2 GREAT AMPS! However, in order for the comparison to be truly fair you must engage the Mesa's graphic EQ. Why you say? The Blackstar doesn't have a graphic EQ how can that be fair? Because the tone stack of the Blackstar functions in precisely the same way as the graphic on the Mesa. Huh? The channel EQ on the Mesa Mark Series amplifiers and other Mesa/Boogie amps that have graphic EQ's, is pre gain. Look at it as if there were a 3 band EQ on all your guitars. It is tone shaping before the signal is smashed by overdrive. Where this helps is on the low end side of things. In essence, in a high gain circuit, attenuating the lows gives an overdriven signal more punch and focus since you are balancing the frequency energy before it enters the gain stage. Low frequencies have more energy than mids and highs. If too much low frequency content is allowed to run free in an overdriven circuit, it swallows up the mids and highs, bumps its head on the ceiling and leaves sounding flabby, or more precisely: like shit. Which is why your ears told you to run that Mark V low eq at between 2 and 3 on the high gain side. To keep things fair you did this to the Blackstar as well which is actually unfair to the Blackstar, because you are taking away the low end on an already overdriven signal, making the tone thinner than its designers intended. The graphic on the Mesa is in the same spot in the circuit as the Blackstar tone stack. Post Gain. And why that ridiculous looking V shape that sounds like poo on every piece of audio gear known to man, except on a Boogie it is glory from the teat of the Metal Gods. Another major design difference between the Mesa and the Blackstar is the use of a diode in the Blackstar's OD circuit. The diode is overdriven rather than a tube. Its basically an OD stompbox inside the amp...and how the Blackstar can achieve high gain while only using 2 preamp tubes. It is not true tube overdrive. The difference is really felt when you start backing off the volume knob of your guitar on the Blackstar. Instead of staying creamy and warm, the tone tends to stay brittle as it cleans up. I've owned an HT-40 and a Mark IV version 1. And for the money the Blackstar is a huge heavy rock BANG. It represents a guitarists ability to affordably get tones that range from high gain Marshall-ish to high gain Boogie-ish. Compromises have been made to achieve this that are felt, not just at the ears, but at the fingers as well. The Mark V represents the latest achievements of tube guitar amplifiers at the art form's pinnacle. A true masterpiece. In closing, because of these stark differences in design, its a comparison that wont ever be quote-unquote "fair". (yes, grammar authorities, i did just do that.) That being said the Blackstar performs admirably here. But in my opinion, the Mesa tone has more life and depth of character, even with one hand tied behind its Boogie back.
Robert Heazlit this is an amazing explanation of both of these amplifiers, and I couldn't agree with you more. You should be a column writer for a guitar magazine haha. I have pinned your comment in hopes that if anyone wants more detail when they come to this video and they can read your comment and find what they're looking for.
Thanks man! If i have a knack for writing, it must be at the expense of my memory...looks like i commented on your video 10 months ago and completely forgot. I don't post too often, but i did here because i have worked with both designs pretty extensively. Nice job on the video too, I might add. Brief explanation at the top, both amps properly mic'd with a shot of the controls, in and out in 6 minutes. I wish all comparison videos are more like yours!
Robert Heazlit Thanks! I have tried a couple videos where I went into thorough explanations of the gear that I was reviewing, but I found it works better and the videos go over better if you just give the people what they want to see and provide links in the description where they can read about all the tech specs.
Great comment!!! I agree with you, the Mesa has something more, BUUUUuuttt, based on what you said, let's imagine recording an AWESOME rock song and performing it live: when using a Blackstar, would the lack of the Mesa's "something more" really compromise the overall quality of this music? Would you miss something really substantial that would make it cease to be an awesome sounding song? Considering how the ear works in most musical situations, I can say that the answer to this question answers why Balckstar is an excellent choice! There is only one possibility for the answer to be "yes, it whould cease to be awesome": the guitarist has a strong fetish for some consecrated brands and has some struggle to deal with evidences that he has spent a lot of money on behalf of the fetish rather than the actual sound, so he doesn`t want to feel like a fool. Anyway, there is NOTHING wrong with someone having lots of money and enjoying having and experimenting with expensive and consecrated equipment, which is another story... And, yes, man!, you should be a column writer for a guitar magazine!! Cheers from Brazil.
The Graphic EQ comes at the very end of the signal chain so you can shape the final sound with the only consideration being how much of a certain frequency your speakers, cabinets - and ultimately your ears - can handle. (Extreme settings of the two lowest Bands - 80Hz and 240Hz will use up power quickly and overall headroom will be affected, especially in the 50W and 10W settings of the Channel Power switch). straight from the Mesa manual...at the end not before the eq controls. That's why the bass flubs out if you bring it up on the front panel but not so on the 5 band. Edit* just realized you meant the front panel is before gain..doh!
I'm madly in love with my Mark V but that Blackstar sounded really great! It's got that lovely, gritty British crunch to it. Sounds very convincingly like a Marshall. I can get reasonably close to that with the Mark V, but not like that. That ISF on the Blackstar is so cool.
The Boogie sounds better,but both sound good. You aren't being fair by matching knobs and not using features. Knob response curves aren't the same. If you are going to compare against a Boogie, make the Boogie sound the best it can and same for the Blackstar. Go for the same kind of sound, but don't expect the knobs to be the same.
Dude, great amp demo. I have a Mesa Dual Rectifier and an old 50 caliber. Love them both. i also have both Egnater Tweakers, 15 w and 40 w. I love them both. In any case, all of the amps mentioned by both you and me have great potential for any player. They are all good. Some amps fit playing styles a little better than others but overall, they are all good. Thanks for the demo.
I've got a Blackstar HT Stage60 combo.2x12 .One of the reasons I got this amp was the close proximity to Mesas,Marshalls,and the Fender type of sound.And with a good set of speakers it rocks. Good video ,new to your channel I will have to watch your others too! Cool stuff!
If I put a Blackstar AMp 60 INLINE, is good or a bad thing? Sometimes I Use it output on the pc, I think its better than AMplitube etc.. but i dont have money for a MesaBoogie
Yes agreed the blackstar sounds like it is already processed as opposed to the mesa. All those frequencies it has would be cut to make it sound like the blackstar might as well cut out the middle man and save the $$$$
They are really close, as you said. The Blackstar sounded pretty good. A bit less girth than the Boogie - but in the mix - it's so hard to tell the difference. The Boogie has a lot more girth, but with girth I think comes a bit less clarity. Depends what you're after. For me - I'd go with the Mesa (if I had to choose).
The Tone King Thanks for the comment! I would agree. Like i said in the video, I think the amps could be dialed in to be a little closer. I may need to revisit this one and instead of making the settings the same, i should dial in the best tone out of each.
Mesa just has that solid low end. That has always been one of Mesa/Boogie's strong suits. My only critique of the Blackstar Studio 20H is that the low end is a little thin. I thought the Blackstar had a better tone in this video, but I feel like the Mesa Mark V could have been dialed in better than was shown. I am a new owner of this Blackstar head, love it, I got it on a blowout price for Black Friday.
Thanks for the video! I have a Blackstar HT-5R that I play through a Mesa 4x12. Have been struggling with my next amp purchase between a Dual, Mark V and a 5150. I keep coming back to the Mark V and think I'm about to pull the trigger on one finally!
it just depends on your style really. the 5150 and dual recs are gain monsters, but clean channels are mediocre at best. the Mark 5 can do high gain for sure but the character of the amp is pretty different from the other two. it will take you a while to find your tone (but so worth it when you do), and it's note definition will make you play better because it's not very forgiving on mistakes or sloppy playing haha. In my opinion though, it's the mark series amps all the way. The tweaking options are endless, so if your tastes in music ever change, your amp won't have to. another option would be one of the club series heads from Blackstar, they will get you a great tone, and save you a lot of cash.
I’m a bit curious about your statement. What mode in the clean channel of a Recto do you think is mediocre? With regard to the reborn Dual Rectifier, MESA/BOOGIE claims “the clean and pushed modes found in channel 1 are based on the popular Lone Star and Mark V”. As a Music Players magazine reviewer states (musicplayers.com/reviews/guitars/2010/1210_MesaBoogieDualRecto.php), the reborn has an “improved clean channel transplanted nearly intact from Mesa’s own Lone Star and Mark V amplifiers”. I actually have both heads (Dual Rectifier and Mark V), and IMHO the new dual recto (reborn) has very good clean, absolutely comparable to the cleans of the Mark V, what confirms (IMHO) their cleans are really based in the same circuitry.
+Marcos Aurélio Lopes Oliveira I have not played a "reborn" recto. Fantastic decision by Mesa to base the new clean channel off of those amps circuitry. Having played the older rectifiers, I can say that they are not what I personally would be looking for, especially in the realm of mid to high gain, but the beautiful thing about tone is that it is purely subjective. I would love to do a shootout between the mark v and a rectifier just to see how close they actually got the clean channel.
You would not be disappointed with the Mark V. I had a 6505+ for a few months and sold it after comparing it to the Mark; it can do those outrageous 6505 high gain sounds better than the 6505 in my opinion, even without a boost in front. It can get super tight. Never compared it to a Rectifier, but it can get that "wall of gain" sound too.
I just ordered a HT20 combo on a black friday deal for 349. looking forward to using it with students. Sounded good to me, but the Mesa had a bit more character and life to it. Which it should for the price. Thanks for the demo.
I got the same deal for the Blackstar HT-20 and 3 months later I was as told the control board had to be replaced and parts were no longer available :: I'm working with Blackstar not see if they can source a board for me. Needless to say - very hesitant.
I have a blackstar HT-60 combo. I buy it because there is no stock of Marshall JVM in my country and any mesa head/combo is way over my budget. I have watched many mesa mark V reviews on youtube and always think that mesa is way better than my blackstar. Your comparison is the first one that show me that blackstar isn't really that bad. I even like blackstar tone than mesa. Anyway, thank you for this comparison. It's really an eye (or ear) opener for me ;)
The Mesa made me smile right away haha I has that magical thing haha but great vids and the blackstar sounded great especially acknowledging the price gap between the two !
I own a Mark V 25 and I get why you did this demo although, there's so much more you can do with the Mesa... Turn on the EQ in that V shape and say byebye Blackstar. Did you use the cab sim on the Mesa or did you mic it? Great demo I dig the playing as well. Cheers
Great video and nice tones! I think you are going to have a blast with the V:25. The range of tones are insane! I just put some JJ EL84's in mine and it really opened up the sound to my ears.
Dude ive been playing 25 years and I to have messed with all the major digital platforms. When it comes down to gain low or high tubes are it my friend
very close, close enough that no one sounds better than the other one but rather a preference to your liking. Mesa sounds darker. great vid. specially considering that the mesa is three times as much as the blackstar.
Andreas Nold i use the Sennheiser E609. please check out my video of the Sennheiser E609 vs. Shure SM57 to see how i record my guitars. I usually have the mic placed an inch from the grille, to the left of the dust cap just where it meets the cone.
I enjoyed both the track and your final conclusion. Very interesting comparison and I agree with you. Blackstar not disgraced by any means but shows what you get for a high end amp like the Mesa.
What would you suggest me to buy? Im looking for an amp head between 500-1000$ that will be close to the sound of Mesa,so im thinking to buy the blackstar mkII
I would say if your budget goes up to a thousand dollars, then just be patient and save a little longer and get the Mk V 25. It's plenty loud. If you need something now I would definitely recommend the blackstar Mk II
Great comparison demo! To me, they both sound great. Depending on the track, I'd use either amp. The Black* is more of an old school Marshall sound, the Mesa is more modern sounding.
jlopez47 It's the HT5 from Blackstar that the G5 is imitating, but yes its the same family of amp. Bugera amps have a way of sounding very close to the original. If you're just playing at home, it should be fine. If you want to take it out and use it live and in band rehearsal, the Bugera stuff has been known to have reliability issues when used harder than an at home practice amp.
I had a tweaker. I liked the sound, but it blew up after a year. Its asian made unlike the more expensive TOL series, which I had for about a month. I am curious do you use the stock tubes or have you changed out the tube? I think there are a lot more amps in that space, but none of them really try to gear towards heavy rock players. Most of the amps in this mid price points 500-700$ range seem to be geared at blues or alternative rock players. Fender, Peavey, Marshall, Laney all have options. There are also a lot of one channel amps with a tone control.
aus I just have the stock tubes in it actually. I'm sorry to hear that your amp blew up. Did you retube without getting the amp rebiased? I had a V3 a long time ago that did that because I didn't have it biased.
Hey Man, Great video! I gotta say, though it does come pretty close, there's just nothing like that signature Boogie tone. Seriously awesome video though! Definitely subbing right now!
Patrick Williams I just talked to the owner of my local Music Go Round And he said that he sold his last Triple Crown yesterday. he is going to give me a call when he gets another one in and I'm going to go in and make that demo for you.
You said everything that I was about to say. For the $$, I guess the Black star is pretty good. However, the Mesa just has the richness, harmonic tone. Very full yet defined. I've always owned Marshall, but as of recent, have decided to grab a Mark 35 head. Just a great amp. Nice demo !!!!!
The HT-40 has a voice switch for both clean and dirty channels and it really makes the amp, the 'modern' (pushed in) dirty channel is super tight with buckets of gain, compared with the old school channel which is a bit looser, but does less mental tones well. On the clean channel with the voice knob out it can be convinced to crunch up nicely even with a vintage output strat and there's loads of tubey compression, so just varying picking dynamics first from clean to snarling.
Nice demo Man... Although is worth mentioning one thing that I realized after more than 15 years playing... tone its greatly in your hands and fingers...
Blackstar has EL34 power tubes Mesa has EL84 power tubes Some body below mentioned the Blackstar sounded Marshall and thin, that would be the el34 tubes. There are a couple options for power tubes that would shift the tone in the direction of less thin more chunk and bottom end in my opinion, my favorite is a JJ KT77. JJ also makes a 6CA7 that is right between a 6L6 and a el34, that should sound really good in the Blackstar as well.
I've played - not owned - both of these several times and they both sound good in their own way. Having also played the 50W Blackstar, I found the 20W to be missing something - couldn't stand the cleans and the drive channel seemed anemic in comparison. For what I do, I've got the Mesa on my wish list because I need more versatility. My only gripe with the Mesa is that it's 'only' 2 channels compared to the full-sized Mark V, but I can live with that. Have you gigged the HT-20 or the Mesa?
I've gigged with an HT20 and its definitely loud enough...didn't cut as mush as I would have liked and I agree with you it's missing something. Now I have also gigged with a HT40 and that was much better. I Have the MK5 25 now and have used it at practice and it is just so versatile...
For the money, Blackstar amps are really fantastic. I actually favour the HT5 over the HT60. I put the heads through a Matrix NL212 which is quite trebly, so it balances out the darkness of the Blackstars to give a REALLY nice sound.
The Boogie has so much more everything,gorgeous tone but the Blackstar is sweet too if a lil bit fizzier. The definitive advantage of the Boogie is the blue light. Blue lights are awesome but always serious $$$ for any amp with a blue light.
I think backstars are amazing amps for the money. I like the tone of it but the mesa is the mesa, also I don´t like that you don´t have many EQ options on the clean channel of the backstair but it does sound great.
Great review! Yeah, both are great tones, but there's just more complexity in the tones of the Mesa that probably only a guitar player would hear. I own a Mesa Mark IV head, so i can pick out the Mesa in the mix. But for the money, the Backstar is great. I'm actually wanting a Studio 20 as a second amp, especially for practicing, because my Mark IV is just too much amp to always practice through. I have to set the master volume to like barely 1, just for practicing. Good vid, thanks!
Nice chops on the guitar. Ok, I love Mesa tone, which may make me sound bias. The most crucial thing after tone is reliability. Mesa is rock solid with reliability. I did feel more valve warmth with the mesa in your recording, both clean and driven.
I am a die hard Boogie fanatic...that lil Mark V is really something else. Love that tone...no eq either....sold. I am new to your channel...quick question: You said you weren't quite feeling the Axe through a guitar cab...I saw your Velocity...assuming that was the poweramp, have you tried the Mesa or Blackie power sections? Or dare I say both...in stereo?
I have had the Axe through the Blackstar power section as a pre, and it is definitely an improvement over the velocity. The velocity though is a great little power amp. So here is one of my biggest issues with the Axe as a pre in general...There is a noticeable volume drop out when switching patches via midi. So if you're playing a beautiful clean part and you're ready to switch a patch to lay down some killer triumphant riffage on everyone, you will hit your foot controller to switch the patch and then...........it finally switches and you are a few milliseconds late because of a volume drop out and you've lost your impact of actually coming in on the down beat.....song = ruined......ok maybe that's a bit hyperbolic, and maybe I'm being way too picky but for 2 grand, I should have enough DSP to switch a patch with ease. However, I put the Axe 4 cable method (4CM) through the front and back of the amp and stay on 1 patch turning efx on and off and it's great!
Wow awesome content! What about some clips about the Mark V with a more scooped tone? I think it sounds great! Hope your channel grows much more! P.S: What do you think about cutting away some treble in high gain Mark V tones? It makes the tone much smoother!
First of all, Thank you for your kind words. I usually play the mark v with the treble well below noon and then I use the graphic eq fader and presence to dial it where I want it to be. As far as the videos with a scooped sound goes, ask and you shall receive. I really appreciate the input on the channel and love suggestions for future videos. Give me a few days to whip something up for you. I will give you a shout out in the video too. What type of bands do you Iike with scooped guitar sounds?
+Gearing Up Wow! Such a fast, kind and wonderful reply! I use my Mark V to play mostly Dream Theater or some Thrash/Progressive stuff, the way I like the amp more is Mark IV mode with 7 strings and a TS-9 in front of it, as you said it with the treble and bass way down. Thanks for the reply and best wishes! Have luck with your musical career!
+Kiss Shot Acerola Orion Heart Under Blade Shinobu I just recorded the song and the video! you should see it post in just a little bit! I had a blast on this one. thanks for the suggestion!
I think upgrading the speaker on the Blackstar would go a long, long way. I don't remember the details now but I remember the stock speaker on the Blackstar is not great, especially on the 20. I have a 40 with a Celestion 75 Creamback in it, and it sounds awesome. The Mesa as you played it clearly had a warmer, fuller sound though. Would love to play one of those things in person. But the Blackstar is really really impressive for its market range. Really versatile, satisfying amp.
incredibly close the only difference is the growl on the Mesa is more pronounced and as the low end hits harder, I have the Mesa and really wanted it for more DI feature and the overall direction you want to take your sound with all of the Mesa features. Thank you for the video, was a good side by side!
Of course the Mesa sounds better. Its a better amp all around BUT it is also almost 3x the price.... The blackstar is a great amp for the money and comes pretty close as he said.
The Loser and the Boozer Podcast Tere are older Mesa amps that you can find used which sound far better than the Blackstar and cost roughly the same money. I have the Studio 20 combo and its a good amp but it will never be the real thing, the tubes are completely different. Mesa amps like the Studio .22 and .50 caliber are fantastic amps for the money, I've seen some sell on reverb for around the £600 mark which is a bargain. I do agree that the mark 5 and a lot of other Mesa amps are overpriced but there are diminishing returns like with almost anything you buy.
Damn!! Im sold onto the Mark V, the settings you have on the picture still are the same eqs for the audio? I hear a bit of a Lynch tone coming out of that Mesa and it sounds phenomenal
the only setting that is different is I put the presence at noon when recording. and the graphic EQ was off. when you turn the EQ on it opens the amp up even more. it's a beast!
+Gearing Up price wise I would probably lean ro the Blackstar, do you think I can get that same fullness and grit with a Maxon OD808 in front, I usually run that in front of any amp I have owned unless theres enough gain on top to where it doesn't need it. Or any other pedal or external eq recommended?
The blackstar has plenty of gain on tap. if you put an OD in front I would suggest level at max and gain real low just to make the amp work harder. another option is to put a graphic EQ in the loop to adjust the sound more to your liking. I think you would be very happy with the amp the way it is honestly, but those are some good options. is there a video I can make for you with the blackstar to try to get a certain tone?
+Gearing Up Im aiming for that classic high gain plexi tone mainly. In this vid alone I found that your dial in both your amps comes close to that grit in Dokkens Under Lock and Key album. I'm looking into this amp since it can do that Rhoads/Lynch tone, but I'm also looking for if it can handle heavier tunings like Drop C and D. Its difficult to find a review where the mids are scooped and the bass and treble are past noon. In my book, mids are your friends haha. But if you do have more time to experiment different tones with the Blackstar I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one who would be interested in seeing the potential of the Blackstar. I currently have a DSL40 combo amp but it just doesn't have that Marshall-esque tone that I'm looking for...even my AVT20 sounded better to my ears with an eq and a MXR Fullbore in front
I think it is fair to say that the Mesa Mark V25 can do what the Blackstar can do and that they can probably be dialed in to sound "pretty close" with the Mesa on the Mark IV setting on channel 2 but ..... the Blackstar can't even come close to doing the things that the Mesa can do with high gain, tightness, the umph you referred to, etc. The ISF doesn't even come close to the possibilities that the graphic eq of the Mark V25 offers, but yea it is 3 times the price. I appreciate the point you are making about the Blackstar, I've owned both, well I still own the Mark V25, but yea ... nice video, excellent sound and playing and great comparison!
I have Blackstar HT 60 amp and is a great amp, has a great tone. Mesa has a bit color, but is very expensive. With a Blackstar you have a great sound, is te best amp that i had.
John Petrucci mentioned that "Whoomph" thing that you are talking about specifically in the video of him playing the prototype Mark V-25. It's a quality that I've only heard in a Mesa, so I know exactly what you mean.
I think the gain structure and sound on the boogie is much better, and not so fizzy. BUT the Blackstar does sound very good. I too have a Mark V: 25 and love it more than any amp I've ever owned. Nice riffs too by the way.
i have both of these amps, and i will gladly take the mesa boogie without question any day. i can not stand the limited sound/tone of the blackstar. the boogie is worth every penny.
That was so close that if you listened to them a day apart, you'd never tell the difference. I've got a HT5 and it sounds great. I looked into bigger amps and ended up getting a Hughes & Kettner Switchblade. Great amp. Match one against the Boogie and I think it would win.
The Mesa Boogie wins hands down! Also, the EQ on a Mesa is why you pay the extra; you can get so many different tones using the EQ. I have the Mark V combo; it really rocks!
First off - nice playing. I owned a Blackstar Club HT50 - was quite the amp at the price, but I found it struggled live at gig volumes - the clarity broke up on it. Since then, I've had a Mesa Mark V, and now a JP-2C (amazing amp btw). There isn't much comparison. Even in your short shoot out, you could just tell the note clarity and hear the Mesa just opening up so much more. And your not even using one of the most unique features of the amp - the 5 band EQ. It's actually where it sits in the signal chain that makes it what it is - It's not in the loop, but actually after the loop. It's why even buying one of Mesa's 5 band EQ pedal won't do what the the 5 band on their amps do. Don't get me wrong, I think Blackstar makes some seriously good amps, and I almost bought a Series One before going the Mesa route. That EQ though is the source of both frustration (because it's so damn touchy) and great tone. Enjoy your Mark 5:25 - a great introduction into the Mesa world!
Do you still own this gator rack case (with axe inside on the beggininng of the movie)? Are you able to measure distance between those 2 "rails" on top of the case?:) I'm rebuilding my rig and I wonder if V:25 legs will be stable when I put in on top of gator rack case.
fzer0 I just checked it with my Boogie. the spacing is perfect but unfortunately the rails dont go back far enough to fit all 4 feet of the Boogie at the same time. You can just sit the front two feet on the rails and it kind of leans the boogie back a little bit but it doesnt look weird. it honestly was kind of nice and made the controls a little easier to see. and its sturdy.
Thanks, and how about putting amp on the different side, where (what I can see from pictures) the rails are sunken? As I want to use it on Mesa 2x12 I think the rails should be on the bottom to keep the cab holder between the rails.
fzer0 the rails are there so you can stack multiple of these cases together and hold them steady so the sunken rails on the bottom are the same depth as the raised rails on the top. you would still have two feet on either the front or back of the amplifier that would have to stick up
Have you tried the blackstar metal series HT? I need a versatile studio amp and am considering the mark 5. Can it do pretty much all genres well? Great video!
the mark 5 is awesome. and yes it can. the crunch mode on the clean channel is incredible and will get you in to Marshall territory. cleans are glassy and rich, and obviously the high gain is top notch. I would say pull the trigger immediately.
IThanks for the feedback. Someone was telling me to stay away from el 84s as they don't do high gain well but it doesn't seem that way at all. Have you tried the top line blackstar the series one? I'm between the series one blackstar and the mark 5 35 now
el84s handle it fine. when you get pretty loud it can mud up a bit but that's like cranking the amp. if it's for studio use, you will have no issues. please check out my head to head clean channel video between the HT and mesa. it's a blind shootout, see which clean you like better. the series one stuff is incredible. I've yet to find a bad Blackstar product.
The JP2C even moreso .. Mesa cleans are just so generic though .. needs a touch of chorus to give it that modern sound/thing since it lacks the chime and vibrance of a vintage circuit ..
I'm running a Mark V 25 through a vintage 212 with V30. I have yet to find bad tone out of this amp. I had a Blackstar club 40 a few months back great amp if it's within your price range but the Boogie takes the cake. Clean tones only a Fender twin can rival and the crunch setting with the price of this amp just for this setting. Most versitile amp I've ever owned and I would defiantly recommend this to anyone looking for a new amplifier.
I'm with ya...I will however say that the clean channel on the blackstar is absolutely fantastic. headroom for days. I also love the option of being able to make it sound a little more like a Marshall, and the boogie has trouble with that loose British sound. I simply must keep both haha.
I agree with you, the Blackstar sound very cool. But there is something what you can hear from the Mesa (especialy with headphones) that gives the snap. But yes tumps up for the Blackstar
I like the Blackstar better in this clip . Sounds more organic . The Mesa has that mid range honk I always hear from those although it sounds more defined. Considering the price on both in line with tone ?..The Blackstar is the better deal for me.
the clean track was actually the drive channel with the guitar volume rolled off! I agree though, that's where you can really hear the difference. thanks for checking out my videos! please sub and share!
Blackstar sounds pretty good but Mesa wins anyway pretty clearly. Mesa has much more definition and overall grind and also littlebit more low end. Blackstar sounds pretty basic but it's not bad at all!
Not sure what this word 'basic' means in terms of tone. But if you're searching for EVH, or other hot rodded Marshall 80's rock tones, the Blackstar will get the upper mid crunch a bit better. For rounder modern tones like Dream Theater, the Mark will work better.
Henry Widell I've had 2 Boogies for years. An F50 and Express 5.50. The clean channels are VERY low volume and noisy as hell. Just loud mush. Just bought a Blackstar Artist 30. It's about 4 times the volume, almost COMPLETELY quiet and the sound is so much better.
Very different sounds, but I couldn' t say one is better than other. Yes, Mesa sounds fuller, deeper, a more "epic" sound to my ears, but Blackstar sounds really nice, there is something "fresh", "bright" "optimistic" ( sorry for the adjectives, it's so difficult to describe the feeling of a tone...) in the way it sounds that changes absolutly the way I feel this piece of music (awesome!). I'd go for the Mesa (if I had the money), but I have to say I really like the Blackstar in this sample.
Antonio jnj i am torn between the two as well, which is why i simply could not sell my blackstar once i got the Mesa. i did just do a full review of the Mark V 25 in my latest video though so you can hear all the channels and modes if you like. its my latest video, thanks again for watching! any shares and subs will be truly appreciated and will help me make this channel what i truly want it to be.
2 GREAT AMPS! However, in order for the comparison to be truly fair you must engage the Mesa's graphic EQ. Why you say? The Blackstar doesn't have a graphic EQ how can that be fair? Because the tone stack of the Blackstar functions in precisely the same way as the graphic on the Mesa.
Huh?
The channel EQ on the Mesa Mark Series amplifiers and other Mesa/Boogie amps that have graphic EQ's, is pre gain. Look at it as if there were a 3 band EQ on all your guitars. It is tone shaping before the signal is smashed by overdrive. Where this helps is on the low end side of things. In essence, in a high gain circuit, attenuating the lows gives an overdriven signal more punch and focus since you are balancing the frequency energy before it enters the gain stage. Low frequencies have more energy than mids and highs. If too much low frequency content is allowed to run free in an overdriven circuit, it swallows up the mids and highs, bumps its head on the ceiling and leaves sounding flabby, or more precisely: like shit. Which is why your ears told you to run that Mark V low eq at between 2 and 3 on the high gain side. To keep things fair you did this to the Blackstar as well which is actually unfair to the Blackstar, because you are taking away the low end on an already overdriven signal, making the tone thinner than its designers intended. The graphic on the Mesa is in the same spot in the circuit as the Blackstar tone stack. Post Gain. And why that ridiculous looking V shape that sounds like poo on every piece of audio gear known to man, except on a Boogie it is glory from the teat of the Metal Gods.
Another major design difference between the Mesa and the Blackstar is the use of a diode in the Blackstar's OD circuit. The diode is overdriven rather than a tube. Its basically an OD stompbox inside the amp...and how the Blackstar can achieve high gain while only using 2 preamp tubes. It is not true tube overdrive. The difference is really felt when you start backing off the volume knob of your guitar on the Blackstar. Instead of staying creamy and warm, the tone tends to stay brittle as it cleans up.
I've owned an HT-40 and a Mark IV version 1. And for the money the Blackstar is a huge heavy rock BANG. It represents a guitarists ability to affordably get tones that range from high gain Marshall-ish to high gain Boogie-ish. Compromises have been made to achieve this that are felt, not just at the ears, but at the fingers as well. The Mark V represents the latest achievements of tube guitar amplifiers at the art form's pinnacle. A true masterpiece.
In closing, because of these stark differences in design, its a comparison that wont ever be quote-unquote "fair". (yes, grammar authorities, i did just do that.) That being said the Blackstar performs admirably here. But in my opinion, the Mesa tone has more life and depth of character, even with one hand tied behind its Boogie back.
Robert Heazlit this is an amazing explanation of both of these amplifiers, and I couldn't agree with you more. You should be a column writer for a guitar magazine haha. I have pinned your comment in hopes that if anyone wants more detail when they come to this video and they can read your comment and find what they're looking for.
Thanks man! If i have a knack for writing, it must be at the expense of my memory...looks like i commented on your video 10 months ago and completely forgot. I don't post too often, but i did here because i have worked with both designs pretty extensively. Nice job on the video too, I might add. Brief explanation at the top, both amps properly mic'd with a shot of the controls, in and out in 6 minutes. I wish all comparison videos are more like yours!
Robert Heazlit Thanks! I have tried a couple videos where I went into thorough explanations of the gear that I was reviewing, but I found it works better and the videos go over better if you just give the people what they want to see and provide links in the description where they can read about all the tech specs.
Great comment!!! I agree with you, the Mesa has something more, BUUUUuuttt, based on what you said, let's imagine recording an AWESOME rock song and performing it live: when using a Blackstar, would the lack of the Mesa's "something more" really compromise the overall quality of this music? Would you miss something really substantial that would make it cease to be an awesome sounding song? Considering how the ear works in most musical situations, I can say that the answer to this question answers why Balckstar is an excellent choice! There is only one possibility for the answer to be "yes, it whould cease to be awesome": the guitarist has a strong fetish for some consecrated brands and has some struggle to deal with evidences that he has spent a lot of money on behalf of the fetish rather than the actual sound, so he doesn`t want to feel like a fool. Anyway, there is NOTHING wrong with someone having lots of money and enjoying having and experimenting with expensive and consecrated equipment, which is another story... And, yes, man!, you should be a column writer for a guitar magazine!! Cheers from Brazil.
The Graphic EQ comes at the very end of the signal chain so you can shape the final sound with the only consideration being how
much of a certain frequency your speakers, cabinets - and ultimately your ears - can handle. (Extreme settings of the two lowest
Bands - 80Hz and 240Hz will use up power quickly and overall headroom will be affected, especially in the 50W and 10W settings
of the Channel Power switch). straight from the Mesa manual...at the end not before the eq controls. That's why the bass flubs out if you bring it up on the front panel but not so on the 5 band.
Edit* just realized you meant the front panel is before gain..doh!
I'm madly in love with my Mark V but that Blackstar sounded really great! It's got that lovely, gritty British crunch to it. Sounds very convincingly like a Marshall. I can get reasonably close to that with the Mark V, but not like that. That ISF on the Blackstar is so cool.
The Boogie sounds better,but both sound good. You aren't being fair by matching knobs and not using features. Knob response curves aren't the same. If you are going to compare against a Boogie, make the Boogie sound the best it can and same for the Blackstar. Go for the same kind of sound, but don't expect the knobs to be the same.
I agree, matching knobs is one way to do but then you should try to simply match sound
Spot on man! Well said about the amp through a cab over the AxeFX.
Excellent video dude!! Excuse me, what is your opinion on the Blackstar HT-1RH? Is there a way you could compare the HT20H vs the HT-1RH??
Dude, great amp demo. I have a Mesa Dual Rectifier and an old 50 caliber. Love them both. i also have both Egnater Tweakers, 15 w and 40 w. I love them both. In any case, all of the amps mentioned by both you and me have great potential for any player. They are all good. Some amps fit playing styles a little better than others but overall, they are all good. Thanks for the demo.
jake smith
Thanks for the kind words! i would love to get my hands on an old 50 cal.
I've got a Blackstar HT Stage60 combo.2x12 .One of the reasons I got this amp was the close proximity to Mesas,Marshalls,and the Fender type of sound.And with a good set of speakers it rocks. Good video ,new to your channel I will have to watch your others too! Cool stuff!
bob bitchen thanks! I hope to get some new videos going soon. Life got in the way for a little bit but I want to get going again!
Great job and playing!
Hey man Great Playing and Tone!! Which guitar and pick ups are you using?? Also Mic Placement? Thanks
They both sound great!
If I put a Blackstar AMp 60 INLINE, is good or a bad thing? Sometimes I Use it output on the pc, I think its better than AMplitube etc.. but i dont have money for a MesaBoogie
I actually really like the Blackstar tone. I think it would cut nicer too when in a mix.
Yes agreed the blackstar sounds like it is already processed as opposed to the mesa. All those frequencies it has would be cut to make it sound like the blackstar might as well cut out the middle man and save the $$$$
Interpreted as "Blackstar is what I can afford".
how is the volume taper on the mark v 25--is there a spike when turning it up from zero--want to use it in my apartment-thx
How does the Blackstar respond to pedals (Boost/Drive/Fuzz etc)?
do you think the result of the comparison will be pretty much the same with the 100 watt version of the amps?
As expected, the Mark is tighter and more articulate. Regardless, I can see a reason for going with one or the other but I am a Mesa lover.
They are really close, as you said. The Blackstar sounded pretty good. A bit less girth than the Boogie - but in the mix - it's so hard to tell the difference. The Boogie has a lot more girth, but with girth I think comes a bit less clarity. Depends what you're after. For me - I'd go with the Mesa (if I had to choose).
The Tone King
Thanks for the comment!
I would agree. Like i said in the video, I think the amps could be dialed in to be a little closer. I may need to revisit this one and instead of making the settings the same, i should dial in the best tone out of each.
Solid comparison man. I think in this case, what sounds better is personal preference. Both tones are great.
Mesa just has that solid low end. That has always been one of Mesa/Boogie's strong suits. My only critique of the Blackstar Studio 20H is that the low end is a little thin. I thought the Blackstar had a better tone in this video, but I feel like the Mesa Mark V could have been dialed in better than was shown. I am a new owner of this Blackstar head, love it, I got it on a blowout price for Black Friday.
Thanks for the video! I have a Blackstar HT-5R that I play through a Mesa 4x12. Have been struggling with my next amp purchase between a Dual, Mark V and a 5150. I keep coming back to the Mark V and think I'm about to pull the trigger on one finally!
it just depends on your style really. the 5150 and dual recs are gain monsters, but clean channels are mediocre at best. the Mark 5 can do high gain for sure but the character of the amp is pretty different from the other two. it will take you a while to find your tone (but so worth it when you do), and it's note definition will make you play better because it's not very forgiving on mistakes or sloppy playing haha. In my opinion though, it's the mark series amps all the way. The tweaking options are endless, so if your tastes in music ever change, your amp won't have to. another option would be one of the club series heads from Blackstar, they will get you a great tone, and save you a lot of cash.
I’m a bit curious about your statement. What mode in the clean channel of a Recto do you think is mediocre? With regard to the reborn Dual Rectifier, MESA/BOOGIE claims “the clean and pushed modes found in channel 1 are based on the popular Lone Star and Mark V”. As a Music Players magazine reviewer states (musicplayers.com/reviews/guitars/2010/1210_MesaBoogieDualRecto.php), the reborn has an “improved clean channel transplanted nearly intact from Mesa’s own Lone Star and Mark V amplifiers”. I actually have both heads (Dual Rectifier and Mark V), and IMHO the new dual recto (reborn) has very good clean, absolutely comparable to the cleans of the Mark V, what confirms (IMHO) their cleans are really based in the same circuitry.
+Marcos Aurélio Lopes Oliveira I have not played a "reborn" recto. Fantastic decision by Mesa to base the new clean channel off of those amps circuitry. Having played the older rectifiers, I can say that they are not what I personally would be looking for, especially in the realm of mid to high gain, but the beautiful thing about tone is that it is purely subjective. I would love to do a shootout between the mark v and a rectifier just to see how close they actually got the clean channel.
You would not be disappointed with the Mark V. I had a 6505+ for a few months and sold it after comparing it to the Mark; it can do those outrageous 6505 high gain sounds better than the 6505 in my opinion, even without a boost in front. It can get super tight. Never compared it to a Rectifier, but it can get that "wall of gain" sound too.
I just ordered a HT20 combo on a black friday deal for 349. looking forward to using it with students. Sounded good to me, but the Mesa had a bit more character and life to it. Which it should for the price. Thanks for the demo.
I got the same deal for the Blackstar HT-20 and 3 months later I was as told the control board had to be replaced and parts were no longer available :: I'm working with Blackstar not see if they can source a board for me. Needless to say - very hesitant.
RNA MUSIC do the speaker upgrade in the combo and it's a completely different amp awesome
I have a blackstar HT-60 combo. I buy it because there is no stock of Marshall JVM in my country and any mesa head/combo is way over my budget. I have watched many mesa mark V reviews on youtube and always think that mesa is way better than my blackstar. Your comparison is the first one that show me that blackstar isn't really that bad. I even like blackstar tone than mesa. Anyway, thank you for this comparison. It's really an eye (or ear) opener for me ;)
Rendy Andrian I am proud to own a blackstar. They are fantastic amps. I'm glad this video was able to help!
The Mesa made me smile right away haha I has that magical thing haha but great vids and the blackstar sounded great especially acknowledging the price gap between the two !
thanks you! I agree, it's incredible how inexpensive the Blackstar is and how good it actually sounds.
I own a Mark V 25 and I get why you did this demo although,
there's so much more you can do with the Mesa...
Turn on the EQ in that V shape and say byebye Blackstar.
Did you use the cab sim on the Mesa or did you mic it?
Great demo I dig the playing as well.
Cheers
what cab/speaker did you use ?
I like the brightness if the blackstar, reminds me of these Diesel amps some of the Japanese melodic punks bands play.
What's the cab/micing?
Great video and nice tones! I think you are going to have a blast with the V:25. The range of tones are insane! I just put some JJ EL84's in mine and it really opened up the sound to my ears.
thank you! and yeah I have been having a great time with both amps! please check out my other videos and share if you like them.
Dude ive been playing 25 years and I to have messed with all the major digital platforms. When it comes down to gain low or high tubes are it my friend
very close, close enough that no one sounds better than the other one but rather a preference to your liking. Mesa sounds darker. great vid. specially considering that the mesa is three times as much as the blackstar.
eduardo arellano barreto Mesa sounds way better
What mikes do you use and positioning plus cab? What a great clarity of both of these amps.
Andreas Nold
i use the Sennheiser E609. please check out my video of the Sennheiser E609 vs. Shure SM57 to see how i record my guitars. I usually have the mic placed an inch from the grille, to the left of the dust cap just where it meets the cone.
Boogie slays!! The low mids are nicer with the MKV25!!
I enjoyed both the track and your final conclusion. Very interesting comparison and I agree with you. Blackstar not disgraced by any means but shows what you get for a high end amp like the Mesa.
Great Demo , Thanks
Morgan Bucks thank you!
Pickedup the Studio 20 combo put in a Celestion G12H Gold = Awesome!
What would you suggest me to buy? Im looking for an amp head between 500-1000$ that will be close to the sound of Mesa,so im thinking to buy the blackstar mkII
I would say if your budget goes up to a thousand dollars, then just be patient and save a little longer and get the Mk V 25. It's plenty loud. If you need something now I would definitely recommend the blackstar Mk II
Great comparison demo! To me, they both sound great. Depending on the track, I'd use either amp. The Black* is more of an old school Marshall sound, the Mesa is more modern sounding.
Steve Herb Thanks!
Great demo of both amps. The Boogie comes out ahead with its more full-bodied tone.
Kevin Sedore
Thanks!
Is this the Blackstar amp that Bugera is trying to mimic with their G5 Infinium amp? Looks like the exact same control knobs
jlopez47 It's the HT5 from Blackstar that the G5 is imitating, but yes its the same family of amp. Bugera amps have a way of sounding very close to the original. If you're just playing at home, it should be fine. If you want to take it out and use it live and in band rehearsal, the Bugera stuff has been known to have reliability issues when used harder than an at home practice amp.
I had a tweaker. I liked the sound, but it blew up after a year. Its asian made unlike the more expensive TOL series, which I had for about a month. I am curious do you use the stock tubes or have you changed out the tube?
I think there are a lot more amps in that space, but none of them really try to gear towards heavy rock players. Most of the amps in this mid price points 500-700$ range seem to be geared at blues or alternative rock players. Fender, Peavey, Marshall, Laney all have options. There are also a lot of one channel amps with a tone control.
aus I just have the stock tubes in it actually. I'm sorry to hear that your amp blew up. Did you retube without getting the amp rebiased? I had a V3 a long time ago that did that because I didn't have it biased.
Both have good points. Both work for me.
2 awesome amps, very different from each other.
killer sounds!!
Emetal Madman Thanks! I agree!
Hey Man, Great video! I gotta say, though it does come pretty close, there's just nothing like that signature Boogie tone. Seriously awesome video though! Definitely subbing right now!
Patrick Williams
thank you!
Any Time! What do you think about the new MESA TC-50? Could we be expecting a video demo any time soon?
Patrick Williams
i think it sounds absolutely killer. And I will try to coordinate with my local music go round to make a demo of it at their store.
Gearing Up awesome! Can't wait!
Patrick Williams
I just talked to the owner of my local Music Go Round And he said that he sold his last Triple Crown yesterday.
he is going to give me a call when he gets another one in and I'm going to go in and make that demo for you.
I have a Blackstar HT 40, I drive it with a EHX East River Drive Pedal & MXR 6 band Graphic EQ, sounds awesome...
Great Video. Maybe I missed it, but what cab did you use? Thanks
Marshall 2x12 with celestion g12t-75's
and also thank you! haha that was rude of me.
You said everything that I was about to say. For the $$, I guess the Black star is pretty good.
However, the Mesa just has the richness, harmonic tone. Very full yet defined. I've always owned Marshall, but as of recent, have decided to grab a Mark 35 head. Just a great amp. Nice demo !!!!!
Great demo. I prefer the Boogie, overall a very balanced Guitar tone. Thanks.
The HT-40 has a voice switch for both clean and dirty channels and it really makes the amp, the 'modern' (pushed in) dirty channel is super tight with buckets of gain, compared with the old school channel which is a bit looser, but does less mental tones well.
On the clean channel with the voice knob out it can be convinced to crunch up nicely even with a vintage output strat and there's loads of tubey compression, so just varying picking dynamics first from clean to snarling.
Mark V any day! LOVE IT!
Nice demo Man...
Although is worth mentioning one thing that I realized after more than 15 years playing... tone its greatly in your hands and fingers...
M Valencia
You are absolutely right. thank you!
Miguel Valencia
Blackstar has EL34 power tubes
Mesa has EL84 power tubes
Some body below mentioned the Blackstar sounded Marshall and thin, that would be the el34 tubes.
There are a couple options for power tubes that would shift the tone in the direction of less thin more chunk and bottom end in my opinion, my favorite is a JJ KT77. JJ also makes a 6CA7 that is right between a 6L6 and a el34, that should sound really good in the Blackstar as well.
I've played - not owned - both of these several times and they both sound good in their own way. Having also played the 50W Blackstar, I found the 20W to be missing something - couldn't stand the cleans and the drive channel seemed anemic in comparison. For what I do, I've got the Mesa on my wish list because I need more versatility. My only gripe with the Mesa is that it's 'only' 2 channels compared to the full-sized Mark V, but I can live with that. Have you gigged the HT-20 or the Mesa?
I've gigged with an HT20 and its definitely loud enough...didn't cut as mush as I would have liked and I agree with you it's missing something. Now I have also gigged with a HT40 and that was much better. I Have the MK5 25 now and have used it at practice and it is just so versatile...
For the money, Blackstar amps are really fantastic. I actually favour the HT5 over the HT60.
I put the heads through a Matrix NL212 which is quite trebly, so it balances out the darkness of the Blackstars to give a REALLY nice sound.
The Boogie has so much more everything,gorgeous tone but the Blackstar is sweet too if a lil bit fizzier. The definitive advantage of the Boogie is the blue light. Blue lights are awesome but always serious $$$ for any amp with a blue light.
Since this was a HT20 head, might I ask what speaker config was used? I have the combo and dialed it your settings. Sounds great.
It was a Marshall 2x12 cab with Celestion G12T75's
@@GearingUpShow thanks for the quick response.
Wow that Mark sounds great.
I'm late to the game but I just picked up this blackstar head for $300 and I'm excited
I like them both I just found the Black to be a little more fizzy in the top end. Boogie has that cutting through mid that they're known for.
great video! and yeah no doubt the Boogie has little more clarity under gain. but the Blackstar still rocks!!!
I think backstars are amazing amps for the money. I like the tone of it but the mesa is the mesa, also I don´t like that you don´t have many EQ options on the clean channel of the backstair but it does sound great.
Great review! Yeah, both are great tones, but there's just more complexity in the tones of the Mesa that probably only a guitar player would hear. I own a Mesa Mark IV head, so i can pick out the Mesa in the mix. But for the money, the Backstar is great. I'm actually wanting a Studio 20 as a second amp, especially for practicing, because my Mark IV is just too much amp to always practice through. I have to set the master volume to like barely 1, just for practicing. Good vid, thanks!
entr0py1 Thank you! very kind words. would love if you would check out my other videos and sub if you like them! every sub helps!
Nice chops on the guitar. Ok, I love Mesa tone, which may make me sound bias. The most crucial thing after tone is reliability. Mesa is rock solid with reliability. I did feel more valve warmth with the mesa in your recording, both clean and driven.
Cool video, dang that boogie is so creamy in comparison. Got a 20 yr old dc 50, always boogie for me.
I am a die hard Boogie fanatic...that lil Mark V is really something else. Love that tone...no eq either....sold. I am new to your channel...quick question: You said you weren't quite feeling the Axe through a guitar cab...I saw your Velocity...assuming that was the poweramp, have you tried the Mesa or Blackie power sections? Or dare I say both...in stereo?
I have had the Axe through the Blackstar power section as a pre, and it is definitely an improvement over the velocity. The velocity though is a great little power amp. So here is one of my biggest issues with the Axe as a pre in general...There is a noticeable volume drop out when switching patches via midi. So if you're playing a beautiful clean part and you're ready to switch a patch to lay down some killer triumphant riffage on everyone, you will hit your foot controller to switch the patch and then...........it finally switches and you are a few milliseconds late because of a volume drop out and you've lost your impact of actually coming in on the down beat.....song = ruined......ok maybe that's a bit hyperbolic, and maybe I'm being way too picky but for 2 grand, I should have enough DSP to switch a patch with ease. However, I put the Axe 4 cable method (4CM) through the front and back of the amp and stay on 1 patch turning efx on and off and it's great!
Wow awesome content! What about some clips about the Mark V with a more scooped tone? I think it sounds great! Hope your channel grows much more!
P.S: What do you think about cutting away some treble in high gain Mark V tones? It makes the tone much smoother!
First of all, Thank you for your kind words. I usually play the mark v with the treble well below noon and then I use the graphic eq fader and presence to dial it where I want it to be.
As far as the videos with a scooped sound goes, ask and you shall receive. I really appreciate the input on the channel and love suggestions for future videos. Give me a few days to whip something up for you. I will give you a shout out in the video too. What type of bands do you Iike with scooped guitar sounds?
+Gearing Up Wow! Such a fast, kind and wonderful reply! I use my Mark V to play mostly Dream Theater or some Thrash/Progressive stuff, the way I like the amp more is Mark IV mode with 7 strings and a TS-9 in front of it, as you said it with the treble and bass way down. Thanks for the reply and best wishes! Have luck with your musical career!
+Kiss Shot Acerola Orion Heart Under Blade Shinobu I just recorded the song and the video! you should see it post in just a little bit! I had a blast on this one. thanks for the suggestion!
+Gearing Up Wow so fast man! Thanks for taking my advice so seriously, I've just become a fan of yours! Best wishes!
Wow, the Blackstar sounds really nice. Awesome playing. I love the Boogie tone but the Blackstar really can hang! Well done man.
Simon Belmont
Thanks! Really appreciate it! please check some of my other videos? my goal is 250 subs before January. please share!
Yes, both amps were well represented and the clips sounded great.
I think upgrading the speaker on the Blackstar would go a long, long way. I don't remember the details now but I remember the stock speaker on the Blackstar is not great, especially on the 20. I have a 40 with a Celestion 75 Creamback in it, and it sounds awesome.
The Mesa as you played it clearly had a warmer, fuller sound though. Would love to play one of those things in person.
But the Blackstar is really really impressive for its market range. Really versatile, satisfying amp.
Put a G12H Creamback in my Studio 20. Best bang for the Buck!
incredibly close the only difference is the growl on the Mesa is more pronounced and as the low end hits harder, I have the Mesa and really wanted it for more DI feature and the overall direction you want to take your sound with all of the Mesa features. Thank you for the video, was a good side by side!
Of course the Mesa sounds better. Its a better amp all around BUT it is also almost 3x the price.... The blackstar is a great amp for the money and comes pretty close as he said.
thank you sir
Well said.
Frankie Boots the Mesa is a generic metal amp that’s way over priced. Blackstar has better tone in my opinion.
The Loser and the Boozer Podcast Tere are older Mesa amps that you can find used which sound far better than the Blackstar and cost roughly the same money. I have the Studio 20 combo and its a good amp but it will never be the real thing, the tubes are completely different. Mesa amps like the Studio .22 and .50 caliber are fantastic amps for the money, I've seen some sell on reverb for around the £600 mark which is a bargain. I do agree that the mark 5 and a lot of other Mesa amps are overpriced but there are diminishing returns like with almost anything you buy.
Damn!! Im sold onto the Mark V, the settings you have on the picture still are the same eqs for the audio? I hear a bit of a Lynch tone coming out of that Mesa and it sounds phenomenal
the only setting that is different is I put the presence at noon when recording. and the graphic EQ was off. when you turn the EQ on it opens the amp up even more. it's a beast!
+Gearing Up price wise I would probably lean ro the Blackstar, do you think I can get that same fullness and grit with a Maxon OD808 in front, I usually run that in front of any amp I have owned unless theres enough gain on top to where it doesn't need it. Or any other pedal or external eq recommended?
The blackstar has plenty of gain on tap. if you put an OD in front I would suggest level at max and gain real low just to make the amp work harder. another option is to put a graphic EQ in the loop to adjust the sound more to your liking. I think you would be very happy with the amp the way it is honestly, but those are some good options. is there a video I can make for you with the blackstar to try to get a certain tone?
+Gearing Up Im aiming for that classic high gain plexi tone mainly. In this vid alone I found that your dial in both your amps comes close to that grit in Dokkens Under Lock and Key album. I'm looking into this amp since it can do that Rhoads/Lynch tone, but I'm also looking for if it can handle heavier tunings like Drop C and D. Its difficult to find a review where the mids are scooped and the bass and treble are past noon. In my book, mids are your friends haha. But if you do have more time to experiment different tones with the Blackstar I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one who would be interested in seeing the potential of the Blackstar. I currently have a DSL40 combo amp but it just doesn't have that Marshall-esque tone that I'm looking for...even my AVT20 sounded better to my ears with an eq and a MXR Fullbore in front
+Gearing Up If you take a listen to that Under Lock and Key album Im sure you would have no problem replicating that tone cause your so close as it is
I think it is fair to say that the Mesa Mark V25 can do what the Blackstar can do and that they can probably be dialed in to sound "pretty close" with the Mesa on the Mark IV setting on channel 2 but ..... the Blackstar can't even come close to doing the things that the Mesa can do with high gain, tightness, the umph you referred to, etc. The ISF doesn't even come close to the possibilities that the graphic eq of the Mark V25 offers, but yea it is 3 times the price. I appreciate the point you are making about the Blackstar, I've owned both, well I still own the Mark V25, but yea ... nice video, excellent sound and playing and great comparison!
I have Blackstar HT 60 amp and is a great amp, has a great tone. Mesa has a bit color, but is very expensive. With a Blackstar you have a great sound, is te best amp that i had.
John Petrucci mentioned that "Whoomph" thing that you are talking about specifically in the video of him playing the prototype Mark V-25. It's a quality that I've only heard in a Mesa, so I know exactly what you mean.
Ht Studio does a good job considering the cost difference, but the Mark V kills it in the end
I think the gain structure and sound on the boogie is much better, and not so fizzy. BUT the Blackstar does sound very good. I too have a Mark V: 25 and love it more than any amp I've ever owned. Nice riffs too by the way.
thank you!
the gain structures were pretty different
type of gain...the way it reacts...easily distinguishable...
i have both of these amps, and i will gladly take the mesa boogie without question any day. i can not stand the limited sound/tone of the blackstar. the boogie is worth every penny.
Plus the Eq on the boogie pushes it to another level once enabled.
i like mesa better, both good though. what’s the song?
That was so close that if you listened to them a day apart, you'd never tell the difference. I've got a HT5 and it sounds great. I looked into bigger amps and ended up getting a Hughes & Kettner Switchblade. Great amp. Match one against the Boogie and I think it would win.
mesa sounds a bit more full, but i would be totally happy with the blackstar which ive been looking at to complement my 6505 mh
it would definitely offer you a better clean sound
In the end... Who's the one who knocks? Both. Thanks for the video man!
Mesa overall for sure but for less than 1/3 the price the Blackstar is very nice
The Mesa Boogie wins hands down! Also, the EQ on a Mesa is why you pay the extra; you can get so many different tones using the EQ. I have the Mark V combo; it really rocks!
Nice job on the demo! However, Boogie got more bite:) Would love for you to do a comparison with the Vox amp
comparing what to the vox? and which vox?
Totally agree 👍
First off - nice playing. I owned a Blackstar Club HT50 - was quite the amp at the price, but I found it struggled live at gig volumes - the clarity broke up on it. Since then, I've had a Mesa Mark V, and now a JP-2C (amazing amp btw). There isn't much comparison. Even in your short shoot out, you could just tell the note clarity and hear the Mesa just opening up so much more. And your not even using one of the most unique features of the amp - the 5 band EQ. It's actually where it sits in the signal chain that makes it what it is - It's not in the loop, but actually after the loop. It's why even buying one of Mesa's 5 band EQ pedal won't do what the the 5 band on their amps do. Don't get me wrong, I think Blackstar makes some seriously good amps, and I almost bought a Series One before going the Mesa route. That EQ though is the source of both frustration (because it's so damn touchy) and great tone. Enjoy your Mark 5:25 - a great introduction into the Mesa world!
I used to have the blackstar ht5. Distortion sounded muddy to me so I sold it and got a marshall dsl 50
Do you still own this gator rack case (with axe inside on the beggininng of the movie)? Are you able to measure distance between those 2 "rails" on top of the case?:)
I'm rebuilding my rig and I wonder if V:25 legs will be stable when I put in on top of gator rack case.
fzer0 I just checked it with my Boogie. the spacing is perfect but unfortunately the rails dont go back far enough to fit all 4 feet of the Boogie at the same time. You can just sit the front two feet on the rails and it kind of leans the boogie back a little bit but it doesnt look weird. it honestly was kind of nice and made the controls a little easier to see. and its sturdy.
Thanks, and how about putting amp on the different side, where (what I can see from pictures) the rails are sunken? As I want to use it on Mesa 2x12 I think the rails should be on the bottom to keep the cab holder between the rails.
fzer0 the rails are there so you can stack multiple of these cases together and hold them steady so the sunken rails on the bottom are the same depth as the raised rails on the top. you would still have two feet on either the front or back of the amplifier that would have to stick up
OK, many thanks!
Have you tried the blackstar metal series HT? I need a versatile studio amp and am considering the mark 5. Can it do pretty much all genres well? Great video!
the mark 5 is awesome. and yes it can. the crunch mode on the clean channel is incredible and will get you in to Marshall territory. cleans are glassy and rich, and obviously the high gain is top notch. I would say pull the trigger immediately.
IThanks for the feedback. Someone was telling me to stay away from el 84s as they don't do high gain well but it doesn't seem that way at all. Have you tried the top line blackstar the series one? I'm between the series one blackstar and the mark 5 35 now
Blackstar has lil better cleans right?
el84s handle it fine. when you get pretty loud it can mud up a bit but that's like cranking the amp. if it's for studio use, you will have no issues. please check out my head to head clean channel video between the HT and mesa. it's a blind shootout, see which clean you like better. the series one stuff is incredible. I've yet to find a bad Blackstar product.
Nice, thanks.
Which guitar did you use on the test?!
Tiago Fernandes Segaty Ernie Ball Music Man JP6. check out some of my other videos to see it played!
Knock, knock! Brilliant!
great tones :)
thanks!
Does the song you played have a name?
No it doesn't. I just wrote it for the demo
Boogie just has a bit more color to its tone!
The JP2C even moreso .. Mesa cleans are just so generic though .. needs a touch of chorus to give it that modern sound/thing since it lacks the chime and vibrance of a vintage circuit ..
True, but i dont run my cleans as spanking clean either...lol
Touche! :)
Mesa cleans are generic? What?? Do you own a Mesa Boogie?
No but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night ..
I'm running a Mark V 25 through a vintage 212 with V30. I have yet to find bad tone out of this amp. I had a Blackstar club 40 a few months back great amp if it's within your price range but the Boogie takes the cake. Clean tones only a Fender twin can rival and the crunch setting with the price of this amp just for this setting. Most versitile amp I've ever owned and I would defiantly recommend this to anyone looking for a new amplifier.
I'm with ya...I will however say that the clean channel on the blackstar is absolutely fantastic. headroom for days. I also love the option of being able to make it sound a little more like a Marshall, and the boogie has trouble with that loose British sound. I simply must keep both haha.
I never liked the HT-20's clean channel, too weak for my taste.
I agree with you, the Blackstar sound very cool. But there is something what you can hear from the Mesa (especialy with headphones) that gives the snap. But yes tumps up for the Blackstar
I like the Blackstar better in this clip . Sounds more organic . The Mesa has that mid range honk I always hear from those although it sounds more defined. Considering the price on both in line with tone ?..The Blackstar is the better deal for me.
Well done, dude!
Got to add: clean-ish guitar sounds amazing with mesa
thank you! which did you like better?!
Definitely mesa! Maybe both amps sound quite similar with distortion only, but the clean track is much deeper and more perceivable in the mix
the clean track was actually the drive channel with the guitar volume rolled off! I agree though, that's where you can really hear the difference. thanks for checking out my videos! please sub and share!
Sure, I'm a subscriber now. Thank you for the video
thank you for the sub!
Blackstar sounds pretty good but Mesa wins anyway pretty clearly. Mesa has much more definition and overall grind and also littlebit more low end. Blackstar sounds pretty basic but it's not bad at all!
Not sure what this word 'basic' means in terms of tone. But if you're searching for EVH, or other hot rodded Marshall 80's rock tones, the Blackstar will get the upper mid crunch a bit better. For rounder modern tones like Dream Theater, the Mark will work better.
Henry Widell I've had 2 Boogies for years. An F50 and Express 5.50. The clean channels are VERY low volume and noisy as hell. Just loud mush. Just bought a Blackstar Artist 30. It's about 4 times the volume, almost COMPLETELY quiet and the sound is so much better.
Very different sounds, but I couldn' t say one is better than other. Yes, Mesa sounds fuller, deeper, a more "epic" sound to my ears, but Blackstar sounds really nice, there is something "fresh", "bright" "optimistic" ( sorry for the adjectives, it's so difficult to describe the feeling of a tone...) in the way it sounds that changes absolutly the way I feel this piece of music (awesome!). I'd go for the Mesa (if I had the money), but I have to say I really like the Blackstar in this sample.
Antonio jnj
i am torn between the two as well, which is why i simply could not sell my blackstar once i got the Mesa. i did just do a full review of the Mark V 25 in my latest video though so you can hear all the channels and modes if you like. its my latest video, thanks again for watching! any shares and subs will be truly appreciated and will help me make this channel what i truly want it to be.
pretty close! I'll go for the Blackstar.