HK Tubeman and Cream Machine

Hello guys. I need some info on these two units.. mainly intented for direct recording... hard-rock to slightly metal style.. anyone using them? any clips available? I'm more interested in Cream Machine (it's cheaper and I'm broke )

I own the Cream Machine and the rackmount Tubeman Plus units. However, I have NOT recorded with either. Both have the redbox 4x12 emulator.

General comments on the two units:

CREAM MACHINE

Actually a self contained tube amp! Stock, it uses a 12AX7 for a preamp, and a 12AU7 as driver an single ended power amp into a real (but tiny) output transformer. It puts out about a watt, which is plenty loud for practice into an efficient cab, perhaps too loud for bedroom play.

It's also a preamp, with the signal take AFTER the output transformer for power tube style distortion.

It's also a recording amp, with the redbox emulator.

It's also a distortion device, to be used between amp and guitar, like a stompbox.

General tone: Mimics cranked Marshall tone. Lacks tone controls, so EQ after helps. I find that I keep gain way low with a 12AX7. I also use it with a 12AU7 in the preamp. It sounds as good or better with the 12AU7, and isn't too gain happy with that tube.

Advantages: Stand alone amp!!! A real cranked tube amp at levels that don't peel off the wallpaper (about 1 Watt). Typical HIGH GRADE H&K German quality. A real cord that plugs into the wall, no wall wart!

Disadvantages: Pretty much just a cranked Marshall tone. ...but hey, what else do you need? :^) Can be noisy (because of gain), a noise reduction unit or gate helps. Lacks tone controls, so EQ after the unit helps.

TUBEMAN PLUS

A single space rackmount unit with AC wallwart that has an internal power transformer to boost voltages back up to REAL TUBE levels (so many of the units out there run at low voltages). Single 12AX7.

As with the Cream Machine, it's an 'amp expander' (use like a pedal), a recording amp with 4x12 emulation, or a preamp. But it is not a stand alone amp (lacks a power amp).

General tone: Excellent tone controls. You get a NICE dedicated footswitch with bypass, clean, crunch and lead. Mids boost switch, and scooped metal type distortion switch.

Advantages: Many different tones at different distortion levels. Durable footswitch included. When used with another amp, you can set the clean to be a bit hot for overdrive, the crunch to be a rhythm distortion, and the lead for hot distortion. GREAT CLEANS! Distortions are also very good, from Fenderish mild to high gain metal, scooped or mid heavy. Typical HIGH GRADE H&K German quality.

Disadvantages: Some people don't like rack cases.

I've been threatening to put both units (with a lot of other gear) up on ebay. Since scoring my Mesa Mark III, my rack gear doesn't get used as

Thanks for the in-detail info!

it's got a lot of versatility in use, doesn't it? I mean, a preamp, distortion box, amp, direct recording amp.. and with tubes!

I know about this high grade H&K german quality that you're talkin about - i have their Edition Tube, couldn't be happier!

Cranked plexi in-a-box, a disadvantage? ) kiddin. Well, I heard that most people describe them as a cranked marshall, think i can live with that ))

Well, I think that I would more like to have Tubeman, but it's much more expensive.. I'll see if I'll be able to get some more money to get it... but I think that Cream Machine would do it!

Have you tried Metal Shredder?

Remember the old Saturday Night Live skit, I think it was Shimmer

Well, I'll probably get a eq of some sort to go after it in the chain, maybe a GE-7 or something like that, so that would probably fix that, in a way.. but, I'm mostly planing on using it in direct recording to my PC and I could always fix it there, with a software eq.. At first I was considering a V-amp, but all the digital 'noise' discarded it from my list, so I was considering a SansAmp GT-2, but when I saw that for the approx same amount of money I could get a tube amp (preamp and all) which could replace it - i think i made a decision

Anyway, it would be cool to implement it in a amp - buy some broken valvestate or something with a good speaker, put cream machine and a graphic eq - you get a nice all-tube amp with a graphic eq for like 200$. cool, huh?

Yes, Blues Master (aka Crunch Master).. but, I more fond of the cream machine since I mostly a metal head (or a hard-rock head lol).. thanks for the info! any posibilites on some direct-to-board clips?

Hey, I just picked up a Marshall 2x12 combo cab (looks like it might've been a 4103), missing the amp. One speaker was toast (an old Rola), and one good Celestion. I put in two NOS british Vintage 30's, and I'm thinking about putting in an old 4 watt per channel reel-to-reel amp that I salvaged that sounds sweet.

But the Cream Machine is in such a nice case that I wouldn't build it in. Heck, it'll fit in a larger pocket of a winter coat. Surprise your friends by pulling out a pocket sized Plexi!

I'm mostly a gear head. I play guitar, but not that great. I know NOTHING about recording.

Like a post I read in another forum...a guy was having trouble rewiring his HHH strat ...he'd put in push/pull pots, coil splits, you name it...the way he described it, he'd end up with 120 tonal possibilities which (in his own words!) 'will all sound pretty similar'

...then that guy has BAD ears, or didn't do it right.

I did my Les Paul with four push pulls, and lots of different options. I ended up with more tones than I even bargained for, because they interact differently with you use the two pickups at the same time. I love my setup.

No, he was describing what he hoped to achieve!

Afterall, it seems like i'll be getting the Metal Master, not the Cream Machine..found one for cheap.. any info on Metal