Hughes & Kettner Triamp Combo

Well it seems like others here have more information to offer on features than I know, but all I can say is that this is the most ****ing awesome combo I've ever played. And that is saying something since I've played hundreds over my career. My first exposure to this amp a gig in Europe in the mid 90's and one of the guys in the opening act let me use his when by Mesa started giving me issues right before the gig. Playing it cold I never had better sound. With six channels to choose from simply using his presets I could play anything clean to nasty without touching my stomp boxes. I knew I had to get one, but couldn't afford one at the time. When I finally could afford it I couldn't find a combo and had to settle on the Triamp head and cab, but I didn't care for the HK cab so ended up with a Mesa instead after trying a Marshall 1960 for awhile. I still never felt that it was as sweet as the combo so I kept my eyes peeled for one in the U.S. (very hard to find here) and finally found one on ebay for the ridiculous price of $2350 by the time the bidding ended. I was afraid I over paid until it arrived and I got it dialed in. It is everything I remembered and more. The Triamp heads don't hold a candle to their combos, so I don't know what marketing bonehead decided to kill it, but it was a huge mistake. You won't be able to pry my cold dead hands off this unit when I am gone.

Play it with my PRS, Les Paul, and an 80's Kramer. Rocks them all!

Ebay always scares me a bit, especially for that kind of money on a used item, but the unit is awesome and have had no problems. My Triamp head was always bulletproof, so I expect this will be the same.

No calls them yet, but I would bet they stand behind it.

Awesome, good luck finding one, but nothing short of awesome!

Considered by many to be the best sounding combo ever produced by H&K. The TriAmp combo was only made for one year (1995) and was eliminated because the company decided to keep the TriAmp series as a head unit only based on the price point competing with their flagship amp. The combo (just like the head unit) features 3 separate amps with 6 channels total. Each step increases in intensity and has separate gain, volume and EQ. The system comes with a 7 button foot switch (6 channels + FX loop) and even has built in reverb (not available on TriAmp MKII). A lot of flexibility on amp outputs and a Redbox DI can be sent to the mixer. A bit heavy compared to other tube combos, but the rarity of these units has driven the price sky high. TriAmp MKI amps are selling on eBay from about $1000 to $1500 and combo units are fetching well over $2000 depending on condition. Still not a bad value when you consider the MKII is going for well over $3000 without a cabinet.

The tonal flexibility of this amp is virtually unmatched. Mesa and Marshall tones can be dialed in quickly and 6 channels means you probably won't need any (or at least many) stomp boxes for rock, classic rock, punk, or british metal sounds. Cleans are not quite as clear as the MKII but acceptable for non-acoustic styles.

Rock solid German construction, boutique quality, style and exclusivity on the combo unit make this an exceptional value.

Kettner support is great, but they don't have documentation on the combo. This is not a serious concern because it is functionally identical to the TriAmp MKI amp.

Having owned or still own several tube Marshalls, Mesas, Soldano and a Bogner, this is probably my favorite for everything except clean sounds. I may use a vintage tube screamer now and then, but otherwise I like leaving the guitar signals clean to the unit. The value of this unit is fantastic. The recent trend of bands to reduce the size of their stacks by miking combo units to drop stage volume and give better PA control is probably why the value of these amps is still very high. That coupled with the rarity means you aren't likely to come across another one in your city (or even state). Try one and you'll have to own one.

this was made in 1995, cost quite a bit but worth it

can do EVERYTHING

VERY RUGGED

EXCELENT

ITS GREAT IF YOU CAN FIND ONE BUY ONE!!!!!

I too own a very rare Triamp Combo - I purchased brand new in late 1995 and waited 30+ days for it to arrive....I have it and love and will never part with it. I paid just over $1600.00 new for it and believe this will increase in value over time as so few were produced. It does everything I need it to and until just recently was the only amplifier I had - just purchased a used Mesa Boogie Road King and that too is a sonic pallette waiting to be tried but when it comes down to 1st love the Triamp Combo I own is just right.

Awesome! Does everything you need it to - I use a Fender Strat with a Hot Rails seymour duncan pickup and WOW it ROCKS on every channel - I use a slight delay from time to time with a TS808 Tube Screamer for that extra punch when needed (not very often) the amp itself will satisfy your needs. I play rock, blues instrumental stuff and it will do the job....if you can find one buy it they are so rare and will one day I believe be worth money.

The only items ever replaced have been the stand by switch and the midi switch - both under warranty early on and I haven't had another issue with it. Very reliable but plan on power tubes every year or so especially with heavy use like I use it....at least an hour a day 5-6days a week that will do it on the tubes.

Never had an issue and have a local Hughes and Kettner dealer within 20minutes of my home - email them and they RESPOND :-) and most are always eager to hear from me on the rare combo I do own.

Nothing more needs to be said - "BUY IT IF YOU CAN FIND ONE"

Mine's the very rare combo-version, that was only made during 1995, and of which no more than 500 were produced. 9 12AX7 preamp-tubes, four 6L6 power tubes and a 12AX7 serving as a buffer.

This is probably THE most versatile tube amp around on the market, and will satisfy even the most demanding guitarist. SIX channels, all of which can be easily selected through the seven-button footswitch (button nr. 7 is for the FX-loop) and all of which have their own gain control. There's an excellent reverb built in (probably the best one I've ever heard!), but, als all other reviewers point out, not footswitchable. It can only be controlled through a potmeter at the back of the combo. The lack of a switch for the reverb is truly something I miss on this amp, because I don't want to use it on every channel. When I change channels, I often want to turn off the reverb. I guess I'll have to buy a Electro Harmonix Holy Grail then... (sigh) :p

I mostly use this amp in my room, but ocassionally I will take it out with a band (still to be formed). It lacks a bit of dynamics at lower volumes, but what do you expect of a 100 watt amp?

Red Box DI built in for direct recording without mic'ing the amp. I also transplanted the MSM-1 midi module from my Tube 50 into it. Don't use it, but maybe I will, once.

I would have given it a 9 if it had a footswitch for reverb.

I use this amp with my Jackson DK2, with two singlecoil pickups and a humbucker in the bridge position. The amp suits me perfectly. I wanted versatility, but I wanted a tube amp, and no digital modelling amp. I was very attached to the sound of my Hughes & Kettner Tube 50 combo, but wanted even more versatility and a heavier distortion without havind to use pedals. The Triamp is somewhat the ultimate version of that Tube 50, so it was the obvious choice, I guess. I was planning on buying a Mesa Nomad of Rect-o-verb, when I ran into an ad for this beauty. I didn't hesitate for a single second, and placed a bid rightaway. And succeeded.

The clean (amp 1, channel 1)is Fenderish, like a classic Twin, but with a darker sound and a little less sparkle. I use it with the bass turned down to 0, for that trebly Fender-sound, and I love it!
Amp 1, channel 2 gives a little edge of distortion to this clean sound, for more of a Marshall-grind. This is my favourite sound in this amp!
Amp 2, channel 1 delivers a bright and clear distortion sound, very transparent. Great for blues and classic rock-tones.
Channel 2 of amp 2...wel...I never use it really. It sounds like channel 1, but darker, more bassy, and with a little more gain. I don't like the sound of it.
Amp 3, channel 1 delivers the Marshall-like Super Lead-sounds, but more transparent (als long as you keep the Presence-pot turned down) Channel 2 is mind-boggling, thick saturated distortion, a true wall of sound like that of a Mesa Rectifier switched to BLITZKRIEG. Amazing! And it still retains its clarity. It's what they call 'truth in distortion'. It doesn't just fill up your sound, and doesn't cover your ass, you hear every detail and every little mistake!

Great sounds. And with the reverb added, you get even more depth.

Reliability seems great to me. The previous owner was a professional musician who gigged with it regularly, recorded with it and practiced with it at home as well, so he has used it intensely. And it still runs on the original factory-tubes! And now it's my turn...

I have the feeling I can depend on this amp just as much as I could on my Tube 50. My experiences with H&K amps are very good, I don't think this one will let me down either. I have owned the Tube 50 for more than two years, this Triamp has been mine now for one month. Original H&K factory-tubes still sound fabulous.

H&K were very helpful when I mailed them for more info on the Triamp Combo (I'd never heard of it, so I wanted to know more. Got a reply within an hour with everything I wanted to know). Haven't needed any servicing of repairs yet, hope I never will (well, I'll have to change the tubes once in a few years of course, but that's about it, I hope).

I have been playing for three years now, and also own a Hughes & Kettner Tube 50, as I said (which I sold today, by the way, because of the Triamp. I never intended to sell it, but the Triamp just outruns it by every possible means, so I didn't see any reason to keep it - well, except for the clean channel, which was even more beautiful than that of this Triamp. The EL34 power tubes sounded brighter, more dynamic) and a Koch Pedaltone floorbased preamp, which sounds wonderful through the poweramp of the Triamp, very dynamic. In these three years I have played and heard several great amps, but this Triamp seems to excel way above these others. I feel I made the perfect choice for me, this amp suits me just fine!

If it were to be stolen of lost, I would definitely have a problem, because 6L6-powered combo-versions are very rare, and almost impossible to find. So the person who stole or wrecked it would have to experience great pain in return!

I love everything about this amp! Well...everything except the lack of the reverb switch.

Other amps I compared it to, and which I thought of buying, were the Marshall JCM 2000 TSL-series combo's, the 6101LM 30th anniversary Marshall combo, the Koch Multitone (which dropped of the list because I already have the preamp of the Multitone as a pedal, with the same three channels, a 0,5 watt power amp - for recording - and, well, great tones!), the Mesa/Boogie Nomad Series, the Mesa/Boogie Rect-o-verb and the ENGL Sovereign.

As you can see, I made my choice, and have no reason for regrets.