I wasn't lost. I just went to a guitar store. While i was on the way to purchase a car......mistake. I would rather walk. Got the best guitar in the store.
I was in search for low wattage amps to play in my room and not wake my damn house up. I did a shit load of research and finally got the Blackstar HT1R combo. Really love it.
As an East Coast boy, I was shocked when I went into a San Diego instrument store, and I asked why nothing had a price tag, and dude said "Its all haggle" It was the place with the footprints on the sidewalks near the store.
I turned my combo into a 1 12", replaced the tubes and it really sounds great with it's harmonics, sustain and crunch, at 1/4 the volume of a 100 watt Marshall.
Just coming back to guitar after a long break. I really enjoy your passion, blended with the technical info. People back when we were coming up kept all things secret. I am enjoying the transparency of youtube. I have been on a binge since finding your channel. Definitely subscribed and thumbs up. Please keep the content coming! My fire is building back up to a fever pitch. Time to start purchasing some gear and get back to it. Thank you for helping me rekindle my passion.
Love my HT1. I bought it for the distortion on the dirty channel, but ended up using it on clean channel. So good. And it's plenty loud enough, too loud for my flat and have to tweak the volume on absolute lowest setting to practice..
I bought this as my first valve amp with a cheap 4x12, its of course not loud enough for gigging but its great for practice and writing. It taught me a lot about valves and ohm and all that good stuff so i really owe it one 😄
I have one sitting about 3 feet away from me; I love mine. Originally I bought the combo, but I exchanged it for a 1 watt Blackstar ht-1r connected to an cab with an 8 inch speaker. Great day-to-day practice amp.
Nice amp! My first Blackstar was the HT5RH and liked it except for the knobs as well. Newer models use the white knobs on black panel. Instead of this 1 watt I opted for the Ht20 R head. It gives me the option to come down from 20 to 2 watts. In addition to two voices on the clean and dirty sides. Also features for usb direct interface, cab simulation, effects loop and excellent headphone jack. Love the amp and use it a lot.
I have the ht1 comco from 2010 and he is right. The sound on the video does not give it justice. It is very clean at bedroom level and pushing gain on clean channel gives that tube vibe with single coils that we all love but remember that he put hot pick ups there. Great video.
Got one on the way. I also have an HT-1 combo since it first hit the stores. I feel it sounds similar to the JCM800 single watt anniversary amp by Marshall. The Marshall offers a bit more with similar tone. I picked up the HT-1R on clearance. These amps are probably the perfect bed room amp for the price.
I have the HT-1R combo. Great amp, the cleans are beautiful & it takes OD pedals very well. Like it better than Marshall which says a lot because Marshall is a great company.
as soon as you hit the first chord WOW.. NICE TONE. I'm talking to a guy about trading my 79 ML for his Blackstar HT 5 Metal. this isn't the same amp, but helped sell me more on Blackstar. ty
Been looking for a fender American pro2 review from your channel since it came out why have you never reviewed it? I really respect your opinion just curious
Great little amp. I have the 1 watt combo and the 5 watt stack. For the kind of tones I try to achieve (vintage rock/blues) with say an overdrive pedal it's hard to beat.
lol I am the same way. I was going for some potting mix last weekend in an area I have never been. I saw a guitar store I never knew was there. Two hours later and $500 lighter, I made it back home. It is like an alcoholic who can't pass a liquor store.
I have to 100% agree with the OP here on this already a classic of a low wattage amp. I have the combo H1R. Had it for years now. The only mod I have made to it has been switching the stock speaker for a Celestion 10-8. THAT...made the little low watt combo amp actually sound just as good as it does through decent headphones. I never thought of switching the knobs out for the like are on OP's amp I sure have now! OP is correct about losing ones place far to easily with the stock knobs. Boy does my little 1 watt H1R get LOUD! It must be the LOUDEST 1 watt ever! It is to my ears. The reverb that comes with the amp to me is above average. My little 1 watt actually does NOT have a problem pushing through a 4x12 either!
THe HT1 has been my go to practice amp for the last 7+ years. THe only drawback with these amps is it doesn't have an effects loop. I currently have 2 of them in my music room (1 of them I modded the speaker to a celestion).
My first tube amp, and I've gotta say it's fantastic. I've got the HT-112 cabinet, too, and with everything cranked it's loud but not enough to annoy neighbors (in a house, not a townhouse or apartment). Definitely recommend it!
So glad you mentioned changing the chrome knobs...I bought a Series One 45 the week they were released and I could never see the microscopic black dot on them. Drove me crazy until they were swapped for chicken heads.
I agree with you Phil! I have never heard such grit and tone from a super small amp. You bought 3 of em" and Now I see (or hear) why. Money well spent Period. Thanks for the insight and the video.
wow. blown away. i see why you came back to it. i have a jcm marahal twin state amo an im not satified with it. i want one of these. it sounds full. nice
Blackstar makes some great amps most people think they are just for metal but they also have a great blues tone as we just heard the HT 40 is a great amp for the $ also
Epic video, I've run one of those Blackstar 1watt heads through a 4x12 and it really tickled me pink. Great playing dude, keep up with the superb quality vids.
I feel you man. Got one, traded it for a valvstate 8080 for rehearsal that I still love and use. Now I want one again I miss it so much, Best 1W amp ever.
I put a Celestion in my HT1R. The difference is night and day. Going to put JJ tubes in it soon. The stock tubes are very cheap. Out of my 3 small practice amps I use the Blackstar the most. It just sounds that good and with its minimal controls I do not have to do much. The reverb is surprisingly good. Next up is my Marshall Class 5. Going to switch the speakers. Then will be my Super Champ X2. Put a Celestion in the Fender. It made a good difference but not as much night and day as my Blackstar.
I heard you mention Guitar Trader in this video. I used to work there, and was working there during the time we were selling the 1 watt Marshalls. I was there until they closed. I miss that place more than you know!
Blackstar clean is so good. I bought my 5H for metal but I ended up using it more for cleans and hard rock/blues like Pink Floyd. I combo it with a metal muff with lead boost and the distortion on 1 for leads / solos. If I ever decide to upgrade to a 2x12 for more air pushing I'm going to get a 5HTR head. Still prefer my micro terror for metal leads though.
Very good! Suggestion: when you're demoing these low watt amps, speak at normal volume while you're playing so that viewers can get some sense of how loud it actually it.
I had the HT5TH anniversary 2x10 combo. It looked beautiful and sounded great through a 2x12 cab but didn't really through the internal speakers. I have a JVM 1w and the Peavey VK mini head. I love the Peavey, but the Blackstar did have more bottom end fullness.
I traded in my blues junior and some pedals I didn't want anymore for the 1W combo and a Way Huge swollen pickle. Loving it, can get pretty much any tone I want without having it too loud. I'm just a bedroom guitarist.
I have the HIT-1 combo and I love it...the thing I disagree with you on is plugging it into a different speaker to make it sound bigger. You have a speaker out on the back of the combo so what's the difference. For me the combo is better because when you don't need a bigger speaker(like in a Hotel room) you just plug and play! See what I mean?
i love mine so much, did a tube swap for some gold electroharmonix and man its so godly, blows my marshall away, blows my peavy away, its only rival is my fender 68 deluxe custom reverb
I own the HT1H and HT5RH and the 212 cabinet. I put Eminence Cannabis Rex Speakers in it and tried what you did on this video. Wow! My rig changed. The HT1 had been in its box for a year due to not realizing its potential. This little gem is now my main setup since it makes travel a breeze. I run it in the H&K Redbox 5 to FOH and thru to the Cab for my stage volume. Amazing! I actually keep the ht5rh with me when traveling as a backup too.
I have both of those...gotta say...The combination of the 68' Princeton and Bassbreaker 007 covers everything you could ever want IMO (here's a bit of a secret though, if you don't want to drop the $400 + on the Bassbreaker, get a 1980's Marshall Lead 12...it sounds 90% of the Bassbreaker 007 and even gets some better JCM800 tone than Bassbreaker). -OR- Skip all those and get a Marshall Class 5 and an EQ & Reverb pedals and you have all the tones you could want.
Glad to see Blackstar can produce at least one half decent amp. It does give that British crunch crunch tone in your demo. But like some of the others who commented. If you are going to talk about clean tones, then explore a few more of those, as most of the video was exploring further and further into the overdriven characteristics, which were good. Although if I were going to get a little low wattage valve amp I would more than likely go with the Vox, the Blackstar is certainly on my consider list now.
Just picked up an HT-1C (no reverb) today. Has some nice tones both clean and dirty. Makes you work your guitar tones a bit more than others cos of the single EQ which being that ISF system changes the mids more than anything. Hmmm. I'll try a graphic tomorrow... The little box with it's 8" speaker sounds very different when the position or angle is changed. The headphone sound is pleasing too. I'm glad of that cos it will get most of it's use as a late night ideas amp. With my Fender Bassbreaker 15 I have to run DI to a mixer to get a headphone feed for Silent Running.
theyre basically exactly like a tiny marshall thats why theyre good. Phil tell youre watchers just a dsl 100 and strat will probably do everything they need in their playing career,
Actually Dji zzah, I don't think they are all that "marshall" soundwise. THe "american setting" is kind of like a fender/boogie, with that glassy response. THe british settings to my ears are closer to vox or laney than marshall. Switching the speaker out to a celestion will get you a little closer to a MS type sound though. My blackstars are both combos so perhaps the stack version are a bit closer to marshall tone though
I have a Hughes and Kettner Metal Machine running old Altec Lansing 2x10's in a cab at Marshall 412A depth. Been meaning to get something along the lines of that Marshall MG Zakk stack. I will be looking into to these.
Funny story. I thought I was the only one who did that kind of thing! ;) My wife swears 'guitar player' should be listed in the DSM-5 as a mental disorder. That said, on the subject of low watt heads, have you by chance checked out the new ( I think they're new) Bugera T5 infinium 5 watt mini head (looks a lot like the Vox Night train) that apparently use an EL84 power tube. If you have I'd like to know your opinion of them or Bugera in general.
Here's a strategy: always leave the house with an empty guitar case. It can always return full and she won't know the difference. I have a Bugera 5/2/1 watt tube combo; it is loud, loves my Fender Deluxe Reverb pedal. Has a quality feel to it, poor reverb and EQ/tone (hence the pedal}, and breaks up nicely. I don't do metal or shred. Overall, I'm pleased with it, especially the value for the price.
She may be right, well because i think guitar players are never quite satisfied with their sound. Myself I play a lot of different stuff, and I always wanted an amp that can sound as clean as a old Blackface Fender Twin, yet be able to give me a great blues or metal tone on the fly. Such an amp is hard to find, a Mesa Boogie mark 2c is about as close as I have found. As far as Bugera goes I really haven't checked out much of their stuff. I know they make tube amps at an affordable price, yet the company is owned by Behinger, so their reliability is in question., mostly because I had a bad experience with a new Berhinger guitar amp one night at a gig, somebody didn't pay attention and plugged the wrong cord into the wrong jack. I borrowed the amp, it was brand new, and it fried. I took it in to see if it could be fixed, and the technician said it would be cheaper to buy a new amp. It was a 2X12 Solid state amps with built in effects, cheap and fragile. I imagine Bugera probably uses the same kind of cheap printed circuit board, cutting corners and thus bringing the price down.Beware though-you get what you pay for. So in my opinion if you are going to buy an amp, you might as well bite the bullet and get something that costs a little more but you know is going to be reliable.
I’ve got the combo w the upgraded speaker plus a 1x12 blackstar cab. It’s my second ht1. Second one has reverb. It is face melting loud: totally blown away with what one watt can do with a 12. Clean tone is there, but not at full volume on the clean channel. Biggest downside I’ve found is the headphone has no clean tone... so bought a tech 21 30 watt. I’m all set now.
Ok so now I'm going to go out and get one of these amps... but my question to you is... Why do you get rid of an amp when you get another one ???? You should Keep them all !!!!
I got the HT5H before the reverb version and it's my 'Marshall' sounds amp, but it's always Marshall and middley, which I don't mind in a small amp but every HT I've tried has that middle 'up' and I can never dial it down enough. I prefer the MicroTerror and MicroDark. The Dark has the fx loop, good for reverb (and eq pedal for extra scoop + low end), but both have the best single knob eq I've ever used.
I know I’m kind of late to the party here... but can you tell us again what Seymour Duncan pickup you mentioned having in your Tele? I can’t find anything about a Seymour Duncan BG-1400, and I’d like to look into it if I can. Thanks, Phil. I’ve learned SO much from your content. I can’t even quantify how much, but it’s s ton! 👏🏼👍🏼
The Blackstar "clean" channel on my HT60 works the same way. At 10-12 o'clock, it's crystal clean. Past that, it develops a delightful grit. I really wish the amp had two clean channels and one gain channel instead of one clean and two gain channels.
Hi Phillip. Just bought a used ht-1r mkII head. But it doesn’t sound anything like yours. Very low overdrive. In fact with bridge humbucker it sounds clean. When using both humbuckers it gets a little overdrive. You think maybe bad tubes. Just wondering what your opinion might be. Thanks keep making these great videos.
straight up loved the clean sound" from that little amp...you stated those pick ups were hot...how about a compilation of different guitars through it..? as always....well done
Phillip, i've always kinda hated on the HT1 and never understood why people like it so much, and a couple of days ago i watched this very video and today i went to a local store to check it out...played it a bit on its own and still couldnt get the hype...and then i had the (brilliant) idea of plugging it into a marshall 4x12 that was laying there...HOLY JESUS!!!!!! WTF is up with this amp!!!!! Secret IMO is to never use the transistor loaded "gain channel", just keep it in the clean channel and if you want distortion just crank the volume and the gain...i swear to God i couldnt believe the sound it was spitting out of those 4 speakers...and it was LOUD!!! What an amp!!!!
Hit it with something like a blues driver in that clean channel with the volume cranked on the amp. I've even dig a Rat (set with low gain) to juice it. Makes it sing like Gilmour. The best thing about this amp being 1 watt is that you use every ounce of that tube when you crank it. You don't really get to do that with big amps unless you are playing a massive venue.
If it ran on batteries too it would be worth having if the gritty distorted range of sounds is to your liking, personally ime happy with my BOSS Katana 100 at 2.5 watts for this sort of use:)
Sounds like a great little amp but on these small amps I just don't think they should use the term clean in describing them or the channels. They just don't have enough head room. Turn the gain down & the Vol up you sometimes get some clean just not at any appreciable level. I have an ac4 & that can't do much in the way of clean either. Still fun amps.
I watched a lot of videos, including yours... Of course... But, for subscribing on your channel, this honest video is enough: Blackstar is great amp, specially if you count what you get for the money. Thanks Man, on this honest view on amps. I really, really want to hear what you think about Zoom processors (G3 and similar). Boss have been forced by a lot of users, but from my point, Zoom is great to stand a side the Boss. I rather say: it's more on how you're capable to set your effects, and know your guitar. Zoom or Boss won't help you on that, if you don't know how to use it.
I noticed that Allparts does have the knobs. Theirs have screws. Are the screws necessary? I am looking to get the white or off white chicken knobs for my vox pathfinder 10. Will the ones at Allparts work for my Vox and if so, are the screws needed? I didnot notice screws on the chicken knobs currently on the Vox Pathfinder. Kindly advise as the off-white or white knobs are more visually friendly more so than to brown ones. Thanks
When you're lost, you might as well go to a guitar store.Can't argue with that lol
Makes sense and it's FUN!
Dale guitar trader was so great they made me a guitar player. Miss you Guitar Trader. Much ❤️ too
I agree! Now where's that map?
I wasn't lost. I just went to a guitar store. While i was on the way to purchase a car......mistake. I would rather walk. Got the best guitar in the store.
Happened to me once in Tillamook.
These amps are so, so underrated. I find I'm overly picky with amps but this little beast ticks so many boxes.
I was in search for low wattage amps to play in my room and not wake my damn house up. I did a shit load of research and finally got the Blackstar HT1R combo. Really love it.
As an East Coast boy, I was shocked when I went into a San Diego instrument store, and I asked why nothing had a price tag, and dude said "Its all haggle"
It was the place with the footprints on the sidewalks near the store.
I turned my combo into a 1 12", replaced the tubes and it really sounds great with it's harmonics, sustain and crunch, at 1/4 the volume of a 100 watt Marshall.
Just coming back to guitar after a long break. I really enjoy your passion, blended with the technical info. People back when we were coming up kept all things secret. I am enjoying the transparency of youtube. I have been on a binge since finding your channel. Definitely subscribed and thumbs up. Please keep the content coming! My fire is building back up to a fever pitch. Time to start purchasing some gear and get back to it. Thank you for helping me rekindle my passion.
Love my HT1. I bought it for the distortion on the dirty channel, but ended up using it on clean channel. So good. And it's plenty loud enough, too loud for my flat and have to tweak the volume on absolute lowest setting to practice..
I bought this as my first valve amp with a cheap 4x12, its of course not loud enough for gigging but its great for practice and writing. It taught me a lot about valves and ohm and all that good stuff so i really owe it one 😄
I have one sitting about 3 feet away from me; I love mine. Originally I bought the combo, but I exchanged it for a 1 watt Blackstar ht-1r connected to an cab with an 8 inch speaker. Great day-to-day practice amp.
Nice amp! My first Blackstar was the HT5RH and liked it except for the knobs as well. Newer models use the white knobs on black panel. Instead of this 1 watt I opted for the Ht20 R head. It gives me the option to come down from 20 to 2 watts. In addition to two voices on the clean and dirty sides. Also features for usb direct interface, cab simulation, effects loop and excellent headphone jack. Love the amp and use it a lot.
Gotcha... yes I'm sending it back today and they are swapping it out... hope for the best. thanks you brother.
I use a Blackstar HT-5 with a 12" or 2x12" cab and wouldn't trade it for all the 1watt Marshall's on the planet...it's a beast!
I have the ht1 comco from 2010 and he is right. The sound on the video does not give it justice. It is very clean at bedroom level and pushing gain on clean channel gives that tube vibe with single coils that we all love but remember that he put hot pick ups there. Great video.
Would love to see an updated video with the newest version of these and your new audio recording setup.
Got one on the way. I also have an HT-1 combo since it first hit the stores. I feel it sounds similar to the JCM800 single watt anniversary amp by Marshall. The Marshall offers a bit more with similar tone. I picked up the HT-1R on clearance. These amps are probably the perfect bed room amp for the price.
I have the HT-1R combo. Great amp, the cleans are beautiful & it takes OD pedals very well. Like it better than Marshall which says a lot because Marshall is a great company.
as soon as you hit the first chord WOW.. NICE TONE. I'm talking to a guy about trading my 79 ML for his Blackstar HT 5 Metal. this isn't the same amp, but helped sell me more on Blackstar. ty
When you're lost might as well go to a guitar store love that
Been looking for a fender American pro2 review from your channel since it came out why have you never reviewed it? I really respect your opinion just curious
Love your pace of delivery
Best amp I have ever played. I even usually play it in preference to my JCM 800. Seriously.
The white knob conversion is good. Easy to see and the shape lets you know where the level is.
Great little amp. I have the 1 watt combo and the 5 watt stack. For the kind of tones I try to achieve (vintage rock/blues) with say an overdrive pedal it's hard to beat.
Phillip Ive lrearned so much from all youve produced and greatly Appreciate your knowledge of Guitars and AMPS. Phillip YOUR ARE THE BEST
lol I am the same way. I was going for some potting mix last weekend in an area I have never been. I saw a guitar store I never knew was there. Two hours later and $500 lighter, I made it back home. It is like an alcoholic who can't pass a liquor store.
Well me being a musician myself, the local guitar store is high priority when checking out a new town/city
wax potting?
You hit the nail on the head about these amps. Thanks for another great video!! Keep up the good work....
Glad you found the Guitar Trader, I worked there in the '80's!
I have to 100% agree with the OP here on this already a classic of a low wattage amp. I have the combo H1R. Had it for years now. The only mod I have made to it has been switching the stock speaker for a Celestion 10-8. THAT...made the little low watt combo amp actually sound just as good as it does through decent headphones.
I never thought of switching the knobs out for the like are on OP's amp I sure have now! OP is correct about losing ones place far to easily with the stock knobs.
Boy does my little 1 watt H1R get LOUD! It must be the LOUDEST 1 watt ever! It is to my ears. The reverb that comes with the amp to me is above average. My little 1 watt actually does NOT have a problem pushing through a 4x12 either!
THe HT1 has been my go to practice amp for the last 7+ years. THe only drawback with these amps is it doesn't have an effects loop. I currently have 2 of them in my music room (1 of them I modded the speaker to a celestion).
My first tube amp, and I've gotta say it's fantastic. I've got the HT-112 cabinet, too, and with everything cranked it's loud but not enough to annoy neighbors (in a house, not a townhouse or apartment). Definitely recommend it!
Amazing sound and not a power tube in sight! A 12AU7/ECC82 is used in “push-pull” configuration for the power output stage...
The hiss of a cranked amp is like an angry cat ready to pounce or the fuse of a fire work
So glad you mentioned changing the chrome knobs...I bought a Series One 45 the week they were released and I could never see the microscopic black dot on them. Drove me crazy until they were swapped for chicken heads.
great combination blackstar and tele is also my setup
I agree with you Phil! I have never heard such grit and tone from a super small amp. You bought 3 of em" and Now I see (or hear) why. Money well spent Period. Thanks for the insight and the video.
wow. blown away. i see why you came back to it. i have a jcm marahal twin state amo an im not satified with it. i want one of these. it sounds full. nice
“Cause when your lost you might as well go to a guitar store” lol funny and true
Who still using their HT1 in 2020? 🤚
This is my main amp if I'm just playing at the house.. I would gig with it if I needed to. But I use tonestack
I have one pair with 2 small orange 8". Like a mini stack
Me just got a nice pre loved one from 2010 !! Through marshall 4x12 on clean it's very loud !! Ha ha ha ha !
I am and I just got a new EXH 12AX7G to try in it.
I'm using the ht100 through vintage cab with 4x12 Celestion speaker. It's amazing.
Blackstar makes some great amps most people think they are just for metal but they also have a great blues tone as we just heard the HT 40 is a great amp for the $ also
Epic video, I've run one of those Blackstar 1watt heads through a 4x12 and it really tickled me pink. Great playing dude, keep up with the superb quality vids.
I feel you man.
Got one, traded it for a valvstate 8080 for rehearsal that I still love and use.
Now I want one again I miss it so much, Best 1W amp ever.
I put a Celestion in my HT1R. The difference is night and day. Going to put JJ tubes in it soon. The stock tubes are very cheap. Out of my 3 small practice amps I use the Blackstar the most. It just sounds that good and with its minimal controls I do not have to do much. The reverb is surprisingly good.
Next up is my Marshall Class 5. Going to switch the speakers. Then will be my Super Champ X2. Put a Celestion in the Fender. It made a good difference but not as much night and day as my Blackstar.
I heard you mention Guitar Trader in this video. I used to work there, and was working there during the time we were selling the 1 watt Marshalls. I was there until they closed. I miss that place more than you know!
Blackstar clean is so good. I bought my 5H for metal but I ended up using it more for cleans and hard rock/blues like Pink Floyd. I combo it with a metal muff with lead boost and the distortion on 1 for leads / solos.
If I ever decide to upgrade to a 2x12 for more air pushing I'm going to get a 5HTR head.
Still prefer my micro terror for metal leads though.
Nice... what does the real clean sound like??
Very good! Suggestion: when you're demoing these low watt amps, speak at normal volume while you're playing so that viewers can get some sense of how loud it actually it.
I had the HT5TH anniversary 2x10 combo. It looked beautiful and sounded great through a 2x12 cab but didn't really through the internal speakers. I have a JVM 1w and the Peavey VK mini head. I love the Peavey, but the Blackstar did have more bottom end fullness.
I loved watching this. That's exactly how I like my amps setup.
I traded in my blues junior and some pedals I didn't want anymore for the 1W combo and a Way Huge swollen pickle. Loving it, can get pretty much any tone I want without having it too loud. I'm just a bedroom guitarist.
"When you are lost, you need to go to a guitar store". Great philosophy for life in general. 🎸🤘 😁
Was considering this for when I get an apartment now I’m convinced
I have the HIT-1 combo and I love it...the thing I disagree with you on is plugging it into a different speaker to make it sound bigger. You have a speaker out on the back of the combo so what's the difference. For me the combo is better because when you don't need a bigger speaker(like in a Hotel room) you just plug and play! See what I mean?
I started with the HT5H and wound up with the HT20H which allowed me to drop down to 2 watts. A bit more in price but much more flexibility.
I have the combo. It rules.
i love mine so much, did a tube swap for some gold electroharmonix and man its so godly, blows my marshall away, blows my peavy away, its only rival is my fender 68 deluxe custom reverb
I own the HT1H and HT5RH and the 212 cabinet. I put Eminence Cannabis Rex Speakers in it and tried what you did on this video. Wow! My rig changed. The HT1 had been in its box for a year due to not realizing its potential. This little gem is now my main setup since it makes travel a breeze. I run it in the H&K Redbox 5 to FOH and thru to the Cab for my stage volume. Amazing! I actually keep the ht5rh with me when traveling as a backup too.
I have recently become a huge fan of 20 watt amps with a speaker soak 👍
Blackstar new valve combos sound great
this vid is a medicine for me feeling guilty owning 2 electrics and 3 amps
haha , my comment was in january , since then i gained another guitar hehe . btw , what amp your feeling ?
I have both of those...gotta say...The combination of the 68' Princeton and Bassbreaker 007 covers everything you could ever want IMO (here's a bit of a secret though, if you don't want to drop the $400 + on the Bassbreaker, get a 1980's Marshall Lead 12...it sounds 90% of the Bassbreaker 007 and even gets some better JCM800 tone than Bassbreaker). -OR- Skip all those and get a Marshall Class 5 and an EQ & Reverb pedals and you have all the tones you could want.
wasn't me I own 2 electrics n 3 amps😃
Glad to see Blackstar can produce at least one half decent amp.
It does give that British crunch crunch tone in your demo.
But like some of the others who commented. If you are going to talk about clean tones, then explore a few more of those, as most of the video was exploring further and further into the overdriven characteristics, which were good.
Although if I were going to get a little low wattage valve amp I would more than likely go with the Vox, the Blackstar is certainly on my consider list now.
I have a HT-5R combo, and I love it! All my guitars sound good on it, but especially the hss strat
I just picked one up. Love it!
I just got the blonde one. its PERFECT for me.
Just picked up an HT-1C (no reverb) today. Has some nice tones both clean and dirty.
Makes you work your guitar tones a bit more than others cos of the single EQ which being that ISF system changes the mids more than anything. Hmmm. I'll try a graphic tomorrow...
The little box with it's 8" speaker sounds very different when the position or angle is changed.
The headphone sound is pleasing too.
I'm glad of that cos it will get most of it's use as a late night ideas amp.
With my Fender Bassbreaker 15 I have to run DI to a mixer to get a headphone feed for Silent Running.
theyre basically exactly like a tiny marshall thats why theyre good. Phil tell youre watchers just a dsl 100 and strat will probably do everything they need in their playing career,
dude. No. Go play some guitars and amps.
DSL was not for me. I got a Marshall 1962HW. My dream amp.
Shawn Glass that's like saying....
Yeah, the Chevy Cavalier was not for me, so I just went out and got me a 1967 Camaro SS lol
Actually Dji zzah, I don't think they are all that "marshall" soundwise. THe "american setting" is kind of like a fender/boogie, with that glassy response. THe british settings to my ears are closer to vox or laney than marshall. Switching the speaker out to a celestion will get you a little closer to a MS type sound though. My blackstars are both combos so perhaps the stack version are a bit closer to marshall tone though
The Blackstar HT20 Head is killer as well; have had one for years and it was my main amp when I used to gig
I have a Blackstar and love it.
I have a Hughes and Kettner Metal Machine running old Altec Lansing 2x10's in a cab at Marshall 412A depth. Been meaning to get something along the lines of that Marshall MG Zakk stack. I will be looking into to these.
Just found a used combo for $150. Love it. Replacing my Vox Lil’ Nightrain.
"...when you're lost, you might as well go to a guitar store." Hahaha wise words
Funny story. I thought I was the only one who did that kind of thing! ;) My wife swears 'guitar player' should be listed in the DSM-5 as a mental disorder. That said, on the subject of low watt heads, have you by chance checked out the new ( I think they're new) Bugera T5 infinium 5 watt mini head (looks a lot like the Vox Night train) that apparently use an EL84 power tube. If you have I'd like to know your opinion of them or Bugera in general.
+univibe23 I have very little experance with Bugera. I have played one or two over the years, but could not give you any good feedback.
Here's a strategy: always leave the house with an empty guitar case. It can always return full and she won't know the difference.
I have a Bugera 5/2/1 watt tube combo; it is loud, loves my Fender Deluxe Reverb pedal. Has a quality feel to it, poor reverb and EQ/tone (hence the pedal}, and breaks up nicely. I don't do metal or shred. Overall, I'm pleased with it, especially the value for the price.
She may be right, well because i think guitar players are never quite satisfied with their sound. Myself I play a lot of different stuff, and I always wanted an amp that can sound as clean as a old Blackface Fender Twin, yet be able to give me a great blues or metal tone on the fly. Such an amp is hard to find, a Mesa Boogie mark 2c is about as close as I have found. As far as Bugera goes I really haven't checked out much of their stuff. I know they make tube amps at an affordable price, yet the company is owned by Behinger, so their reliability is in question., mostly because I had a
bad experience with a new Berhinger guitar amp one night at a gig, somebody didn't pay attention and plugged the wrong cord into the wrong jack. I borrowed the amp, it was brand new, and it fried. I took it in to see if it could be fixed, and the technician said it would be cheaper to buy a new amp. It was a 2X12 Solid state amps with built in effects, cheap and fragile. I imagine Bugera probably uses the same kind of cheap printed circuit board, cutting corners and thus bringing the price down.Beware though-you get what you pay for. So in my opinion if you are going to buy an amp, you might as well bite the bullet and get something that costs a little more but you know is going to be reliable.
Behringer troll i c!
@@PhillipMcKnight
What about the Vox Night Train amp head?
I’ve got the combo w the upgraded speaker plus a 1x12 blackstar cab. It’s my second ht1. Second one has reverb. It is face melting loud: totally blown away with what one watt can do with a 12. Clean tone is there, but not at full volume on the clean channel. Biggest downside I’ve found is the headphone has no clean tone... so bought a tech 21 30 watt. I’m all set now.
Best warm clean sound I got when I use wampler plexi pedal or total wreck. Try it. Unbelievable
Ok so now I'm going to go out and get one of these amps... but my question to you is...
Why do you get rid of an amp when you get another one ???? You should Keep them all !!!!
I was wondering the same thing. I have 28.
I'd love to hear it without the gain dimed. I guess I will tomorrow. I got a used one from GC for $145 plus shipping + tax. Just under $200.
I've got a HT5 and it's great at home.even better through a 4x12.
Have used a ht 5 on small club gigs and was amazed by the tone and cut through.....kinda pricy!
Have the ht5th and enjoy it for similar reasons .
I love mine. I'll try your setting. Thanks !
I got the HT5H before the reverb version and it's my 'Marshall' sounds amp, but it's always Marshall and middley, which I don't mind in a small amp but every HT I've tried has that middle 'up' and I can never dial it down enough. I prefer the MicroTerror and MicroDark. The Dark has the fx loop, good for reverb (and eq pedal for extra scoop + low end), but both have the best single knob eq I've ever used.
I love Black Star products
I got the HT-100 and I like it better than my Peavey or Marshall.
I know I’m kind of late to the party here... but can you tell us again what Seymour Duncan pickup you mentioned having in your Tele? I can’t find anything about a Seymour Duncan BG-1400, and I’d like to look into it if I can.
Thanks, Phil. I’ve learned SO much from your content. I can’t even quantify how much, but it’s s ton! 👏🏼👍🏼
Yup that amp does sound good . Priced right too .
Sounds extremely great but absolutely nothing about that is clean.
When you set the gain at 12 o'clock it is really clean. He just showed the grittier side of it.
The Blackstar "clean" channel on my HT60 works the same way. At 10-12 o'clock, it's crystal clean. Past that, it develops a delightful grit. I really wish the amp had two clean channels and one gain channel instead of one clean and two gain channels.
Hi Phillip. Just bought a used ht-1r mkII head. But it doesn’t sound anything like yours. Very low overdrive. In fact with bridge humbucker it sounds clean. When using both humbuckers it gets a little overdrive. You think maybe bad tubes. Just wondering what your opinion might be. Thanks keep making these great videos.
Sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing it with us, maybe my next purchase!
Phil - any hints on getting the correct fitting white chicken head knobs? Thanks. Lots of options on amazon.
straight up loved the clean sound" from that little amp...you stated those pick ups were hot...how about a compilation of different guitars through it..?
as always....well done
I had the combo but had to sell it because it wouldn't work in North America due to the plug. These are great little amps.
convert it or buy a conveter and plug it in.
I sold it a few years ago. I have a Kemper now!
Phillip, i've always kinda hated on the HT1 and never understood why people like it so much, and a couple of days ago i watched this very video and today i went to a local store to check it out...played it a bit on its own and still couldnt get the hype...and then i had the (brilliant) idea of plugging it into a marshall 4x12 that was laying there...HOLY JESUS!!!!!! WTF is up with this amp!!!!! Secret IMO is to never use the transistor loaded "gain channel", just keep it in the clean channel and if you want distortion just crank the volume and the gain...i swear to God i couldnt believe the sound it was spitting out of those 4 speakers...and it was LOUD!!! What an amp!!!!
Pe Peroni it's the best kept secret in the biz. It has amazzzzzing crunch when you crank and juice that clean channel
Hmmm I'm going to try that with a DSL1RH
Hit it with something like a blues driver in that clean channel with the volume cranked on the amp. I've even dig a Rat (set with low gain) to juice it. Makes it sing like Gilmour. The best thing about this amp being 1 watt is that you use every ounce of that tube when you crank it. You don't really get to do that with big amps unless you are playing a massive venue.
Felix Blacksher i will try that, thanks for the tip bro!
Thanks for the tip. The overdrive channel on mine kinda turns me off but the clean with gain is nice! I was wondering if I was the only one.
If it ran on batteries too it would be worth having if the gritty distorted range of sounds is to your liking, personally ime happy with my BOSS Katana 100 at 2.5 watts for this sort of use:)
Ok, thanks for the GAS for a 1w now.
Sounds like a great little amp but on these small amps I just don't think they should use the term clean in describing them or the channels. They just don't have enough head room. Turn the gain down & the Vol up you sometimes get some clean just not at any appreciable level. I have an ac4 & that can't do much in the way of clean either. Still fun amps.
+greatvanzinni I agree. I did not hear a clean sound.
I watched a lot of videos, including yours... Of course... But, for subscribing on your channel, this honest video is enough:
Blackstar is great amp, specially if you count what you get for the money.
Thanks Man, on this honest view on amps.
I really, really want to hear what you think about Zoom processors (G3 and similar). Boss have been forced by a lot of users, but from my point, Zoom is great to stand a side the Boss. I rather say: it's more on how you're capable to set your effects, and know your guitar. Zoom or Boss won't help you on that, if you don't know how to use it.
This is a good amp, but I'd prefer the micro terror.
I noticed that Allparts does have the knobs. Theirs have screws. Are the screws necessary? I am looking to get the white or off white chicken knobs for my vox pathfinder 10. Will the ones at Allparts work for my Vox and if so, are the screws needed? I didnot notice screws on the chicken knobs currently on the Vox Pathfinder.
Kindly advise as the off-white or white knobs are more visually friendly more so than to brown ones. Thanks
PV piranha with a tung sol tube🥳🎸🕊
I'm considering this, thanks for the review! How the emulated out sounds like in headphones for silence practice?
I use mine exactly the same way. I also think it is a better amp than the JCM-1H
I need a 1 watt blackstar so I can crank it in my room and have an amazing sound