Blackstar HT-20 playthrough

Playthrough video of the Blackstar HT-20 head using ESP Horizon NT-II for clean/crunch and the Schecter ATX C-7 for high gain. Hooked up to a Harley Benton 2x12 with V30s' miced with a single Shure SM57

[@JanneKuronen]

Really tasty playing, I love all the tones out of those things.

[@JoelK]

Just bought the combo. Thanks for the sounds.

[@thesojourner7722]

I got the combo and the first thing you do is upgrade the speaker and the tubes. I got a V30 and JJ's and it's no joke 1st class tone. The new speaker gave it easily 10% more volume as it's so efficient and the JJ's just complete the tone and depth. Then I run it with my vertical 212 with a V30 and G12h75 (effectively 3x12) and it's freaking unreal tone I swear. Sooooo happy now.

[@leo.nordmann]

I'm thinking of doing that aswell. Buying the combo 20 watt mkii version and putting it ontop of a 2x12. What cab would you recommend for that? Vertical or horizontal? I think having a vertical and putting it on top of that would look funny like a really skinny full stack lol.

[@tjborekvideo]

Would love to hear that!

[@eduardoprieto5267]

Definitely want one thanks

[@DamLee88]

paul gilbert style dude! great video

[@perse_arg]

Great demo, man! Do you think this Blackstar can be used in a medium scenario? Maybe a bar or something bigger. Thank you!

[@RCNobles]

Killer of Giants

[@weezerman2002]

RC Nobles people are finally starting to realize high wattage tube amps are counter productive. Tubes when pushed sound better. Lowering the output wattage causes you to push the tubes which ultimately sounds better. 100w tube amps are way too much.

[@c00lkatz]

Nice playing but you do realize the 3-band EQ and ISF only apply to the overdrive channel right? The clean channel only has the single tone and volume knobs...

[@c00lkatz]

+Oliver Lukacs Lol don't worry about it. A lot of people make that mistake, myself included. I was quite disappointed when I read the manual myself after buying it. You would think the EQ and ISF would have been pretty important features to have on BOTH channels! My first one I returned, but have been getting the itch for another one after trying several others. Just found a used combo for $350, so I snatched it up! Great sounding amp.

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

You would think so but clearly they people at Blackstar didn't. But to be honest I very rarely use the clean channel for anything. I play mostly metal so I'm always on the overdrive/lead channel and don't give a toss about clean channels. Clean channel is for pussies anyway lol

[@napalmhardcore]

I was wondering that myself. I thought maybe there was an HT-20 MKii or something where they'd made the ISF work with the clean channel (like they should have done).

[@Cookies2132]

Clean is for pussies? Try telling that to the Rolling Stones, Chili Peppers and Dire Straits and The Police, and some of the most successful musicians in the world who pissed all over metal with clean. Metal rarely ever makes it in the industry.

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

It's called humour.

[@JustAdude291]

I'm really debating on going Blackstar, I really like them but certain things turn me off, for the reason I don't think they're worth the cost, they should be cheaper. These sound kinda too scooped sometimes though. I do love the overdrive channel though, could use a boost/more gain so I'd prob get a decent OD or dst pedal to boost it. Found one of these for 250 plus 50 dollar shipping, seems like a decent deal, esp cause these things are expensive i wouldn't pay more than that for one. I'm debating on blackstar, Randall RG1503/RG1003H (they sound MEAN) or a Peavey XXX if i can find one in my price range. Also keeping my eye open for a crate GX130C found one I was gonna buy but next day it was sold -_- im really curious about those old crate heads-gx900h, gx130c, gx220h, really wanna play one. I like bright, tight, high gain shit though for black metal, I need those screaming dissonant chords with plenty of gain and I like how blackstar delivers that. I really want a 5150 or 6505 but I hear peavey's suck and catch on fire, even though I read nothing but good reviews about them. Anyway sorry for the ramble I'm just a bit on the fence on what I wanna get. Blackstar seems like a hit or miss/mixed reviews, they're very expensive and just barely deliver (in my opinion). I have a spider II 150w half stack with 4x12 and it gets the job done and can satisfy the thirst (they're really not as bad as people say) but I need something more with more BITE. Cool vid man, thanks

[@BrunoNicastroGuitar]

Your overdrive doesn't has noise?

[@baumansound]

How come there is no noise in the high gain? I have an HT40 recently purchased and the Hiss is very loud comparing to your non existent hiss. I am taking him to a shop today to see what's up =/

[@madmod]

Check your guitar as well. It may need a ground or require shielding.

[@Skankhunt-mt5dy]

if i patch it with a 300 watt cab is it loud enough for gigs?

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

Should be, yes.

[@mattgilbert7347]

I've heard that these have some major design flaws. Apparently the valves are directly onto the pcb? Idk much about amp tech stuff.

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

No idea to be honest. I don't have this amp anymore so can't tell but sound-wise it was good enough.

[@snehasissit1348]

can you tell me the setup?

[@bennetjehager6931]

Nice! Wich pedals do you use?

[@bennetjehager6931]

and wich overdrive pedal for metal would you recommend with for this head?

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

If you mean the green one sitting on top of the amp, that's a Maxon 808

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

It almost doesn't matter. I have a vid comparing 9 overdrive pedals from cheap to expensive and people complain in the comments that they all sound the same lol

[@aryinc]

@@OliverLukacs-XXL then people have "shot" ears. i hear the diffrence within each diffrent pedal. keeping on doing the great work and shreds \m/.

[@TeslaliveUS23-]

what is the name of the song you play in 5:37 ??

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

Symphony X - Set the world on fire

[@gizemkayhan9245]

maxon starts at 6:10 ?

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

Yes

[@MichelleTaylor1]

Why mess around with the ISF and EQ on the clean channel? Its not active there. Surely you must have heard that when doing the demo? (I dont mean to be rude or insulting when I say that, its simply a question). Its just that it makes it confusing for those that dont know the brand or model so well. Ps. Nice playing 👍🏻

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

Because I'm a dick and didn't know this at the time! I did find it a bit strange but thought I was going deaf. I only had this amp for a couple of days so didn't get much chance to play with it.

[@MichelleTaylor1]

Oliver Lukacs 😀 Well I wouldn't have gone that far 😉 Nice demo otherwise 😊👍🏻💁🏼

[@bordonbert]

This will be a great review for a sector of the guitar public and it does show some of the superb capabilities of the amp but it has not answered any questions for me and, I dare say, many others like me Oliver. It has the same limitation that 95% of all amp reviews have, it's one minute of super clean twiddling and "jazz chord" arpeggios to show the guitarist has "taste" and then H-I-G-H G-A-I-N to M-E-T-A-L! Can this amp do crunchy late '60s Blues tones? Can it do singing creamy '70s classic rock? Guess we'll never know. Is it a review of the amp and its breadth of capabilities or the guitarist in his own field?

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

Albert Burton I get what you’re saying and the answer is quite simple: I’m a metal guitarist and simply suck at blues, jazz, rock and everything else so I just stick to what I can play.

[@hullan666]

I hear yngwie - the only one

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

And you are perfectly right! Magnum Opus is way underrated. I used to know every song from that album and when I'm noodling around without a plan like in this video then a theme from that album comes up very often. Shame I don't remember how to play them anymore :)

[@thegodslayer8545]

What's the green pedal ?

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

Maxon OD808

[@thegodslayer8545]

@@OliverLukacs-XXL are you using it or no ?

[@OliverLukacs-XXL]

@@thegodslayer8545 You can see me switching it on at 6:10

[@thegodslayer8545]

@@OliverLukacs-XXL I see now. You didnt list it in the signal chain so I didnt realize you used it.

[@paulkielt9301]

When I saw its price, I was blown away! I'll never spend that much money for that shit!

[@pimtool9351]

Thumbs up for the amp tone thumbs down for the playing