Hughes & Kettner AmpMan Modern Solid State Pedal Amp

Hughes & Kettner’s all-analog Spirit Tone Generator is now available in a compact pedal format. AmpMan Modern´s two distinctive channels each embody an entire era of legendary guitar tones, served up by the built-in 50-watt power amp or the integrated Red Box AE+. With connoisseur tone-shaping capabilities, impressive power and a comprehensive set of professional features in a handsome little box, AmpMan is the go-to solution on stage, at home and in the studio.

Making the most of ever square meter inside the chassis, AmpMan is as small as it needs to be yet big enough to hold a treasure-trove of tech, features and sound. On top of that, it’s a real powerhouse with plenty of juice to rock even a 4×12″ speaker cab.

All that musical might comes courtesy of the specially developed Ultra Response power amp. Cranking out up to 50 watts of deliciously dynamic power, its punch and feel rivals that of any similarly rated tube power amp. It sends every single watt to the speaker with that spine-tingling dynamic response intact and translated into impressive sound pressure. And the Ultra Response power amp stays true to its musical character even at an all-out roar.

For almost 40 years, we’ve been exploring the origin of the tonal magic of tube amplifiers more and more deeply. And what became obvious is this: it’s about way more than just the tube. The true tonal magic emerges from all the ‘weird’ dynamic interactions between the single circuit sections and the amp stages, the transformers and the speakers.

Together, these highly complex and dynamic physical phenomena create that rich, organic and tactile sound experience guitar players are looking for.

The Spirit Tone Generator technology faithfully recreates the natural yet wildly complex interactions of traditional tube amp circuits in a ‘bionic’ way. This miniature masterpiece distills the essence of tube amp physics, with all of the intensity and responsive tonal behaviour, into a compact, strictly analog circuit that promises unbridled playing pleasure.

Channel 1 is identical to its counterpart on AmpMan Classic. It serves up a sensuous experience in sound with all the immediacy and liveliness of single-channel amps with no master knob. These are the iconic sounds of the ‘60s and early ‘70s pioneered by the rebels who created the blueprint for rockin’ tone. This channel’s hallmarks are its wide dynamic range and touch-sensitive response to your phrasing. Roll back the Gain and Sagging knobs, and it delivers crystal-clear, sparkling clean sounds. Set the Sagging knob to 12 o’clock or so, and it breaks up just like the tube amps of yore to produce warm, woolly distortion replete with rich overtones. Hit the Boost button, and it pumps out the thrilling sound of a fully cranked tube amp with an upstream booster.

Channel 2 is your stairway to high-gain heaven. Its Tone, Presence and Resonance knobs take you on a tour of entire genres of metal, from that classic macho midrange to modern scooped sounds. The Sagging knob greases the gears so that tone flies from your fingertips with endless sustain and the kind of creamy overtones that let lead lines soar. Riffing requires the opposite, tighter tone and hair-trigger response. Roll back the Sagging knob, and the power amp responds ultra fast. The tipping point into compression comes very late, even when playing chords in drop tuning.Tapping suddenly seems effortless.

Features

• Two strictly analog channels with fully independent controls
• Channel-tailored Boost
• Switchable, serial FX loop
• Powerful tone control that sweeps from British to Californian flavor
• Presence and resonance power amp voicing to bring out the best in your stomp boxes
• Unique sagging control that lets you dial in sweet power amp saturation at any volume
• Master volume plus switchable solo volume
• Built-In IDB noise gate
• Red Box AE+ DI-out with 8 cabinet simulations that delivers studio quality tone straight to desk
• Stereo Aux-In lets you jam to play alongs an makes in-ear monitoring is an exercise in convenience
• Adjustable stereo headphones out
• Integrated 50 watts Ultra-Response power amp