Hughes & Kettner | Black Spirit 200 | In Depth Review

[@mprsiv1]

39mins? Holy crap Rabea! I can’t stay in the bathroom that long. My legs go numb! 🤣

[@vinceceb]

Andrea C wtf I thought that was just me😂😂 sometimes I can’t stand up and then the sensation of them “waking up” tickles like a mofo.

[@mattstarf4294]

Standard dude... My wife has zero interest in guitar and even less interest in dick flapping videos on the Internet... That being said I've just gone and fucking ordered one! 🤣🤣🤣

[@willnot5687]

MattstarF what is dick flapping ? Interesting term😂

[@willnot5687]

That a badass amp

[@hareepjoshi]

Lolol

[@jacobdowler1]

This is the best demo of any gear ive ever seen on youtube hands down! These dudes sold me on this about 3 years ago and i still love mine very much! This amp is a true Mini Monster!

[@kenb3302]

Found the cab sim types in the online manual: No. Cabinet Types: 1. 1x12" Modern Thiele-Port 2. 1x12" Modern Front-Port 3. 2x12" Vintage Open Back 4. 4x10" Alnico Open Back 5. 4x12" Vintage Cab 6. 4x12" British Cab 7. 4x12" Modern Cab 8. 4x12" American Cab

[@kevroyo]

Dude you have to get Joss on here more often! This was a genuinely fun video to watch.

[@olewandel6582]

ü

[@brivington2011]

Agreed.

[@RJRonquillo]

Damn, that sounds good. I'm impressed.(btw i never watch gear demos longer than 10mins - and i watched the whole thing!)

[@felinekaiju4517]

Rabea has a way of doing that, dude!. His vids become a rabbit hole in themselves.

[@crazeyjoe]

Great sparkly cleans, nice slightly over driven break up tone and smooth high gain with clarity. Nice on board effects, cab sims, light weight, programmable settings for about $800 US price. H&K seems to have knocked this one out!

[@dawnpoint]

I absolutely LOVE how the playing instinctively changes as the effects are tweaked. Amazing musicians.

[@xJaGG3d]

You guys need to make a That Shred Show where it's just That Pedal Show but the metal/shred version.

[@gaminggeek4046]

The chorus at around 10:13 was just glorious. I'm commenting on this vid a ton because this amp just sounds that damn good.

[@aidster77]

holy MOLY those cleans were DELICIOUS

[@RubyRoks]

I love coming back to this and hearing Bea go full Incubus mode when Joss is dialing through the modulation effects.

[@ArielsSmartyPants]

Would really liked to have heard your Dad's strat through this. So far this is the best sounding H&K amp yet by miles :)

[@lauscho]

You know, I *hated* Joss at first, but I think after NAMM, he's learned a lot and kept himself genuinely fun but also a little more mature and now I'm kind of sad that he's gotten so much hate from so many people because damn, I'm already missing him from Anderton's. I love my TubeMeister 18, by the way, but this is all I'd have ever asked for from a signature amp, if I ever were to design one, so it makes me happy that H&K is the one making it!

[@jasonlight8813]

I met Joss a few years back on a photo shoot. He was a top bloke and a lot of fun to hang out with

[@bbenz9750]

It's a second Black Spirit review I am watching and I am blown away. So versatile, such a great sound.

[@Francesco-is6pu]

Fantastic head! I bought it two weeks ago and I used it 2 times with my band. It's very LOUD. I used it in 20 Watt mode...and it was loud enaugh. Great tones!

[@codyrichardson4419]

How did it feel in a live band? Cut pretty well?

[@Francesco-is6pu]

@@codyrichardson4419 hi! never had a problem with volumes and tones in inside or outside gigs. In bigger situations I use my Laney Vh100r...but also the black spirit would be ok

[@dajoler]

How exactly was this recorded? This amp seems to have a ton of different options for recording and I'm interested to know how the RedBox actually works. Nice playing and review as always, BTW. You guys rock so hard.

[@solitude208]

Clean reminds me of Roland JC-120. If you haven’t heard one you need to. For a solid state amp it’s clean tone is arguable the best I’ve ever heard.....but it doesn’t break up like tube amps do.

[@WFKTHETHIRD]

Wow this is quite an impressive, super versatile amp at a really good price point...Really sound like a tube amp as well...Great review!!!

[@thehoppo]

I just started tuning down my G on my 7, changed my life

[@lpgoog]

I gig with Helix direct in P.A. Got a sneaking feeling this would blow it away direct in PA as far as authentic tone. 👍🎸🎼🎧

[@DavidHunterChunkyRiffs]

Great to see you guys together again. The baritone sounded absolutely filthy. Love it.

[@markinthemix6055]

I trust H&K thats that. I get a bit turned off that a lot of these reviews tend to praise everything as being awesome and the latest greatest. I think it was a bit criminal the amount of videos that praised the BOSS Katana as being the best budget priced amp around. the # of Videos praising the BOSS as a practice amp and gigging amp were staggering. I fell for the cooled and bought one a 100 single 12. Yea the clean was ok and the acoustic was ok but the gain channels were way too brittle and digital transistor for my taste for anything. The MOST overly hyped amp of the last couple years. This seems a bit more promising. Thanks H&K.

[@Stormwoken]

Yet, if you care to tweak the sounds accordingly, you can get a range sounds that are nothing short of amazing from it, as proven by myriads of YT videos .

[@DeevoC]

Man, when they hit that 80's hair metal at 18:32, it was amazing. I was like "Yo, I wanna HEAR THAT!".

[@tomlewis3342]

(Jazz Club voice) Incubus. Nice.

[@calebknott8021]

Truly, a man of good taste.

[@heaththompson3834]

10:50. Sweet

[@Millo1868]

Playing starts around 8:15 ...and yes, it does sound good.

[@MattisWood]

Just got one and I have to say it sounds fantastic. Sounds just like a tube amp. EQ takes some getting used to but I dialed in the right EQR on everything from clean jazzy stuff through pretty dirty blues/rock without much effort. Effects are easy to use. Wish they had a tap tempo built into the amp, but that's the only downside. If I use it live, I'll probably use my DD-7 for live tap delay. Looking forward to playing it more!

[@torchlord11]

The tap tempo control is on the foot pedal, which is a separate buy. The older pedals for the Coreblade and Switchblade models I believe should probably work as well with the tap tempo. I also believe there are midi control parameters that you can use with any midi pedal to control the tap tempo.

[@xthexadvantagex]

Excited to see you Both together. I’d really like a Bea review of the Kiesel. I believe the kiesels are nice guitars but it sure is hard to find one to play before you buy it. I’m very into these new H&Ks but As much as I’m wanting to just go and buy one I’m holding out for a better model. I’m hoping for a EL34 or 6L6 version of the grabdmeister deluxe with effects you can edit a little more in the app. Mainly the tremelo. As little as I use it I want to have a real tremelo in my “ultimate amp” that does all sounds with no pedal board. I’d like selectable reverb and delay types. They can do it I just don’t know if they can do it quickly and for an affordable price.

[@saiyancooop1217]

Do you prefer the grandmeister 40 or the spirit?

[@Daan7000]

I want an answer on this as well!

[@unleashthefury111]

Spirit is better on Ultra channel sound. A bit tighter and better for chuggs

[@lo3572]

The fact there is no answer suggests it’s the GrandMeister. They’re likely compensated to promote the Black Spirit

[@richschlegel278]

Love the GM40, havent played the black spirit yet

[@jyd59]

I have a Black Spirit head, a GM 40 Deluxe, and the GM 35. When you listen to them by themselves, the tube amps have a bit more shimmer in the high end and a bit more bottom in the low. When in a live band situation, I promise you that you wouldn't hear a difference unless you yourself were switching from the BS to the GMs. Right now I'm using the WMI-1 wifi connector with my iPad and have created several playlists to download into the BS. There are 32 banks, and, right now, I'm only using 3!! I have Bank 1 set up for humbucker guitars: a clean chorus with a bit of reverb & delay, a rhythm crunch that sounds damn close to AC DC, a lead setting (Presence=60, Resonance=75, Treble=50, Mid=71, Bass=75, Vol=80, Gain=50, Sag=3, Noise Gate=80, Reverb=0, Delay level=5-, feedback=30, time=650ms) that is bone crushing but very clean, and a metal ryhthm. Bank 2 is set up for my strat & tele's single coils. Bank 3 is for a single song, Flock of Seagull's I Ran, with the rhythm & lead channels having exaggerated feedback for the delay echo parts. You can't go wrong with a BS Spirit for gigging like 90% of your shows. The tube amps are fantastic but also delicate-I would only take them out to play in a theater or big club with it's own dedicated PA. I fucking LOVE my BS 200! Also, it only weighs like 4 pounds ! You could put it in a backpack and leave your hands free to lug the speakers and guitars.

[@dejct]

Holy shit this is solid state? Best analog tones I've heard! Nice!

[@uwetittmann1423]

That amp is amazing! I will have to test it, I am afraid. I am playing a Marshall JVM410H, which is possibly one of the best amps in this world in my mind, and you can get it used for ridiculous prices on eBay. I just would like waht you folks think a really good amp is? Best wishes for the New Year, Uwe.

[@watchtheskies]

Whatever wizardry they put inside this thing, it is working, what a great sounding amp!

[@Chtulushotsauce]

Dude hell yes rocking some Incubus! 🤘🏻 I was basically sold on this as soon as the reverb kicked on. Listened to the higher gain setting. Damn it I don’t “need” another amp buuuuuuuuuuut damn.

[@RedbackRecordz]

Awesome amp and review as always Bea! Damn, I want one now 🤘🤘

[@jerryx2000]

This is the sickest amp I've ever heard. No idea which cabinet for home use!

[@000gjb]

Pity they never included the Bluetooth, headphone jack into the Grandmeister 40 Deluxe.

[@puppyd0gs]

I was a bit skeptical at first, I've seen demos and those higher gain channels sound very solid state to me, but those cleans sound amazing and to get decent enough gain through the same amp head is a good compromise. Definitely gonna buy

[@thomasdinkelspiel1098]

Its interesting that they mention an "all analog" modeling system. As I remember, Tech21 uses a similar concept for the Trademarks which sound great for solid state amps! This seems like a TON of bang for the buck. Really sounds like a winner too.

[@kaxisa1]

Hey Bea does it take Fuzz pedals well? I'm curious. Great video btw :)

[@khargrar]

5:48 "Theyre just appealing to the full range of customers"... 'xcept for the android users...

[@kingpingu5441]

They're releasing the app on android too

[@khargrar]

Wow! Nice, thanks for the heads-up ! :-)

[@grahamcooper2144]

Dang. Just... Dang! The cleans on this sound stunning. My only (huge) reservations would be all the 'hairy' channels that I would rarely use. And I wouldn't be firing 200 watts out of it either. So I want the cleans, the effects, the red box effects (the cabs), but the rest... I'm paying for but wouldn't get the most out of. Stunning amp though - As Rabea said: very flexible. I must check out the rest of the H&K stuff. Been a while since I looked.

[@nkdqj8428]

Graham Cooper Pretty much in the same boat but be aware it‘s 200 w solid state. While that‘s not an accurate measure of how loud it will be, 50w solid state is a minimum for gigging

[@DeeJaysWord]

Graham Cooper you can adjust it from 200 to 2 Watts range

[@grahamcooper2144]

Thanks - I just read that after I posted my ill-informed comment. Maybe the guys mentioned that in the video and I missed it. Suddenly seems more flexible than ever.

[@mobeus84]

Nice shout on the nowhere fast! One of my favorite incubus tunes to play! I love that solo its so arpeggiogasmic

[@e.g.systems6146]

Hmm.. game changer. This does NOT sound like a transistor amp. Combine that fact with the other features, and I suspect H&K have a massive winner on their hands. The immediacy of knob-twiddling, combined with a really well thought through feature set, makes this shoot to the top of my list. The one sound which did it for me was the "clean with full sag" which sounded just SO tubey that I could hardly believe it. Take it as a compliment that I've listened to 4 previous demos of this amp, but when I saw that Rabea had one, I knew it would tell me what I needed to know, and it did.

[@e.g.systems6146]

Meaning....?

[@MartyrsResolve]

I was thinking about this amp quite a bit and I think you two have me sold on it being my next amp.

[@jacekmma]

Love Hughes and Kettner. Bro, we need more "Sounds Like"

[@uwetittmann1423]

That Amp is just great, I think - I have the combo - incredible!

[@MangoOverload91]

What a lovely surprise to find when I'm currently in the amp market

[@Merkaba954]

Ive been enjoying my Tumnus Deluxe over a medium gain crunch on my katana. It is pretty fantastic Adam Jones.

[@PariahVSGear]

Just ordered mine, gonna be reviewing it on my channel in the coming weeks!

[@FingerBlaster5000]

Bea, is there a release date for the bridge pickup in your new signature guitars? really looking to install one in the axe. cheers.

[@WittleDwift]

they're based on bkp aftermaths i believe so u could try those

[@FingerBlaster5000]

Dhruv Angresh I'd have to sell a kidney to pay for the aftermath set. I'm hoping the Chapman is more cost effective. cheers.

[@peds7099]

@@WittleDwift I believe the bare knuckle warpig actually. He used to have that in his signature until he put in the Chapman pups.

[@drile00l80]

That clean tone playing was fantastic.

[@hugobronze6335]

Hey Rabea, great video as always! I've been playing guitar for a few years now and I think it is probably time to invest in a guitar amp that I can gig with and that won't leave me broke as I am 20 and don't have much money anyway... I was looking at the katana series and I know you really dig the 50 but what are your thoughts on the head? Greetings from Portugal Edit: My current amp is a crate GX-212, it served the job for the last 7 years but it isn't really an inspiring amplifier is it?

[@jordanburrill883]

What a wonderful little amp! Impressive! I'm an organist. It sounds as if I could run the signal through my active crossover and use the head's 200 watt amp for the bass rotor ch. and just add a 100 watt amp for the treble horn rotor? Thanks Rabea!

[@MrScatalog]

It sounds amazing......BUT...I cannot hear any difference with the boost engaged. What does it do? Does it make a patch louder, or more gained out? I'm not sure what is going on there....

[@allenblackwell2433]

Will there ever be a video that demonstrates it in a Hall, large Arena or at like an outdoor stage, going through a PA?? Curious!! I’d like to hear it.

[@gjdavies50]

That’s exactly what I want to hear! Straight through a cab 2x12 and 4x12 high volume and compared to the GM36/GMD40

[@allenblackwell2433]

Gareth Davies that means you’re sold, however this amplifier does and produces sounds, as the gentlemen describe, that is not part of the demonstration, leaves me not fully in desire to purchase or disbanding from I currently use!! Do people read anymore???

[@JimmyDormire]

Fantastic demo!!!

[@TheRemizinho]

We want more Joss, this was awesome, you guys should definitely team up!

[@andresilvasophisma]

Yeah baby! Do you wanna sag now, or do you wanna sag later?

[@danielcannon4727]

André Silva oh, behave!

[@brandonproctor3639]

Very fun video and that amp sounds effing amazing!!

[@mwirecords95]

With the competitive pricing, what do you like best...Katana Artist, or this H&K? Would love to know.

[@mattstrat4209]

Great. I was waiting for the v30 Mkii to be in stock here,now this comes out.

[@Merkaba954]

Wish I had 1/4 of y'all's skill. Ugh sometimes makes my 40 year old as quit. But I won't cause I do enjoy playing even if it is just for me

[@erikmiles3713]

Sounds great. Very affordable. I'm getting one.

[@peterdelf]

I jumped out of my chair when I started to recognise that Incubus riff. Awesome.

[@edovee]

Wow. I was skeptic. Now I want to put my hands on it. Great demo!

[@capoman1]

Thanks for the review. Would have liked to hear more basic rhythm played to just hear tone. I can't hear a ton of tone in lead playing.

[@dubiousdaydream1695]

they really should have used knobs like on the mooer preamp live, with lights to indicate your settings. Other than that, really interesting product

[@metallion0738]

This amp sounds brutal, I love it.🤘🏻

[@xavierstilions]

Sick tune at the beginning ❤

[@aitorr5292]

It is called "come ci comme ca" or something like that from his Grinding Gears album ;)

[@aldito7586]

That Baritone guitar sounds killer!

[@CULTOFMIDNIGHTSTORM]

a buddy of mine brought over his black spirit 200 today, gotta say, there's no way im not buying one now

[@Explorerman1293]

First off, Bea we want another album keep it up, and itd be the dopest if joss made an appearance on some tracks! Secondly, i think the real test of this amp would be to use it on a blindfold test with rob against good digital amps, a kemper, and some tube amps to see where he places it.

[@johnp.hayden1099]

BEA, great playing. thank you both. looks interesting....very interesting

[@woocifer]

haha I don't care HOW good you are, Pepto-Bismol flavoured guitars taste awful. ;)

[@underpressureman]

Looks like they may be using something similar or inspired by Korg Nu-tubes! Maybe something using phosphorescents, or maybe just certain op-amps or Mosfets? Whatever the case, it sounds killer!! Very cool, especially with the power amp sag and attenuator!

[@dluten100]

Damn fine sounding amp. I can see how someone could really use this. For me though, just to many options and controls. I hate spending time playing with so many settings. But I’m just weird like that..:)

[@EdgedWeeds]

Danny Luten I can relate

[@gjdavies50]

I’m the same and wanted a few sounds for different songs and can never get pedals to sound quite right. Got a GM36 and it’s so easy to control. I now have it set and done and never have to touch it and still have a tonne of tones with different volume levels and choose a bank for the song. It really not complicated it’s so logical and easy. Outstanding amps extremely versatile they def do not sound thin!!! I want to hear this in a room because I can’t believe how tube like this sounds! The only thing I would change on my GM36 is to have more clean headroom! Can this stay clean at high volumes.?

[@MatEnAlks]

Like the legend mr. Rob Gjika said "all those knobs are killing your tone!" And I can see why he said that

[@geraldelsbree9999]

Hey Rebea or Joss was wondering if the Black spirit 200 would sound best through a Hughes and Kettner guitar cab or FrF cab to show its strongest sounds and will Hughes and Kettner be putting out their own proprietary frf cab ?

[@unleashthefury111]

How does the distortion on this compare to the GM40? Ive had the GM40 and it didnt have quite enough....it definitely reauired an external OD pedal. It was boomy bassy and loose as hell.

[@raydog_97]

I like the way the pinch Harmonics sound on the Ultra channel with the boost engaged🤘🔥 Edit: 22:59 for example

[@PERRADE]

Sólo por el ratito de INCUBUS le he dado al like... y mira que me gusta lo que hace H&K

[@jordynorm8212]

Bea, when are you and Joss gunna lay down some sick riffage together? Great video, seriously considering one of these units!

[@Poepopdestoep]

I guess there's a Nutube in there, or a variant on that design. Just a guess though :)

[@Jstall7543]

These Little Amos Sound Great

[@matthewstic2]

Keep killing it Bea!

[@RudalPL]

Can you record both clean DI and distorted/effects at the same time using Red Box DI output?

[@fpw2205076]

Hi!! great review! In your opinion and experience..., what is the difference and / or similarity between the BS200 and the Bluguitar amp 1? because the latter has a nanotube and apparently is almost like a tube amplifier, however, the BS200 is a solid state amplifier, with analog circuits. Thank you.

[@torchlord11]

I believe with the Blug ONE pedal you can't save parameters in the various states via midi like you can with the H&K stuff.

[@fearbabyriffs]

Nice amp for $800. Thank you guys for the rundown.

[@TheRick517]

Very nice but I think I 'll wait for the Deluxe version.

[@sixsix8six]

I'm gonna take credit for the 7 string tuning tip that Joss mentioned (I have the IG message to prove it) but in reality I just ripped the idea off of ol' Uncle Ben Eller.

[@MrNotYet1]

what ben eller video is that?

[@sixsix8six]

@@MrNotYet1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWa8iZ-InJ55e5I Better late than never I suppose.

[@nsc217]

How’s the pick attack? Sounds like a very fast pick attack

[@veritechc]

Love this review and Rabea! Just made a Facebook group for the Black Spirit 200 Hughes & Kettner Black Spirit 200 Original. Come and stop past!

[@LewisGale]

Will I ever get to where I'm going? If I do, will I know when I'm there?

[@threndor9017]

I have never played on a tube amp. How well does the Black Spirit come close to a real tube amp?

[@Koga_fan_013]

0:33 don't mention that Joss

[@2015IeepWranglerJK]

You guys sold me, I want one! Nice job fellows!

[@robjuujuu6405]

Quite bright on every channel

[@ajbrown5805]

Wait so can it run to a cab onstage and FOH simultaneously or do you have to switch between the two? Ive been looking for an all in one live solution that can both run to a cab and FOH at the same time

[@AlecBourneMidiMadScientist]

How well would this play with the Helix? Haven’t managed to see much of the rear.

[@jtpublsh]

how does it compare to the tube versions of H & K

[@carlmclean9304]

New tech?.... Sounds as massive as Valve amps?..... Small?........ Tiny window on the face of the amp? ............. Im calling it now that this is using the epic NuTube tech :)

[@guitar360seb]

Carl McLean I second this claim! Nutube all the wayyy

[@Xzvsc]

im confused between grand meister or this black spirit. which better? i want only an amp that can do everything(vintage rock tone, mild distortion for lead, hi gain metal). this amp is not use tube, is it?