Thomann bought H&K. Should we care?

[laxu]

Personally, I feel like the only time I’m intrigued by H&K is from an “oh, wow, that does a lot of stuff!” Perspective, never from a “wow, that sounds GREAT!” Perspective. Which is to say it’s been a while because tube amps will never win the “that’s just a really useful box” war at this point.

H&K amps do have a tone of their own...one I just don't really like. I've tried a number over the years and always felt that the higher gain stuff is way too fizzy sounding.

I like them visually, and for features, but that's about it. I've seen the Triamp Mk1/Mk2 go for bargain prices over here.

 

[BahamaDada]

Maybe H&K will finally make some good products

 

[PLX]

Maybe H&K will finally make some good products

The MP5 is a pretty good product.

 

[BahamaDada]

That's certainly an interesting development. Might be good though, let's see what happens.

PS: Not watching that vid.

EDIT: still better than if Behringer/Music Tribe bought them, imho

Or some chinese conglomerate trying to diversify their portfolios.

For me that basically killed Marshall and then poked a stick in its bumhole for good measure.

I am sure they survive without my sales. But I will, too, without their products.

 

[BahamaDada]

The MP5 is a pretty good product.

Cars and firearms. 2 things I'd wish Germany wouldn't be so good in

 

[Chocol8]

I watched it

post REPORTED!

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

To be honest, I think this is a fantastic merger. Hughes & Kettner is a long-standing German manufacturer, but has lost a lot of its popularity, especially in recent years. Thomann has the financial and marketing power to bring Hughes & Kettner back on track.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Both nice brands, short term I’d expect this to bring nice products at competitive prices.

Longer term: This is “next level” to the trend of very few, but very big retailers dominating the market: also do the manufacture part.
Another nail in the coffin of small retailers, and possibly also for small manufacturers.

Fender aquired Reverb, another marriage between manufacturer and retail channel.

I think we are gonna see more of these marriages…I hope enough smaller MI players survive, but I’m not to optimistic tbh,

 

[dronerstone]

I hope enough smaller MI players survive, but I’m not to optimistic tbh,

Boutique brands won't go anywhere, that's for sure.

 

[JiveTurkey]

H&K amps do have a tone of their own...one I just don't really like. I've tried a number over the years and always felt that the higher gain stuff is way too fizzy sounding.

I like them visually, and for features, but that's about it. I've seen the Triamp Mk1/Mk2 go for bargain prices over here.

Aren't the H&K and Blug sounds very similar? I thought he worked at H&K and helped shape their sounds before doing his own thing? Maybe I am remembering incorrectly?

 

[laxu]

Aren't the H&K and Blug sounds very similar? I thought he worked at H&K and helped shape their sounds before doing his own thing? Maybe I am remembering incorrectly?

H&K has made a lot of amps over the years. While Thomas Blug was actually involved with developing the Triamp Mk1 I believe, I'm not sure if he was involved with any others.

I've tried I think the Triamp Mk2 and thought it sounded really fizzy through a H&K 4x12, at least at moderate volume. To be fair it might be the speakers, no idea what was in it.

The BluGuitar Amp 1 ME does not sound anything like that.

 

[timbuck3]

What we should care about is not giving that KDH jackass any views.

I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing, at least it wasn't sold to some venture capital firm to gut. If it keeps H&K going and allows them to put out interesting products, it's all good.

Well he could use a massive haircut..like 12 inches off.

 

[timbuck3]

H&K amps do have a tone of their own...one I just don't really like. I've tried a number over the years and always felt that the higher gain stuff is way too fizzy sounding.

I like them visually, and for features, but that's about it. I've seen the Triamp Mk1/Mk2 go for bargain prices over here.

I have always looked at their stuff but never seen them in the flesh anywhere locally to try...and they seem a tad overpriced on modeling stuff like black spirit amps and floor model. its a cool concept though

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

Will the brand name now be changed to Hughes & Kettner & Harley & Benton?

 

[RaceU4her]

not watching any videos from that dude lol

 

[Blix]

Blug was employed by H&K for 27 years!

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

This will be interesting to follow. Hoping they can find their niche in the market besides the blue LEDs.

I had a Vortex transistor head and 4x12 for awhile back in the day. Recently had a Tubemeister 20 and a 1x10 cab for awhile. Not bad sounding but not the best match for my playing either. Both the amp and the cab felt rock solid and quality. Great feature set though with a DI out, speaker defeat and analog cab sim.

 

[Joshual-L]

Didn’t watch the vid and don’t know who the guy is but that’s a good news.

H&K is a great company but maybe I’m wrong but they were slowly dying. Even if some of their products are really great.
I owned a Grandmeister deluxe and even though the tones were not my cup of tea it was a wonderfully created amp. Small, lots of options and the good ones, not the one you don’t need for touring.

But I think they didn’t sold a lot of those. Seems they had also a lot of qc problems.
Then they made some in between pedalboard that were kinda meh.

Curious to see what Thomann is going to do with H&K

Ps: totally forgot to say that I still own the tubeman mk2 that is my backup and this little box got a really really good crunch channel

 

[timbuck3]

Blug was employed by H&K for 27 years!

I like Thomas personality that i have seen. I hope amp x is wildly amazing and sells tons...he deserves it for sure.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

What we should care about is not giving that KDH jackass any views.

I'm with @laxu.

I'm not too bothered about H&K tbh, I didn't care about them before this so Thomann buying them doesn't concern me too much.

I really can't stand that KDH dude, he's just a bottom feeder who's desperate for scandal that half the time doesn't exist. He offers even less to the world than youtubers shilling for pedal companies. At least with the shills you can often hear a decent player demoing a cool pedal. It's up to us whether we actually buy one or not. KDH is just out to manufacture drama and clicks through outrage.