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The Hughes & Kettner User Forum

The Unofficial guitar amp and cabinets forum for users of Hughes and Kettner products. We are not affiliated with Hughes and Kettner!!


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namklak
gravydb
6 posters

    Any ULTRA channel love here?

    gravydb
    gravydb


    Posts : 193
    Join date : 2014-06-22
    Location : PA

    Any ULTRA channel love here? Empty Any ULTRA channel love here?

    Post by gravydb Sat Jun 06, 2015 1:55 pm

    I'm a late bloomer, I've owned my GM for several months now and today I finally got around to exploring the Ultra channel. It was never on my priority list because I assumed it was "not in my league" as I don't play metal. I do however play progressive rock, some of which is a little heavy. So all along I've been using the clean channel for my cleans, crunch channel for my main distortion, and the lead channel for solos, and I've been satisfied. Today I started experimenting with the Ultra channel, and I love it! For example, my main distortion patch (crunch channel) has the gain at about 2-3 o'clock. I am replacing that preset with the ultra channel, gain at about 8-9 o'clock. In comparison, the Ultra channel (to my ears) has a tighter refined sound. The crunch channel sounds a little too loose/spongy. I'm also replacing my lead preset with Ultra, gain at about 10 o'clock.

    Anyone else have a similar experience?

    Right now I'm giving my ears a break. Later today I'll re-visit this with fresh ears and make sure I'm making the right decision.

    namklak
    namklak


    Posts : 187
    Join date : 2015-01-30
    Location : Denver, CO

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    Post by namklak Mon Jun 08, 2015 11:18 am

    Most my tones are southern rock, so generally no use for the ultra. But on two tunes I need to cover Warren Haynes Soldano tone - using the ultra channel with the gain at 9 o'clock does a convincing job - buttery without maximum saturation. So I'm basically using the GM as you are...
    bish0p34
    bish0p34


    Posts : 66
    Join date : 2015-03-21
    Location : Kingston, Pa.

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    Post by bish0p34 Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:36 am

    I love the Ultra channel for a few different things. I do play metal, so I use it when I play Metallica type stuff. We have three guitar players in my metal band and sometimes I don't want to cut through, but make it sound massive. I also play in a 90's band, and use it on Blink 182 type stuff as well.

    When I record my original stuff I like a track recorded on the lead channel, then I double it on the ultra channel to thicken it up. I like to use it for texture. The lead is my favorite but the ultra has a lot of use. Especially with the gain dialed back, and the boost kicked on.
    Phrasemaker
    Phrasemaker


    Posts : 34
    Join date : 2015-05-24
    Location : Essex

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    Post by Phrasemaker Wed Jun 10, 2015 11:45 am

    Yes I have to agree the ultra channel is pretty awesome. The most memorable sounds I've have encountered so far is when using a seven string or baritone guitar through a 2x12. The sound is huge and not harsh in any way. I also found heavily muted chugging riffs produced some really tasty overtones as I altered the amount of string damping. Even at low volumes a note bend played on LP custom will sustain for days when reasonably close to the cabinet without having to try.
    VoodooJeff
    VoodooJeff


    Posts : 173
    Join date : 2015-07-17
    Age : 50
    Location : dfw, tx

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    Post by VoodooJeff Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:02 pm

    I use the ultra channel for my lead and most of my melody parts. I have a Joe Satriani kind of style, lots of legato and a soft touch (an acknowledged visual contradiction from a 210lb dude LOL). I like the amp to be just as much a part of my playing as the guitar. With the ultra channel I can really let the amp sing and react and do it`s job to amplify what`s going in instead of having to beat the hell out of it and play like a gorilla. Yeah, it`s a crapload of gain on tap but if you play with a bit of elegance it`s really very musical.
    gravydb
    gravydb


    Posts : 193
    Join date : 2014-06-22
    Location : PA

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    Post by gravydb Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:26 pm

    Nice reports. Thanks! Yeah so far so good with the Ultra channel for me... I don't mean to hate on the crunch and lead channels, I just prefer the ultra channel's tight/modern tone. I'm kicking myself for not checking it out sooner! I've found that the gain at about 9-ish o'clock is plenty for my needs, it replaces my former presets where I was using the crunch channel with much higher gain.

    Hey VoodooJeff... is that Guthrie Govan in your pic? Care to share the story?
    VoodooJeff
    VoodooJeff


    Posts : 173
    Join date : 2015-07-17
    Age : 50
    Location : dfw, tx

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    Post by VoodooJeff Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:06 pm

    gravydb wrote:
    Hey VoodooJeff... is that Guthrie Govan in your pic? Care to share the story?

    It is. It`s not a wild story by any means. That was just a moment caught in time as we walked from point "A" to point "B" (all on Guthrie. No one ever stops and asks me for pics L O L). I`ve just had the blessing and fortune to have been able to meet, mingle and jam with some pretty incredible musicians over the years. Doesn`t make me a rock star, just a few neat pics and a few stories no one believes LOL.
    gravydb
    gravydb


    Posts : 193
    Join date : 2014-06-22
    Location : PA

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    Post by gravydb Thu Jul 23, 2015 4:39 pm

    Well at the very least you're a rockstar by association in our eyes Smile

    I've become a Big fan of Guthrie lately, mostly by way of his work with Steven Wilson. So brilliant!
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    trb


    Posts : 61
    Join date : 2014-07-26
    Age : 58
    Location : France

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    Post by trb Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:06 am

    hello,

    love the Ultra channel with gain around 9 oclock, delay, and its my bluesy rock tone with the GM36.
    Bear in mind I changed my tubes (with lower gain 12AT7 and 12AY7, JJEL84's power).
    Really nice "liquid" tone.

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