Blackstar St. James EL34H

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks for watching legends! A reminder the Ragdoll discography, and more, is available here - ♫ My music - ragdollrock.bandcamp.com

[@d-mack7053]

@LeonTodd LIKE LIKE LIKE!!!!!! This really made morning. "My Strat" really had alot to say. Paired very well together especially through the cab. The PRS sounded great as well. I would love to her my N4 through it. I was really liking channels 1 & 3 before you went through the cab. I'd take one them!!! "D"

[@anthonytumia]

This is perfect for the modern online marketplace. No step down/up transformer needed for international purchases because it has a universal power supply. Light weight for cheaper postage. This is a game changer for Australians!

[@anthonytumia]

@GearSlayer yeah but wait until they’re on the used market and you can buy one from overseas without $200 postage and the need for a step up/down transformer. That’s the main benefit I was getting at.

[@GuitarBailey]

Best review of this amp so far

[@carlroberge7535]

I’m not the one for negative comments but this sounds super thin 😳 Great playing as always!

[@techniqueswithtodd]

Making a Blackstar video is a brave choice and you made it sound great!!!

[@SarcasticComments23]

Actually is a really great amp

[@donewithmodernlife]

I’ve never wanted a Blackstar but I really like what I’m seeing & hearing with these. The EL34 seems like it would be the more flexible of the 2.

[@pauljamesstevens4955]

Great review and really nice playing. I was the designer. Thanks.

[@sundrenched6248]

Wow, this one sounds especially good. Both the Fender and Marshall channel.

[@CarlKennedyMusic]

As always, go job on the demo. You are a pleasure. The amp seems short of the mark and has an annoying hi frequency character in the 8-10kHz range that seems present at all various settings. At $1,200.- US for the head alone, I would make a different choice personally.

[@SMZ9D850]

That LP jam was epic! What else can I say! wow!

[@electroKrunch]

Sounds pretty dang nice, I like the concept!

[@skelapop]

Great vid as always Leon. Thanks🎸🎸🎸

[@neilmcleish9014]

Excellent review 👍 Would love to hear that LP through the 6L6 Version. Actually just watched the Anderson’s review and found yours more informative. Keep up the good work.

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks mate!

[@heavybrett-al4082]

Wow what a versatile amp, loved it with your cabinet, and yea great look to it.

[@adamwatson6916]

Blackstars all sound infinitely better when they are ran through better quality cabs with good speakers. They are held back by Blackstar cabs and the speakers they use .

[@davegmarti]

I’m not always in the market for some of the gear you demo. But always nice hearing you jam random stuff.

[@donciseau]

Looks great guitar amplifier!

[@thechannelforeverything2170]

I wasn't super impressed with the IR tones. However when you plugged it into your Marshall 4x12, that's where the magic started happening for me. Great video as always Leon 🤘. Getting my Mark III Red Stripe serviced right now, and can't wait to give it a rip once I get it back.

[@LeonTodd]

That old greenback cab has the goods! Be keen to try it with some of my own IR's.

[@Bluesplayer789]

Looks really nice, some great features...reminds me of a lot I like in principle about the revv g20

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah feels like a more vintage take on that concept.

[@castleanthrax1833]

Yeah, it's a great feature to have, (the built in load box/cab Sims).

[@ianfurqueron5850]

I like it. A lot of the same features as the Suhr PT-15, but for a lot less $$$.

[@jessetate9701]

Bro I’m super excited about it!!! Definitely might get this in the combo or the 6l6 combo

[@LeonTodd]

I gotta try that 6L6 version now!

[@jessetate9701]

@@LeonTodd for sure bro! You will love it!

[@stringlocker]

Jesse save your money get a Morgan amplifier or a carr amplifier or a Friedman amplifier so many better amps. Don't get sucked into this affordable amplifier thing.

[@stringlocker]

I just Googled this Not That affordable. Definitely save a few more bucks and get something else.

[@jessetate9701]

@@stringlocker nah man I blame inflation at this point. Even the dsl40c are 1,099

[@jazzspecialist99]

Great demo, making me want!!!!

[@zaz4667]

Came here for the Blackstar! Stayed for the Stratocaster! 13:38 That is a awesome jam!

[@adamwatson6916]

These sound quite different from the Blackstar Ht 50s and the usual blackstar sound in general . Not near as dark or warm less compressed and more open . Much more top end . They sound more classic while the Ht series sound modern.

[@Widdy5150]

I'd love to see how this sounds using 4cm with Fractal/Helix 😋👍🏻

[@cnemi22]

Les Paul with clean tones! Trying to decide between the 6L6 and EL34H version lol

[@rokinrandy]

A built in speaker cab sim and load box..Now they are going in the right direction.Less and less excuses for guitarist to not record. Ugggh...

[@guitarsampsandcoffee]

On the plus-side: it looks awsome and being lightweight is a great feature. But it feels like it stops there. Basically it sounds like a katana but costs 1200$. They can call it a valveamp but it doesn’t sound like it. Im not sure what drives the price up but had the head been 599$ i think it would have killed. And also, if you make an amp look like it belongs in the livingroom, why does it have to be lightweight.

[@SergeiVlassov]

I would say Katana sounds better to me. I did not like hi gain tones of this Blackstar.

[@thefeloniousscot3955]

Valid AF

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

Exactly right Tones of Yeti.

[@seamusbrowne4909]

Bare in mind this AMP is aimed at the Geriatric market, of which I'm a part of, and NOT the Hairy Arsed Macho NEANDERTHAL end of the Market which I'm assuming your a part of.😂🤣😂

[@paulbuxton1326]

That’s the idea easy to gig around for guys like me 40yrs playing 🎼

[@Brennosguitarsandgear]

They should have sent you the 6l6 one 😈🤟🏼🎸💀

[@LeonTodd]

GIVE ME THE FILTH!

[@michaelgallegos8811]

Leon your feelings better mate ! This is good bud ,I been looking at this head it seems really cool super light weight, sounds good, I have a code 100 head a Marshall, which weighs 20lbs this weighs in at 12 pounds !! Nick Bowcott at Sweetwater did a dem with 6l6 version so this first el 34 demo I hear thank u ..glad u feel better bud😁👋🤘✨️

[@theauthenticsteve]

For the chug test you might have been better off not scooping the mid control because it is not a traditional mid control. The gain channel is based on a 60's AC which didn't have a mid control. The mid control on this amp is a mid boost or mid cut circuit. In the centre it is not in the circuit so you would scoop the amp by increasing the bass and treble. But adding mids takes the amp into more top boost territory so more gain. I know it's kind of counter intuitive when your reference is simply how other amps work but by cutting your mids you really took gain out and I feel like if it is possible to get this amp to chug on the gain channel your best chance of success would possibly be to increase the mid control or just leave it out of the circuit at 12 o'clock. That said the clean channel is an F style clean channel that's great as a pedal platform so I imagine you could get it to chug decently with the right pedal.

[@donsmith5385]

Love your videos, I wish Korg would keep Blackstar more for metal, Vox has all the other tones covered except hi-gain

[@jazzspecialist99]

Korg only distribute Blackstar, they don't own the brand. Vox is the Korg brand.

[@_mysilentblue2227]

It sounded good and cool features but that price tag... I'd reach for the ENGL Ironball SE at that price point.

[@Kzight]

Just came across this channel. Hit the subscribe button! Great vids

[@LeonTodd]

Welcome aboard!

[@tanshaomala]

I tried these out in my local store and I legit thought I was going crazy because I couldn't find any information on it online!

[@LeonTodd]

Nice to know they're out in the wild! I love being involved in product launch videos but it extra awesome when people can hear something they like and immediately try it for themselves.

[@MoreMeRecording]

Rip some Hoodoo Gurus on that! The cleans on that are pretty harsh to my ears but a great little starter or practice amp I'm sure

[@LeonTodd]

What's my scene is now stuck in my head!

[@castleanthrax1833]

@@LeonTodd I liked the "Mondo Rock" type tones that you were playing. ✌️🇦🇺

[@MoreMeRecording]

@@LeonTodd Honestly, one of the catchiest Pop hooks, ever!

[@SergeiVlassov]

Great review, great features, nice design, nice cleans, but... dirty tones... maybe it just me, but I think dirty tones sounded really bad. Victory just released similar amps with built in IRs and really great tones for less money.

[@BigHairyGuitars]

Did Blackstar I’ve you one of the St James cabs to try? The 2x12 is a beaut. Or was the cab section you’re ‘house cab’?

[@LeonTodd]

Just the head, cab section was good old 1960TV house cab with greenies

[@stringlocker]

Yep it sounds like a blackstar. I think every amp they make sounds the same. They make 1 amp and put it in different packages

[@sterlingmcvay2469]

I'd like to think I had some minor influence in this amp. I bought their STUDIO 10 KT88, a little over a year ago, and I later sent them an email encouraging them to Make an Amp That Works well with Pedals, In Front and with Effects Loop for Modulation pedals, with a Build in Attenuator for practicing in small places, Apartments, etc. It Sounds VERY GOOD. Now, if they'd Only send me one for all those Good ideas!! Lol😅😂😁✌

[@zakklee2556]

How do you like their STUDIO 10 KT88?

[@sterlingmcvay2469]

@@zakklee2556 Oh, I Love it. Great Clean Tone and it Starts to BREAK UP NICELY, with just a Little Gain. I live in an Extended Stay Hotel, so I can't really CRANK IT. Works nice with Pedals as well.

[@funfreq9282]

Hum, Well great demo! it looks really good, the clean is useable but those dirty tones I'm not too sure. For the money I think the REVV 20 watt amps have it all over this box but hey that's what my ears are telling me.

[@soldierbreakneck771]

Marshall\Blackstar 🤷‍♂I`d prefer Marshall. But this one sounds actually nice. Great playing and overview! 🤘🤘👍👍

[@LeonTodd]

IIRC Blackstar was started by ex-Marshall employees so I'd be keen to know how much "cross pollination" there has been :p

[@zakklee2556]

That's when Marshall got their MOJO back, after those employees left Marshall to start Blackstar.

[@fabiol.9161]

Ehi leon when a review of an italian amp? Never tried brunetti or cicognani? Anyway this is genial.. So many choices and you have to figure out something different.. And blackstar did it

[@2979paul]

Hey Leon can you do a video on circus Maximus guitar tones?

[@LeonTodd]

There's a band I haven't listed to in AGES!

[@0megalul309]

Man lot of Blackstar hate in the comments. I don't own any Blackstar stuff but I'm betting those that hate on them here probably own something worse like a fender blues junior or something 🤔

[@LeonTodd]

I've had plenty of people ask me to demo some of their stuff so this was a great opportunity!

[@SergeiVlassov]

Did you like what you hear in this demo? I don't ) Except cleans. Dirty tones are terrible (imho).

[@0megalul309]

@@SergeiVlassov still sounded better than a blues junior or hot rod

[@sqtq09]

Im buying because everyone hates it so it must be good

[@michaelgallegos8811]

Have u tried the EVH Iconic 80watt head? Well I recently purchased 1and I like it my first piece of EVH gear I will keep it, any way thought I would share this with you..🤘😈🍻

[@LeonTodd]

very keen to try one!

[@michaelgallegos8811]

If u was not so far I would let u demo it Leon !!

[@patrickkish6662]

I'd love to see the guts of that toaster.

[@guitarexpert2245]

Yea, an amp video!😂😂

[@questlive2338]

Blackstar seems to always get some deep hate but I've always thought they sound very useable with great features

[@mikemccourt6225]

Something about the high doesn't sit right with the amp pushed hard.

[@tonya4157]

Doodoo is about right

[@LeonTodd]

I read this and immediately thought of the Simpson's "Scooby doo can doo-doo, but Jimmy Carter is smarter" bit 😂

[@mars6433]

Nothing against your playing but, everything sounds like it's coming through a blown 8" speaker.

[@blksteve11]

Silly question, but with the line out, am I able to connect my phone and play music through it? I watched another video about these amps and am leaning pretty hard towards the 6L6. Although aesthetically I think the EL34 looks a litttle bit better. Also great video!

[@ronnieparfait]

If it’s and out then nope, you can only run a signal in the amp with a “line in” or “aux in”. 🤘🏼✌🏼

[@toddwilkinson5474]

Would love to see the guts. It's so light, it must have cheap transformers (like a pedal amp). Be careful with Blackstar.

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

Exactly right.

[@HiHello-ku1fl]

Sounds lightweight to me.

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

Leon my friend does the best gear reviews. The Blackstar story is fascinating. They were the rage with everyone inc pro players like Neal Schon in the mid to late 2000s, then all of a sudden, not a mention from those same high profile players.They hit the scene with a bang, then a big fall from grace. And why....because their designs aren't what they seem, and they have been very coy what their designs are. Fundamentally, their soul is a solid state design with some tubes thrown in for street credibility, and to justify tube amp prices. I bought an "all tube" HT Stage 100 for evaluation and couldn't sell it fast enough. It was awful. Sounded like a SS distortion pedal all the way. Terrible cheap, compressed sound, odd tonal sweeps from the pots, just a bizarre tonal palette whose soul was clearly SS with a couple preamp tubes thrown in for street cred. Add to that my $1300 HT Stage head was cheap MDF headshell, cheap flimsy pots, just a total budget build. There was nothing to like, and certainly not at $1300. The worst amp I've ever evaluated. I was stunned how bad it sounded. People are good at sniffing out BS, and that explains Blackstar's fall from grace. These amps were never what they marketed as ground up boutique all tube amps, not at all. Many allege the HT Stage 100 "all-tube" line was essentially a SS pedal they made and liked, and built an amp around it, throwing in a couple preamp tubes (only had 2 preamp tubes (and I think 1 was the P.I.) and it was monster gain!) for street cred, which is exactly how it sounded. Blackstar's stunning fall from grace is rooted in them not being honest about the solid state soul of their amps, vs ground up "all-tube" designs they lead people to believe. Blackstar truly wants to be a bang for the buck SS'esq "techy" type line that nibbles at the fringes of tube....but none of their products are true tube designs like traditional tube amps. When you try to mislead people, they don't like it. People have sniffed out that Blackstar amps are definitely not the "all-tube" soul or near boutique amps they hit the scene stating they were. People like Neal Schon, Nita Strauss, and many other big names couldn't drop them fast enough. People don't like being misled.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Looks like Leon is a bit disappointed with the articulation...? Or is it just me, lol.

[@yanossnicklefritz7064]

I was going to say not bad for the money thinking it was a budget friendly head for about $599, but they want $1199 for it. Lol. I honestly don't think it's worth that and a player has a lot of better choices at that price point for the same money or just a little more.

[@sasmitha8446]

They priced themselves out of the market.

[@yanossnicklefritz7064]

@@sasmitha8446 It seems so. I was looking, and a player could get a Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier for a $150 more. There's a difference in the wattage, but most places don't want you to crank it anymore and small EL84 amps can get very loud.

[@LeonTodd]

The rate tube prices are going you could buy one and flip the tubes for profit

[@yanossnicklefritz7064]

@@LeonTodd Lol. Isn't that the sad truth. I keep thinking about how long the supply I have will last me, but I know I'm better off than others with 2 matched set of spare power tubes for my Mesa and a dozen or so 12ax7's. For an amp I'm not using as much as my FM3 and FS8 ISP FRFR too.

[@JInfinity7]

Bleah...not a good set of tones IMO. To each their own. Playing techniques, abilities are def not in question though, Leon.

[@ryanmaroney4793]

Bummer, wanted to like this but cant seem to dig any of the sounds. Great concept though.

[@GeorgeHeil-gg6wv]

Half the weight for twice the price. Who do they think their target audience is Joe Bonamassa?

[@Turbo-D]

these amps are just getting good ratings from the paid channels, my ears are bleeding those harshness will never be solved in any blackstar amp, just overprized for all what those amps are (not) delivering sadly.. but let the people buy, relax and just wait 6 months for the usual blackstar blowout sale for 199€ just to clear the camping stock like always with blackstar amps in that price range

[@LeonTodd]

I've got this on loan but I'm not getting paid to do this video. The great thing about KZbin is you can hear it for yourself and let your ears decide!

[@Turbo-D]

@@LeonTodd yes todd i don't mean your channel, i really like it! i'm also really a fan of all that 90's rack stuff! ..just watched andertons before yours here 😂🤦

[@PaulLembo]

Fellow legends! Do you love the amazing/terrible 80s compressed and chorused cleans like Leon? I'd forgotten about this song until a random Miami Vice rerun put it in front of me. This is as good of an example as you will ever find. Listen closely for how tracks are stacked, with a quieter background line and/or a second guitar clacking quietly. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3LRmIiIl6yifZY

[@alexdenton6586]

Can’t stand tube amps , they’re way too heavy , music should be fun , not suffering of my body and soul

[@irock4u222]

not impressed at all it sounds aweful

[@organicchime1263]

Wow, that thing is horrendous sounding! Typical Blackstar crap! I wouldn’t own one of those amps if you gave it to me!