One Song, One Amp: Blackstar HT Club 50 MKII (clean, crunch, rock, leads & metal)

Timecodes:
00:00 Clean Tones
00:55 Crunch Tones
01:42 Rock Tones
03:01 Solo Lead Tones
03:59 Metal Tones (w/Laney BCC Steel Park)
05:56 Clean Tones ISOLATED
06:51 Crunch Tones ISOLATED
07:38 Rock Tones ISOLATED
08:57 Solo Lead Tones ISOLATED
09:54 Metal Tones (w/Laney BCC Steel Park) ISOLATED
Notes about the 'One Song' series:
The idea for the 'One Song' series came about when I was trying to come up with a cool idea for my next EPIC amp comparison with around 30 amps. So I came up with the idea of writing a song in multiple styles that would do a good job of 'testing' the versatility of an amp. It would start clean and end with metal. And I thought it could be interesting to use multiple guitars, one for each section.
Then I realised that it would be cool to release each amp's video individually first and when I'm all done I'll upload a compilation that would essentially be similar to all my other mega comparisons, including all the timecodes etc.
So that's the plan basically! However, I'm also planning on running the song through some modeling platforms to also demo those and see how well they can work with all the material in the song.
I've chosen to NOT use the same IRs for each segment this time because I want to use cab tones that the amps are 'comfortable' with. So don't view this as a direct comparison of the amps per say, but view it as an amp showcase that also allows you to hear how the amps function inside the song or inside the music, of course in comparison to one another in that sense! This will showcase the uniqueness of the amps more, which is more fun imho, plus it allows me to be a little bit more creative when reamping each amp. Plus: some of you guys will say 'they all sound the same' anyway and the different cab sounds will make the amps sound more interesting and unique!
For the metal segment I'll very likely use a boost pedal for most of the amps, just so you metalheads or djentheads can hear how a downtuned baritone with a boost sounds with the amp.
Anyway, I hope you guys will enjoy this series and I hope I made the song interesting enough to listen to it a couple times (because I don't expect anyone to watch all 30 or more amp videos lol).
-Jon
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[@TheShreddDude]

Dude, you are a tone genius. Not exaggerating. Bravo Sir. Best Blackstar demo on KZbin.

[@donpritt5160]

Don't know why Blackstar doesn't get much love, this amp sounds great and has been on my radar.

[@tete1805]

Probably just not expensive enough. :D Even though Jon will make anything sound pretty incredible, that entire series makes you seriously rethink how you view amps.

[@jroobz]

It really does sound good! Sounds similar to a Peavey to my ears

[@tonzokinawa]

I think it’s because they don’t have a “sound niche”. Like, they sound great and I would personally love to own this amp, but can you pick out a blackstar from a lineup? Hard to say. Still cool amps though!

[@scorpiocurse7969]

Probably because they sound a bit generic. I have a blackstar ht club 40; Sounds good, sometimes great, but yeah, it doesn't have much personality, tone wise. While an Orange, a Marshall, or, heck, a Mesa, have a distinct sound. Wether one likes it or not depends on personal taste, but they have their own sound. Blackstars are pretty damn far from being shit amps, but they lose a lot because they try to be jack of all trades and end up being masters of none.

[@pariskatsafados1581]

I had the previous version, it sounds fine distorted, but the cleans not so much. The main problem is not how it sounds recorded, but when you play it, it feels like playing a pedal or a solid state amp, it has many solid state components and you can tell immediately, it just not organic enough, has this synthetic, sterile feel to it. That said it isn't necessarily a bad thing, but personally I just didn't like it

[@jamesmcmillan7845]

I just returned my EVH 5150 Iconic 80 Watt Head and I think I am going for this head with the 5 way footswitch, I have an HT Club 20 so, I am already familiar with Blackstar. I really like what they have done with the clean channel

[@SonicDriveStudio]

The cleans are really nice indeed

[@jasonstallworth]

Dude I think I like this better than my EVH! Great tones and playing

[@rozhkovmusic]

Sounds like a beast !

[@pokemon6292]

your riffs and overall guitar playing sounds really good!

[@chadhosegood342]

Thank you for these close up pics of the settings, I think I lol use them now to dial in a perfect foundational sound for my pedal board (Blues Driver, General Fuzz and DS1 mostly) - much appreciated!

[@joshgilbertguitarist]

Great channel and demo vids! Your channel is the reason I fell in love with Ownhammer cab IRs! I toured with a first gen one of these amps a few years back. Great workhorse amp, has all the sounds you really need and they sound great. Not the most mind-blowing sound I've ever heard, like a cheaper and modern sounding Marshall, they're appropriately priced and I don't think anyone would be disappointed playing one of these. Especially if you put it through a cab with killer speakers, I had 4x12 loaded with greenbacks!

[@anthonyfrank146]

Great video as always. Love the head! My favorite now. Had a mesa and a xxx at different times of Live shows and studio. This head does that and more. Wish I woke up to blackstar a long time ago. Killer sounds and easy on your back lol..

[@satchfanboy]

Bought this amp thanks to you lol... and just exceed my expectations! This amp is so versatile that I haven't used my 5150 for months. So addicted with the sound with my 2x12 PPC close back!

[@imaquintero]

Come to watch a review, ended wanting to take guitars lessons with the guy who's playing! Love it! Awesome job!

[@rowecierras5171]

Wishing to own someday the HT100 MKII.🤘🏼

[@CaptainPantys]

This was sick.

[@viniciusbarbosade]

I own the first version of the HT 50 Club. Always thought it's a killer amp. Love the series "one song one amp", nice job with this Blackstar (you did it again), cheers!

[@0o0oo0o]

How does the ht club 50 do with high gain? I have the ht stage 60 combo and really like it, I play higher gain punk and usually can get that with the OD1 channel alone. I am afraid to part with it to get the original ht club 50 if it can't get the gain without pedals.

[@viniciusbarbosade]

@@0o0oo0o I think it goes well with high gain, but it's the typical high overdrive gain one should expect from a valve amp, I'm not sure if it would fit punk music (maybe you would prefer a distortion or even a fuzz), but it surely gets the job done for playing metal and hard rock. Although I would strongly recommend you to use a overdrive as boost in those cases. Never tried a Boss OD1 as boost (or did you refer to OD1 as the channel of the amp?), but I think HT 50 sounds great with my TS Mini or Digitech Badmonkey as boost.

[@0o0oo0o]

@@viniciusbarbosade Yea, the separate channels on the ht stage 60 are clean, OD1 and OD2, plus each OD channel has a 'voice' button. I usually can get enough gain from the 1st overdrive channel with the voice button pushed in, and then switch to OD2 for lead if needed. If you can get hard rock tones from the ht club 50 without a pedal that sounds good, but I'll keep in mind getting a tube screamer, thanks

[@earthstrong-43.72]

I just picked up a series one HT club 50 head. It had been upgraded with a Mercury Magnetics transformer by a previous owner. I'm pairing it with a Marshall 250 watt 1x15 bass cabinet with a Celestion Sidewinder in it. The Marshall fanboys did a good job hating on these and keeping prices low. I'm loving it.

[@jeffoefelein2812]

Just came across this video and it's the best represented version of this amp.

[@acerob7173]

great performance. I'm Marshall dipendent man, but these HT are great. I played twice in a shop a HT40 Club MKII and I liked a lot...

[@Turbo-D]

the features of the blackstar amps are great, got the series one 104 6L6 and 200 both had so harsh highs that i had to sell them sadly

[@jayteesgear]

These seem like the Easter egg of Valve amps right now. Sorta want one

[@dvdvelde]

3:06, damn I'm in love with this solo

[@3star2nr]

Blackstars are such great sounding amps yet they get hate for no reason. Theres nothing wrong with being different i really dig their gear my combo is awesome im looking for a head now and probably going back to blackstar u just cant beat them tone for dollar

[@katianag7785]

Nice demo, i have not played this model yet but the earlier Blackstar HT amps were a bit "sterile" to me, not bad sounding but not enough character to the amp tone, (my fav was actually the 5 watt head) but this Demo sounds better - I think that Blackstar made a small marketing mistake and should have changed the name of the amp Always enjoy your demos keep up the good work!

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Not sure if its because you use load boxes and IRs but to me all the amps you showcase sound the same, lol. Even in that huge lunchbox shootout I could barely distinguish much difference... I know youtube is to blame also. I own the DSL40CR, Mesa V:25, HT20 MKii, and Brent Hinds and “in the room” they’re noticeably different. Great series though, keep it up!!!

[@oskarwroniewicz]

That's because cabinet (or IR for that matter, same thing applies) is a huge part of the sound, probably even bigger than the amp. Many guitarists don't get that. Even shit amp can sound good through a great cab, but not the other way

[@longwalkinthewoods5457]

I'd love to see a tutorial that goes a bit into how you write/record your drum parts, they always compliment your riffs really well. I know you usually use SSD5. Do you use pre-made midi loops? A controller? Program them yourself? A little bit of insight into that would be really cool

[@tete1805]

That would be awesome!

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

This head sounds great.

[@josburnhb]

Great demo of all the variety of sounds and I really liked your solo phrasing! Quick question. I bought one of these used recently and the noise floor (think that's the correct term)/self noise is quite loud on the higher gain voicing of the overdrive channel, in between riffs/songs. Have you noticed the same on yours compared to other amps you have? I'm thinking I might try swapping out the pre amp tubes next, but curious if I got a dud. I experience this with my Marshall and Mesa, but this is a lot louder. It is a super loud amp though, even at 5 watts...so thinking, maybe its just that?

[@Matthew_Scan]

I had the 50 watt mk 1 and sold it thinking of getting mk 2

[@DadoSimicStudiostriver]

First comment! I heard lots of bad stuff about Blackstar amps , but what i hear on this video demonstration is pretty decent. Not special by any means, but far from bad.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

It's a great amp! Did you see my full review/demo?

[@DadoSimicStudiostriver]

@@SonicDriveStudio No I havent.

[@LightToDarkness24]

How did you get the Helix Native to work with this head?

[@matiasdelpueblo]

is this 50 watt amplifier suitable for concerts in large halls and pubs? Thank you

[@codyrichardson4419]

More than enough

[@Captaintripps1]

Okay I see you can play metal bit are you hooked to a pedal to make it sound good or is that the real amp really want to know I personally think when you buy a nice amp you shoupd never have to buy a pedal to make it sound good for metal so an honest answer would be greatly appreciated or wouod you recommend the boackstar ht stage 100 also part of this amp I don't understand is the mkii tye same as the old ht metal blackstars amps just new ?

[@Tone76701]

You don't put out your own stuff do you? other then the amazing stuff in your youtube videos or do you?

[@blakjack3053]

Play a whole slew of root five power chords like some Sabbath n shit!

[@fasteddievh2072]

Another excellent review! I just never understood why Blackstar amps don’t have a presence knob. To my ears, this is why the amp just comes across so “bland”. You need a way to dial in the top end “bite”.

[@kennyh5083]

Not impressed with the Blackstar amps at all! They sound flat and sterile and lack the tonal complexity when compared to a Marshall or Boogie! Even the Marshall Mosfet 100 kills them IMO! They would be great mixed with another tube amplifier but on their own I could never be happy with one all by itself! I'll just stick with the HT pedal to front my Boogies and Marshall's!

[@paulduque3388]

Blackstar: they don't support outside the United Kingdom, not schematics, bad soundings... sorry, if you are in America or Latin America, stay away from this brand.

[@matiasdelpueblo]

is this 50 watt amplifier suitable for concerts in large halls and pubs? Thank you

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Yes