Off Topic Blackstar HT5 - Monster in a box!

[whitestrat]

Just got this. Replaced my Laney VC15.

It's cheap, it's small, it's only 5 watts, and it's got enough tube saturation not to need any pedals anymore. Wow... What a killer amp!

My only gripe is that it's got a solid state rectifier and no reverb.

But effects loop, cab emulation headphone outputs, speaker outputs... The perfect studio/bedroom amp!

Anyone else played one yet?

 

[Hendog]

I love mine, but it's not a bedroom amp to me.

It's my actual live backup for my Mark V and it will do! I also have a VHT Deliverance, a Carvin V3, an Egnater Renegade, a Roland, and a Fender but I still chose the HT-5 as my backup.

Sounds AWESOME with a 4x12.

 

[TNT]

I like to wake up the neighbors in the middle of the night!!! Will it do that??!!

 

[DrGonzo5150]

I like to wake up the neighbors in the middle of the night!!! Will it do that??!!

My mate just got one and it will if you play it through a 2x12 or 4x12... Ooohh yeahhh

 

[Phrat]

Not only is the HT-5 superb, but Blackstar have just started producing a 40w, 60w and 100w head version and the prices are sweet!

 

[fbecir]

If you have a good cab, you can even rehearse with the HT-5H. You will lack a bit of clean headroom, but the dirty channel is loud enough !
The HT5 is really great. I bought a HT-DUAL just to be able to have the same sound when I play with other amps. The HT-DUAL is now the central part of my pedalboard.
The new HT amps look great ... and not so expansive so why not !

 

[whitestrat]

I love mine, but it's not a bedroom amp to me.

It's my actual live backup for my Mark V and it will do! I also have a VHT Deliverance, a Carvin V3, an Egnater Renegade, a Roland, and a Fender but I still chose the HT-5 as my backup.

Sounds AWESOME with a 4x12.

It's not? Hahaha...

A backup for your Mark V? You're kidding! Unless you're saying you can mic it up or have a line out. Isn't the 5W a bit soft to compete with a Mark V?

I mean, I know it can get loud, but seriously? Hall volumes? Small clubs and jamming studios I can believe... But as loud as a 100W amp?

I have GOT to try it out with a 4x10 or 4x12! I'm going to try changing out them tubes too!

 

[colinboy]

All of Blackstars products are amazing and full of tone including their pedal range.

Ive got the powerhouse series one 200 head and 4x12 cab and its an absolute tone monster of an amplifier.

 

[Hendog]

It's not? Hahaha...

A backup for your Mark V? You're kidding! Unless you're saying you can mic it up or have a line out. Isn't the 5W a bit soft to compete with a Mark V?

I mean, I know it can get loud, but seriously? Hall volumes? Small clubs and jamming studios I can believe... But as loud as a 100W amp?

I have GOT to try it out with a 4x10 or 4x12! I'm going to try changing out them tubes too!

You heard me right.

Of course, I dont play clean. If you need cleans you may not be able to use it with a drummer. I'm not sure about that.

 

[DrKev]

I have a HT5 at work that I use for testing guitars and such. Honestly, I prefer my Laney LC15-110!

 

[ScoobySteve]

I absolutely love my HT-5. Best practice amp ever. Though I can't complain, cause its just a different beast altogether, but for cleans it is a tad sterile. But other than that, at this price, this thing can't be beat.

Plain and simple.

 

[shredhed]

Just got this. Replaced my Laney VC15.

It's cheap, it's small, it's only 5 watts, and it's got enough tube saturation not to need any pedals anymore. Wow... What a killer amp!

My only gripe is that it's got a solid state rectifier and no reverb.

But effects loop, cab emulation headphone outputs, speaker outputs... The perfect studio/bedroom amp!

Anyone else played one yet?

I'm not an amp guy but I read where most of the power and all of the clipping is done in the tube section, so the fact it has op-amps in the signal chain to me is irrelevant.

I have the mini-stack version and it is awesome. I do use a compressor and an EQ in front just to give it a bit of juice, but you're right. I don't need pedals for distortion any more. I got mine for under 5 at Christmas and I am still stoked

I was considering the 20 watt head for a while but I only use this one in my home so there was no point.

I expect the prices to climb as they start catching on though. For now They are the best bang for the buck IMO

 

[browndog]

I looked at the Blackheart but it was a special order or bring one up from the States.

For about $150 less I got my 5w Fender and I am very happy with it.

 

[andynpeters]

QUOTE=browndog;742940]I looked at the Blackheart but it was a special order or bring one up from the States.

For about $150 less I got my 5w Fender and I am very happy with it.[/QUOTE]

Blackheart & Blackstar are different animals....you should READ the thread........nah, that's just a cheap shot sorry.....and who can criticise a man with a Fender amp!

 

[browndog]

^^
You’re a funny guy Andy, and thanks for catching my typo.

 

[andynpeters]

I guess I'm nowhere near as funny as I think I am.....

 

[Spudmurphy]

Great amp _ I have played OlPlayers in the house and live at a pub gig.
It couldn't cope in a live situation - I was asking a bit much I admit without miking it up.

For another 30 quid I got the 15 watt Blues junior instead ( a completely different animal!!)

But as I have said - yeah a great little amp certainly worth trying.

 

[whitestrat]

I have a HT5 at work that I use for testing guitars and such. Honestly, I prefer my Laney LC15-110!

Yeah... I think there's something to be done about the stock sovtek tubes in the HT5. I never quite liked the LC15 because it always felt "small" to me. I always preferred the tone size of the VC15 instead. But the HT5 gives me the same tonal size of the VC15, but with what the VC15 can't do: Intense gain! I would at some stage probably buy back the VC15. I'm on a small amp acquisition mode nowadays... Hahahaha...

Great amp _ I have played OlPlayers in the house and live at a pub gig.
It couldn't cope in a live situation - I was asking a bit much I admit without miking it up.

For another 30 quid I got the 15 watt Blues junior instead ( a completely different animal!!)

I have my 15w Princeton for live situations. The HT5 was bought for jams, and I fully expect that it would have to be mic-ed up at least for a full sized gig.

For another tempting 15watter, the Blues Jr is a killer amp! I will want that amp in my stable one day. Push it past vol.4, and you've got GREAT tube breakup!

Though I can't complain, cause its just a different beast altogether, but for cleans it is a tad sterile.

Throw a good reverb/delay into the effects loop, paired with a set of good PAFs and you'll be amazed how nice the cleans were. I bought this thing expecting stale cleans. But I must say, I was pleasantly surprised at how it sounds clean. And that's side-by-side with my Fender Princeton!