Pete's video has just guaranteed dramatically increase sales of this Blackstar amp; I've never been a fan of their amps, 3 minutes in and I was checking the price on Andertons!!
Thanks for the video, Pete. I've really grown to appreciate Blackstar amps. I have an original HT Stage 100 top, but recently purchased a new HT Stage 100 MkIII. I really like the sound of these amps and they come close to the Marshall Silver Jubilee, which I also own. I have not yet bought one of these 40 watt combos, but I'm seriously considering it now.
I played through this amp in the shop where I work at a few days ago, and I got solid, very musical, very useable tones from it. It didn’t blow my mind, but I had fun playing through it, and I think the quality of sound rivals amps that cost much, much more. I think for the price, you really can't go wrong with these.
I can envision using that a lot of ways, for a lot of things. The only experience I’ve had with Blackstar was seeing a guy play a half-stack in a room where he could open it up and let it eat, and it was pretty great. That ISP switch definitely hollowed out the tone, but I didn’t get a big enough sample to start picking out frequencies. I like how much amp is there for the price.
I had a HT Club 40 MK II Deluxe at one point. The amp sounded incredible, punched way above it's price point. But the dang thing just proved to be too unreliable. Crapped out on me multiple times, within just a year or two of owning it. After one round of expensive repairs, and then failing again, ended up just selling it for scrap. Hopefully they have fixed that side of things.
Sorry that happened. I jammed on one of those multiple times at a guitar shop and loved it. It really was a great sounding amplifier. I was set on buying it. Then EVH dropped the 5150iii mk2 6L6 50 watt head and I picked that up instead. After hearing similar stories to yours I'm glad I chose the 5150iii but the Club 40 blackstars really do sound great.
Yet another amazing demo by an unbelievable talent! Well done, Pete! And you're forgiven for leaving the 60's strat on the shelf...but she's lonely, no? Maybe the next vid then...🤓🤓🤓
I have an old HT50 version one head. I run it into a 212 Marshall cab for small gigs, a 412 Marshall cab for larger gigs. It's the only amp where I love the gain channel without needing to use a distortion/overdrive pedal to improve it.
Although it is undeniable that Pete Thorn can make a tin can filled with wet noodles sound terrific, I gotta say that I’m impressed by this Blackstar amp. Their high gain stuff has always been a contender, but this is one well rounded amp. Thanks, Pete!
PETE Brother another one up on the Want List 🤗, But I may have to see what my Tone Adviser tells me!? Really a great Amp, and a Great switching from Crystal Clear to Crunchy Dirty!! 🤘🎸🤠 ,-
I appreciate the info about using the XLR feature for recording. I have been wanting to try it out but I feared smoking a channel. Thanks again. Very cool 😎🤙🏽
Great amps! I had one of the first series and enjoyed it a lot and played it on a lot of gigs. Clean channel is a bit too scooped and hyped on the top end for my liking, but the second channel is where this amp lives and has all the mojo. The sound reminds me quite a lot of the early Marshall Valve State 100 amps.
It`s all in the fingers of the guy holding the guitar guys! Pete is a monster player and hence, basically all equipment he’s using will sound amazing. This particular amp I have a bit hard to like though since I can’t get rid of the low mid (300 Hz) mushiness that I keep hearing. I miss the “breath” of crystal clear winter air
I'm quite amazed by Blackstar, a young society like that capable of becoming one of the main actor of the amplifier scene!!😮😮 And their products are very good, I have the HT Metal and a 15w stereo amp, I have no complain, this gear is rock solid and sound very nice! It make me think about Boss and their Katana series, it's a bit the same feeling with the release of awesome amps when the company is not known for that...
You keep getting better and better at your phrasing, enough that I hear 3 different parts that I would build on as their own songs in your first demo. You really know when to hold back the excess filler notes and then unload them where it's more pleasing to the ear. That my biggest complaint with guitar centric music, just too many notes to convey some emotion and the songs become convoluted, simply gutted because the musician can play faster fills. I think people often become disconnected with what they feel and what they hear... Sure, difficult fills make you feel some sense of achievement, but I think people to often mix the feeling up with the song itself... That's a hard thing to put into words! 😁 Amp sounds great! I have a little 15w tube combo with a 12" Celestion 70/80 and what's more... I often play music in the vein of The Rolling Stones on it, the first song that I felt come up after I powered it on was Pant It a Black. That dirt cheap speaker really works great on early rock, not what I expected!
@@murphshall I know who he is and he's still getting better. Just because you're a professional doesn't mean you stop improving when you hit that level. In fact, it's harder to improve when you get good because you settle into what's normal for you, but Pete keeps on diversifying his talents... I'd really like to know what's he's doing at his level to increase his repertoire on guitar.
great some people dont like the dark chewy low goo but it isnt an open sounding amp, but a great blend of a fender marsh and mesa always to my ears, this one side and a toneking the other cool
I have the mark I ht40. Its a good sounding amp for high gain sounds that doesn't react to single coils very well and has a nice sparkly clean channel that isn't a good pedal platform. the real problem is the way its built and getting it serviced. Many techs won't touch them, aside from replacing tubes and biasing and they just fail a lot. Mine is dead in storage because no one will look at them, and the last time I checked there were no authorized repair locations in the us. I really like to be positive about gear, and these sound good in specific situations but its just hard to recommend them given the issues with them.
Also they arent all tube. At least older ones. New one also has only 2 ecc83 so probably opamps too, like older ones. For some reason thats lost in marketing and specs :)
I have a Blackstar ST-10 with KT-88 Tube, I LOVE it but can barely turn it up, it's So Loud. I've got to get a Power Soak - would Love to see a Comparison Shoot-out on those, some are a might PRICEY...
I kind of feel like a broken record saying this, but gear is only properly demoed when it has been 'Thorn'd". Impeccable playing as always. You could make a Pignose with a busted speaker sound like a million bucks. And my gawd, that red Suhr gives me the feels every time just looking at it.
@@RiffMaster92 I’m curious to see a direct comparison. Very similar features and lay out, although the BS has modern accoutrements. I’m guessing Marshall will update the DSL40 depending on how well this does.
Blackstar doesnt get nearly enough credit. They make really great stuff and their prices are really great too. If I ever get the point where I need more than my 40w 5150 I'll most like get the 100w blackstar. Unless I have unlimited income.
This amp screams. None of the demos do them justice. You gotta hear them in person to hear how versatile they are. Nails classic rock and Metallica black album distortion.
Great video as always Pete and some great playing as well. I was always a Marshall guy and picked up a Blackstar 100 watt head at a pawn shop for cheap money and used it for a backup head and it really was a great amp for sure. ✌🏻
Had an HT40 and loved the sounds and circuit but hated the reliability and construction of the electronics. The thing had to be sent to service three times before it was finally returned. The cabinet construction was beautiful but the pc construction was flimsy.
This the main problem with the Blackstar amp. And it is a big problem for customers. Blackstar should use a standard circuit board like a EVH 5150 iii, Mesa Boogie amp.
I’m really enjoying the addition of amp demos to the mix. Still can’t believe you come up with a rad new original tune for every video!!
You got the best squeedlie deedlies in the game, Pete!
The production on the demo song you did using this amp sounded amazing. One of the best sounding snares I've heard in a long, long time too.
Pete's video has just guaranteed dramatically increase sales of this Blackstar amp; I've never been a fan of their amps, 3 minutes in and I was checking the price on Andertons!!
Glad you liked what I did!
I’m always in real awe of the music Pete’s creates for these vids. Just unreal 🤯
I really loved that opening track Pete. Killer! Also the amp sounds great too.
Loved this demo . Many different tones im impressed Blackstar. Thank you Pete for doing this. Awesome playing as always bro 😎👊
That clean sound is amazingly clear!
Thanks for the video, Pete. I've really grown to appreciate Blackstar amps. I have an original HT Stage 100 top, but recently purchased a new HT Stage 100 MkIII. I really like the sound of these amps and they come close to the Marshall Silver Jubilee, which I also own. I have not yet bought one of these 40 watt combos, but I'm seriously considering it now.
I played through this amp in the shop where I work at a few days ago, and I got solid, very musical, very useable tones from it. It didn’t blow my mind, but I had fun playing through it, and I think the quality of sound rivals amps that cost much, much more. I think for the price, you really can't go wrong with these.
Much love Pete. Hope you and yours are healthy and well.
Hum... tasty little grab and go! Nice demo Pete!
Such an awesome review... You really play excellent Pete! You display this amplifiers diversity
I have a mark 1 Blackstar HT Stage 100, it's incredible.
Man those solos are awesome.
love this video!
Great sounding amp.
Thanks!
I can envision using that a lot of ways, for a lot of things.
The only experience I’ve had with Blackstar was seeing a guy play a half-stack in a room where he could open it up and let it eat, and it was pretty great. That ISP switch definitely hollowed out the tone, but I didn’t get a big enough sample to start picking out frequencies. I like how much amp is there for the price.
I had a HT Club 40 MK II Deluxe at one point. The amp sounded incredible, punched way above it's price point. But the dang thing just proved to be too unreliable. Crapped out on me multiple times, within just a year or two of owning it. After one round of expensive repairs, and then failing again, ended up just selling it for scrap. Hopefully they have fixed that side of things.
Sorry that happened. I jammed on one of those multiple times at a guitar shop and loved it. It really was a great sounding amplifier. I was set on buying it. Then EVH dropped the 5150iii mk2 6L6 50 watt head and I picked that up instead. After hearing similar stories to yours I'm glad I chose the 5150iii but the Club 40 blackstars really do sound great.
Yet another amazing demo by an unbelievable talent! Well done, Pete! And you're forgiven for leaving the 60's strat on the shelf...but she's lonely, no? Maybe the next vid then...🤓🤓🤓
I have an old HT50 version one head. I run it into a 212 Marshall cab for small gigs, a 412 Marshall cab for larger gigs. It's the only amp where I love the gain channel without needing to use a distortion/overdrive pedal to improve it.
Some damn fine ass playing there, holy moly!..and nice amp, too!
BILLY SQUIER!!! Legend. Great vid, Pete.
I received the HT 100 MKIII Head the day after Christmas. I'm still getting acquainted with the Amp. So far, I really like it.
Fantastic review. Thanks for the video!
Aldrich is essentially playing this line live with the Daisies and there def isn't a lack of tone when he plays live. These are great value.
Although it is undeniable that Pete Thorn can make a tin can filled with wet noodles sound terrific, I gotta say that I’m impressed by this Blackstar amp. Their high gain stuff has always been a contender, but this is one well rounded amp.
Thanks, Pete!
Sounds good, I like the features.
PETE Brother another one up on the Want List 🤗, But I may have to see what my Tone Adviser tells me!? Really a great Amp, and a Great switching from Crystal Clear to Crunchy Dirty!! 🤘🎸🤠 ,-
I like it! Nice and simple. Great break-up.
The new outputs seem to make this version sound much better than the predecessor😊.
I appreciate the info about using the XLR feature for recording. I have been wanting to try it out but I feared smoking a channel. Thanks again. Very cool 😎🤙🏽
For the money and for what it is, it sounds great. I still have the little 5w head.
Great amps! I had one of the first series and enjoyed it a lot and played it on a lot of gigs. Clean channel is a bit too scooped and hyped on the top end for my liking, but the second channel is where this amp lives and has all the mojo. The sound reminds me quite a lot of the early Marshall Valve State 100 amps.
Sounds cool man, I had an HT 5R head for awhile that sounded great through a 2x12 🤓
Really like that Ch 1, voice 2 low gain sound 9:16. Looks like Blackstar did a really good job with this amp
WOW, as always Pete love hearing you play. WOW.
great demo pete
Great demo Pete, but don’t really hear a distinct difference from the mkll…. and the features are exactly the same. 🤔🤘🏼✌🏼
I agree. What changed on it? IR outs maybe?
It`s all in the fingers of the guy holding the guitar guys! Pete is a monster player and hence, basically all equipment he’s using will sound amazing.
This particular amp I have a bit hard to like though since I can’t get rid of the low mid (300 Hz) mushiness that I keep hearing. I miss the “breath” of crystal clear winter air
Great stuff Pete 👍
The new mkiii amps kick absolute butt I adore my ht stage mk3
Great vid and amp! I thought that crunch sound you dialled in sounded like oasis 👌
I'm quite amazed by Blackstar, a young society like that capable of becoming one of the main actor of the amplifier scene!!😮😮 And their products are very good, I have the HT Metal and a 15w stereo amp, I have no complain, this gear is rock solid and sound very nice! It make me think about Boss and their Katana series, it's a bit the same feeling with the release of awesome amps when the company is not known for that...
Great amp. Really all you need for a rock amp.
Awesome. Every time I played a BlackStar I loved it. That one sounds amazing too.
I dread to think how many requests Pete gets to demo new products.
He doesn’t. The pay is great
@@gwhiz3708 What now?
@@leftpastsaturn67 my comment is self explanatory
@@gwhiz3708 Only to you.
Great playing. I would definitely change the speaker out.
You keep getting better and better at your phrasing, enough that I hear 3 different parts that I would build on as their own songs in your first demo. You really know when to hold back the excess filler notes and then unload them where it's more pleasing to the ear.
That my biggest complaint with guitar centric music, just too many notes to convey some emotion and the songs become convoluted, simply gutted because the musician can play faster fills.
I think people often become disconnected with what they feel and what they hear... Sure, difficult fills make you feel some sense of achievement, but I think people to often mix the feeling up with the song itself... That's a hard thing to put into words! 😁
Amp sounds great! I have a little 15w tube combo with a 12" Celestion 70/80 and what's more... I often play music in the vein of The Rolling Stones on it, the first song that I felt come up after I powered it on was Pant It a Black. That dirt cheap speaker really works great on early rock, not what I expected!
Keeps getting better with his phrasing..? You do realize the he's a professional musician, don't you..? Sheesh! 😮
@@murphshall I know who he is and he's still getting better. Just because you're a professional doesn't mean you stop improving when you hit that level.
In fact, it's harder to improve when you get good because you settle into what's normal for you, but Pete keeps on diversifying his talents...
I'd really like to know what's he's doing at his level to increase his repertoire on guitar.
Now I want to buy this amp too
The ir models they got from the St James are a good idea
Thanks Pete, I don’t need more gear! 😂
If they come out with a 20w MkIII, I'm done for.
It definitely has some Vox pedigree in it. Billy Squier, my all time favorite. More hooks than a seasoned fisherman.
Very cool amp. I don't think Blackstar gets the credit they deserve.
Great playing as usual.
Another tasty album track for PT3!
Holy 1:00 shit
That’s some fire playing y0
👏👏
Love watching your videos. You're a talented artist and I always want to get what you are reviewing.... just can't afford everything 😅.... cheers.
Thanks Pete, I have the Blackstar Studio 10 and She packs a mighty punch but this B**ch takes things to another level!!!
great some people dont like the dark chewy low goo but it isnt an open sounding amp, but a great blend of a fender marsh and mesa always to my ears, this one side and a toneking the other cool
simple is good, especially the older I get. what is the easiest to setup that has the fewest nobs and sounds great
I have the mark I ht40. Its a good sounding amp for high gain sounds that doesn't react to single coils very well and has a nice sparkly clean channel that isn't a good pedal platform. the real problem is the way its built and getting it serviced. Many techs won't touch them, aside from replacing tubes and biasing and they just fail a lot. Mine is dead in storage because no one will look at them, and the last time I checked there were no authorized repair locations in the us. I really like to be positive about gear, and these sound good in specific situations but its just hard to recommend them given the issues with them.
Also they arent all tube. At least older ones. New one also has only 2 ecc83 so probably opamps too, like older ones.
For some reason thats lost in marketing and specs :)
I have a Blackstar ST-10 with KT-88 Tube, I LOVE it but can barely turn it up, it's So Loud. I've got to get a Power Soak - would Love to see a Comparison Shoot-out on those, some are a might PRICEY...
Excellent
I kind of feel like a broken record saying this, but gear is only properly demoed when it has been 'Thorn'd". Impeccable playing as always. You could make a Pignose with a busted speaker sound like a million bucks. And my gawd, that red Suhr gives me the feels every time just looking at it.
Right now, Sweetwater has these amps on their Black Friday deals for $599, which is $300 off. I bought two.
They had the MKII on sale. This is the new MKIII
The DSL40 has a competitor?
@@RiffMaster92 I’m curious to see a direct comparison. Very similar features and lay out, although the BS has modern accoutrements. I’m guessing Marshall will update the DSL40 depending on how well this does.
Blackstar doesnt get nearly enough credit. They make really great stuff and their prices are really great too. If I ever get the point where I need more than my 40w 5150 I'll most like get the 100w blackstar. Unless I have unlimited income.
Pete eats riffs for breakfast and the breakfast asks for seconds.
Nice work as usual, Pete. You rule!
Why does it still need to be micd .. can we hear it raw....
GRANDEEE!!!
Voice 2 on the clean sounds AC/DC more than ch 2
This amp screams. None of the demos do them justice. You gotta hear them in person to hear how versatile they are. Nails classic rock and Metallica black album distortion.
still with the same crap speaker most Blackstar users hate. I dont get it Blackstar
Great video as always Pete and some great playing as well. I was always a Marshall guy and picked up a Blackstar 100 watt head at a pawn shop for cheap money and used it for a backup head and it really was a great amp for sure. ✌🏻
Lol lol $1,000 for a black star combo now… for the same platform they have been putting out for close to a decade now.. lol
60 pounds no thank you
Had an HT40 and loved the sounds and circuit but hated the reliability and construction of the electronics. The thing had to be sent to service three times before it was finally returned. The cabinet construction was beautiful but the pc construction was flimsy.
This the main problem with the Blackstar amp. And it is a big problem for customers. Blackstar should use a standard circuit board like a EVH 5150 iii, Mesa Boogie amp.
Awesome Pete getting those demos caught up I see! awesome!