As a BS200 owner and having now watched the video ALL THE WAY THROUGH **coff** (especially from 11:42 where the back-to-back comparisons are) I found it fascinating. Until the isolated back-to-back section the differences aren't really apparent (especially through an iPhone speaker), but from 11:42 (and now listening through a decent audio system) they are definitely there. They are quite subtle differences though - and both amps sounded superb. However … the valves versus solid-state/digital thing is an entirely personal choice and there will be many people who simply cannot let go of valves and who will choose the GM over the BS. But, and this is a big but, I'm in my sixties now and have a lifetime of gigging under my belt (albeit only at Weekend Warrior level), so for me weight and size has to come into the equation at some point. This is where the BS200, scores highly - it sounds amazing but I can lift it up with one finger. I also own a Boogie Mk IV, which is very heavy and at the end of a gig feels as if it's ben bolted to the floor! The Boogie is (for me anyway) THE best sounding amplifier ever, but since we mic up our instruments, even at the "Triode" and "Class A" settings (30w) I can never turn the Master up any higher than three, so the power amp never gets to work properly. Valves will always be better for some people, but it has to be admitted - solid state & digital are getting closer and closer, and the BS200 is probably the closest yet.
To me, the Black Spirit wins in all 3 channels with any gain or distortion, and they tie in Clean. Grandmeister distortion is a bit "fizzy." The Black Spirit completely remedies this problem and sounds like the perfect cross between a Boogie Mark series, or perhaps an ENGL Ironball, and the GrandMeister. Thank you for this wonderful comparison!
Having finally played a grandmeister, they definitely do have that Mesa Mark series snarly-yet-smooth thing. You do have something backwards though-it’s the BS that is really fizzy on top, like a badly dialed-in Recto. I’m on good headphones and the GM40 is so much sweeter on the top in this demo.
@@UseTheSupeRsonic You're completely right. The BS200 sounds compressed, muffled, without dynamics or overtones. The GM40 sounds beautiful, bloomy, and sweet. Also on good headphones. I honestly don't know how anyone could prefer the BS200. It's absurd to me.
@@UseTheSupeRsonic LMAO, I've got to say you've got a tin ear. The Black Spirit is very mids-focused, like a Mesa Mark. The Grand Recto is very scooped, much moreso than even the fizzy GM40 (but without the fizz).
It's so close! They both sound great. I think I prefer the gm40 though. The black spirit almost sounds like you are listening to a recording of the real thing. It's hard to put your finger on but the gm40 has a more "live" feel/sound.
I could care less HOW the tone is generated - if it sounds good to YOU, you can afford it, and it fits YOUR personal playing situation, then it's good. Period. (And both of these sound great!)
@@juujuubees379 I have 2 Black Spirits. They feel great and sound great...I play them through a 1 x 15 cabinet for each ( Cab 1- Eminence Big Ben and Cab 2-ToneTubby Superman. The Deluxe 40 I play through a Crate 1 x 12 loaded with a Celestion G12K 100 (actual English speaker not one of the International bull).
@@juujuubees379 I have 2 of them...tried in person... great response and feel.. try it again maybe on the 2 or 20 watts setting instead of trying it on 200 and not getting able to crank it.
Great video! I would love to see a comparison between the Black Spirit 200 and the Tubemeister Deluxe 20, their price is so similar that I think it would be really interesting
Yeah it's pretty much negligible. I enjoyed the mid punch of the GM but the black spirit honestly got close. A couple of the sounds out of the spirit seemed a little more scooped in the mids. Honestly there is always going to be a slight difference in tone between tubes, analog, and digital. If it makes a good sound it makes a good sound. I could use either and achieve a tone that's usable if not exactly what I was looking for.
Really fantastic job. Thank you so much. I have both. And a switchblade and it’s just confirmed how damn good the BS 200 is, but you can’t beat valves. The GMD edges it and just has that extra sparkle.
I honestly think the only difference is in a slightly different eq/resonance. The Harmonies are also mixed slightly different. Over all They both sound AMAZING! This is one of the best comparison videos I have seen for amps! Well done! I have The Black Spirit and I absolutely love it! I always questioned if I made the right choice and this video confirmed........ You can't miss with either amp!
Nice demo!! I had the GM and now own the BS because of that light weight and "no tube" thing. It won't get damaged if I put it back in its bag after playing it for hours and putting it anywhere less careful. It's the perfect travel amp because there is all you need inside. Just for me!!
Well done, to my ears, I gave the GMD40 the edge for preference on the clean channel. It became harder & to my ears, difficult to discern/prefer when Crunch to Ultra was implemented. This was from a perspective of video & audio comparison, makes me wonder how it would be listening live or even from a perspective of a blind test, which was which. I mean put the amps in a closet, run the cord & speaker and do the same segments and whether I could tell or even which I preferred sitting in front of the speaker in that room.
I own a grandmeister 36 and I love it. I've been considering the grandmeister 40 but then saw the Black Spirit. I think the GM40 has a touch more mids. I think the mids become more noticeable for the crunch/lead/ultra sounds. I also believe that the mids would be even more magnified when playing live through a guitar cabinet. Both amps are exceptionally cool. Nice job on the comparison video and recording. Nicely done.
At first, in the clean and crunch settings, the BS sounded clearer on the high mids which seemed nicer but as soon as the gain went up my preference went for the GM. Guess I need both then ahah
To correct a misunderstanding that maybe affects some decisions here: Black Spirit is not a Grandmeister clone, according to H&K...they never intended to do that. Yes they look almost the same, but BS was created to sound like a tube amp not to clone the Grandmeister tone. I had both and I kept the Black Spirit, just because cand do more things than Grandmeister....it's all in the settings.
The Black Spirit is more compressed and grainy, GM40 has more midrange, which is the typical sound difference between tubes and digital. To the average listener they wouldn't a) even notice the difference b) you could get around the differences depending on the kind of cab you had, and at an average used price difference of $500 not having to deal with tubes seems like the winning side of the argument....
Even though tube's reaction to electrical impulse is as charming as always, this solid state is the best non-tube amplifier on the market since years now. There's still few things I prefer from tube tech but these are technicalities aren't a big deal in most case scenarios.
The Black Spirit is quite impressive. It's only back to back at the end that to my ears the harmonics in the overtones are not quite as tubesque as the GM
I’m having the hardest time deciding between these two. I’ve been I’m wanting one for a while now, and the only reason I’m leaning towards the BS200 is now they have a floor version which is what I would gravitate to since it’s more portable and has the footswitch built in. Plus the added cab models in the Red Box. The GMD is astounding and I would go for that over the BS if I were just getting a head. BS Floor is more suited for live, and that’s why I’m choosing it.
Great demo as always. I still don't like these amps at all for a killer lead tone but you were able to get some decent rhythm tones for sure! Best comparison of these yet
WOW! The A/B back to back at the end was very revealing. I've only listened to the clean section so far but the black spirit is muffled , compressed, and completely dead sounding by comparison. It's not even close. listening with good headphones.
Same for the other channels. I was easily able to look away from the screen and tell which was which. The SS black spirit sounds very compressed, muffled, without dynamics, overtones, or range. It's awful. Horrible.
Wow, the difference is really quite small. The GM has more detail/clarity and a more pleasant overall tone, has that characteristic 'tube sag', not to mention a nicer sounding low-end and mid-range; however, that's just me being very 'picky'.
Splendid playing, beautifully recorded and nicely filmed. My only criticism is entirely personal - I’d have preferred the clean/crunch/lead/ultra sounds to be compared back to back to make direct comparison easier, i.e., GM clean vs. BS clean, GM crunch vs. BS crunch and so on. I own a BS and adore it - it has more or less replaced my ancient but beloved Boogie Mk IV, which has awesome sounds but is really heavy and can never be turned up past 3 these days!
in my opinion the two ones sound nearly 1:1 identical in the bandmix. isolatetet both sound good, but the gm40dx sounds a little bit warmer in my opinion. one year ago it was a hard decision between these two. but i decided for the bs200 because it has more headroom - especially for clean, when you play with emgs and the tone has to remain clean. the other two reasons are that the bs200 has the flooramp and you can use the app via bluetooth with a android tablet. but you can‘t do a wrong decision no matter with one of the two ones.
I have both these amps. They sound fantastic. This is not really a fair demo cause this guy could plug into a pile of dog shit and make it sound like a Diezel VH4.
The difference is so slight that in a live gig/band situation, you'll never hear the difference. You ever have a tube crap out on you at a club at midnight on tour somewhere in the middle of Idaho? I have, and that ain't gonna happen with the Black Spirit. Add To Cart. ;-)
sound very similar I think the only sound I can say I really prefered from the grandmeister was the crunch but not so sure after some fiddlin with the knobs. Both sounded great.
Back to back-Grandmeister sounds better, but lacks natural compression. I guess it has to be turned to 10 for it to happen. However in the mix Black Spirit sits better-as if the guitar track was “mastered” separately by the sagging control. Great demo! Great sound!
After owning a Black Spirit, I know that the Grandmeister is the better deal (in my opinion) the BS can get REALLY fizzy sounding when you crank the gain, but I must say! You got some seriously good tones out of it here! Awesome stuff!
out off curiosity could a pedal help here? i have black spirit myself and i love it alot.^^ though live in an apartment so it's great that it's abit lower then the grandmeister and the flixeibility helps if i'm going somewhere.
I must say... Both amps sound great in this clip. Only thing is, how will it feel in stage playing with the Black Spirit head? I must try out these amps
Great presentation. I have the Tubemeister 36 and I love it so much.... When it comes to distorted amps simulations you can see 140.000 simulations promising you the true metal sound. No, no and no. No-one needs real metal sounds, even AC-DC sounds metal but has this Marshall chime. Metal is a distorted guitar amp which is turned back in distortion so that you can hear the tones. It is a mix with a great drum beat and a powerful bass line. But don't expect that metal is a lone guitar thing ....
This reminds me how at one point thinking that Led Zeppelin was so "heavy" i kind of lumped them with metal (or hard rock at least) but then i noticed JP really sounds almost clean most of the time! It's the adding of Bonham and Jones, plus Plant's gothic vocals, it's the four together that add up to such a heavy sound, not just guitar distortion.
I love my gm40 and was thinking about getting the bs floor. One as a backup and 2 for quick gigs what do you think of the two side by side and in person?
Hello, I have a quick question as you own the GM40! It seems the RED BOX is not allowing to separate DI and Amp signals once you connect them to the interface on DAW? Thank you :)
@@MrRich6505 What pedals exactly? I do have the Boss 200 series and the only time I don't use them is when I'm recording at home because the Amps has built in effects and I really hate having to deal with cables, aside from that I always use any of my pedals, my Favourites being the dd200 and EQ 200. Then the OD 200 is something I just use once in a while to get a different feel, or a tighter sound. That being said, I'm not really a pedal guy, but then this works for me and I enjoy it, so does the audience.
Does the Black spirit have that warm, tube tone? On this demo, the Grand is much thinner sounding and not as nice as the Black spirit, but this is a video
A week ago, I ordered the Black Spirit floor version. I had really high expectations, but I was so disappointed. I've been a H&K Triamp user since 2006, and the difference is night and day. The Black Spirit really just sound like a transistor amp, to my ears. I thought amp modelling came a really long way. The next day I ordered the H&K Tubemeister (so not the Grandmeister), and I'm much happier with that one. Tone-wise it comes much closer to the Triamp. I will return the Black Spirit.
The only thing about the black spirit that gets on my nerves is it's weird bloated sounding low end. Can never really seem to eq it out either with just the amp. In a mix you kind cut most of that out anyway but still. The grandmeister just sounds like how it should 👌
The tones are close, the Grandmeister just has WAY more features and options for flexibility. If there was a massive price difference, I would get the Black Spirit to save money. But where I live the Grandmeister is only a few hundred dollars more. So I would definitely step up to that one for the added features it has over the Black Spirit.
Very similar to each other. I prefer the GM, albeit not by much; It has a more organic, warmer tone, as it could be expected. However, the BS comes REALLY close, but the price difference between the two is not much (for a working adult that can save for a few of months, at least), so better take the GM.
GREAT that you like the Black Spirit better, not weird at all... It is a great amp. I own tube and solid state amps including the two featured here. I like them all for similar reasons and for not so similar reasons.
They sound extremely similar. To my ears the Black Spirit doesn't sound quite as resonant as the GrandMeister and it also seems like it distorts a little bit less, which may indicate it's an easier amp to mix. Both sound absolutely incredible though...
The grandmeister sound way better but the black spirit isn’t bad either and it’s solid state so it’s quicker start up and not having to change tubes or rebias sounds appealing hard choice
great point, they are not for everyone! Also they don't all sound the same as some might think; firmware upgrade version is a big part of it too. I own two...and one sounded hideous until the firmware update, but still just a little short of the other.
I stopped listening at 3:41 upon hearing the BS200. Tubes give the sound a depth, a sonic space, an in the room presence which is immediately lacking in the BS200. No mas.
True words. I dig everything about H&K amps, the design, the direction the company went, the complexity... except the distortion. It's a shame because I absolutely love the clean sounds. It's exactly this graininess in the distortion and the lush and loose feel to it that just doesn't fit tight, punchy and evil metal riffing I'm looking for. For everything else, I would definitely pick the Grandmeister, after long consideration.
@@philipwacker4629 It sounds like an Orange BOSS pedal is built in, its the one thing that keeps me from buying one too. The BS Floor Model is very appealing but for me there is only one amp for ‘evil metal riffing’ and that is an ENGL.
To me, it's only unpleasing in the Grandmaster where it is more fizz than grain. The Black Spirit sounds like a Boogie Mark series or an ENGL Ironball crossed with a GrandMeister, and shockingly I think I prefer it to all of the above.
Absolutely incredible demo, quality is so high as usual. Nice one this is epic!
As a BS200 owner and having now watched the video ALL THE WAY THROUGH **coff** (especially from 11:42 where the back-to-back comparisons are) I found it fascinating. Until the isolated back-to-back section the differences aren't really apparent (especially through an iPhone speaker), but from 11:42 (and now listening through a decent audio system) they are definitely there. They are quite subtle differences though - and both amps sounded superb. However … the valves versus solid-state/digital thing is an entirely personal choice and there will be many people who simply cannot let go of valves and who will choose the GM over the BS. But, and this is a big but, I'm in my sixties now and have a lifetime of gigging under my belt (albeit only at Weekend Warrior level), so for me weight and size has to come into the equation at some point. This is where the BS200, scores highly - it sounds amazing but I can lift it up with one finger. I also own a Boogie Mk IV, which is very heavy and at the end of a gig feels as if it's ben bolted to the floor! The Boogie is (for me anyway) THE best sounding amplifier ever, but since we mic up our instruments, even at the "Triode" and "Class A" settings (30w) I can never turn the Master up any higher than three, so the power amp never gets to work properly. Valves will always be better for some people, but it has to be admitted - solid state & digital are getting closer and closer, and the BS200 is probably the closest yet.
love both. own both. great amps
To me, the Black Spirit wins in all 3 channels with any gain or distortion, and they tie in Clean. Grandmeister distortion is a bit "fizzy." The Black Spirit completely remedies this problem and sounds like the perfect cross between a Boogie Mark series, or perhaps an ENGL Ironball, and the GrandMeister. Thank you for this wonderful comparison!
Having finally played a grandmeister, they definitely do have that Mesa Mark series snarly-yet-smooth thing.
You do have something backwards though-it’s the BS that is really fizzy on top, like a badly dialed-in Recto. I’m on good headphones and the GM40 is so much sweeter on the top in this demo.
@@UseTheSupeRsonic You're completely right. The BS200 sounds compressed, muffled, without dynamics or overtones. The GM40 sounds beautiful, bloomy, and sweet. Also on good headphones. I honestly don't know how anyone could prefer the BS200. It's absurd to me.
@@UseTheSupeRsonic LMAO, I've got to say you've got a tin ear. The Black Spirit is very mids-focused, like a Mesa Mark. The Grand Recto is very scooped, much moreso than even the fizzy GM40 (but without the fizz).
It's so close! They both sound great. I think I prefer the gm40 though. The black spirit almost sounds like you are listening to a recording of the real thing. It's hard to put your finger on but the gm40 has a more "live" feel/sound.
I could care less HOW the tone is generated - if it sounds good to YOU, you can afford it, and it fits YOUR personal playing situation, then it's good. Period. (And both of these sound great!)
for me is---one other consideration would be...how does it feel under the fingers.
Yeah try the 200 in person, not so great.
@@juujuubees379 I have 2 Black Spirits. They feel great and sound great...I play them through a 1 x 15 cabinet for each ( Cab 1- Eminence Big Ben and Cab 2-ToneTubby Superman. The Deluxe 40 I play through a Crate 1 x 12 loaded with a Celestion G12K 100 (actual English speaker not one of the International bull).
@@juujuubees379 I have 2 of them...tried in person... great response and feel.. try it again maybe on the 2 or 20 watts setting instead of trying it on 200 and not getting able to crank it.
Also make sure the firmware is up to date. makes a world of difference.
Great video! I would love to see a comparison between the Black Spirit 200 and the Tubemeister Deluxe 20, their price is so similar that I think it would be really interesting
Great playing. Decided I want both. Thanks a lot.
LOL true
Yeah it's pretty much negligible. I enjoyed the mid punch of the GM but the black spirit honestly got close. A couple of the sounds out of the spirit seemed a little more scooped in the mids. Honestly there is always going to be a slight difference in tone between tubes, analog, and digital. If it makes a good sound it makes a good sound. I could use either and achieve a tone that's usable if not exactly what I was looking for.
Really fantastic job. Thank you so much. I have both. And a switchblade and it’s just confirmed how damn good the BS 200 is, but you can’t beat valves. The GMD edges it and just has that extra sparkle.
I honestly think the only difference is in a slightly different eq/resonance. The Harmonies are also mixed slightly different. Over all They both sound AMAZING! This is one of the best comparison videos I have seen for amps! Well done! I have The Black Spirit and I absolutely love it! I always questioned if I made the right choice and this video confirmed........ You can't miss with either amp!
Nice demo!! I had the GM and now own the BS because of that light weight and "no tube" thing. It won't get damaged if I put it back in its bag after playing it for hours and putting it anywhere less careful. It's the perfect travel amp because there is all you need inside. Just for me!!
same here...
Well done, to my ears, I gave the GMD40 the edge for preference on the clean channel. It became harder & to my ears, difficult to discern/prefer when Crunch to Ultra was implemented. This was from a perspective of video & audio comparison, makes me wonder how it would be listening live or even from a perspective of a blind test, which was which. I mean put the amps in a closet, run the cord & speaker and do the same segments and whether I could tell or even which I preferred sitting in front of the speaker in that room.
I own a grandmeister 36 and I love it. I've been considering the grandmeister 40 but then saw the Black Spirit. I think the GM40 has a touch more mids. I think the mids become more noticeable for the crunch/lead/ultra sounds. I also believe that the mids would be even more magnified when playing live through a guitar cabinet. Both amps are exceptionally cool. Nice job on the comparison video and recording. Nicely done.
Nice demo , i own the BS200 , i found the within the native cab ,the 5(vintage 4x12) Is my choose.I Will try ownhammer soon 👍
At first, in the clean and crunch settings, the BS sounded clearer on the high mids which seemed nicer but as soon as the gain went up my preference went for the GM. Guess I need both then ahah
To correct a misunderstanding that maybe affects some decisions here: Black Spirit is not a Grandmeister clone, according to H&K...they never intended to do that. Yes they look almost the same, but BS was created to sound like a tube amp not to clone the Grandmeister tone.
I had both and I kept the Black Spirit, just because cand do more things than Grandmeister....it's all in the settings.
It doesn't sound anything like a tube amp. The black spirit is muffled, compressed, and completely dead sounding by comparison. It's not even close.
すごく良い音🎉👍
The Black Spirit is more compressed and grainy, GM40 has more midrange, which is the typical sound difference between tubes and digital. To the average listener they wouldn't a) even notice the difference b) you could get around the differences depending on the kind of cab you had, and at an average used price difference of $500 not having to deal with tubes seems like the winning side of the argument....
Even though tube's reaction to electrical impulse is as charming as always, this solid state is the best non-tube amplifier on the market since years now. There's still few things I prefer from tube tech but these are technicalities aren't a big deal in most case scenarios.
Thanks for the vid and all the great comments it generated!
Needed this, so glad to see you did this comparison already..incredibly useful.thank you. tube wins, hands down
The Black Spirit is quite impressive. It's only back to back at the end that to my ears the harmonics in the overtones are not quite as tubesque as the GM
instablaster
I’m having the hardest time deciding between these two. I’ve been I’m wanting one for a while now, and the only reason I’m leaning towards the BS200 is now they have a floor version which is what I would gravitate to since it’s more portable and has the footswitch built in. Plus the added cab models in the Red Box. The GMD is astounding and I would go for that over the BS if I were just getting a head. BS Floor is more suited for live, and that’s why I’m choosing it.
The BS 200 is the best amp I’ve ever owned. Beats my Marshalls, Engl’s, Orange, PRS, all of them. Get two 16 ohm H&K 16 cabs and kill it!
Great demo as always. I still don't like these amps at all for a killer lead tone but you were able to get some decent rhythm tones for sure! Best comparison of these yet
WOW! The A/B back to back at the end was very revealing. I've only listened to the clean section so far but the black spirit is muffled , compressed, and completely dead sounding by comparison. It's not even close. listening with good headphones.
Same for the other channels. I was easily able to look away from the screen and tell which was which. The SS black spirit sounds very compressed, muffled, without dynamics, overtones, or range. It's awful. Horrible.
Wow, the difference is really quite small. The GM has more detail/clarity and a more pleasant overall tone, has that characteristic 'tube sag', not to mention a nicer sounding low-end and mid-range; however, that's just me being very 'picky'.
great demo hard work was well worth it bud
Splendid playing, beautifully recorded and nicely filmed. My only criticism is entirely personal - I’d have preferred the clean/crunch/lead/ultra sounds to be compared back to back to make direct comparison easier, i.e., GM clean vs. BS clean, GM crunch vs. BS crunch and so on. I own a BS and adore it - it has more or less replaced my ancient but beloved Boogie Mk IV, which has awesome sounds but is really heavy and can never be turned up past 3 these days!
11:42
in my opinion the two ones sound nearly 1:1 identical in the bandmix. isolatetet both sound good, but the gm40dx sounds a little bit warmer in my opinion. one year ago it was a hard decision between these two. but i decided for the bs200 because it has more headroom - especially for clean, when you play with emgs and the tone has to remain clean. the other two reasons are that the bs200 has the flooramp and you can use the app via bluetooth with a android tablet. but you can‘t do a wrong decision no matter with one of the two ones.
Have played both , theres a tightness and a focus in the BS that is undeniable. Ill take the BS all day
LOL Take the BS all day. Yeah my job sucks too :P
both of them amazing/ Just like the video and your playing/ Thank you/
I have both these amps. They sound fantastic. This is not really a fair demo cause this guy could plug into a pile of dog shit and make it sound like a Diezel VH4.
The difference is so slight that in a live gig/band situation, you'll never hear the difference. You ever have a tube crap out on you at a club at midnight on tour somewhere in the middle of Idaho? I have, and that ain't gonna happen with the Black Spirit. Add To Cart. ;-)
sound very similar I think the only sound I can say I really prefered from the grandmeister was the crunch but not so sure after some fiddlin with the knobs. Both sounded great.
Is there a difference on tone\sound between the blackspirit 200 head and 200 floor amp???? Have the floor amp
Is the blackspirit like a tube amp in the 200w mode? Can you play in like a medium venue with the 200w mode cuz sometimes 20w is not enough?
Sure. It has a master volume. It's only 100 watts at 16ohms, by the way.
Back to back-Grandmeister sounds better, but lacks natural compression. I guess it has to be turned to 10 for it to happen. However in the mix Black Spirit sits better-as if the guitar track was “mastered” separately by the sagging control. Great demo! Great sound!
both have wattage selections, so you can turn up if you like..
Nice comparison.. tubemeister deluxe vs grandmeister deluxe would be great too!
After owning a Black Spirit, I know that the Grandmeister is the better deal (in my opinion) the BS can get REALLY fizzy sounding when you crank the gain, but I must say! You got some seriously good tones out of it here! Awesome stuff!
out off curiosity could a pedal help here? i have black spirit myself and i love it alot.^^ though live in an apartment so it's great that it's abit lower then the grandmeister and the flixeibility helps if i'm going somewhere.
Best Channel ❤
I must say... Both amps sound great in this clip. Only thing is, how will it feel in stage playing with the Black Spirit head?
I must try out these amps
Great presentation. I have the Tubemeister 36 and I love it so much....
When it comes to distorted amps simulations you can see 140.000 simulations promising you the true metal sound. No, no and no. No-one needs real metal sounds, even AC-DC sounds metal but has this Marshall chime. Metal is a distorted guitar amp which is turned back in distortion so that you can hear the tones. It is a mix with a great drum beat and a powerful bass line. But don't expect that metal is a lone guitar thing ....
This reminds me how at one point thinking that Led Zeppelin was so "heavy" i kind of lumped them with metal (or hard rock at least) but then i noticed JP really sounds almost clean most of the time! It's the adding of Bonham and Jones, plus Plant's gothic vocals, it's the four together that add up to such a heavy sound, not just guitar distortion.
looking for the sonic drive studio talent switch on the head. can't seem to sound as good as you. excellent playing/tones
Great demo and great tones out of both amps. Wonder if there was any different feel in the attack (that’s hard to catch in a video)?
Great point about feel- most neglected topic in comparisons. They both have great feel and depend on many factors, patch channel setting etc.
I love my gm40 and was thinking about getting the bs floor. One as a backup and 2 for quick gigs what do you think of the two side by side and in person?
Hello, I have a quick question as you own the GM40! It seems the RED BOX is not allowing to separate DI and Amp signals once you connect them to the interface on DAW? Thank you :)
Now imagine a Revv G4 put in the loop with the Black Spirit
Im basically wanting something with a solid clean tone to use with my pedals and that is also rackmountable so i think the GM40 is for me!
It doesn’t take pedals well .
@@MrRich6505 how so
@@MrRich6505 What pedals exactly? I do have the Boss 200 series and the only time I don't use them is when I'm recording at home because the Amps has built in effects and I really hate having to deal with cables, aside from that I always use any of my pedals, my Favourites being the dd200 and EQ 200. Then the OD 200 is something I just use once in a while to get a different feel, or a tighter sound. That being said, I'm not really a pedal guy, but then this works for me and I enjoy it, so does the audience.
Definitely tube amp brighter and tighter, nice one Jon.
Which is louder? I would assume BS200. But ive heard thats not true.
Does the Black spirit have that warm, tube tone?
On this demo, the Grand is much thinner sounding and not as nice as the Black spirit, but this is a video
A week ago, I ordered the Black Spirit floor version. I had really high expectations, but I was so disappointed. I've been a H&K Triamp user since 2006, and the difference is night and day. The Black Spirit really just sound like a transistor amp, to my ears. I thought amp modelling came a really long way. The next day I ordered the H&K Tubemeister (so not the Grandmeister), and I'm much happier with that one. Tone-wise it comes much closer to the Triamp. I will return the Black Spirit.
Could you do a video for the Victory VX100 Super Kraken? I am deciding whether to buy that or the Marshall JVM 410h
I wish I had one to demo
@@SonicDriveStudio Ah no worries
@@SonicDriveStudio If you could get one, would you go for the EL34 valves or the 6L6?
So through IRs they are very equal do doubt. However, coming into real cabs, the demos of the GM win. That tube power section is no joke.
not remotely close to equal. Use good headphones. The difference is massive!
GMD40 does it for me!
The only thing about the black spirit that gets on my nerves is it's weird bloated sounding low end. Can never really seem to eq it out either with just the amp. In a mix you kind cut most of that out anyway but still. The grandmeister just sounds like how it should 👌
The tones are close, the Grandmeister just has WAY more features and options for flexibility. If there was a massive price difference, I would get the Black Spirit to save money. But where I live the Grandmeister is only a few hundred dollars more. So I would definitely step up to that one for the added features it has over the Black Spirit.
A little more definition/headroom on the tubes from the high voltage. But both sound great
Very similar to each other. I prefer the GM, albeit not by much; It has a more organic, warmer tone, as it could be expected. However, the BS comes REALLY close, but the price difference between the two is not much (for a working adult that can save for a few of months, at least), so better take the GM.
The GM seems to have more sag for obvious reasons. The BS is a lot tighter
lead tone Grandmeister is the better clean são os dois iguais
weird, but I personally like the Black Spirit 200
It's a great amp!
Me, too.
GREAT that you like the Black Spirit better, not weird at all... It is a great amp. I own tube and solid state amps including the two featured here. I like them all for similar reasons and for not so similar reasons.
They sound extremely similar. To my ears the Black Spirit doesn't sound quite as resonant as the GrandMeister and it also seems like it distorts a little bit less, which may indicate it's an easier amp to mix. Both sound absolutely incredible though...
can you post the tABS that you play in ultra???
The grandmeister sound way better but the black spirit isn’t bad either and it’s solid state so it’s quicker start up and not having to change tubes or rebias sounds appealing hard choice
0:26
We all know solid state can deliver great tones, the Black Spirit, however, never sounded good to my ears.
great point, they are not for everyone! Also they don't all sound the same as some might think; firmware upgrade version is a big part of it too. I own two...and one sounded hideous until the firmware update, but still just a little short of the other.
@@chriswallace9387 Where can I get the firmware update
Pointless when you don’t A/B each tone back to back.
He does precicely that at the end.
I listen to it once, I like the GM better, I listen again, I like the BS better ... WHY DID THEY MAKE IT SO HARD??!!
Gm40 all the way, there is that annoying hiss on high end of bs200 when distortion kicks in. Which is really troublesome to remove if you're recording
I stopped listening at 3:41 upon hearing the BS200.
Tubes give the sound a depth, a sonic space, an in the room presence which is immediately lacking in the BS200.
No mas.
You're completely correct.
I can’t stand either of these. The H&K distortion has so much grain to it.
True words. I dig everything about H&K amps, the design, the direction the company went, the complexity... except the distortion. It's a shame because I absolutely love the clean sounds. It's exactly this graininess in the distortion and the lush and loose feel to it that just doesn't fit tight, punchy and evil metal riffing I'm looking for. For everything else, I would definitely pick the Grandmeister, after long consideration.
@@philipwacker4629 It sounds like an Orange BOSS pedal is built in, its the one thing that keeps me from buying one too. The BS Floor Model is very appealing but for me there is only one amp for ‘evil metal riffing’ and that is an ENGL.
To me, it's only unpleasing in the Grandmaster where it is more fizz than grain. The Black Spirit sounds like a Boogie Mark series or an ENGL Ironball crossed with a GrandMeister, and shockingly I think I prefer it to all of the above.
@Old Mister I think the third channel in the black spirit sounds kind of soldanoish .