KLD is
a Chinese manufacturer active since 2000 in the production of guitar
amps, effects and other accessories such as power reducers etc,
recently landed on the Italian market through Startel Srl –
Vicenza, exclusive importer for Italy. Among the first
dealers to exhibit this brand we find “Jacolino Srl - Vicenza”, where the owner Stefano has launched in
recent days an invitation to try on the web and
review these amps, thing that I collected with curiosity
and enthusiasm.
So let’s
talk about the KLD GT30HM, tube-amp head coupled for the
occasion to a Hughes & Kettner 4x12 enclosure
available in the store. I used for the test my G & L Legacy Tribute, a
Korean middle class guitar, together with my Digitech RP1000
pedalboard, used only as a multi-effect, thus excluding the amp
simulations.
The amp-head
shows a solid construction with a sturdy perforated metal
sheet that reveals valves and circuits inside. The overall look
is improvable, but that does not hide a certain aggressiveness,
especially when the amp is on, and the filaments of tubes give
an intriguing light. Weight is around 13/14kg, not a
feather but serenely transportable with one hand. Knobs
are “Chicken Head – type” black and with white indicator for
good visibility. Their quality is ok.
The amp has
a two channels configuration, clean and distorted, selectable
by the panel or by footswitch (not supplied). The clean
channel has a single pot for gain; the second channel has
two volume controls (pre and post gain). Both channels
share reverb and three band EQ section (classic bass-mid-treble) and
presence, to give air to the sound. Finally, we find the control of master volume. There
is a switch to "gain boost" that adds a few
decibels to the sound, although not particularly efficient (basically we will keep
it always on) and an effects loop.
The rear
panel outputs supports different impedances (8-16 ohms), and
there is a comfortable XLR DI output, easy to record or send
a signal to the mixer without necessarily mic the speaker.
The amp is
equipped with three 12AX7 tubes for the preamp, and 4 EL84 for
power. Features like this let us immediately think to the sounds of British amps,
like Vox, Marshall and Laney;
let’s now discover what our ears have to say about….
A first
taste of the clean channel, with gain raised at 10.00
and tones flat, shows a full-bodied clean tone, great
for arpeggios. It seems to have a sound very thick, ready
to crunch according to our touch, or adding some gain to the
amp.
Strumming
or funk tones must be reached lowering the volume pot of the guitar, or keeping
down bass and mid and emphasizing some treble. The
result is stll by the hand.
Rising up
the gain we will quickly reach blues tone, and
it’s really fun playing
with touch and feeling the work
of the valves, enjoying a very good dynamic response.
The most interesting impression in both shades, and that will be
confirmed in the second channel, is the large reserve of
power that this amp features. Compared to 15watts of the
same brand, tried a few minutes before, you
really seem to haveall the headroom you may need
in your pocket .
Turning to
the second channel, at low to medium levels of
gain we can easily simulate Stones,
Zeppelin and Free riffs, finding us in a classic rock & roll
area. Cranking up the gain, and pulling on the
mid-range, the amplifier shows
a beautiful lead-voice. On the other side, lowering the midrange and pulling on
bass and treble, we are ready to heavy metal.
The combined
use of a multi-effects confirms a good capacity of
"digesting" the pedals, when connected straight to the
input of the amplifier. The use of some compression and modulation literally "gives" life
to the sound in both cleaned and in semi-distorted mode. We
can reach great distortion tones a in the clean channel adding a good distortion pedal
(rat style) or a fuzz (my favorite configuration), while
in the lead channel combining a little overdrive or
distortion you can add roundness to the natural sound of the
amp, giving a boost more complete. Adding a load distortion,
like “Metal Zone” , you can get “telluric” results.
So, at the
end of the game, the amp sounds beautiful and usable in all
configurations, accompanied by a nice solid feel and
power. The combined use of
some effects can then really take off the sonic
palette available, covering all kind of music, from blues to heavy metal.
The amp, given its size and the propensity
for vigorous tone (remember that there are
no attenuations of the power circuits, which are
present in 15W) is indicated in rehearsal
room, fighting with drummers, rather than evenings in small
venues. Not recommended for home use instead.A
reasonable allocation with 2x12 enclosures
Celestion equipped, will be the right
complement to the beautiful voice of this head-amp.
The street
price around 500 euros, is competitive with heads of
the same power. The amp is recommended especially to
young guitarists who play modern genres and are starting to perform
live with continuity. With less than $ 1000,combining for
example the head with a good 2x12 Marshall or Laney and
some pedal (a TS9, a Ds1 and a Small Clone) you can get
a set-up with great tone and and
power, which has nothing to envy with solutions even more
famous but certainly much more expensive.
Lorenzo Masenello
Age: 50 Y
Town: Vicenza – Italy
Guitar Player and Songwriter
Influences: Classic, Blues, Hard & Progressive Rock
Vilorenz@teletu.it
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