7 Awesome Facts You (Probably) Didn't Know About Blackstar Amps! What's The Deal With Blackstar?

[@togelz]

Blackstar is like a Casio of the amps,... lots of player seems to hate it but they deliver far superior products than you might think and they also offer a great value for players with limited budget

[@ruination775]

Our Guitar player has a HT stage 60 2x12. Amazing Tones.

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

Yup....great bang for the buck. Value is where it's at.

[@BennieTarrMusic]

They also suck.

[@mrseaweed88]

They also give both the tones of a fender and a marshall combined

[@NotAnotherSatchFan]

I bought Blackstar HT20 MKII on sale out of curiosity and just few months I find myself using the amp more than my 5150s and wanting more! Recently I upgraded it into HT50 MKII head... what a beast! Also bought the Neon Pink Fly3 and now itching on grabbing Blackstar combo amp... debating between HT40 vs HT60 :)

[@MusashiOf5Rings]

I'm just starting learning guitar and this whole channel gets me excited to keep learning and keep playing. If you had a store in the Southwestern US, I'd have to go in and buy some strings or something.

[@DeadHeadmusic69]

I'm using stereo rig, MARSHALL DSL40C with a BLACKSTAR ID260 STEREO, both thru separate 1960a cabs, Wet dry set up. Sounds massive, having the valve amp and the solid state, works really will together. They make killer amps.🤙

[@Jacksonkellyfreak]

I walked into a small guitar shop about 50 miles from home and was trying out a Jackson that someone had told me about. The shop was very new and the only thing they had set up for a demo was a Blackstar id10. I was blown away by how good that tiny thing sounded, and I immediately started hunting a head version. I've had my TVP100 since and I'll probably never play another amp.

[@nickburmanmusic]

Didn't know the Bowie reference. Fascinating! I also happen to be a huge Bowie fan, and Dagan, you're right - phenomenal album. Probably his best.

[@Mr-Safology]

Blackstar does rule! All my amps are blackstar (oh and 1 fender champion). Have the fly, beam, HT, and now id core v3 on its way. Did have an issue in terms of using headphones on my id core v3 but getting a replacement tomorrow. There is something about Blackstar I enjoy. Group of engineers at Marshall couldn't create the amps they have designed. So they built their own company. Great story. Amazing products.

[@Sub-Level28]

My Blackstar ID-Core 10 V2 is my first amp. It makes me smile. :-) Love it!

[@MrGlasstech]

That was mine too - the original version. What til you try or get a blackstar tube amp.

[@nickburmanmusic]

That's what it's all about. Making you smile :) You should have heard my first amp. It didn't make me smile much, I'll tell you that much! But ID-Cores are fantastic.

[@tankdarla637]

I wish I never got rid of my Id core 10. The new ones can run on batteries that is dope

[@qtheband751]

I love the spatial reverb like you have amps in the corners of your room. Amazing tech.

[@markpowers7823]

Bought an HT 20 mk2 about a year ago. I love it. It does everything I need. Would buy another.

[@michaeld2716]

Ironically, after watching you for years, I realize, that I too have gravitated to SGs, and have only used BlackStar. Just a home user, but found that coincidental.

[@mdenison2567]

so far had an ht-5 mini stack, a TVP 2 12 combo and now have the HT club 40. loved every one.

[@Nononsensetypeofguy]

My first amp was a little blackstar. I’d say it’s pretty good overall. Does pretty much everything you need in an amp. Can even get pretty creative with it.

[@nickburmanmusic]

Easily the best amps I've ever played. My HT20 does everything I can think of and more. Jazz, rock, blues and probably metal if I had to. It can't make espressos, but otherwise, for a guitar amp, it's amazing.

[@TheSwanepoelmj]

Also loving my ht2o mk1 head through a 2x12. Seriously one of the best sounding amps I've owned

[@mattgilbert7347]

I also like my HT20 MK1 head. Only cost me $400AUS new :) Into a 112 V-Type loaded cab works well. Keen to try a 2x12.

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

I've just discovered Blackstar, have a 100w Series One coming as we speak. I'm sure it will rock.

[@nickburmanmusic]

@@Bridging_the_Political_Divide Congrats! And yes. It will :)

[@howabouthetruth2157]

You haven't been playing long at all.......have you. Go ask ANY reputable amp tech about these amps. They refuse to work on them. Tubes mounted directly to PC boards means THEY WILL SUFFER FROM CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE. The tubes WILL cook the hell out of the PC board. Tubes are supposed to be mounted into proper tube sockets THEN mounted to the board to INSULATE THE BOARD FROM THE EXTREME HEAT FROM THE TUBES. Pure garbage.

[@julian_b]

I’ve been using the BlackStar 50W combo, and I’m really impressed with the sound quality-it’s got plenty of punch and clarity. After spending years lugging around heavy tube amps, this lightweight combo is a game-changer. It’s powerful enough for gigs, yet portable enough to carry effortlessly. Best of both worlds!

[@castleanthrax1833]

Got a HT1RH and a 212 cab delivered yesterday. Was a bit concerned about the head only being 1 watt but the price was so good I had to buy it. I can't possibly imagine how loud the 100 watt is because this little amp is seriously powerful and the overdrive sounds so good Ive got pedals I don't need any more.

[@Dressagevids]

I have 2 they're amazing as practice amps (loud) and the ones I have the reverb is seriously good.....enjoy

[@castleanthrax1833]

@Peter M Since then I bought the ht5rh and gave the 1 watter to my brother. They're both great amps.

[@jwlycra]

HT60 MKII 2x12 is a beast. The 6W mode is incredible for most small gigs. Good cleans and everything inbetween for mild OD to screeching distortion. Great amp for half the price of the big named others.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Until this piece of sh*t fails and it WILL fail due to tubes being mounted directly the the PC board. THAT IS INSANE. And very poor construction technique too. EVERY amp tech in the states REFUSE to work on these amps. Don't believe it? TRY IT. These cheap garbage amps should be avoided at all cost by real working musicians because the more they are played, the sooner they WILL fail. Do your homework man.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

See my other response. The reason you never.......EVER.......mount tubes directly to PC boards is because the tubes are transferring extreme heat DIRECTLY onto that cheap, cheesy PC board and it cooks it. The amp is then worthless. Tubes are SUPPOSE TO be mounted into proper tube sockets. This insulates the board and circuitry from the extreme heat. Blackstar is a company out of the UK. .........GOOD LUCK if ya live in the states and you need redemption from that company in any way. "So sorry"......end of the line. Buy a REAL amp to start with. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

[@forrest.0569]

I can just watch dagan play guitar for hours and not get up from my seat

[@francistaylor1822]

I cant comment on hours but I definitely can watch for 11:01

[@christiangelin8361]

I get a Blackstar S1-45 for 10 years and I love it. It is very versatile, it can be used in many styles (for me heavy blues, southern rock, hard rock and classic heavy metal), and it delivers a wide range of sounds, with ISF, 4 channels and a good eq section. And the power reduction is great at home. The greatest is the 2×12 speakers. Just a headphones output is missing and I'd like a separate clean/crunch eq and a separate crunch/super crunch gain. But it's really a killer amp. It does a lot and does it well.

[@jumpsteady1777]

Owner of 2 ht club 40 mk2 amps. One regular with el34 tubes and Kentucky special edition with 6l6 tubes and screaming eagle speaker. Also blackstar tvp 260 2x12. I keep a boss katana 50w for portability but the blackstar amps are my serious ones. I was absolutely shocked how different the Kentucky special and the standard el34 club ht40 sound. I had no idea a speaker type and tubes would mold such a 100% different sound. Frankly could name them different things. Their only similarity is their styling. The tones are not even in the same ballpark as one another. Both good but interesting how different. The ID core amps are solid but imo nothing special and fall into just being another preference among entry level amps. That tvp feature really brings it to life on another level. But the other blackstar tube amps have sweet tones too. Wish I could hear the 6l6 special edition ht40 in baby blue.

[@anonanon5791]

Dagan clearly can play, but he really has a knack for these videos. Great energy and info.🤘

[@RjBenjamin353]

Black Star Amps are truly amazing Amps. I’ve got the Acoustic mini stereo amps and they are truly a state of the art piece of engineering

[@markkinney5030]

I have the blackstar HT Stage 100 mk2 I have had this for about 3 years now! For far its been a good amp.

[@azza0575]

My HT METAL 100 with matching 4×12 cab is a beast. I absolutely love it. And my HT 5 through the 4×12 kicks arse also.

[@robertmeyer8735]

My 100 watt TVP has outperformed all of the amps I have ever owned!! And it acts like many of the processors I have owned, 120 presets in a head unit, and I can dial in my own, and store them. No valves/ tubes, but I went to solid state years ago anyway, and I now have a "Bomb-proof" live setup. I practice, record, perform with nothing but Blackstar

[@davekochanski8756]

Hey man , I got the new id core 20 v3 last week , so early days , but it sounds great , need to mess around with all the other stuff it does , but seems to have everything I need !!

[@tankdarla637]

Can the ID core 20 run on batteries?

[@davekochanski8756]

@@tankdarla637 no , I actually looked the other day as wanted to take it downstairs and use it ( bedroom guitarist) !! Now I've had it a while for me it does everything I need plus it's plenty loud enough !! ✌🎸

[@stevejohnson2284]

Dagan you are a blast to watch. Great riffage, and info on products. Totally fun to watch. Thanks

[@CedricSatterfield]

Unfortunately he’s probably more well known for these than he is for the band he’s in, but I’ve seen clips of that and it’s an epic 80s hair cover band. A triple bill with them, Iron Maidens, and Steel Panther world blue my American mind.

[@comment.highlighted]

I’ve been blessed to have own many high end tube amps throughout the years. I think Blackstar amps are Fantastic for the money. I picked up the Ht-1r Mkii because it’s a great little Valve practice amp.

[@adge74]

I have the mk2, I find it very dark over on the British side through the speaker. But put your headphones in with emulated output it has and it sounds incredible. Not sure if the mk1 is the same.

[@TWTexasA1]

Blackstar amps are awesome….the sound is incredible, now I’m definitely a tube man ..I don’t do solid state amps , but I don’t play music that solid state amps are ok for . So I’ll stick with the tube models…👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@davengeance4811]

Great vid yet again brudda. Which is their best valve 30 watt range amp?

[@RicketyOldBones]

Never understood the hate for Blackstar. They make excellent amps for a great price, and the ht dual pedal is an absolute striker! I love my blackstar stuff...

[@darthslater6077]

THE REASON PEOPLE HATE THEM HERE IN THE USA IS BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT GET THEM SERVICED AND YOU CAN NOT GET A SCHEMATIC UNLESS YOU ARE A BLACKSTAR OUTLET...AND THERE IS DESIGN ISSUES FOR OVER HEATING IN MANY OF THEM THE GUITOLOGIST WILL GIVE YOU MANY REASONS WHY NOT TO GET ONE, BUT BUT..I REALLY LOVE THE NEW ST. JAMES LINE.

[@samborac46]

Own a S1 combo, the 45W version. Love it.

[@paulcrosby7419]

My HT40 MK2 is so good that I hope they will make a third or fourth gen version in 100 watts, because I will pay full price for both the head and cabinet.

[@TVoltG]

would love to have this guitar as well!!

[@robertstephanek7063]

Didn't mean to hit "dislike"... I was cleaning my screen! Great video!

[@DaveBarlowGuitar]

What guitar is that dude?

[@raymon8044]

Looks like an SG, he has modified it to have one P90. Not sure what type of SG it started as, as Dagan has a bunch of SG's

[@DaveBarlowGuitar]

@@raymon8044 looks Phil X ish

[@raymon8044]

@@DaveBarlowGuitar In a way Dagan kinda reminds me of Phil X in those Fretted Americana videos, the way he talks about the gear. The stuff Dagan shows is actual real world stuff that is still being made instead of old guitars that a normal bloke can't justify spending that kind of money on. I don't think Dagan intended to copy Phil X with the single P90 SG, his is more classy with the pickguard covering the neck pickup cavity instead of Phil putting some kind of action figure in there. But I think the 'ripped everything out' look is a bit of a tip of the hat to my fellow dutchman Eddie van Halen.

[@TheK20sedan]

Does the jjn amp do metal? I really love the green color

[@DaganWilkin]

Hell yeah it does! Voice 2 on the overdrive channel can get super tight and gainy! 👌

[@iliana_b]

Blackstar amps are awesome!

[@george.kollaros]

If they were drinking beer and shots in the pub, it would've been named "Blackout" amps...

[@novak8851]

"Blackstar was conceived in a pub" Well I've got something in common with Blackstar lol

[@peterschmidt9942]

Great sounding amps and great idea's on tech. Just wish they were more reliable. The whole reason I looked at going solid state was for reliability. Only got about 3 years before problems started arising.

[@chrishyde1216]

That SG just hanging there with no neck dive. How did that happen? Hmm, one pick-up at the bridge and that metal thingy at the bridge end helping the balance?

[@DaganWilkin]

A good leather and suede strap! 👌

[@Dreyno]

My SG doesn’t neck dive. Suede strap with the suede side in is the secret.

[@arkada]

I've always wondered, what is the target guitarrist of blackstar? is the metalhead? 80s glammer? Modern rocker?

[@nickburmanmusic]

Yes. And the jazz heads, blues guys and country twangers. I think they're amazingly versatile.

[@whiskeyhangover1438]

The one with cash

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

The perception out there is very much targeted at metal players. If Blackstar wants to expand its appeal to country, jazz, pop, they need models that look more consistent with those genres. Blackstar amp appearance definitely screams hard rock and metal.

[@caileanhunt8679]

Slightly overpriced but they do make great gear. The gain from the ht amps and pedals is fantastic. I have a 30watt tvp model and it honestly is as loud as real valves. The tvp is a game changer for gigable amplifiers.

[@gangrenebob7281]

Is there any other blackstar amps that have the identical voicings as OD1 on the Stage mkii? Loved the stage but its too big. The Club mkii doesn't use (stage mkii) OD1 voicings but uses (stage mkii) OD2 voicings which is ok, but not as good as OD1 on the stage mkii IMO.

[@notsure1135]

They’re okay, I wanted a presence control… I miss my Hughes and Kettner Grandmeister 40 tbh…

[@sterlingmcvay2469]

Okay, a Request and Challenge for you. I have a NU-X CERBERUS Multi-Effects Pedal. I really Like it. I currently have a BLACKSTAR STUDIO 10 KT88, and I Love it. Really Great Tone. I'm putting together my Pedalboard, which will quite a few Tasty Pedals for D. Gilmour and Jimi Tones, etc.: Ernie Ball O.D. Expression, Jackson Audio FUZZ, Boss DD-20, Ernie Ball Ambient Delay Expression, Next up is going to be Fulltone Deja Vibe mvp ii, after that probably the Keeley DARK SIDE..., I'm going to end with at least 2 Amps, possibly 3, but I'm Looking for an Amp that Works VERY WELL with the NUX CERBERUS, which go to it's own Amp or perhaps a Powered Cab, but I'm Feeling like Sticking with BLACKSTAR. Could you do a Video on Pairing the Cerberus with an Amp, one that has Variable Output Levels for Bedroom/Apartment Living Situation...?

[@TempoDrift1480]

I can assure you also that when they break down, you're not fixing them and nether is your neighbor.

[@ikeene78]

What the switch do on that SG?

[@DaganWilkin]

I just didn’t want to take it off, it looked weird.

[@kiddyolead]

I currently own 2 black stars the HT 20 and an ID core 100. Ive had marshalls, fenders, peaveys but blackstar just working better for me i love them

[@freespeech-advocate]

Ive been confused about which amp to get between the ht20 and the Dsl20 theres a lot of conflicting opinions about these two amps. Which one would you recommend for putting pedals into, i play mostly rock and blues?

[@kiddyolead]

@Edward Crowe i play my ht20 at church and for heavy projects ive a played on a dsl but do not own one so i cant speak for them

[@enriquevenegassouper3445]

Blackstar are awsome!!!! a had an ht100 metal head and it sounds incredible!!! hi metal sound and a half $ of 5150, and a $ 1/4 of mesa compress sound!!! best deal of amps, besides a leaney lc30!!! that sounds insane with an o/d on front!!!!

[@PMTVUK]

🤘 🤘

[@oger5150]

So wait one dad gum second. I just ordered a HT20R Mk II 20W 1x12 head and cabinet and now I am told about elves? Sweetwater didn't say crap about taking care of elves. Are they the tree living cookie making Keebler Elves? Lmao. Anyway cant wait for my new amp.

[@PMTVUK]

😂😂👌

[@kebotrans]

I really wanted a Silverline. Why in the world they did not put an effects loop in I just cannot understand 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@TheBluesine]

Hi, is the HT20 mk2 loud powerful enough to gig with in a 4 piece band playin in small pubs doing covers? Would there be enough headroom? thks

[@louaguado995]

How did Bugera get away with an exact copy of a Blackstar ht20? Even down to the ISF, but they renamed it to a "morph" knob on their g20 model. 😒

[@mattdoliver1984]

I agree the best ideas come from a pub, although half are regretted come Morning 😂😂

[@maryemilygeiles262]

Finally your red sg cherry with one pickup.

[@jayteesgear]

This is So Cool!

[@nikolauseder]

Like Blackstar Amps really 🎸🤩👍🙏

[@bclmax]

ive got the 3 w fly for travel..very happy with it

[@PrayWithUsNow]

This hippie is rocking!

[@Mwhbmnabjms]

I wish blackstar are available in my country, with the price and shipping it 20w head cost me same price with jcm800 studio☹️

[@nikki78225]

Was it named after Yngwie

[@ralphpezda6523]

All I need to know is they sound good and they are no bad sounds in them.

[@Ripprock1]

Sold by Dagan and Bowie. Thanks.

[@adriancummings3625]

Dagan I got my epiphone SG special VE in cherry from pmt Manchester and i love it Black star rule

[@neilreynard]

A lot of the top metal guys say Blackstar amps have something missing from their metal tone. If it wasn't for this, I would buy one!

[@Rich6Brew]

Why don't YOU play through one and decide, rather than rely on others to make the decision for you?

[@neilreynard]

@@Rich6Brew yeah man! But no music shops round here!

[@neilreynard]

I could find one though, lol.

[@ravenousdragon9222]

Blackstar Amps are like the Telecasters of amps, unappreciated workhorses

[@iduncanw]

Fact #8, I love my TVP260.

[@albertdimeo2779]

Me too, I put a sonic stomp thru the fx loop and bang zoom

[@cyclesgoff9768]

IMHO the Bowie thing is true. The brand was far too distinctive for him to miss.

[@tankdarla637]

Never understood the hate for blackstar. I had an id core 10 and it was awesome for what it was. Also I have never tried a blackstar that sucked. Same goes for Yamaha..

[@pcpersonalcensorship3105]

For instance, if you own a Blackstar HT1 ( as i do ) try getting a schematic. They do not supply a schematic nor will they give you one. Try getting it repaired with all the IC's with no wiring diagram. Awesome Blackstar. That's one reason people hate on Blackstar to answer your question.

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@pcpersonalcensorship3105 So when it breaks down you...have to sell it for parts or chuck it out?

[@wearethebored]

Is anybody else a bit distracted watching the guitar head swing dangerously close to the amp heads?

[@teacher5376]

Blackstar's , brands, i see, now,all the new, elderly models, of products, need to do a recap 's ,by me ....( need to spend on all the best , on head 's , speakers 4x 12 ...bass .mixed! Acoustic!!!

[@1redgate8]

I like my HT5R Mkii and what it does...that's all that matters.

[@sjoerdmooi4205]

how is 2021-2004=14 years, thats not how math works

[@aayushkhare656]

Exactly I was thinking the same thing

[@jazzspecialist99]

sold first products in 2017

[@PMTVUK]

The idea for the company came about in 2004, but it wasn't released onto the world until 2007 at Musikmesse! All explained in Fact 3. 🤘

[@sjoerdmooi4205]

Ahh hadn’t noticed yet The more you know :D

[@tommilitello198]

I was gonna say something but you got it,I guess people don’t pay attention,or jump to conclusions,which explains the mess were in lol

[@officialmetalwill]

1:59 there is no controversy. David Bowie himself said the album's name was a reference to his cancer diagnosis. It has absolutely nothing to do with these shitty amps.

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

I didn’t know British folk enjoyed “frosty” beers 🍺? Frothy, maybe...

[@Dreyno]

Traditional ale is served from a beer cellar which should be cool. Not warm. Lager is served cold. Draught through a cooler or from a refrigerator.

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

@@Dreyno while I’m certain you know more about this than me, I will say that I actually prefer beer at “cellar” temperature… I never meant to imply that those in yhe UK like WARM beer, but here in the US a lot of people prefer their beer ICE cold, much colder than a beer cellar. And I can’t imagine an ice cold Bitter ( 😝 ). I haven’t been in several decades, but when I visited there wasn’t any place that served icy beer (and that’s good!). Cold, yes. But never ice cold. Perhaps things have changed since then…?

[@Dreyno]

@@QuikdethDeviantart I’m actually in Ireland but it wouldn’t be much different for lager. You won’t get it out of a chest freezer of ice, so no, it won’t be frosty cold usually. How cold it comes out of the refrigerator depends on how long it’s been in there and the draught lager depends on the way the cooler is set and where it’s located. It can be variable. Nothing wrong with a frosty beer after a hard day’s work though. One of life’s great pleasures.

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

@@Dreyno Hey I’ll take a beer either way and I’m happy 😊👍🏼

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

And who knew I’d be discussing beer temp on a guitar thread 🤦🏼‍♂️😂

[@JHil35]

Blackstar 🤘🏻❤️🤘🏻

[@waynebridger4998]

Marshall dropped the ball when they turned away the ideas of the guy that eventually set up blackstar

[@waynebridger4998]

@Biggerino maybe so

[@AimingWanderously]

People who love to hate them summed up in 3 types: 1) the person who hates them is 73 yrs old and has played old school tube amps for decades and these new amps, well, how dare they combine tubes and modern bits and still call themselves tube amps? Nonsense and get off my lawn!!; and 2) They don't have one so they're automatically not as cool as what they currently have; and 3) They're designed by former Marshall engineers, so they just copied Marshall, so "jUsT GEt a MarShaLL".

[@chrisgiebler6779]

If you want a fender sound by one if you want marshall buy marshall I've played them ammo in the last 50 years now I gig with the ht 40 and have a ht 20 in the bedroom I'm a happy camper

[@jerrywestaway9316]

DAGAN VALVE POWER :-)

[@dougtaylor7724]

This is only place I’ve seen that likes Blackstar. Nobody wants to work on one and the resale is just bad. Why?

[@colinandjane]

Apparently design faults causing overheating and lack of any schematics for techs to work with.

[@pcpersonalcensorship3105]

I own a Blackstar HT1 . They do not supply a schematic nor will they give you one. Try getting it repaired with all the IC's with no wiring diagram. Awesome Blackstar. That's one reason people hate on Blackstar.

[@deltawhiskey1398]

@Reece That is the biggest load of crap I've read today.

[@Timbo6669]

Putting tubes[valves] near their IC's is not awesome at all.

[@pcpersonalcensorship3105]

Even more so when Black star will NOT provide schematics for their products (HT1 ) for example. So good luck with any repairs you may need in the future, no tech will want to touch them.

[@Timbo6669]

@@pcpersonalcensorship3105 That's pretty common i hear.. Roland/Boss won't give out schematics for their katana or nextone amps either....yet. Its so the technology won't be stolen.

[@anthonymiller2375]

I’m a BlackStar 👨🏻‍🎤 ★

[@blakjack3053]

Yingwei Malmsteen came up with the name first. He has a song called "blackstar" he did some 30 years ago.

[@teacher5376]

15 year's soon.i see.

[@Rich6Brew]

You lost me at 'haitch'.

[@SheepDog1513]

I miss my HT50! But I do love my Marshall DSL40CST loaded with a Creamback speaker!

[@SheepDog1513]

I think it was actually a 40watt...

[@Icisex]

European ton in mid 🤫

[@TempoDrift1480]

I hardly believe David Bowie named his album after an amplifier. That would be like naming your child KY Jelly.

[@garyyarago2096]

How much are Blackstar paying for such near religious enthusiasm.I would think in these circumstances , Bowie's use of the word has as much to do with his impending demise, going over to the dark side and the concept of a negative universe "dark star" and black holes as some amp,what an insulting and ridiculous attempt to use his name. I would not use one if you gave it to me.Ask any amp tech how wonderful they are. The big new idea behind Blackstar is putting a solid state overdrive in the amp instead of at your feet and fooling players into thinking they are getting tube gain saturation like real tube amps, and techs say they are hell to work on, practically disposable.If you want a hybrid amp, get a used Music Man while you still can, never let you down.

[@wjimz]

1400's LOL! 😂

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Just wait until the amp needs a repair, and ALL amps need repaired sooner or later. NOBODY will touch these amps to work on them. Tubes mounted directly to PC boards. I guess so the heat can cook the living hell out of the circuit board so you would be much better off tossing it in the garbage and buying an all new amp. The most insane circuitry is found in these amps and amps like them. IMPOSSIBLE to find an amp tech here in the states to work on them. ( Next to impossible to get your hands on a PROPER schematic as well. ) TRY IT. I DARE YOU. AVOID THESE AMPS AT ALL COST. Especially if you are a working musician who is playing/gigging all the time. Because the more they are played, the sooner they fail.......and then it's all done but the crying.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@94SexyStang You're a straight up liar. While ALL tube amps need work or servicing sooner or later, NOTHING is as horrible as these Blackstar amps, just ask any amp tech. You're also lying like hell about "not being able to get the proper schematics for Marshall JCM's". If that were true, then NO amp techs would be working on them when needed. AMP TECHS EVERYWHERE WORK ON JCM'S. Furthermore, I owned & gigged with a 50w JCM 2x12 combo for years, and my amp tech never once bitched, complained, or had any problems about servicing or repairing it. ALSO: DON'T BE SUCH A TWERP BY PRETENDING "ALL CIRCUIT BOARDS ARE THE SAME" WHEN ANYONE WITH ANY COMMON SENSE KNOWS DAMN WELL THAT'S NOT TRUE. THAT'S LIKE CLAIMING "ALL TUBES ARE THE SAME". THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT CIRCUIT BOARDS MADE OF DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT MATERIALS FROM ONE ANOTHER, FROM HIGH, MEDIUM, TO POOR QUALITY, AND LITERALLY COUNTLESS WAYS OF WIRING THEM, WITH BLACKSTAR BEING AMONG THE WORST OF THEM ALL. LASTLY: ALL AMP TECHS KNOW & HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK ON A MARSHALL JCM, YET NONE OF THEM WORK ON BLACKSTAR'S, AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO SHOW US A SINGLE AMP TECH HERE IN THE STATES WHO NOT ONLY DOES WORK ON THEM, BUT "RECOMMENDS" THESE GARBAGE AMPS..........BECAUSE YOU CAN'T. Now get lost.

[@MyHumanWreckage]

Apparently Blackstar got its name because the founders were “Blackstarred” by the union.

[@sharatchandr6945]

Rubbish sound or say playing