Hughes & Kettner Edition Blue 30R Combo

I play rock and this amp isn't up to that. But more in sounds.

Features are okay, line in/out, CD/tape in, headphone in, footswitch, two channels.

Some more equalizing'd be nice but you can't expect that for an amp in this class.

As I said, I play rock, thus I have to use the distortion channel.
It sounds muddy, I can't dial in the sound I'd like to hear.

Clean channel is okay though; reverb is nice.

But imho the really f****-up distortion channel makes up for that, so I give it quite a low rating.

Dunno how some people seem to be able to actually play rock on this amp, I definitely am not.

Never broke. But I've had it only for a year so I expect it to be okay. No rating on this one

Never had to deal with them.

This amp is okay if you just started playing electrical guitar and want to try it. But there are much cheaper alternatives for that, so you don't need it. Don't buy this amp if you're sure you'll keep on playing the guitar for some time. Get something better.
If you want to use the distortion, that is.
Clean channel is okay as I said, you can actually use this one. But then you don't need a second channel.
I just bought myself another amp, so I guess the question if I'd buy it again if it was stolen is answered by that.

I play rock and jazz, with some traditional blues, and combinations thereof. I knew when I saw the closed-back design, I was going to like what I heard. Indeed. I just won't use a cabinet that's open-back anymore. I got a $20 Hosa channel-switch pedal, rugged, good deal. I would be using tube everything, but it's 2004, and the SS gear these days is at least as good--without the weight and break-down potentials. I just won't use heavy equipment anymore either. I find the EQ controls to be excellent. For anyone who's ever owned/used a Mesa/Boogie, this thing gives you EQ control on par with that; hence, it can take a little time, but you can definitely dial in just the sound you want. You have to pay attention (RTFM) and realize that the EQ pots influence each other in less than obvious ways. Reverb sounds fine to me, just what I want when I need a small combo for an on-the-run situation with no other effects. The quality-of-sound combined with the portability of this make it hard to beat. If I had my way, the effects loop (line in/line out) would have a level control.

I use this with my Carvin walnut DC747, 3-pups, Floyd Rose, strat style. In part due to the natural scooped-mids of the guitar itself, I have no trouble controling treble, a big pet peeve of mine. Again, due in large part to the closed-back design, this little combo has admirable bass reproduction--you can't rock the house with the bass end, but that's not at all expected from a 30w combo. Best of all, I plugged the line out into the line in on the back of my SWR 350 head, which pumps 2 other closed-back cabinets, and I have a super-huge sounding stack-o-licious. In other words, I use this as an ultra-portable jazz-rock combo when needed, or as a preamp for a 350w power amp when needed.

Just becuase it's solid-state, I'd use this without a backup, but I haven't owned it long enough to say definitely. But that would also be knowing that if I needed a new replacement, a quick $200 would be all it takes. I've heard excellent things about H&K.

I've been wanting to simplify my guitar life, partly because I've been playing bass more. This little amp is very trick and is just the ticket for me. The cool, retro blue light on the control panel is a hip little bonus. Highly recommended.

Got the replacement the next day from American Musical Supply (great customer service) June 16, 2004. Works fine. Clean channel has a warm sound and when overdriven produces a good breakup that's not trebly. The distortion channel can go from a mild crunch to total saturation. Clean channel is quiet while the distortion will bring the usual amount of noise depending on the pickups.

I agree with the other reviews, it does sound like a tube amp.
Best sounding amp I've heard in its class.

Don't know about how reliable these are yet since they are new.

German company with a service center in the midwest somewhere.

Great amp for recording. Might not be loud enough for rock or metal bands. And yes, the blue lighted control channel looks cool and hiogh tech!

Good features if it worked. 1x10 Jensen speaker!

No sounds 'cause it didn't work.

Unreliable!

N/A

D.O.A. Got it brand new on June 15, 2004 and it powered up, but no sound whatsoever. I'm getting a replacement, so I'll keep you posted.
This is what happens when a high end manufacturer tries to make low end products. I researched these blue amps quite a bit (thanks Harmony Central) and they seem to have great tones but bad reliability. Maybe. after they get the defects worked out, they might be great amps!

Got it for Xmas 2003, probably made in 2003. Pretty basic features, two channels, reverb, effects loop is a nice feature on an amp this size and price.

I have a few guitars. Single coils and Humbuckers. The clean channel has some good sounding tones. OK for blues, country, jazz, and classic rock. The dirty channel sucks. Way too much treble. If you turn the treble back it just sound muddy. I rate this catagory a 5 because the dirty channel is basicly useless.

Not reliable at all. After four months it quit working. Turn it on and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I'll plug in and start playing and, after 15 or 20 minutes the volume fades out to nothing. I think it might be a bad power transformer.

What a joke. No customer support at all. Take a look at their web site and try to find a section dealing warranty or product problems. I have tried numerous e-mails. No reply. I think their attitude is "We have your money, now go F*** yourself.

A total piece of Shit. Don't waste you money!!

features have been covered, nothing spectacucular, par for the course. Does have CD input, line out, footswitch capability, headphone jack, along with the versatility of a gain and master control. Not bad for a small practise amp.

I use a '93 les paul studio and a '91 strat thru this amp. Both sound great, it really lets the guitar's voice come thru. The clean channel on this ampis amazing, very tube-like. The clean also accepts distotion pedal very well, my DS-1 sounds great thru it. The reverb is just OK, but what else do you want from a ss amp for $200? Master and gain controls get a wide variety of overdrives from channel 2. I can get a light blues drive, Angus crunch, or Zakk's brutal distortion. Very versatile. Just keep tweaking for the sound you need! Got surprisingly loud too. Was able to jam with bass, loud drums, and another guitarist with a 65 watt Marshall valvestate.

just got it so no comment here. It's ss so it will last as long as its not abused.

haven't needed H&K yet.

Bar none best ss amp i have heard. None i have seen can match it for tube like warmth. The sound shames my buddies 130 watt fender ultra chorus(not as loud though!) Great buy, a steal for $200. After playing thru the clean my buddy who is not farmiliar with H&K thoght I bought a small tube amp. Great deal!

Update to earlier review. Bought amp about eight months ago. It worked fine, sounds good, the whole bit.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM: Two days ago it quit working. Either no sound or very weak (no volume). I'm very easy on my gear and have not pushed this amp very hard. I checked my guitars and cables with my other amps and everything worked fine. I opened up the amp to take a look inside and no surprise. I found cheap plastic input jacks soldered on to a PC board. What can you expect from a two hundred dollar amp?

Can't get any.

Quit working after 8 month's.

E-mailed them. No response yet. Sucks.

Piece-o-Crap. Never buy H&K again. I'll stick with Marshall & Fender.

Same features as the 15 and 30 watt versions. two channels, clean and dirty. Effects loops, heaphone, line out and CD in. A spring reverb. All the standard stuff. Everything you will need

I play carvin guitars. I have a bolt T and a DC 127. This amp is great. I went into the store looking for a small amp for practice and stage. I hate carrying around a stack. Even though this amp is solid state, it sounds GREAT. It took me a few minutes to get dialed in but I have gotten some great tones. The clean channel breaks up very beautifull when you crank it up. Its great for blues and SRV type stuff but will work for any style. I was going to the store with the 30 watt model in mind but this was in stock. Loud enough for practice and stage.

IMHO this amp this amp sounds as good as a tube and is worth every penny.

No problems

No problems here

If this was stolen or lost I would get another. This amp is one of the best amps I have every owned and is very versatile. You will NOT do better for the price.

great features for the price.

I am a recording artist and songwriter. I use numerous processors and small combos for miking. I wanted a small amp that had a cd input just to "jam along with my bakcing rythyms that i have previously laid down. I knew there were a few out there and I found this one at a great price. All I cared about was the cd in and sound quality was not really an issue. When I plugged in and turned it on I was blown away. The clean cahnnel on this thing is unbelievable in an amp this size and price. I decided to run my dg stomp straight in line and man this is where this amp floored me! This thing (with the DG .....no amp sims) sounded freakin' awesome. I play lots of genre of music and I am not one to copy the sounds of others, however I love that crakle of tube saturation along with a nice pick attack. This thing gave it to me to perfection. The closest sounding solid state to tube amp I have ever heard. The dirty channel is ok. Nothing spectacular but the effects into the clean is all you wuold ever need. I use this as my main amp for recording and jam sessions with my pals. I cannot get enough of it.

Seems well built.

never dealt with them. I am sure they are a good company.

If your considering it buy it. @ 220.00 with all the features and 30watts to boot this thing is a steal. Cool looking and great sound!

Made in 2003. Solid state, 30 watts 10 inch Jensen speaker. Has all the features an amp needs. Two channels, three band EQ, reverb, footswitch jack for channel switching, effects loop, and aux stereo input. If you need more than that, you probably need to learn to play better. Use effects in moderation, there's no subsitute for ability.

Using standard Fat Strat, and standard Tele. Both with stock pick-
ups. I play Blues, Jazz/Funk, Country, and Clasic Rock. For the price it's got the competition beat. The clean channel is unbelievable. It sounds better than the Fender, Marshall, Crate, Peavey, or Ibanez. I played them all. The Dirty channel - it's solid state. I have never found a solid state amp on which I liked the distorition. I don't care what the manufacture's say the only good distortion is tube distortion. That being said, the dirty channel dosen't make me cringe.

It's solid state. Ir it doesn't break in a month it probably won't ever break.

Never used them.

I've been playing over thirty years. I've got a Vox AC30, Roland Jazz Chorus & a Marshall TSL 60. Various effects pedals. I mainly play at house parties with either myself and a Sax player, or myself and another guitarist. Sometimes I play solo, using an Akia Headrush to loop chord progressions then solo or double the chords. If lost or stolen, I would definetly replace it.