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Which amp would you choose. . .

misterB

misterB

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Hey folks! I'm looking at picking up a new amp for my JP6. I'm down to two, and I'm really having a hard time deciding. An Egnater Rebel 30 1x12, and a Blackstar HT40. Opinions on the two PLEASE (especially if you own one of these)!!!!!!!!
 
Decreed One

Decreed One

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misterB,

They are both versitile and well liked amps. But this is a no contest, slam dunk for me personally and you asked for opinions so here goes.......

I own the Blackstar Club 40. It is my main go-to amp for almost everything, recording and live. The guys at Blackstar are ex-Marshall guys that obviously know how to "voice" amplifiers.

The clean channel with only a volume knob, tone knob and voicing switch can sparkle (can get close to F-blackface to my ears) or slightly break up depending on the voicing switch selected. Some natural compression in it that makes it always usable, never ice-picky.

The dirty channel also has two voicings and can cover the full spectrum of high gain. Think hot rodded JCM 800 with actually more gain available. If you need more of a modern American metal tone with more bass/low end, run a BBE Sonic Stomp through the effects loop. It really puts this amp over the top, it's like they were made for each other! It also is the tightest best sounding combo amp I have ever heard. Usually I am a head and closed back cab guy, but this little combo amp is different.

I have hooked up a Genz Benz G-Flex Ported 2x12 cab to it and it was probably the best sounding stage rig these ears have ever heard. And I have been blessed with some great classic amps over the years including, 1968 Plexi Marshall 100 watt head (not reissue, real deal), Marshall Jubilee 2555 100 watter, Mesa Single and Triple Recs, Fender Twin etc. I wish I still had some of those amps but truthfully, they would not get played much over the Blackstar. That statement right there probably sums up my thoughts on the Club 40 more than anything else I could say.

For all of the venues and recording work I do, this 40 watt, 1x12 combo just flat out gets the job done better, and is so much easier and efficient than lugging around half or full stacks.

Terrific amp, off the charts value, totally versitile. It comes with a suprisingly good sounding stock Celestion 70/80 12" speaker. My stock speaker is now very broken in and really warm sounding. Other than wondering what a Celestion Vintage 30 would sound like in it, I would not change a thing. I cant think of one bad thing to say about it. Had it for over a year now and never had any issues, even the tubes sound like the day I bought it and it has been played long and hard, daily.

Have you been able to spend some time playing both amps? They are both great but have very different sounding gain stages.

Edited to add: The Blackstar, even at very high gain settings, always seems to remain articulate and musical. Never gets that buzz-saw, high end fizzyness associated with most high gain amps. Dont get me wrong this thing can be a beastly gain machine but it is so much more. Cleans up with the guitar volume knob like no other amp I have had or played. Intuitive responce for the player!
 
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Roubster

Roubster

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misterB gave a nice review, and I must concur with him that the Blackstar is the way to go. I dont have the Club 40, but I do own the HT20 head with a 1x12 Mesa Boogie cab. The club is definitely even more versatile than the HT20 I have, but I prefer the HT20 over the Rebel 30 on its own. The Rebel 30 just sounds way to fizzy to my ears and overly bright. The clean channel is nice, but I did not enjoy the OD channel at all. The Blackstar guys definitely do some fine work and you cant beat that amp for the price. Basically you should try each one to see what YOU like better, but I suggest to go with the Blackstar any day. In no way am I knocking Egnater, as they do fantastic work, but I dont like the Rebel and Tweaker line. Now the Tourmaster is a completely different story :D.
 
misterB

misterB

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Thanks guys. And Decreed One, that was exactly the kind of review I was looking for, I am grateful for your opinion!! I did indeed get to spend a good amount of time with the Egnater and was quite pleased. Unfortunately my local GC doesn't have any Blackstar amps in stock. :( I was lucky enough to find the same guy doing separate video reviews for BOTH amps!! The Egnater on video sounded just like it did when I played it, so it stood to reason that the Blackstar would do the same. To my ears the clean and gain channels of the HT 40 BOTH sounded more unique than the Egnater's. But not having actually played it, I was looking for someone else's ears. Thanks again folks. Any more opinions are certainly welcome. For the record, as much as I love it, I just needed a bit more Oooooomph and versatility than my trusty ol' Blues Jr. Looks like I'll be ordering myself a Blackstar!! :D
 
ksandvik

ksandvik

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Yes, I would also get a Blackstar HT-40, only reason I don't have one just now is that my Marshall JCM900 combo just keep on ticking ticking ticking...

I tried a couple of Egnater systems, nice but kind of they went too far with the tweaking side so it does not have its own temperament.
 
Decreed One

Decreed One

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Glad I could help. You cant go wrong with the Blackstar. My local GC's did not stock it either so I had a small dealer order me in one and I knew right after plugging in and dialing a couple of knobs it was coming home with me.

You know I had a Blues Jr for a short time. It is a good amp for a few certain things but is a prime example of why I never liked combo amps much. After playing big amps, half and full stacks, most combos sounded so boxy and small to me.

Not the Blackstar HT 40, it sounds and feels like a much bigger amp than what it is. And at 40 watts it has the right power stroke to really sing. It is a BIG amp in a small box.

Get the BBE Sonic Stomp with it! In the effects loop it transforms it to even a bigger monster than it already is!
 
ScoobySteve

ScoobySteve

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Before I moved to Korea, I used an old Marshall 40 watt live and I had a Blackstar HT-5 for home studio use. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the build and sound quality of Blackstar Amps. As you will find many EBMM players who use Blackstar, including our own Jamie Humphries, they are wonderfully musical and great quality amps. I've even miked up the HT-5 live a couple of times and it turned out great. If it's possible try and give these amps a shot.

The Egnater Rebel is a good amp, but I was just so surprised by Blackstar, the ISF feature is real nice in helping you find the exact tone you're looking for.
 
Jamie M

Jamie M

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I own the Blackstar HT40 as well. It is awesome, get one dude
 
S

Stevie

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Melbourne, Australia
FWIW, i have the HT20 combo. Wasn't overly happy with the sound, in fact some owners (from the BS forum), were changing over the Rocket 50 for a WGS Vet30 with good results. So i followed suit. BIG difference, especially with the Axis! Happy camper now!

I have not compared the Egnater so i can't help entirely.
 
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