Off Topic Blackstar amps?
- Thread starter NoUse121
- Start date
ScoobySteve
Well-known member
A lot of us had made the switch to Blackstar. I used an HT-5 for my practice amp. I was pretty shocked at the quality at the price. They're basically Marshall's with more grit, more reliable, consistent, and did I mention the great price for the quality?
ThatsAgood1jay
Well-known member
I spent some time with a blackstar HT-5 stack, and while I did not find it my cup of tea, i could tell that it was a well built amp, and probably the best you could buy for the money. Many a forumites have them as their amplifier of choice, so clearly they must be great amps!
fbecir
Well-known member
Hello
I own a HT-5H and and a HT-Dual. I like the sound of the BlackStar products but now I have some reservation concerning the reliability :
Perhaps I do not have luck but at the end you lose faith (especially because I never had a lot of problems with my gear).
I own a HT-5H and and a HT-Dual. I like the sound of the BlackStar products but now I have some reservation concerning the reliability :
- with my HT-5H, after 1 year and a half of home use, the amp stopped working (no sound, I change the tubes ... but it was not the problem). Fortunately, the amp was still under warranty thus BlackStar repaired it free of charge
- with my HT-DUAL, after 1 year, the pedal started to behave in a strange way (the sound was changing). Again, I changed the tube ... and it was not the problem. Now, I don't use it anymore, because it's too unreliable
- with my HT-DUAL, I blew 2 transformers (the HT-DUAL uses a specific transformer : 18 V AC). One broke after one month
Perhaps I do not have luck but at the end you lose faith (especially because I never had a lot of problems with my gear).
RobertJFortner
Well-known member
NoUse121: Blackstar (the rep firm) has tried to get my store to become a dealer for about a year now. And they sent me that exact amp you are talking about. I've been gigging here lately with a Marshall JVM205c. I change up a lot but for the most part I'm a Marshall or Orange guy. Let me state that we have yet to become Blackstar dealers. But here is my two cents on the amp. Coming from that JVM world, I like the 2 channel amp with 2 different sounds on each channel. The amp is really easy to use but don't over think it. I had more luck just adjusting it on the fly then sitting in my store and tweaking it. The reverb on the unit is weak. But really what built in reverb lately has been awesome. Don't get me wrong it might be enough for you, I just like a little more room. I don't quite get the ISF knob. I mean I understand what it does and I hear the difference. But since I'm such a british amp fan anyway I'm not really adjusting it much. The Clean channel really shines on this amp, and with a TS808 you can get a really good bluesy vibe going. The Gain Channel is impressive, I noticed it really reacts to my guitars well. I enjoyed the amp more with my Humbucker Guitars (my single coil and p-90 guitars were thin: but to be fair I play vox amps with those guitars). I don't know what music you are looking to play but I feel like this amp could handle most sounds, I played some Alter Bridge and some Classic AC/DC and it sounded pretty darn good. The built in boost which is foot switchable is cool. I don't like the foot switch cord. The amp is fairly heavy too.
Now saying all of that. I'm not switching to Blackstar amps any time soon. They have to survive for a while to get me to believe. Being about 900 dollars less then my JVM rig I use, is cool, but "In Marshall I trust" hahaha. I've never had a lick of trouble with any Marshall Amp I've owned. I've been lucky.
When Egnater came out every body was hot for them and I kinda feel like Blackstar might go the same way (though I feel they are better amps), now-a-days seems like all my buddies that traded Egnaters for Blackstars, are now going back to Peavey 6505s and Marshalls.
Sales man pitch : For the money you would spend, I don't think you can find a better amp.
Hope that was helpful in some way!
Now saying all of that. I'm not switching to Blackstar amps any time soon. They have to survive for a while to get me to believe. Being about 900 dollars less then my JVM rig I use, is cool, but "In Marshall I trust" hahaha. I've never had a lick of trouble with any Marshall Amp I've owned. I've been lucky.
When Egnater came out every body was hot for them and I kinda feel like Blackstar might go the same way (though I feel they are better amps), now-a-days seems like all my buddies that traded Egnaters for Blackstars, are now going back to Peavey 6505s and Marshalls.
Sales man pitch : For the money you would spend, I don't think you can find a better amp.
Hope that was helpful in some way!
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Decreed One
Well-known member
Ditto...... I am a believer. Worked mine hard for over a year with no problems. Factory tubes still sound perfect.
Ht-40 is one of the best amps I have ever used. And I have had a 68 Plexi Head, Jubilee 100 Head, Single and Triple Recs (etc.)
They are also nice amps you have owned dude
whitestrat
Well-known member
I had the HT-5. Found it muddy, and the cleans weren't terribly good. So I sold it. Then the HT-5R came out, and I tried it. LOVED it. that new tone control on the clean channel + the reverb (more than decent) + the 12" speaker really make a difference. The amp sounds different less sterile and more organic than the first, and I'm guessing it's the speaker that made the huge difference.
Roubster
Well-known member
They are great amps for the money, and I definitely prefer them compared to Egnater amps, other than the Tourmaster which is a great amp. I have the HT20 which sounds the best on the distortion channel. The reverb is nothing special, but is a nice feature to have, and the ISF control is almost like another midrange knob. The clean channel is pretty nice with only the tone control, but sounds much better when the volume is cranked up. So far it has been reliable in my apartment for the past year...havent gigged it though, so cant report on that. Overall I think they sound great and the HT60 Soloist has plenty features and options to make it a versatile amp.
Thanks for the replys guys! Knew this was the place to get some good feed back! after thinking about it I think I am going to go with HT Club 40 and later on getting a HTV112 1x12 extension cab for it. I have a 6505 1x12 and it rocks but just not sound good clean to me at all. I am also playing smaller sized clubs where a 150 watt Triple Rec is just way too much. I was also thinking about going with a Vox AC15 or a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe to AB with the 6505 just to get a clean tone but I rather just get an amp that does both. I am not looking for a extramly good clean since I do not use it a whole lot but it would be nice to have.
Mordimer
Well-known member
What a coincidence! I was thinking about buying HT40 for quite long time, it sounds very good, but I wasn't 100% sure... Depending on Your opinions I've made up my mind and today I bought HT-60 Soloist 
I can't wait for it
I can't wait for it 
colinboy
Well-known member
Blackstar amps are fantastic.Ive got the series one 200 head and its an absolute monster of an amp.
cm_17
Well-known member
I have an HT-5 combo and would anytime consider other stuff from them. Great company.
Phrat
Well-known member
I have been using my HT5-S for about 2.5 years now, now problems, great little amp. I am looking at the HT60 Stage amp as the other guitarist in my band had one, he traded his back in for a Fender Super Sonic as he is obsessive about cleans (and has too much money) but I loved the sound of the HT60. With that price as well!
mikeller
Well-known member
I have an HT20 head and 1x12 cabinet - no complaints whatsoever, but I will say i don't gig with it
