cm_17
Well-known member
We live in a fairly small apartment, so I can't use a big nice amp to play guitar - bummer since I used a Digitech/Marshall rack system with a 4x12 for almost 15 years. I therefore resided to using Guitar Rig 4 on my notebook with headphones for almost 2 years, but recently decided I need a real amp (with the option to use Guitar Rig's brilliant effects in a loop).
I got myself a used Blackstar HT-5 combo after reading rave reviews. Tube goodness and excellent built quality, yet 5 watts are still, well, loud
. I anticipated however that the amp will be ok for clean and some vintage overdrive. Turns out that with a tube screamer it can go full shred and is the best-sounding small amp I ever played.
Why this conclusion? I just spent a full evening playing with my Pacific Blue Axis, and the guitars repertoire of different sounds and dynamics was perfect to feel into the amp. Frankly, the Axis was out on a stand and just the most convenient axe to grab, and I totally lost track of time.
Love the clean tones on the neck pickup, percussive, responsive, clear. And of course the higher gain modes, with transparent yet cutting cords on the bridge humbucker and my favorite singing leads on the neck pickup. I have modded my pickup selector so it doesn't go uo and down, but operates at a 45 degree angle (there are notches inside the electronics cavity to do this, great detail!) - perfect for rapid pickup changes as I love to solo on the neck. Kick in a tube screamer, and singing sustain comes back, even at apartment-conform levels. I played like in meditative trance and enjoyed all the subtle nuances the guitar showed.
But most impotantly, I fell in love again with the overall feel of the Axis. The neck is a good old friend already, the body is no fuss ergonomics, the tapered bridge saddles don't rub on my hand, and the volume knob and pickup selector are perfectly located. The small truss rod adjustment I needed to do due to the changing temperatures here was a breeze with the adjustment wheel and an Allen key that always lays on my amp. A tad higher frets maybe, and maybe a more durable neck finish. Maybe also a 5-way switch for some split humbucker combos (hey maybe start looking around for a roasted ASS?)
Sorry for the rather boring post. But it was a great relaxing evening thanks to my Axis. Thanks EBMM for such a guitar.
I got myself a used Blackstar HT-5 combo after reading rave reviews. Tube goodness and excellent built quality, yet 5 watts are still, well, loud
. I anticipated however that the amp will be ok for clean and some vintage overdrive. Turns out that with a tube screamer it can go full shred and is the best-sounding small amp I ever played.Why this conclusion? I just spent a full evening playing with my Pacific Blue Axis, and the guitars repertoire of different sounds and dynamics was perfect to feel into the amp. Frankly, the Axis was out on a stand and just the most convenient axe to grab, and I totally lost track of time.
Love the clean tones on the neck pickup, percussive, responsive, clear. And of course the higher gain modes, with transparent yet cutting cords on the bridge humbucker and my favorite singing leads on the neck pickup. I have modded my pickup selector so it doesn't go uo and down, but operates at a 45 degree angle (there are notches inside the electronics cavity to do this, great detail!) - perfect for rapid pickup changes as I love to solo on the neck. Kick in a tube screamer, and singing sustain comes back, even at apartment-conform levels. I played like in meditative trance and enjoyed all the subtle nuances the guitar showed.
But most impotantly, I fell in love again with the overall feel of the Axis. The neck is a good old friend already, the body is no fuss ergonomics, the tapered bridge saddles don't rub on my hand, and the volume knob and pickup selector are perfectly located. The small truss rod adjustment I needed to do due to the changing temperatures here was a breeze with the adjustment wheel and an Allen key that always lays on my amp. A tad higher frets maybe, and maybe a more durable neck finish. Maybe also a 5-way switch for some split humbucker combos (hey maybe start looking around for a roasted ASS?
)Sorry for the rather boring post. But it was a great relaxing evening thanks to my Axis. Thanks EBMM for such a guitar.
