KH3 or Ultra XL?

[harsh]

Guys, I need to buy a new module and I'm a bit torn between the two. Being a bit low on cash ATM, I'm leaning more towards the UXL. The KH3 is of course, a lot more expensive than the UXL, but is it a whole lot better? :?:

If anyone has experience with both, what are the pros and cons? Please vote!

Cheers

 

[Julia]

It depends. do you want a Mesa tone (KH3) or a 5150 II tone (Ultra XL)?

 

[ratkent]

Those are two of my favorite stock modules. The KH3 is more versatile to me and would probably be my choice on that criteria. But for a heavy tone I actually prefer the XL Plus. Both are great modules.

 

[dboy5150]

Depends on what do you plan to use it for, and your style. The KH3 is a very tight, articulate module but you gotta squeeze the crap outta your neck to get sustain and fluid feel without a pedal. Really good for fast riffs where you pick each note. It's a great high-gain rhythm module too. The XL is an awesome lead module; great feedback, sustain, great for hammer-ons, harmonics, etc...but is almost too much gain for tight rhythm work. Just one player's opinion tho!

 

[headown]

Depends on what do you plan to use it for, and your style. The KH3 is a very tight, articulate module but you gotta squeeze the crap outta your neck to get sustain and fluid feel without a pedal. Really good for fast riffs where you pick each note. It's a great high-gain rhythm module too. The XL is an awesome lead module; great feedback, sustain, great for hammer-ons, harmonics, etc...but is almost too much gain for tight rhythm work. Just one player's opinion tho!

Hey Harsha !

That?s why I love the KH3. I?m more into tight rhythm guitar playing and for the little lead guitar I play the KH3 is fine.

 

[harsh]

Wow...looks quite unanimous - I'm quite surprised! :shock:

Thanks everyone, this really helps.

 

[insightibanez]

ULTRA-XL !!!!!!

 

[JKD]

I don't know if this will help in your decision:

UltraXL excels for super saturated, quick attack, modern metal sound...this thing will sound like and ENGL if you boost it.

KH3 is just as tight but is a dry feeling module even with all the gain but sounds a but more 'natural' than the UltraXL...can sound congested/blankety in the mids depending on speakers/how it's dialed.

 

[Awake77]

I've got both and they're both really different.

The KH3 is clearer, tighter, not quite as gainy

The UltraXL is thicker, chunkier, and has a ton of gain.

Get both.

 

[audioholic]

Ultra XL is a one trick pony, but its a mighty fine pony,

 

[Rising Farce]

I didn't vote, as I haven't played an XL, but I find that boosting the KH3 ever so slightly with an overdrive (a Boss OD-1, in my case) makes it much more fluid, and even clears up the mids a bit.

 

[maximus1]

i know what you mean , i'm getting mine modded for that, more gain less dry more liquid, my ts-9 pretty much does that but i don't like using a boost at band volume or at all really for that matter. they should have put more gain on it stock.

 

[harsh]

Thank you all!

I'm just not into using pedals - the last time I used pedals was about 15 years ago!

But, I totally agree with the last post. These modules should come with more gain. Whats the point of getting a high gain module and then boosting it coz it doesnt have enough gain? :lol:

 

[maximus1]

agreed, imo most of the high gain modules are mislabeled mid gain modules