I've owned this little amp for a couple of months, and couldn't be happier. '65 year old geezer, mainly Fender Vibroverb which is too loud for home. Can get a great Fender clean tone and also a fabulous Marshall tone! And it is loud enough for gigging! I'm playing a Strat and an SG into it and haven't even plugged in a pedal! Sounds really nice through headphones too, if you're a night owl. ;-)
I actually REALLY love the two critisim point!!! the ackward position of cable is nice for keeping it plugged and put the amp close to a wall without kinking those cable
@tad He can mod mine!! I dont have an electric that works. I have a cheap 100$ peavy raptor from when I was 16. My parents bought it for me for a gift. They both passed away last February and May respectively so now its very sentimental even though its a cheap guitar. I tried to find like some mod pickups n redo everything but have no clue what im doing or looking at...dont know whats what to be honest. But i love the guitar build vids, cool to watch! Best to you
MudToeTX Thefretwiredotcom has one kit that is close to it called the offset 2 single coil. I did not see one at bargain musiciandot com There is another vendor with one that has tremolo- I can’t recall that vendors name
I have the HT60 Mark 2 and absolutely love it. But, I needed something smaller to take to jam with friends, play small gigs where I have to travel. So I bought this amp. Amazed by the tone and features this little 5 watt amp offers. Great tone! I am completely blown away by how great this little amp sounds!!
Man... This amp looks and sounds so amazing! I currently have the Katana MKII 50. Do not really like it and was going to replace it for the new Fender Mustang GTX50. Glad I started looking around and stumbled upon Blackstar and your amazing video explaining this amp. It might be missing delay and chorus like the Katana and Mustang, but that is what pedals are for :) Thanks for this very detailed video man!
Thank you so much! I already have this amp, but wanted look look back to realize all of the features. Now I'm gonna start recording with this little powerhouse!
Sounds great! A lot of people don't realise that watts are on a logarithmic scale therefore to double the perceived volume of a 10 watt amp you actually need a 100 watt amp.
This is the HT-5R review I was looking for! Actually the best review I saw. THANK YOU. You answered all my questions and smashed all my doubts! You convinced me ... I'll get one :)
Their designers are ex Marshall so they do know what they're doing. They're pretty well respected here in Britain, maybe the news is taking a little time to cross the water.
I have the ht 5r first edition. It was expensive for me but i don't regret getting it. It is great with my tele and les paul, and to add icing on the cake it makes my acoustic/electric sound awesome. Once in a while I will run a boss me 80 through the back just for fun and it doesnt disappoint.
I bought the original HT5 stack 11 years ago and I would buy another one if something happened to it. Over the past 35 years, I've played through Marshalls, Fenders, Oranges, and a Mesa.
Love me some Blackstar! Had a ht5 head a while back, was great but just wasnt me. So i traded it in for a tvp260. Absolutely love this amp... So many features.
Great review as always Dan! I've been looking into a tube amp. I think you've sold me on this one. It's just packed with too many features to pass on it. Thanks for doing what you do. 🤘😎🤘
Sounds to me like that criticism could be solved by getting the head version on top of a 1x12 cab. Actually I think this is what I'm looking for. Makes things really versatile. Sometimes you get to rehearsal or a gig and they already have the big 2x12 or 4x12 cabs. All you need to bring is your handy amp head. Great video by the way, I really want to try one now.
What I love about the small balckstars is (as you said) a solidstate TL072 OpAmp being used for both distorting and also pushing the valves into saturation. Essentially kind of how a tubescreamer is working (These use a similar OpAmp).
I've been debating on purchasing a Blackstar amp but wasn't sure what model to get. It's not a need just a want since I don't own a Blackstar. Lol. Thanks now you've given me something to think about.
I upgraded to this sweetie from the old one and this MKII is worth every penny! Really shines on both clean and of course overdrive...Surprise is how good a Celestion 70/80 sounds in this amp. Usually not my favorite speaker, but was bored one day and had one I pulled from my Marshall DSL 20 I use a Greenback in, sounds so much better than the stock speaker in this amp. Night and day better! Only time I have heard a 70/80 sound this good...
Have one on order. Big fan of the clean channel and particularly that I can put modulation effects in the loop. Getting a bit deep on ambient guitar stuff. To dirty up the clean - not a problem to throw a blues driver in the path before the amp
I have been playing guitar for over 20 years, and I have a terrible confession to make: I have never owned a tube amp. In fact... For most of that time, I never had an amp at all. When I had my band in my 20s, I jacked straight into a power mixer from my pedalboard. Yes, I did, and no one ever noticed, except for guitar people, who asked where my amp was. When I finally got shamed into using SOMETHING, I used amp modelers-a Line 6 floor unit, and lately software (Guitar Rig, Amplitube, and Logic). And again, no real complaints, aside from having to start the software on my computer if I wanted to play. Lately, I've been thinking I should finally grow up and get a real amp. But here's the problem: Honestly, tube amps sound like crap. Yeah, I said it. You can get clarity from a Fender, which I like because I play clean a lot, but then you don't get a great overdrive for heavier sounds. If you go to a British amp, you get great crunch and overdrive, but muddy cleans (well, except for Orange, which sounds like you're playing underwater no matter what you do). Enter the Blackstar HT-5R MkII. This is the amp I have been waiting for since I was a teenager. I get beautiful, pristine American cleans (that's usually the hard part), but I can also get British tones, and everything in between. Also, I can back it way off to .5W to avoid being evicted (okay, it'll probably stay at that setting), but I still get an effects loop for my beloved Space Echo and I get a USB out. Honestly, it is a literal dream come true for me. All these years of saving my tube virginity for the right one has finally paid off.
I really love that you put so much effort into your videos, it's always fun and easy to watch! Also a great sounding amp but i'm a bassist so what i know!
Thanks for noticing! I did put a ton of effort into this video, I’m really proud of it. You can always tell how much I like a piece of gear by how much effort I put into the video 😂
Yes, I had commented about ordering this precise amp 4- months ago I believe. Well, I got it and I have been playing this thing ever since. I love it, I thought 5watts was not going to be enough, but this is frigen INCREDIBLE!! Totally versatile, fantabulous sounding amp!! Direct out feature is great, I play a Stratocaster and a L.P. through this baby and it sings!!! Totally worth every penny!!! I don't even mind about the rear inputs, I get just walk around the back and crouch down, no big deal for me as I'm not messing with the back too much, The amp as it comes for that money, which by the way was a tad steep for me was absolutely worth it! The only thing I found in all honesty was... I don't feel comfortable using angled plug guitar cords at the amp top side, because of the recessed input area, so I use straight guitar cords as I don't have to worry about the cord being 100% seated and plugged in to the input of this amp. AND I might add, if you spend your hard earned cash on a top end guitar cord, you will definitely notice it! I would highly recommend this amp. But best thing to do is go to your closest guitar shop, try one of these out and start saving that cash cause in the end, it totally worth it!!!! Nice video bud :-) thx bro
@@jrsoper6524 Hi there, yeah I usually wear a Stratocaster and straight end is the route to go. But funny enough I get the one sided angled cords for the amp so they don't stick up when using an amp cover...
@@leftymadrid Yeah, totally understand, but I love that angle when I'm playing if I'm sitting, when I am standing straight is fine. Those amps are the coolest amps out there, I just love that crunch tone , if a amp dosen't have it, it's worthless, I love that classic rock tone and those blackstar amps you can't beat them, happy jamming brother.
If you’re stood up and your amp is on the floor, top mounted controls are much more useful. If you want them front facing you can get the head version.
Also, for a practice amp, I use a Blackstar BEAM (Bass Electric Acoustic Music) and absolutely adore it. I take it with me for gigs to tune up backstage and it sounds amazing at home or especially mic’d up since it’s stereo. Bluetooth straight to it and play along with no cords. It’s perfect for practicing with my Taylor or my bass or my LP. Best of all... cheap!!
From Leo: I agree with you, that is a great amp. I have the older model head. I run it into a 2 X 12 with Eminence Cannibus Rex speakers. I get great, full cleans out of it. Gain channel gets pretty loud but it is not powerful enough for gigs if you are running clean, It gets used at home and band practice almost all the time. It is the lowest background noise amp I own, even quieter than the solid state ones. If I could get the exact amp in 30-35 watts I would buy that one too.
Can't wait for the Joyo Atomic review (sneaked a peek at it in the background) I'm thinking about getting that one, but now that I know you'll be looking at it, I'll decide after your vid
Raymond Davis I have a Joyo Atmoic. It as amazing for travel. If you can find on clearance for under $150 go for it. I got mine in Dubai @ Sadek Music on clearance for 366 AED ($100 at the time). The Bluetooth feature is awesome for jamming to practice amps, and for guys like me who travel it is awesome because you can run it off 110V or 220V no step down needed. Oh, and they have an effects loop!!! The only draw backs in my opinion are: that you don’t have a ton of control over the treb, mid, or bass, and the antenna is kinda flimsy for the blue tooth. I’ll leave the recording pros and cons to Dan. I just know that for me, I found my new deployment amp, and when I’m passing back through Dubai, if it is still there, I might pick up the Jackman or Zombie (because my main amp at home is a JCM900 - dual reverb and I always wanted to try a Mesa Boogie).
Yeah I’m pretty stoked for these Joyo amps, the vox AC and Mesa boogie amps are my favorite sounds, so I’m excited to have an atomic and zombie. Of course the ht-5r mkii wins over both because to me it sounds like both mixed together between the 4 channels, plus all the other features. But you could buy both the atomic and zombie and probably the ht-1R for about the same price as the 5r
Man I LOVE your channel. I'm a filthy lefty, and you're just pure proof that despite political difference, we can all come together to make this world a better place. Why do we have to hate on one another because of political beliefs? We're all people, we all come to your channel because we either have a passion for guitars or guns. Let's all be good to each other, we're all in this fight together. Rock on man \m/
I also just orderd this amp from sweethater yesterday. It's arriving tomorrow. I'm a classic metalhead, so I love the higher gain from voice 2. This is a fantastic sounding amp!!
Gregory Soble I don’t need to calm down, just stating a fact. Do you want me to agree with you even if I don’t? However, we do agree on amps I get my HT5 R MK2 on Monday. I have written a song for the occasion, it’s called, “ Don’t turn left, because you won’t be right”
Hi G&G! Now about 4.5 years on, I'm hoping you can share how the mkii has stood up, and if it has continued to meet your expectations? I thought there were a number of negative comments about quality with no data to back them up, just opinion, and now would be a good time to address them if they were biased.
Does the HTR 1 have headroom? I imagine it doesn't stay clean when you crank the volume. I've never tried it. 1 watt might be exactly right for me without getting complaints from my neighbors and room mates.
@@elonmush4793 Depends on where you have the ISF knob set too,but yes ,all the way just shy of wide open it's not terribly loud but once you hit that last 1/8" inch she roars ! I highly recommend it ,it sounds like the 5 would be too much same as me ,unless you want to gig with it then the 5 would work since it has the .5W setting too.
I agree with Todd, plenty of headroom on the 1R if you’re playing bedroom only. It will break up even on the clean channel if you crank the volume all the way. I do like a little bit of dirt, so I usually set the gain to just barely break up when I really dig in, then set the master to “safe” depending on my surroundings (whether I’m home alone, or if the kids are sleeping...)
I dont even have an electric guitar or a 100$ for a cheap one ( not kidding)but awesome video. What kind of guitar and color is that? Its beautiful. I also wanted to give you props man. There are a lot of douchebag channels that review equipment and act like everyone has money to throw around but you are humble, chill and laid back. Definitely subscribing !
I just bought the 20w version and I would agree w/ all the pros and cons but I’d like to add another big con: no foot switch button for the reverb. I can deal w/ the knobs being top/back and the other stuff not ergonomically placed like XLR out as I might not use as that stuff too often. But no remote reverb switch? That just doesn’t make sense. So I’ll probably get a nice reverb/tremolo pedal and go that route but It’s just a shame though: You go through the trouble of putting in a nice warm sounding reverb only to not include a button for it on the foot switch. And think about this: not one, not two or even three but probably a handful of people had to sign off on that decision. So at least a handful of top people at the company didn’t think it was a good idea to include a reverb button on the remote. Hell, I would’ve paid the extra $10-$20 to have that essential feature. It boggles the mind. That being said, great sounding amp and a value for all the awesome things mentioned in this great review.
I have an original HT-5 combo and it's a great amp. So I went and bought an HT-1 mkII and then an HT-20 mkII combo. I think the mkII versions are definitely more versatile and give you more tonal options.
The ht-5 is still my go to random amp. It can do about anything, the tubes are cheap. It's not the best at anything but pretty good at everything. And simple. Set the OD channel. Set the clean to match. Then you're done. No patches.
I reckon Blackstar should have foregone cosmetics and oriented (no pun on where it’s manufactured) the amp chassis to put the control surfaces out front and back but this introduces convected heat from the tube going into the PCB. This was a Classic problem with earlier models. Combos usually just rotate the chassis from the head version by 180 degrees, leaving the tubes to cook their bases and the PCB. Blackstar would improve reliability by having the tube in a ceramic socket away from the sensitive solid state stuff. Having said that, a preamp tube generates little heat and the additional cost of wiring would upset the finance department regarding margins.
G&G Thanks for doing this video! I believe these are awesome amp. I own the first (Mk I) version of this in a head (HT5RH), and that is a great amp. I run it through a 2x12 and totally agree it's gig worthy. The wife is constantly telling me to turn it down, I don't know if that sounds familiar? With the addition of the second voice on this version, WOW, it really opens up so many tones and could really be an all purpose amp. Currently our Church building is projected to start construction soon and we are looking to run "real" amps in a worship setting, and I will be recommending this to our Worship Leader for sure. At this price point, running 2 in a wet dry rig, would be very doable. The head version is easier to reach the back inputs and outputs, by far.
Have you seen the new Suhr PT15 IR? I think they hit it out of the park with this one. It has so many features for recording coupled with the high quality you'd expect from Suhr. Plus, Pete Thorn is amazing. I recently tried out a Suhr Bella, which is a 6L6 Fender based circuit, and was really impressed just plugging straight in. I've been looking for a good pedal platform with the headroom to allow pedals to do their thing and have an old school Fender clean. I have a Top Hat Club Royale 2x12 and a 1970 superlead, so the British voicing is pretty much covered. Everytime I try one of the lower wattage amps, I always want more. This Blackstar looks great. Your demo is excellent. I'm amazed at the amount of features available at that price point. I just don't know if I can get over the 5 watt limit. Decisions decisions. What a great problem to have, lol.
If you want a pedal platform, the clean channel voice 1 is about all you can use. All the other settings get too crunchy. But still, I’m shocked at how loud this thing can get and stay clean. There’s tons of headroom on that one clean/voice channel.
@@GunsandGuitars Great review! BTW, your Tempest sounds good. What kind of pickups does it have in it? And who makes that “hole-y” bass guitar behind you? It looks bad ass and light weight. Also, is the redhead your wife? Red’s my favorite color. Alright...alright. 😁 No offense but I’ve never heard of a “church musician” going on gigs outside of the church. Please, elaborate more on this. Furthermore, how can you be a Christian artist when Christ was against guns (swords) and body markings (tattoos)? Just asking from a philosophical perspective.
Hey, I like that. Could you possibly try plugging a bass into it and show us the results? Sure, the speaker might not do it and the cab sims might hurt the low end, but a clean direct out would be appreciated
Great a review man, was on the fence about which way to go, HT-5R or the HT-5RH, the issues that you have were the same as what I was thinking, so... I'll go with the Head. Cheers for the vid
Hey Dan, thanks for doing the review on the Blackstar. I really want to like it, but still not sold. Everytime I hear it, to me I hear a little grunge sound on the clean channel. Just about every vid I've watched has that sound. Maybe I'm too "Fendery". I could almost pull the plug on buying it though, and I almost did on a 20 watt model. I finally decided I didn't want an amp built in China, or Mexico. And 'bout the only way I could afford a hand wired amp would be to build it myself. So that's on my agenda. I've sold enough old gear to finance one now, and have enough knowledge of tubes to be dangerous, LOL. I do repair my own amps though, so a kit sounds like fun. Enjoy yours man, and you'll be playing behind Kim Walker Smith before you know it.
Thanks for the vid. Good stuff. IMO the original HT-5 with the 10” speaker sounds great (not necessarily better but I like the voicing better…or maybe it’s just the speaker).
I just bought the old version - used luckily - and I absolutely love it. Once there are the first used mk ll on the market,I might switch for the conveniences this version provides. For bedroom practice I bought the vox mini modeling amp for about 59 bucks used and I have to say, I'm not missing much compared to the big blackstar. Do for those looking for quiet, but good sound on a budget, get the vox instead. It's really awesome - and you can spend more money on your other gear ;-)
Excellent video man. Have You consider, down the road, upgrading the amp,? Like at least that one tube for better gain or a better speaker? Would be really interesting to hear the difference
You can tame the clean channel volume by putting a pedal in the loop. I used a ehx soul food with the drive fully down and the volume pretty low. Then wind the amp clean channel to get a nice sweet drive. It seems to do the trick. You could use a graphic eq too instead. Most have a volume slider. I do agree the controls and back panel are a bit of an ergonomic pain. Nice video. Thanks
Excellent video brother. Sounds great, very versatile. What guitar where you playing? Loved the shape. Have you played the Boss Katana? I know it isn't a tube amp but I have a 100w version and it has a similar load out to the Blackstar. Editing on this was great too. Just solid all around.
I see that unlike it's bigger sister the HT-20R (which has 1o control knobs) the HT-5R (only has 9 control knobs) and does not have a Master Volume knob, how does that effect things, I'm a total newb so please be gentle
I’d say the sound is only a little better, what makes it worth it is the additional voicing channels, recording interface, etc. it really is worth paying a little more for
I noticed how you’ve really sharpened the edges on your ax Dan. Your chops are sounding great 👍🏻. Love the cameos of your wife. As a 55 year old guy that’s been married for some 30 years, what she thinks of your playing now is what she’ll think in 20 years. LOL but that’s what keeps my marriage young. 🥴
Hi Dan, this amp seems very appealing. Do you think it could be loud enough not only for bedroom practice but also for small gigs? It is hard to find a all in one amp with such a powerful and round marshally sound. Cheers
Thanks for video) So basically, the difference between ht5r and ht5 mk2 - is kind a 4 channels instead of 2? Which one you'll recommend for a guy with a guitar processor if I am between ht5 mk1 / mk2? Since mk1 can buy used 130 usd cheaper than mk2? cheaper
Mine just arrived, best amp ever, the very finest amp I've ever owned. This thing rocks.
Great vid Dan! I had no idea 5W put out so much! Looks like a sweet amp!
I've owned this little amp for a couple of months, and couldn't be happier. '65 year old geezer, mainly Fender Vibroverb which is too loud for home. Can get a great Fender clean tone and also a fabulous Marshall tone! And it is loud enough for gigging! I'm playing a Strat and an SG into it and haven't even plugged in a pedal! Sounds really nice through headphones too, if you're a night owl. ;-)
I actually REALLY love the two critisim point!!! the ackward position of cable is nice for keeping it plugged and put the amp close to a wall without kinking those cable
Let’s build a Guitar!
Fender Mustang with Jazzmaster Tremolo.
@tad He can mod mine!! I dont have an electric that works. I have a cheap 100$ peavy raptor from when I was 16. My parents bought it for me for a gift. They both passed away last February and May respectively so now its very sentimental even though its a cheap guitar. I tried to find like some mod pickups n redo everything but have no clue what im doing or looking at...dont know whats what to be honest. But i love the guitar build vids, cool to watch! Best to you
MudToeTX Thefretwiredotcom has one kit that is close to it called the offset 2 single coil.
I did not see one at bargain musiciandot com
There is another vendor with one that has tremolo- I can’t recall that vendors name
BYOGuitar has a Mustang kit with tremolo bar
I have the HT60 Mark 2 and absolutely love it. But, I needed something smaller to take to jam with friends, play small gigs where I have to travel. So I bought this amp. Amazed by the tone and features this little 5 watt amp offers. Great tone! I am completely blown away by how great this little amp sounds!!
I couldn’t agree more. I really didn’t expect it from this thing, it’s so rad.
Man... This amp looks and sounds so amazing! I currently have the Katana MKII 50. Do not really like it and was going to replace it for the new Fender Mustang GTX50. Glad I started looking around and stumbled upon Blackstar and your amazing video explaining this amp. It might be missing delay and chorus like the Katana and Mustang, but that is what pedals are for :) Thanks for this very detailed video man!
holyshit, my Katana 50 is on the way, and I just discovered this amp, not sure should I cancel the order.
@@syduzzamansyd4530 you should yes
Thank you so much! I already have this amp, but wanted look look back to realize all of the features. Now I'm gonna start recording with this little powerhouse!
Sounds great! A lot of people don't realise that watts are on a logarithmic scale therefore to double the perceived volume of a 10 watt amp you actually need a 100 watt amp.
That’s interesting, thanks for sharing!
This is the HT-5R review I was looking for! Actually the best review I saw. THANK YOU. You answered all my questions and smashed all my doubts! You convinced me ... I'll get one :)
I have the original HT-5R (the metal variant) and it's so awesome!
Great video bud! Yeah, just ordered it two days ago!!!
I'm coming off a Katana 50 so yeah, it will be another world for me!!
I have the HT5 Head and it's been a great daily driver for several years now .
I’ve been subbed since before 8k and I’m so proud of Dan, he’s come so far and is doing great!
Thanks so much! I’m pretty proud of this video, I worked really hard on it
That clean tone OMG, I will definitely look into that amp! Thanks again for such an awesome recommendation!
Black star is so underrated. Seems like a legit deal
Their designers are ex Marshall so they do know what they're doing.
They're pretty well respected here in Britain, maybe the news is taking a little time to cross the water.
@@KozmykJ I'm getting a 5r head today along with the cab. Sounds amazing.
I have the ht 5r first edition. It was expensive for me but i don't regret getting it. It is great with my tele and les paul, and to add icing on the cake it makes my acoustic/electric sound awesome. Once in a while I will run a boss me 80 through the back just for fun and it doesnt disappoint.
I bought the original HT5 stack 11 years ago and I would buy another one if something happened to it. Over the past 35 years, I've played through Marshalls, Fenders, Oranges, and a Mesa.
They really are underrated. I use a Mk.1 HT20 head into a Bassbreaker 112 cab (stock V-Type Celestion) and it's a great platform amp.
Yesssss. Love watching your videos. Litterally get stoked every week when i see a new posted vide
Thanks for hanging out with me every week!
Love me some Blackstar! Had a ht5 head a while back, was great but just wasnt me. So i traded it in for a tvp260. Absolutely love this amp... So many features.
Great review as always Dan! I've been looking into a tube amp. I think you've sold me on this one. It's just packed with too many features to pass on it. Thanks for doing what you do. 🤘😎🤘
Wait... Dan playing a guitar with an opaque gloss finish? Who did you steal that from...
Brad Angove nice Brad lol
Dont worry he is going to scrape the finish off in his next video... then, and only then, it will be 'gigworthy'...
😂😂😂I know it’s such an oxymoron! That schecter tempest Custom is the only factory guitar I own. I love it. Everything but the finish...lol
Bad Ass Brad has you on that one,Dan-O.
Sounds to me like that criticism could be solved by getting the head version on top of a 1x12 cab. Actually I think this is what I'm looking for. Makes things really versatile. Sometimes you get to rehearsal or a gig and they already have the big 2x12 or 4x12 cabs. All you need to bring is your handy amp head. Great video by the way, I really want to try one now.
I agree with you on all points. I actually tried really hard to get Blackstar to send me the head/cab version, they opted for the combo unfortunately.
To me it's really good for what it offers. And also your playing it's improving a lot dude, keep it with the good job
Thanks man!
What I love about the small balckstars is (as you said) a solidstate TL072 OpAmp being used for both distorting and also pushing the valves into saturation. Essentially kind of how a tubescreamer is working (These use a similar OpAmp).
Or more like a Tubescreamer into a Valve into another Tubescreamer (This time clean, non distorting) into another powervalve.
Yeah man! Like I said, wizard magic! Haha
Nice!! Overdrive setting sounds awesome!!
Keep up good work
I've been debating on purchasing a Blackstar amp but wasn't sure what model to get. It's not a need just a want since I don't own a Blackstar. Lol. Thanks now you've given me something to think about.
I've bought this amp based on this review as well as a few others. Just waiting for it to be delivered now...
Me too! I just ordered two days ago!!!
Geez, can't wait, I'm coming off a Katana 50, so I'm sure this is just another world!
I’ve been very interested in this amp for a while, thanks for breaking it down to the nitty-gritty.
You’re welcome!
Great review, Dan. I think I definitely heard an improvement in your tone during this review. That Blackstar is a keeper.
That overdrive tone is the best you have sounded playing guitar on youtube yet! Great tone, great amp!
I upgraded to this sweetie from the old one and this MKII is worth every penny! Really shines on both clean and of course overdrive...Surprise is how good a Celestion 70/80 sounds in this amp. Usually not my favorite speaker, but was bored one day and had one I pulled from my Marshall DSL 20 I use a Greenback in, sounds so much better than the stock speaker in this amp. Night and day better! Only time I have heard a 70/80 sound this good...
Thanks for the honest review man, hope to see some more of these types of reviews
Great review Dan, thanks, this'll be an amp I'll be considering for the future.
Have one on order. Big fan of the clean channel and particularly that I can put modulation effects in the loop. Getting a bit deep on ambient guitar stuff.
To dirty up the clean - not a problem to throw a blues driver in the path before the amp
Time to update my wishlist! Thanks Dan!
I never minded that you used logic for your amp simulation. But that being said, this amp is sweet!
I have been playing guitar for over 20 years, and I have a terrible confession to make:
I have never owned a tube amp.
In fact...
For most of that time, I never had an amp at all. When I had my band in my 20s, I jacked straight into a power mixer from my pedalboard. Yes, I did, and no one ever noticed, except for guitar people, who asked where my amp was.
When I finally got shamed into using SOMETHING, I used amp modelers-a Line 6 floor unit, and lately software (Guitar Rig, Amplitube, and Logic). And again, no real complaints, aside from having to start the software on my computer if I wanted to play.
Lately, I've been thinking I should finally grow up and get a real amp. But here's the problem: Honestly, tube amps sound like crap. Yeah, I said it. You can get clarity from a Fender, which I like because I play clean a lot, but then you don't get a great overdrive for heavier sounds. If you go to a British amp, you get great crunch and overdrive, but muddy cleans (well, except for Orange, which sounds like you're playing underwater no matter what you do).
Enter the Blackstar HT-5R MkII.
This is the amp I have been waiting for since I was a teenager. I get beautiful, pristine American cleans (that's usually the hard part), but I can also get British tones, and everything in between. Also, I can back it way off to .5W to avoid being evicted (okay, it'll probably stay at that setting), but I still get an effects loop for my beloved Space Echo and I get a USB out.
Honestly, it is a literal dream come true for me. All these years of saving my tube virginity for the right one has finally paid off.
(Although here in Japan the thing is $700)
Im actually surprised to see you using a production guitar. Thanks for the demo.
These are the greatest amps ever. Love them.
Good stuff here Dan . Love the chan glad u upgraded
Both clean voices with the neck coil split and both OD voices with the bridge humbucker sound amazing!
I agree, those are my favorite tones as well
Thanks for a great review. It helped me make up my mind to order one!
I really love that you put so much effort into your videos, it's always fun and easy to watch! Also a great sounding amp but i'm a bassist so what i know!
Thanks for noticing! I did put a ton of effort into this video, I’m really proud of it. You can always tell how much I like a piece of gear by how much effort I put into the video 😂
@@GunsandGuitars it's nice to see that something can inspire to make great things! It is also really nice that you respond to comments :D
I have the Blackstar bass amp. I really enjoy it. This little guitar amp has such great sound.
Yes, I had commented about ordering this precise amp 4- months ago I believe. Well, I got it and I have been playing this thing ever since.
I love it, I thought 5watts was not going to be enough, but this is frigen INCREDIBLE!! Totally versatile, fantabulous sounding amp!!
Direct out feature is great, I play a Stratocaster and a L.P. through this baby and it sings!!!
Totally worth every penny!!!
I don't even mind about the rear inputs, I get just walk around the back and crouch down, no big deal for me as I'm not messing with the back too much, The amp as it comes for that money, which by the way was a tad steep for me was absolutely worth it!
The only thing I found in all honesty was...
I don't feel comfortable using angled plug guitar cords at the amp top side, because of the recessed input area, so I use straight guitar cords as I don't have to worry about the cord being 100% seated and plugged in to the input of this amp. AND I might add, if you spend your hard earned cash on a top end guitar cord, you will definitely notice it!
I would highly recommend this amp. But best thing to do is go to your closest guitar shop, try one of these out and start saving that cash cause in the end, it totally worth it!!!!
Nice video bud :-) thx bro
They make cords with 1 angled end for the guitar.
@@jrsoper6524 Hi there, yeah I usually wear a Stratocaster and straight end is the route to go. But funny enough I get the one sided angled cords for the amp so they don't stick up when using an amp cover...
@@leftymadrid Yeah, totally understand, but I love that angle when I'm playing if I'm sitting, when I am standing straight is fine. Those amps are the coolest amps out there, I just love that crunch tone , if a amp dosen't have it, it's worthless, I love that classic rock tone and those blackstar amps you can't beat them, happy jamming brother.
I've been looking for an amp for home studio, I'll be checking this one out. Nice video ~Thank you!
I am new to your channel.Just wanna say that was very well presented and I agree with everything you said
Years later do you think it is better than the katana MK2 ?
If you’re stood up and your amp is on the floor, top mounted controls are much more useful. If you want them front facing you can get the head version.
Hi Dan, Excellent video, Thank you 👍👍👍.
Melbourne, Australia.
Also, for a practice amp, I use a Blackstar BEAM (Bass Electric Acoustic Music) and absolutely adore it. I take it with me for gigs to tune up backstage and it sounds amazing at home or especially mic’d up since it’s stereo. Bluetooth straight to it and play along with no cords. It’s perfect for practicing with my Taylor or my bass or my LP. Best of all... cheap!!
Nice amp with nice features. Thanks for the video Dan!!
You really convinced me, I want this amp!
From Leo: I agree with you, that is a great amp. I have the older model head. I run it into a 2 X 12 with Eminence Cannibus Rex speakers. I get great, full cleans out of it. Gain channel gets pretty loud but it is not powerful enough for gigs if you are running clean, It gets used at home and band practice almost all the time. It is the lowest background noise amp I own, even quieter than the solid state ones. If I could get the exact amp in 30-35 watts I would buy that one too.
I really like the Monoprice 15-Watt, 1x12 Guitar Combo. $200 Blues Jr clone. Tube. Spring Reverb. Sounds great.
That is a great amp too! I want to try the 5w version as well.
This is great! It's nice to see something like a Kitana but with a few more whistles. If you haven't tried a Helix product, you absolutely should.
Dan, are you doing a Gun video and Guitar video in the same week? My life is complete
Blackstars are great! That clean tone is fantastic!
Right? I didn’t expect that when I first plugged it in!
Great Demo explaining all the features, thank you. I´m sold, i will get one.
The external accessories can't be topped but the Yamaha thr10 is super versatile. That's my go to. I have to say though I like that .05 watt button
Me too! The .5w setting makes it usable in my house. I can’t only use the full 5w at a gig or when no one is home
Phillip McKnight did a series about gigging with low watt tube amps and the Blackstar ht1c was louder than a 40 watt solid state in a band.
Can't wait for the Joyo Atomic review (sneaked a peek at it in the background) I'm thinking about getting that one, but now that I know you'll be looking at it, I'll decide after your vid
Raymond Davis I have a Joyo Atmoic. It as amazing for travel. If you can find on clearance for under $150 go for it. I got mine in Dubai @ Sadek Music on clearance for 366 AED ($100 at the time).
The Bluetooth feature is awesome for jamming to practice amps, and for guys like me who travel it is awesome because you can run it off 110V or 220V no step down needed. Oh, and they have an effects loop!!!
The only draw backs in my opinion are: that you don’t have a ton of control over the treb, mid, or bass, and the antenna is kinda flimsy for the blue tooth. I’ll leave the recording pros and cons to Dan. I just know that for me, I found my new deployment amp, and when I’m passing back through Dubai, if it is still there, I might pick up the Jackman or Zombie (because my main amp at home is a JCM900 - dual reverb and I always wanted to try a Mesa Boogie).
Yeah I’m pretty stoked for these Joyo amps, the vox AC and Mesa boogie amps are my favorite sounds, so I’m excited to have an atomic and zombie. Of course the ht-5r mkii wins over both because to me it sounds like both mixed together between the 4 channels, plus all the other features. But you could buy both the atomic and zombie and probably the ht-1R for about the same price as the 5r
Ooo this is tempting. I'm still pretty content with my boss katana 50 for gigging though. Maybe in the future
Razman This is far superior in tone than a Katana. I’ve played them side by side
Man I LOVE your channel. I'm a filthy lefty, and you're just pure proof that despite political difference, we can all come together to make this world a better place. Why do we have to hate on one another because of political beliefs? We're all people, we all come to your channel because we either have a passion for guitars or guns. Let's all be good to each other, we're all in this fight together.
Rock on man \m/
I also just orderd this amp from sweethater yesterday. It's arriving tomorrow. I'm a classic metalhead, so I love the higher gain from voice 2. This is a fantastic sounding amp!!
Best comment I’ve read all week!
Gregory Soble
If you are a lefty you are not in the same
fight as me, you are a target of my fight.
@@xaj1543 Lol okay dude, calm down a bit why don't ya.
Gregory Soble
I don’t need to calm down, just stating a fact. Do you want
me to agree with you even if I don’t?
However, we do agree on amps I get my HT5 R MK2 on Monday.
I have written a song for the occasion, it’s called, “ Don’t turn
left, because you won’t be right”
Awesome review! And nice to see your wife make a cameo in your vid 😎👍
Can't wait to see the rest!!
Nice little amp. Your playing gets better every time too!👍😎🎸🎶
Thanks dart man!
@@GunsandGuitars yep!☺
Hi G&G! Now about 4.5 years on, I'm hoping you can share how the mkii has stood up, and if it has continued to meet your expectations? I thought there were a number of negative comments about quality with no data to back them up, just opinion, and now would be a good time to address them if they were biased.
Still loving it. I’ve gigged it a lot and it’s still working flawlessly!
Thanks for responding with your outcome! That should give most of us the confidence to seriously consider the HT-5R mkii.@@GunsandGuitars
I have the Blackstar HTR 1 R and really enjoy it ,I'm sure the 5 is great too but I don't need it . Congrats on your new amp !
Does the HTR 1 have headroom? I imagine it doesn't stay clean when you crank the volume. I've never tried it. 1 watt might be exactly right for me without getting complaints from my neighbors and room mates.
@@elonmush4793 It has plenty for my needs in my bedroom ,it will break up nicely and get loud enough to piss off my neighbors. ;-)
@@elonmush4793 Depends on where you have the ISF knob set too,but yes ,all the way just shy of wide open it's not terribly loud but once you hit that last 1/8" inch she roars ! I highly recommend it ,it sounds like the 5 would be too much same as me ,unless you want to gig with it then the 5 would work since it has the .5W setting too.
I agree with Todd, plenty of headroom on the 1R if you’re playing bedroom only. It will break up even on the clean channel if you crank the volume all the way. I do like a little bit of dirt, so I usually set the gain to just barely break up when I really dig in, then set the master to “safe” depending on my surroundings (whether I’m home alone, or if the kids are sleeping...)
THAT AMP IS PURE KILLER
I dont even have an electric guitar or a 100$ for a cheap one ( not kidding)but awesome video. What kind of guitar and color is that? Its beautiful. I also wanted to give you props man. There are a lot of douchebag channels that review equipment and act like everyone has money to throw around but you are humble, chill and laid back. Definitely subscribing !
I love this channel. I'm slowly gaining a gear addiction.
I just bought the 20w version and I would agree w/ all the pros and cons but I’d like to add another big con: no foot switch button for the reverb. I can deal w/ the knobs being top/back and the other stuff not ergonomically placed like XLR out as I might not use as that stuff too often. But no remote reverb switch? That just doesn’t make sense. So I’ll probably get a nice reverb/tremolo pedal and go that route but It’s just a shame though: You go through the trouble of putting in a nice warm sounding reverb only to not include a button for it on the foot switch. And think about this: not one, not two or even three but probably a handful of people had to sign off on that decision. So at least a handful of top people at the company didn’t think it was a good idea to include a reverb button on the remote. Hell, I would’ve paid the extra $10-$20 to have that essential feature. It boggles the mind. That being said, great sounding amp and a value for all the awesome things mentioned in this great review.
I have an original HT-5 combo and it's a great amp. So I went and bought an HT-1 mkII and then an HT-20 mkII combo. I think the mkII versions are definitely more versatile and give you more tonal options.
Probably but the original HT-5 with the 10" speaker sounds so good!
@@paulchoate1 It does, but I'm pretty sure mine has a 12" speaker.
Damn that is a good deal and feature packed!! Nice finding!
Nice review/demo as always. Not my personal cup of tea, but it is hard to beat an old (1980's) Peavey for me. Keep up the good work.
Abraham Watson imo, nothing beats 70s/80s peavey amps! Maybe not the best tone, but built like tanks!
@@willbond1431 I agree and disagree. I love the tone.
So you would rather have a more robust amp with highly questionable tone than............@@willbond1431
Man, that amp is killer, i tried it once and it was amazing
It really is. I can’t say enough good things about it.
you have a top notch editor, or if yo do it yourself wich is even more awesome, great video.
The ht-5 is still my go to random amp. It can do about anything, the tubes are cheap. It's not the best at anything but pretty good at everything. And simple. Set the OD channel. Set the clean to match. Then you're done. No patches.
I reckon Blackstar should have foregone cosmetics and oriented (no pun on where it’s manufactured) the amp chassis to put the control surfaces out front and back but this introduces convected heat from the tube going into the PCB. This was a Classic problem with earlier models. Combos usually just rotate the chassis from the head version by 180 degrees, leaving the tubes to cook their bases and the PCB. Blackstar would improve reliability by having the tube in a ceramic socket away from the sensitive solid state stuff. Having said that, a preamp tube generates little heat and the additional cost of wiring would upset the finance department regarding margins.
G&G Thanks for doing this video! I believe these are awesome amp. I own the first (Mk I) version of this in a head (HT5RH), and that is a great amp. I run it through a 2x12 and totally agree it's gig worthy. The wife is constantly telling me to turn it down, I don't know if that sounds familiar?
With the addition of the second voice on this version, WOW, it really opens up so many tones and could really be an all purpose amp. Currently our Church building is projected to start construction soon and we are looking to run "real" amps in a worship setting, and I will be recommending this to our Worship Leader for sure. At this price point, running 2 in a wet dry rig, would be very doable.
The head version is easier to reach the back inputs and outputs, by far.
Have you seen the new Suhr PT15 IR? I think they hit it out of the park with this one. It has so many features for recording coupled with the high quality you'd expect from Suhr. Plus, Pete Thorn is amazing.
I recently tried out a Suhr Bella, which is a 6L6 Fender based circuit, and was really impressed just plugging straight in. I've been looking for a good pedal platform with the headroom to allow pedals to do their thing and have an old school Fender clean. I have a Top Hat Club Royale 2x12 and a 1970 superlead, so the British voicing is pretty much covered.
Everytime I try one of the lower wattage amps, I always want more. This Blackstar looks great. Your demo is excellent. I'm amazed at the amount of features available at that price point. I just don't know if I can get over the 5 watt limit. Decisions decisions. What a great problem to have, lol.
If you want a pedal platform, the clean channel voice 1 is about all you can use. All the other settings get too crunchy. But still, I’m shocked at how loud this thing can get and stay clean. There’s tons of headroom on that one clean/voice channel.
@@GunsandGuitars
Great review! BTW, your Tempest sounds good. What kind of pickups does it have in it? And who makes that “hole-y” bass guitar behind you? It looks bad ass and light weight. Also, is the redhead your wife? Red’s my favorite color. Alright...alright. 😁 No offense but I’ve never heard of a “church musician” going on gigs outside of the church. Please, elaborate more on this. Furthermore, how can you be a Christian artist when Christ was against guns (swords) and body markings (tattoos)? Just asking from a philosophical perspective.
If 5 Watts is not enough you can go for the HT20 that has err....20 watts.
Hey, I like that. Could you possibly try plugging a bass into it and show us the results? Sure, the speaker might not do it and the cab sims might hurt the low end, but a clean direct out would be appreciated
Great a review man, was on the fence about which way to go, HT-5R or the HT-5RH, the issues that you have were the same as what I was thinking, so... I'll go with the Head. Cheers for the vid
Great video as always.Thanks a lot, Dan. Now I have amp lust.
Hey Dan, thanks for doing the review on the Blackstar. I really want to like it, but still not sold. Everytime I hear it, to me I hear a little grunge sound on the clean channel. Just about every vid I've watched has that sound. Maybe I'm too "Fendery". I could almost pull the plug on buying it though, and I almost did on a 20 watt model. I finally decided I didn't want an amp built in China, or Mexico. And 'bout the only way I could afford a hand wired amp would be to build it myself. So that's on my agenda. I've sold enough old gear to finance one now, and have enough knowledge of tubes to be dangerous, LOL. I do repair my own amps though, so a kit sounds like fun. Enjoy yours man, and you'll be playing behind Kim Walker Smith before you know it.
Thanks for the vid. Good stuff. IMO the original HT-5 with the 10” speaker sounds great (not necessarily better but I like the voicing better…or maybe it’s just the speaker).
I just bought the old version - used luckily - and I absolutely love it.
Once there are the first used mk ll on the market,I might switch for the conveniences this version provides.
For bedroom practice I bought the vox mini modeling amp for about 59 bucks used and I have to say, I'm not missing much compared to the big blackstar.
Do for those looking for quiet, but good sound on a budget, get the vox instead. It's really awesome - and you can spend more money on your other gear ;-)
Excellent video man. Have You consider, down the road, upgrading the amp,? Like at least that one tube for better gain or a better speaker? Would be really interesting to hear the difference
Yes I’ll probably swap out the speaker and tubes at some point. You know me...if it can be modded, I have to try it.
You can tame the clean channel volume by putting a pedal in the loop. I used a ehx soul food with the drive fully down and the volume pretty low. Then wind the amp clean channel to get a nice sweet drive. It seems to do the trick. You could use a graphic eq too instead. Most have a volume slider.
I do agree the controls and back panel are a bit of an ergonomic pain.
Nice video. Thanks
Nice amp! Btw never minded the tube simulator, nice vid Dan! How is that semi hollow bass coming up?
Still got big plans for that bass!
Great video Dan!!
Thanks Matt!
Excellent video brother. Sounds great, very versatile. What guitar where you playing? Loved the shape. Have you played the Boss Katana? I know it isn't a tube amp but I have a 100w version and it has a similar load out to the Blackstar. Editing on this was great too. Just solid all around.
I see that unlike it's bigger sister the HT-20R (which has 1o control knobs) the HT-5R (only has 9 control knobs) and does not have a Master Volume knob, how does that effect things, I'm a total newb so please be gentle
Nice review. Thanks.
Is it really much better in sound then the previous ht-5r? price for ht-5r is about 250 euro, for new one ht-5r mkII - 375…
I’d say the sound is only a little better, what makes it worth it is the additional voicing channels, recording interface, etc. it really is worth paying a little more for
Just wanted to say I got one and I am pleased as punch
I think the overdrive works like a solid state op amp that overdrives the preamp
I noticed how you’ve really sharpened the edges on your ax Dan. Your chops are sounding great 👍🏻. Love the cameos of your wife. As a 55 year old guy that’s been married for some 30 years, what she thinks of your playing now is what she’ll think in 20 years. LOL but that’s what keeps my marriage young. 🥴
Haha I’m sure that’s so true! To be fair, my wife loved my loud playing...until we had kids. Life is different now, but totally worth it.
Great vid, man! I pulled the trigger on a HT Club40 MK2 several months ago...Now, I'm def a big Blackstar fan! great stuff!
Hi Dan, this amp seems very appealing. Do you think it could be loud enough not only for bedroom practice but also for small gigs? It is hard to find a all in one amp with such a powerful and round marshally sound. Cheers
Thanks for video)
So basically, the difference between ht5r and ht5 mk2 - is kind a 4 channels instead of 2? Which one you'll recommend for a guy with a guitar processor if I am between ht5 mk1 / mk2? Since mk1 can buy used 130 usd cheaper than mk2? cheaper