ask for the manual.

Just an overall great amp, amazing cleans, great OD, pretty good reverb, and sounds amazing live.

I bought this top together with a H&K 4x12 cabinet in 1997, I believe it was also built in that year since it was a new model. 120W output stereo, 3 channels (clean, crunch, OD), tube driven preamp, reverb, effects loop, line out. I can't imagine any feature I would really miss. You can use a 3-switch floorboard with it to switch channels turn on or bypass the FX loop (which I don't use. I put my few effects straight between guitar and amp).
The OD channel can be switched between to modes, a softer, "british" sounding one and another one more straight to the face.
You can get pretty versatile sounds out of that amp. I have played in several bands, mostly indie-rock, post-rock, blues rock. I modified my overall sounds slightly now and then, and although I tried to enhance these changes with various distortion pedals, compressors and stuff, in the end I always found that the amp itself could handle the sound I was looking for without additional gear. I used it on gigs, rehearsals, recording but not for practising at home of course. I never had to turn the master more than halfway up, with 30-50% of channel volumes.

I own a Fender Stratocaster and as backup a rather cheap Epiphone SG copy, plus I've heard a few friends with various guitars using my amp over the years.
The clean sound sounds amazingly brilliant and warm especially with the Strat's single coils, you get some distortion if you crank the channel volume up over 50%, but it still sounds cool. This channel is definitely the strength of this top.
The crunch channel sounds a bit weak and harmless. Would be great if it started right were the clean channel begins to get distorted with that cool twang sound. But it doesn't. Also, if you switch channels while playing, it's always too low. You have to turn the other channels' volume all the way down to make it sound homogenic.
The OD channel is great for my taste, it sounds very genuine. Mode one has some kind of fuzzy, sixties-like tone, mode two is for higher gain sounds. I don't think it's bad-ass enough for real head splitting metal sounds, but can hit your stomach if you use a humbucker guitar. With the Strat the overdrive is a quite dirty and unprecise, which I happen to like. But I don't think everyone would like it, that's why I give the sound a 7 although it's a 10 for me.

As I wrote, I been using this top almost exclusively the past 7 years and I never had a problem with it. I didn't even take much care of itbut it just won't break down. I don't carry a backup with me for gigs.
The floorboard I bought with it isn't that reliable, after 3 years the cable broke and I had to get a new one. Right now the new board is slowly getting into the same condition, I'm sure I'll have to replace it soon.

Never dealt with the gentlemen.

When I bought this baby I had no real clue about guitar amps, I was a bloody beginner. Nevertheless I have never played an amp since then that matched my personal requirements so well so I guess I was lucky. I just bought another practice amp over the years, never thought about replacing the ATTAX. I'm sure I'll buy another top one day because I tend to throw money out the window for things my mom considers useless, but it will have to be a damn good one. If it was stolen I'd have a hard time because you just can't get affordable hybrid amps with decent OD sound these days - they all sound like limp bizkit and that's not my cup of tea. I'd probably track down the chief, chain him to the box and play some riffs at max volume to show him what pain means. This amp is my soul mate.

1997 Attax 100 Head - 110 Watt Output @ 4 ohms

This amp Is one of many features, with 3 actual channels (Clean, Crunch and Lead) And the modifier of the lead channel (Mode 2) It gives incredibly versatile sounds. Each channel has its own independant volume control, and 2 sets of EQ, one for th elead channel, and one for the Clean/Crunch channel. It also has a beutiful, silky smooth Accutronix Reverb system Built in. Also the headphone jack and Line out, just add to the mix.
Fantastic for gigging rehearsing or recording, due to its wide range of tones. Just a few twists of knobs can take you from jimi hendrix to dimebag darryll.

Trhough this amp, I use an Epiphone Gothic explorer, Re-rigged with EMG 81's & 85's And I play mostly Heavy Metal.
With this setup and style, This amp absolutley SHINES, Absolutley Blistering distortion sounds that can tear down walls, and very beutiful clean sounds (Until you push the clean volume over about half way). The variety though is endless. As mentioned before, this is a super versatile amp that would suit any style/Setup.

The real Beuty of this sound though, Is the complete noise free operation. Abosulutley silent, No hum, no crakling NOTHING. You can tell this is made by a true HIFI manufacturer (Senheiser, Coupled with Celestion drivers)

Built like a brick **** House and ready to tour the road with the narlyest of stage acts. I would never bother taking a backup, i may however, consider getting someone to press my channel switch if that slightly flimsy footpedal cable gave way.

May carry fresh tubes

Dealt with next day, very nice and polite, and i was only ordering a footswitch!

Ive been playing 11 years, and ive had this amp one year. If it were stolen id DEFINATLEY buy another. My setup is super simple. A good guitar, Going into a good Cable, Going into the amps igh gain input and using the amps bare distortion. Erases the need to spend $800 on a marshall setup COMPLETLEY

3channels (really 4 if you include the mode 2 on the lead channel): clean, crunch, lead 1 and lead 2. Clean has volume knob and shares three band EQ with the crunch channel, which has a crunch level. Lead channel has lead volume, gain, three band eq and mode 2 button which adds more compression, bass, and treble. Also, there is accutronics reverb, fx level, and master volume. Three button footswitch which turns on/off clean or crunch, activates the lead channel, and turns on/off the fx loop. There are high impedance and low impedance inputs to accomodate single coils and humbuckers respectively. On the back, there is the optional MIDI module expansion spot, two speaker outs, a headphone out, a recording out, FX send and return. The name suggests that the amp is 100 watts, but it is truly 120 watts (honestly, i'm not embellishing, it says next to the speaker jacks 120 watts @ 4 ohms min imp). Amp is very versatile, as you can tell. the only thing i wish it had was the included MIDI module, but the stageboard is fairly effective anyways. As far as where i use the amp, i use it for band practices, gigging, and home practice. If i haven't already mentioned , this amp is a tube hybrid amp. Sporting a tube preamp with a transistor based power amp. Very satisfying. More than i wanted, but no longer more than i need.

I use a Fernandes Native Elite with a Seymour Duncan JB at the bridge and the fernandes sustainer at the neck. This amp definently let's my pickups do a lot more and seems to emancipate them from the toneful prison that was my Marshall amps and Ibanez amps. Honestly, I loved Marshalls before this amp, but this amp blows Valvestates, MGs, and AVTs out of the water. As far as style, the amp suits my style very well. For progressive metal the amp gives me everything i need and more (three,almost four channels, great tube tone, precise tweaking with the knobs, flexibility, and VOLUME!!) For speed metal, i get gobs of gain and compression that i wouldn't find anywhere else than on a MESA. I used to use the sustainer pickup fairly often to get artificial feedback from amps, but this amp has basically made my sustainer useless on drive channels. I can get all of the feedback i want, even at 70% gain or so. For general and classic rock, the crunch channel provides a nice classic,tube tone that really sounds genuine. The crunch channel doesn't seem designed to produce high gain though, but really, that's what the lead channel is for. The crunch channel seems to be more for power chords and vintage sounds. Another surprising perk to this amp is it's low noise. I'll have the thing cranked with max gain and i still won't get any annoying hums or squelches (like my friend's peavey XXL and Valvestate).The clean channel is slightly distorted at high volumes due to the tube clipping, but with a little understanding of how the amp works, one can twist the knobs the right ways to eliminate most of the crunch. Like i said already, the distortion (gain) is godly. There's seems to be perfect compression and tonal character even at high levels. I'm not much of a "brutal distortion" player, but i'm fairly sure it can crank out distortion equal to some Mesas and better than most Marshall valvestates and solidstates.

I can definently depend on this amp. Would I use it without a back-up? Yes, i definently would. This thing is a workhorse and hasn't shown signs of wear or tear at all. It's been knocked around a little at gigs, but has taken the beatings quietly. As far as any kind of regular service at all, you may want to check on the preamp valve once or twice a year, In the amp's manual it says that tube fatigue can cause loss of treble and ohter frequencies and we don't want that. If the tube needs replacing, then just replace it for like $15. No biggy. I give it a 9 since it does have a tube.

When i did have to email H & K for info, they responded quickly and they were pretty to the point. I really haven't had to contact them in any way after purchasing the amp, but that's not their fault. that's what they get for making such a good amp.

I've been playing for 5 years and this amp seems to contour to every chang ein my style. As far as other gear, i own a Marshall 8008 valvestate, marshall VS412 Angled cabinet, a home-made 4x12 straight cabinet, an Ibanez TB50R, and i used to own a Marshall 8100, the H & K truly outshines everything else i've played with (to some of you more seasoned players, this may not seem like much of a tonal selection, but i have played Peavey XXXs, Mesa Triple Rectos, Singles, Tris, Marshall Plexis, and all sorts of stuff) If i lost this amp, i'd definently buy another (if i could find one, good luck). As far as loves i have numerous, but i'll keep it limited to two: tonal range and features. As far as hates, i don't like the fact that the MIDI module isn't included and is like $150 online. Also, i'm unhappy with the possibility of finding parts if anythign broke on the amp. Finding this amp was a hunt and a half. I feel like me and maybe three other people in the whole US have this amp.I compared this amp to my original Marshall 8100 (which i have since sold), Mesas, and Peaveys. I chose this amp over the others because of its tone, features, and price tag. Valvestates are cheaper, but sound like trash compared to the Attax. Peaveys are around this amp's cost brand new, but really don't have the flexibility, tone, or features i wanted. Mesas, in my opinion, are the next step up from this amp. I would have gotten a single rectifier head, but it's hefty price tag stopped me. The single rectifier head and Attax 100 are alike in sound and tonal qualities, they differ in price tag, features, and reputation. To end this review, i'd like to say that this amp really can handle almsot any style you throw at it. Please don't be ignorant and simply plug in a distortion pedal into the clean channel or effects processor into this amp and dismiss the amp as horrible because it doesn't filter your effects sound they way it should. I promise you this amp won't disappoint you.

3 channels amp, it's enough power for me i think that amp is good solutiun for guy who need hard and heavy sound for a little money

My setup is:
-Ran Flying V Custom Guitar (EMG Pick-up's), I tune my guitar with various styles (from E to C) and Attax Head always sounds great.
-Boss CS-3 Compressor Sustainer pedal;
-TC Electronic G_Force MultiEffects in rack unit;
-wah/wah Jim Dunlop Jimmy Hendrix Model;
This amp can sound like between Limp Bizkit/ Sweet Noise (greetings to all SN' crew) to Eric Clapton Sounds.
In my setup (with EMG) in clean channel at high volumes is distorted. The worst feature is low fidelity plug of footswitch.

The worst feature is low fidelity plug of footswitch. Others features are OK

I have not need anything apart from plug of footswitch. I had many problems with ability to buy it. The proce of it was about 50$!!!

I have been playing for 8 years I had many amps earlier. If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else? I think i don't because H&K don't produce this amp at this moment. what do you love about it? What do you hate? Ilove distorted sounds of this amp, clean channel is also alright, i hate plug of footswitch!!!Anything else you'd like to share? Yes

This is a 1997 model 120watt head with 3 TUBE driven channels, effects loop, two power outputs, reverb, seperate equalizing for clean/cruch and lead channels. I have found that spending time with the bass, mid, and treble knobs yields many tone variations on both clean/crunch and lead settings. The lead channel has two modes. I wish it had more effects such as onboard chorus, but it is fine as it is. The three button footswitch is great. It swithes between the channels and turns the effects loop on/off. It is a tube driven pre-amp with solid state power. Very versitile

I use a cheap Yamaha guitar with vintage rails, quarter pound, and Hot Rails (S. Duncan) pickups. I also use a PRS custom 24 with dragon pickups. The amp sounded great with both guitars. Dialing in tones similar to Silverchair, Smashing Pumpkins, Creed, Blink 182,and Red Hot Chili Peppers didn't take much time at all. It is plenty loud through the Marshall 1960A 4x12 speaker cab I have. The clean channel is much cleaner than the Marshall Valvestate. It does distort some at high volumes but that can be avoided by getting familiar with the amp. The amp has three separate volume controls for each channel and a master volume. I love the distortion and crunch channel. Sometimes I want a song to have three different distortion levels and this amp allows that. The distortion can be very heavy and fat on the max setting, and when it is backed off it delivers classic rock tones. It is not one of those amps that only sounds good when it is totaly pushed to the limit. The distortion and equalizing work together well and after a week I had become pretty familiar with its boundries. I play mostly hardrock/metal music that needs more than one sound so this amp works perfect for me. The price is very good and it is much more worth it than a valvestate amp.

So far so good. The only thing i've had to fix was a swith in the footswith.

The website is very handy for instruction manuals and locating dealers

I give this amp a high rating because of its outstanding features for such a lower price than other amps. If it was stolen I would be very mad and would definitly buy another. I was looking at the line6 and Mesa/Boogie heads but they are so expensive. If I bought one of those in the future I would add it the the H&K I would not sell it.

Features are nice, compact size, lots of power, 3 channels and effects loop.

Use this for classic rock, which covers a broad spectrum of tones. Clean is mean, channel 3 lead is great, but crunch is weak, have to use a pedal for crunch.

Been gigging with it for over a year, had it in the shop twice. Once the volume kept swelling and dipping, had to go t o backup amp. Recently had problem with it cutting out completely, seems like I blew the celestion speaker. I am getting it fixed, haven't found anything better unless I want to buy a boogie, at boogie prices.

Have not dealt with the company, so NA.

I have been playing since before electricity. Have some other odds and ends amps, this is the best for gigging. Sounds great with humbucking single coils in my G&L and fabulous with my Axis Sport with humbuckers. Wish it had a better crunch, but that's about it. If I had to replace it I would go for a boogie, if I had the caish.

I dont own this amp, but I use it every week at a rehearsal studio, my own head is a Laney Gh100L , and even tho Id never trade my head for this one Id surely buy this amp as a live amp and keep my main one for studio (recordings) only. Thats cause its very versatile and reliable, due to its solid state power amp. It have three channels..lead channel have two modes and effects loop yet its very simple to use it.

I play a 76 Gibson Explorer with EMGs and it works fine with the amp, it doesnt deliver top notch sounds, but for live work its really good. On a studio where the amp tone is really close captured I think it would have some raspiness on its sound, but for live gigs it sounds as good as any tube amp, cuz then you'll have the whole band miked at the same time and lots of volumes so the lil details are not so important. The reason Im thinking about buying it for live work is that an all-tube amps are a pain in the butt to travel with, cause it weights a lot and tubes are unreliable. The clean channel headroom is good enough for me. Since I play modern metal, I use a Boss 7 band eq on its fx loop for mid scoop. This is something that I do to ANY amp I use..i dont like the way any amp sound without an graphic eq for mid scoop.

The amp itself is very reliable...i fear for the footswitch tho cuz that plug is proly hard to replace if it breaks, id rather see some regular phone pug jacks as an alternative for each function..just like some mesa amps...but thats a minor thing really.

never dealt with them

Overall this is a great "workhorse" type of amp, it doesnt give you any stellar tones but it doesnt give you any headaches either. In fact Im really interested in hybrid amps in general. I tried the Valvestate too but this one sounded slightly better... Id recommend all players to keep their $2000 plus tube heads only for recordings and really important gigs and get a hybrid for everyday use. I saw it used for $400,00 considering how much i already spent on blown tubes, biasing and all this kind of thing , its a worth investiment, i think your main amp would thank you for doing that and sound even better whenever top notch sounds are required

I love how versatile this head is. It says it has 2 channels but it seems like 4. On the first channel there is two setting. The clean, which is actully clean(because of the solid state half), and the crunch. The crunch is great for older rock, like Skynard type stuff. It almost give you that old Marshell tone! Then on the next channel it has my favorite, the lead. It has 2 types of lead!!! The first is some where arould old metal (MetallicA-Kill 'Em All). While the second is beefier(New MetallicA). All this plus a headphone jack and a line out, it is also kinda handy to just have around. Not to mention that it is a bit smaller than other heads.

I use a Gibson Explorer with an EMG-81 on the bridge(I'm using a Laney 4x12 cabnet). The head seems to be very quite while not playing and when I hit a string with the drive, look out! It might be my EMG-81 but I can get some crazy drive from it when I need to. Not only can I take down walls with the distortion, it gives me all kinds of freedom with tone. I play stuff from MetallicA to Skynard to KoRn and I can always get the tone I'm looking for.

I haven't had it long but it gets moved around a bunch. It gets knocked around and dropped and it keeps on going.

I've been playing for about three years and I have not came across many amp heads that can do what this one does. I love the great amont of different tones I can dial up. The closest I have came to this head was a Mesa/Boogie rectifier. Okay so the rectifier was better but I got this a forth of the price. And um...Rock On!