Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars
  2. Guitar Amps

NAMM 2015: Hughes & Kettner introduce the TriAmp Mark 3 guitar amp

News
By Joe Bosso
Published 22 January 2015

Twenty years in the making, the next step from TriAmp MKII and MKI

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

NAMM 2015: Hughes & Kettner introduce the TriAmp Mark 3 guitar amp

NAMM 2015: Hughes & Kettner introduce the TriAmp Mark 3 guitar amp

NAMM 2015: It's not often you can throw around the ol' "20 years in the making" line, but in the case of Hughes & Kettner's new TriAmp Mark3, debuting at Winter NAMM, it's true. The new amp takes the best from its predecessors, the TriAmp MKII (from 2002) and the MKI (from 1995) and soups them up with a host of new features.

From press release: TriAmp Mark 3’s six channels take the player all the way from the twangy and sparkling clean tones of the 50s through to classic rock crunch and ‘brown’ sounds, modern-day high gain and more – and, with the Stomp Boost and the option to select any combination of the three sets of power tubes on any channel, players will have the freedom to sculpt and inspire the future of guitar tone too.

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
With custom 4x12 cabinet

With custom 4x12 cabinet

Rüdiger Forse, Hughes & Kettner’s Senior Product Manager, said: “Each of TriAmp Mark 3’s six channels represents a whole era of tone, and each of these six eras can be routed to three independent tube power amps.

But there’s more! You can also combine two or even all three of the power amps – making seven different options available per channel – merge different power amp characters, and play TriAmp Mark 3 with up to 150 watts of sheer tube power. With three different pairs of power tubes installed, it’s effectively up to 42 amps in one amp, all accessible with the touch of a button via MIDI.”

Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
TSM-432 board

TSM-432 board

TriAmp Mark 3 is also the very first amp to feature the groundbreaking Red Box AE. The newest version of Hughes & Kettner’s industry standard DI output, Red Box AE (Ambience Emulation) delivers a perfect mix of authentic 4x12 cabinet ambience effects and an ultra-direct attack of pure tube tone – making performing onstage and in the studio easier than it’s ever been.

Add in other customary Hughes & Kettner features – like Tube Safety Control and full MIDI control via the included TSM-432 board – and you have a genuine game changer for professional players all over the world who have come to regard TriAmp as home.

Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
The specs:

The specs:

Here are the specs:

- Up to 150-watt all tube amp

- Six Channels:

- 1A: 50s Californian Clean; 1B: 60s British Clean; 2A: 70s British Lead; 2B: 80s Brown Sound; 3A: 90s Californian High Gain; 3B: Modern-Day High Gain and beyond

- Threedom Power Amp Technology: three pairs of freely assignable Power Tubes

- Ships with one pair of EL34s and two pairs of 6L6 power tubes

- TSC (Tube Safety Control) allows you to combine EL34s, 6L6s, KT66s, KT77s, KT88s, 6550s, 5881s, 7581s and/or 6CA7s

- Global Presence, Resonance and Volume controls

- RED BOX AE (Ambience Emulation) DI Output

- Channel-tailored Stomp Boost

- IDB (Intelligent Dual Breakpoint) Noise Gate

- FX Loop: serial/parallel, switchable

- TSM-432 MIDI board included

- Full MIDI Control (In, Out/Thru)

- Speaker Outputs: 1 x 4 Ω, 1x 8 / 2 x 16 Ω, 1 x 16 Ω

- Master Insert (Preamp Out, Power Amp In)

- Panel Brightness control

- Dimensions: 740 x 393 x 254 mm

- Weight: 22 kg/48.5 lbs

- Protective Cover included

- Matching 4x12 Cabinet available (Hughes & Kettner TC 412 A60 Cabinet)

-Made in Germany

For more information, visit Hughes & Kettner

Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
Joe Bosso
Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.

Read more
Friedman Jose 20 Series
Guitars Friedman's Jose 20 series pays tribute to amp guru whose mods helped shape the high-gain revolution
 
 
HeadRush unveils Prime, “the most powerful, versatile, and realistic-sounding floorboard FX processor ever”
Guitars HeadRush rolls out Tone3000 integration and native support for NAM captures to its amp modellers
 
 
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
Marshall Billie Joe Armstrong 1959BJA Artist Signature
Artists A baby blue amp for a Green Day frontman: Marshall launches Billie Joe Armstrong’s “Dookie Mod” head
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 
Hotone Ampero II Stage
Guitar Pedals “Even if you have a decent amp, there's enough variety and depth of effects in the Stage to justify integrating it into an existing rig”: Hotone Ampero II Stage review
 
 
Latest in Guitar Amps
Positive Grid Spark Pedal
Guitars Positive Grid brings its smart amp experience to your ‘board with the Spark Pedal
 
 
A pair of Positive Grid Spark Neo Core headphones lying on a Stratocaster guitar
Guitar Amps One of my top-rated guitar practice tools just dropped to $99 - save nearly 40% on the Positive Grid Spark Neo Core
 
 
MusicRadar monthly guitar gear roundup, ft. Lzzy Hale's signature Epiphone Explorer Custom, plus new gear from Hotone, Gibson, JHS Pedals, Death By Audio and more
Guitars “His effects are bonkers in the best way possible”: The MusicRadar guitar gear roundup Aug 2026 edit
 
 
Laney Audiohub Lineup: combos for guitars, bass, keyboards, e-drums and more
Guitar Amps Laney welcomes all instruments to the party with refreshed Audiohub lineup
 
 
Friedman Jose 20 Series
Guitars Friedman's Jose 20 series pays tribute to amp guru whose mods helped shape the high-gain revolution
 
 
Neural DSP Quad Cortex
Guitars Neural DSP adds Device Presets and expands Quad Cortex functionality in biggest ever CorOS update
 
 
Latest in News
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 06:  (L-R) Jack Waters, director Sean Evans, director/musician Roger Waters and musician Harry Waters attend the "Roger Waters The Wall" premiere during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival at The Elgin on September 6, 2014 in Toronto, Canada.  (Photo by Philip Cheung/Getty Images)
Gigs & Festivals “These songs have meant so much to so many people”: Roger Waters and son announce a ‘Pink Floyd Show’ tour
 
 
Thoughtful Things Engram generative audio sampler
Tech Engram is a ‘generative audio sampler’ that applies circuit bending principles to AI audio models
 
 
Eric Clapton plays his Blackie Strat onstage in the mid '80s. He auctioned the Strat off in 2004 to support the Crossroads rehab centre in Antigua.
Artists Eric Clapton on why he has no regrets about auctioning off his most “sacred” guitars
 
 
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 2: J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr band, performs during the second day of 'Festival Hipnosis 2025' at Fray Nana stadium on November 2, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.  (Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images)
Bands “I’m not going back to sleeping on floors”: Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis reveals why he turned down Nirvana
 
 
Teddy bear playing the piano
Keyboard Players If you go down to the woods today… you might hear a prog legend playing a piano in a bear sanctuary
 
 
phoenix
Tech "This is a dream inspiration engine": BT and Spitfire Audio team up for Phoenix hybrid synth
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...