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Sleek looks and boutique tone.
The Blackstar Artisan 15H is a deceptively simple guitar amp head in operation and yet highly flexible in functionality and tone—keeping with its classic design.
With the emphasis on simplicity and sonic purity, every feature of the 15W Blackstar Artisan 15H has been refined to provide you with the widest range of reference vintage tones. This is achieved by the design of electronic circuitry working in harmony with the finest components and materials available.
The Blackstar Artisan 15H is built to last a lifetime. This Blackstar amp head effortlessly combines vintage style and rugged, road tested reliability. The point-to-point tag board construction, welded steel chassis and finger-jointed birch-ply cabinet are complemented by beautiful vintage red Tolex and etched aluminium panels.
Power Amplifier
The Blackstar Artisan 15H power amplifier uses 2 EL84 power pentode tubes in Class A and operates in two modes, namely push-pull (15W) or single-ended (5W), depending on the setting of the Power Amplifier Mode control.
In push-pull mode the power amplifier takes on the characteristics of a low wattage vintage British combo. The single-ended mode allows the generation of the critical power amplifier harmonic distortion at a much lower volume, in the same way as the early American low-wattage amplifiers. In either mode the Blackstar Artisan 15H is an exceptional home or studio amplifier.
The power amplifier is further enhanced by using a cathode coupled phase splitter to provide outstanding balance in the power amplifier drive which creates superb dynamic response. The EL84s are graded in terms of quiescent operating point and transconductance giving excellent hum performance and dynamic feel.
In keeping with the vintage sonic signature of the Blackstar Artisan 15H amp head, the use of an EZ81 tube rectifier adds compression to the power amplifier response and is critical in generating its feel and responsiveness.
With an amplifier that is built to last, reliability of the electronics circuitry is essential.
Preamplier
Channel 1 – The ECC83 Channel
Hi/Lo inputs provide perfect matching either directly to the guitar (high sensitivity) or for connection to higher output effects pedals (low sensitivity).
This channel has an exquisite British vintage feel. Its gain is derived from an ECC83 dual triode tube and Channel 1's sonic signature relies on the ECC83's characteristics in terms of gain, compression and distortion.
The Tone control is passive and its response deliberately relies on the setting of the Channel 1 Volume control to allow the most versatile sonic palette.
Channel 2 – The EF86 Channel
Hi/Lo inputs provide perfect matching either directly to the guitar (high sensitivity) or for connection to higher output effects pedals (low sensitivity).
This channel is based on the EF86 preamplifier pentode tube. Originally, this tube was most commonly used in high-end audio applications due to its high gain, low noise characteristics. However, in very early American guitar amplifier designs a pentode was used in the preamplifier circuit. The use of a pentode in these early designs provided unique gain and compression—characteristics that make these amplifiers so revered for studio use today.
In keeping with the American designs, the extra gain of the Blackstar Artisan 15H am head's EF86 allows the power amplifier to be driven harder for more compression and rich harmonic distortion. The EF86 also adds its own particular compression and distortion flavor to this channel making Channel 2 a dream to record with.
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