Blackstar HT5R Review Demo - Best Little Tube Amp?

[@GearGasms]

Do you like gear reviews and demos? Of course you do! Check out the full playlist here! kzbin.info/aero/PLJ7bQFZhdVlM7HBhb45mPk_mPBJMD9ZJR

[@leftymadrid]

I have the HT5R MK11 and sounds fabulous!!! Takes pedals REALLY well, and also used FX-LOOP sens/return and THAT sounds real good with modulation effects...two voices per channel makes for a very versatile amp! I love this thing! Highly recommend it! Over all,

[@GearGasms]

Yes I heard the MK2 was improved in some key areas. Would love to have you subscribe if not already! 🤘🏻🎸

[@johnbarry731]

I have one of these and think it’s great. I also have the HT1r and that too is excellent

[@GearGasms]

Agreed!

[@sergioalvarez5949]

I own that amp, money well spent. I highly reccomend it.

[@GearGasms]

Yeah it’s a great little amp for the money!

[@NiekkieNick]

Is this amp okay for just home playing? Is it not to loud when using distortion?

[@GearGasms]

It’s perfect for home playing!

[@sergioalvarez5949]

@@NiekkieNick its LOUD

[@GearGasms]

This is a joke, right?

[@PooNinja]

In the immortal words of carcass twinkle twinkle Blackstar

[@Daniel-ls4hg]

Looks so good in red!

[@GearGasms]

Yeah it was pretty sweet to look at but I sold it

[@hamsterdogcat]

Great review, I think it's cool that you stand up and playing! Most sit and playing. Greetings from Sweden.

[@GearGasms]

Thanks! My grandmother came to America from Frisla! So I’m half Swede! Would love to have you subscribe if not already! 🎸🤘🏻

[@Smart-Alex]

I’ve tried three over a year, swapped speakers and tubes and ultimately sold them all. But, Alan, you made it sound great!

[@GearGasms]

Thanks! I don't love it but for the money it's great! I think since I have the Marshall I will likely sell this, since I wanted a small Marshall that didn't cost a small fortune when I got it. It was my first tube amp purchase after years of modeling amps! I was going to run the LP through it but the PRS hadn't seen any love on video lately.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

The New Marshall DSL 5CR is everything the little Blackstar is and perhaps more. It’s taken Marshall a long time to catch up with the HT but I think they’ve finally done it. The little Marshall really sings!

[@davidmerlin3344]

Oldguyjammin this has a 12 inch speaker and the Marshall has a 10. This is louder than the Marshall

[@GearGasms]

I thought it was pretty versatile myself. I sold it but it’s a cool amp. Thanks for watching and commenting- please subscribe if not already!

[@oldguysguitarvlog183]

Killer sounding little amp! Nice demo!! You are 100% right about the "British side" being modeled after the Marshall tone. And it sounds amazing. Sadly, the "American side" is supposed to sound somewhat Mesa/Boogie-ish, but it really doesn't. Really nice PRS!

[@GearGasms]

Thanks - I had some fun with the whole copyright thing! lol When is your next guitar build gonna go up? Can't wait to see how it's going.

[@oldguysguitarvlog183]

@@GearGasms LOL!! This next part is going to be a little while. I'm using Tru-Oil as a hard protective coating over the stain and it takes forever to dry. I have 4 layers on so far, which has taken about 10 days. Now I have to start sanding the top to smooth it out and do another 6 or so layers. I am running into a big of issues with the coating getting really course. Not sure why, but trying to research a solution. Once all the layers on, I have to wait another week or so to buff it out. You have to be careful with Tru-Oil as if you don't let it cure long enough, or get too zealous with the polishing, you can melt the oil and ruin the finish. Once I get this done, the process for finishing it up will be much faster.

[@GearGasms]

That clear coat part and painting in general have kept me away from wanting to build my own guitar. If I did a kit, I'd probably have it prefinished. I could handle the staining but none of the rest of it.

[@oldguysguitarvlog183]

@@GearGasms funny because the staining and finishing is what attracted me to the project. I used to paint wargaming miniatures but had to stop because of eye surgery so I needed an outlet to "paint". After I do the stained part, I have to use wood filler on the rest of the body and neck, then use Tung Oil to finish those parts. Only then can I install everything else.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Having had both and reviewing both, I’d say if you don’t have either one yet, grab the new little Marshall DSL 5CR - it’s glassy and amazing with some real Marshall balls to boot.

[@GearGasms]

Cool- if I get another small amp I’m likely to get a Vox as I have the Marshall sound covered ! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davidmerlin3344]

Oldguyjammin The Marshall is not as loud as the Blackstar and the Marshall only has a 10 inch speaker. Blackstar is more versatile

[@oldguyjammin9732]

David Merlin - you’re right about the loudness but I’m not sure about versatility. I’ve had both, they’re different for sure but the lead tone on the Marshall is just awesome and it takes pedals better than the Blackstar. And for some reason that 10” speaker works really well.

[@Dcat75thunder]

I have got one and it is great!

[@GearGasms]

Yeah it’s a whole lot of amp for the money. I sold it after I got the big Marshall but it’s a great little underrated amp! Would love to have you subscribe if not already! Thanks DCat!

[@waltermedic6437]

How big is the speaker that is in it?

[@GearGasms]

I don’t have this any more but either way google could have told you faster 🤓🤘🏻

[@uptownphotography]

Nice video and cool color Tolex on the amp...

[@GearGasms]

Thanks! It’s a cool little amp! Would love to have you subscribe if not already! 🤘🏻🎸

[@uptownphotography]

@@GearGasms Done....Phil NYC Area

[@GearGasms]

Welcome to the family!

[@bekker140]

If you have to change the valves, do you need to bias them?

[@GearGasms]

I don’t have this amp anymore so no clue. Sorry

[@matic1203cc]

Your upstairs studio is built exactly like mine!! Window and sloped ceilings. :)

[@GearGasms]

Cool - I started out putting rock poster flags on Velcro on the shade but now have the green screen covering it. I hope you found value in this video and will subscribe if not already! Thanks

[@paulyplatinum127]

Good demo. Do you have a Philly accent?

[@GearGasms]

lol- maybe? I live 3 hours south of there

[@paulyplatinum127]

oh cool. I like trying guess accents; I’m from Boston where we have a distinct accent

[@GearGasms]

@paulyplatinum127 for sure! Been there once a few years ago looking for an August cool down and hit a heat wave! The channel has gotten a lot better since this video so please check it out!

[@paulyplatinum127]

@@GearGasms definitely will do. Subscribed

[@davidlalremruata]

I like the way you set up your personal rehearsal space there👍 I'm comparing it to the DSL5w n it's really, really very hard to come to a decision. I would really like to know which of the two would demand less maintenance because tubes are darn expensive and pretty hard to come by from my side of the Indian Myanmar/India/Bangladesh border area. Any advice.

[@GearGasms]

DSL hands down! And I’m wearing a Stones shirt right this second. Lol

[@davidlalremruata]

How did you know I like the Stones?!!?😁

[@GearGasms]

I saw your deleted comment. Or - I am a mind reader! 😜🤘🏻🎸

[@khrystinasmith2531]

You got better i like the cords you do keep it up

[@GearGasms]

Thanks! Subscribers are always welcomed here!

[@MrFrampo56]

He’s not wearing cords.

[@_vixen_4504]

Is this amp supposed to have 50 Watts cause i got one a couple of months ago and i looked inside of it and it has a 50 watt speaker

[@GearGasms]

They usually size the speaker watt rating way above the wattage of the amp. Would love to have you subscribe if not already! Thanks Vixen!

[@KaneBraz]

It's 5 watts, speakers are always higher wattage than the amp can put out, if there was a 5 watt speaker in there as well it would either blow or be buzzy as hell trying to manage with the power

[@_vixen_4504]

@@KaneBraz Yea but i expected it to be pretty quiet so i put the amp on 9 when i turned it on the first time and my whole floor started to shake when i played a chord. It Really was loud as f**k

[@GearGasms]

Lol - yeah 5 watts can surprise you!

[@frankzappa951]

Sounds better in Black!

[@GearGasms]

Between your name and your comment I beseech you to subscribe! 🤓🤘🏻

[@Allguitarinfo]

Just bought the older ht5. No R ..and a 10" speaker.....got a great deal on it. ..I was looking at a studio 10 but man this 5 is plenty loud for a practice amp and I've even took it to jam with a drummer .triggered kit ..I was thinking of running a blues driver and then I'd have essentially 3 channels clean ,blues driver ,and gain channel. ANY THOUGHTS ANYONE ..I am also needing a reverb ,delay and chorus pedal .input appreciated ..

[@GearGasms]

Blues driver would work great! I have an MXR chorus demo if you’re interested!

[@ze-ce.cra_]

Would this be enough for studio band practice with acoustic drums? Also I need a great clean headroom

[@GearGasms]

I think it would be. The full volume is available for clean headroom on channel 1

[@ze-ce.cra_]

@@GearGasms mmm... okay I will look forward in to it.. thanks a lot

[@jacobbockover1628]

Im looking at combos right now cause im lazy. Would this lil amp work eith a drummer?

[@GearGasms]

Just barely. I think they have a 20w version. I’d go with that

[@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84]

Sounds great! I have a Boss Katana 50 like everyone else it seems haha. And I'm generally pretty happy with the range of tones I can get, but the software has really been bugging me lately and I'm wondering if it's worth keeping or flipping it for this amp. There's one for sale locally for $300 in mint condition. VERY tempting. Should I go for it? I play mostly with overdrive and distortion, so it seems like this amp would be a good choice for me.

[@GearGasms]

$300 - absolutely! That’s a great deal!

[@kernalkarma4752]

Great Great demo cheers ...

[@GearGasms]

Kernal Karma thanks brother! Would love to have you subscribe if not already! 🤘🏻🎸😜

[@jongordon6461]

Very good review, nicely presented. Entertaining too. Wish you'd shown a little more low gain Americana but that's just my personal choice and does not detract from a great review. I wonder what it's like for low gain blues and clean warm jazz? Hmmm.

[@GearGasms]

Thanks for the compliment! I’m still awful but less so since this was made. Yeah there were a bunch more shades of gray I could have shown! Would love to have you subscribe if not already! Thanks

[@fuglbird]

Thank you boy. That was an excellent demonstration. It sounds better than Marshall DSL 5CR but not quite good enough. Keep looking.

[@GearGasms]

Thanks Kajak!

[@Allguitarinfo]

What's that mean. You wouldn't use this amp. What do you think us a better one for the price. It's not a silver jubilee....the fender bassbreaker or supersonic 22 has caught my eye

[@SoniaGail]

Good demo

[@GearGasms]

Thank you! Would love to have you subscribe if not already! Thanks!

[@rexgeorg7324]

quality amp for less than £300 Top review!

[@GearGasms]

Thank you!

[@scottanderson4175]

The American side sounds pretty good through my iPhone

[@richardbarnett8877]

"Clean tones...Nothing to really hate about that...not a lot to show off about....Nice enough".... so, the cleans suck.

[@GearGasms]

Lol- you got me!

[@ladyjulia4038]

Hey does this amp clean up well with the volume knob?

[@GearGasms]

As far as I remember it did that pretty well but not as good as some pure tube amps. I sold this amp over a year ago when I got a Marshall. Would love to have you subscribe if not already! Thanks J Cat!

[@ladyjulia4038]

@@GearGasms I and looking for something with a rock n roll saturation that cleans up super well. I really don't even need 2 channels cuz I love playing dynamically. I also need it loud enough to jam with a drummer. Would love to hear your recommendation. As far as subscribing you've got it. Keep killing it!

[@GearGasms]

Thanks J cat! The Marshall DSL 40C would be right up your alley. It does all the typical Marshall stuff but also has gorgeous and unsung cleans

[@ladyjulia4038]

@@GearGasms Ok I'll be sure to make a trip to guitar center soon. Thankyou so much. It's not an amp I haven't heard of but I've always kind of overlooked it.

[@GearGasms]

I did a 2 part video on my DSL on my channel- you can check those out and get an idea if the 40 is right for you but if course no substitute for playing one in person

[@samboggs3499]

The Murican side sounded better... maybe if you used a Boss SD1, or a Ibanez TS9 as a clean boost and mid bump you would get that Head Banging sound?, DUHHHHH....

[@GearGasms]

Yeah I didn’t know shit when I made this video! Thanks brother! Would love to have you subscribe if not already!

[@samboggs3499]

@@GearGasms I liked the demo overall. Some one showed me trick in the mid 80's in San Diego, when I was in my garage band days.the old school overdrive pedals with a level, tone and gain work best. Turn the gain all the way to the left so it's on the minimum gain setting. Put the level and tone at 12 o'clock. Run it through the front instrument input into the amp. Set all the amp controls at 12 o'clock. You have to experiment with the pedal settings, but honestly, in my opinion it sounds best with the gain all the way to the left and used as a clean boost and tone filter and will push the amp into total saturation. The more you turn the tone knob clockwise the more mid range thump. The

[@GearGasms]

I spent so much time with modeling amps that gave me all the gain that I needed that it never dawned on me to goose the front end. I did a video recently like what you describe- fixing the fizziness of the Marshall DSL with gain pedals. Thanks for the good info!

[@samboggs3499]

@@GearGasms not a problem and someone showed me years ago, that's how we learn. Until someone showed me, it never occurred to me to use a Boss DS1 as a clean boost and tone filter.

[@samboggs3499]

@@GearGasms I subscribed and was trying to find the DSL fizzy gain fix and couldn't.

[@freespeech-advocate]

Americans watching the young ones😂😂😂 now thats a pleasant surprise. You get a sub for that alone but good review aswell mate🤟😎🎸

[@GearGasms]

Hands up who likes me? I was wearing my shirt just the other day. Welcome to the family!

[@thorvelizelos]

I think you are misunderstanding the ISF knob. On my HT5r combo American is to the right and Brittish to the left.

[@GearGasms]

Interesting - all of the documentation says fully counter clockwise is American. Do you have a Mk2? Regardless I sold the amp anyway. Thanks for commenting and would love to have you subscribe if not already!

[@thorvelizelos]

@@GearGasms Sorry, my bad! You were right and I was wrong, offcourse. Now I have to relearn right and left. But weird. I always thought that the American sound was kind of more straight dist/ modern distorytion kind of warm. And English was the more "woody" and sound a bit different from just plain distsound. Weird. Because I really think the left sound more "woody" as they caracterize the brittish sound in the manual. anyway. Just an extra knob right.

[@GearGasms]

Lol - I’m always right but rarely correct! It’s all in our heads anyway!

[@silverbrada9735]

Well, this was a decent demonstration, since I have HSS configuration. Do you consider to give yourself at least amatuer acting career? I really enjoyed your mimics.:-) What to say about tonal quality and versatility. Since I tried both dsl5r and this one and Vox ac10c1, does it make that both? :-) Oh, my, Vox shines on the cleans, I just needed to hear that. Nothing more, because I want both, pronounced legit cleans and pushing sustainable gain for having a little bit of everything. Nope, you're not gonna get it from these amps, as much as you want it. So, what is your preference? If you want nice warm cleans and fair amount of dirt on drive channel and good articulation, old school voicing go for Marshall. But, if you want addictive cleans, very pleasing and pronounced, open sound( 12" does make a difference ) and modern( not talking about metal ) gain with solid versatility go for HT5R. I will, til I convince my dealer to give me amp that works, not buzzing saw on zero gain potentiometer and no lame electric environment excuse!!! OH, MY GOD!

[@GearGasms]

I act everyday at my main job - acting like I give a crap. I could get an Oscar for that, lol! Thanks for your comments Silver - love to have your knowledge on board with us a subscriber!

[@silverbrada9735]

@@GearGasms Yeah, I noticed your enthusiasm pulled it off!;)

[@silverbrada9735]

In addition I have a question for answering that bothers me. Obviously HT5 series has " specific " buzzing. How do you find it? Quite bearable? I tried most probably some loose trafo.:-) Come on, man, " Please come to Boston " is in my playlist! I really got chills. No, it's not right. Bob Seger and Michael Murphy( Wildfire, my favorite ) too. Best regards!

[@GearGasms]

I never had any buzzing to speak of. I sold the amp not long after I shot this because I have a 100w Marshall that I played instead. Did a 2 part review of it if you’re interested

[@silverbrada9735]

@@GearGasms Thanks a lot!

[@ericlarsenhbeleatherworks4992]

I love this amp but after having many small watt hi gain tube amps over the years. 1 12au7 power tube and 1 12ax7 preamp tube is hardly a full blown tube amp. I have a mk2 and a ht5metal combo still. One of my favs. But not a tube amp like others are. My prs mt15 has 2 6l6 power tunes and 5 12ax7’s....it’s a monster.

[@GearGasms]

Yeah I almost got an Mt15 but ended up getting a Mesa Mark V used

[@StratsRUs]

" Hey...Jimi Hendrix p*ssed on that ! "

[@GearGasms]

Always up for a Young Ones quote!

[@ashtynmciver6119]

Gear Gasms. Hilarious 😂

[@GearGasms]

Thanks!

[@Tiler-ju9zl]

Only 2 valves .and all the controls switch Under neith. Think I'll go with a different amp. Good video

[@GearGasms]

Thank you sir! Would love to have you subscribe if not already!

[@paulchoate1]

‘merica…lol

[@GearGasms]

Happy Friday from Murica!