• Big things in small packages

  
  As reviewed by Casey Lockwood on 9/14/2012

  I bought this amp for bedroom practice, and I chose this one because it was the only one in it's class that had gain capable of metal stuff. That said, the gain channel is quite awesome, if not a little dark. There is loads of distortion, and one of the things I love most about this amp is that it cleans up SO nicely rolling off on the volume knob of the guitar. The clean channel is no Fender or Vox, but actually sounded much better than most people were saying. The tube dynamics were definately there. There is only one tone knob on the clean channel though, no bass, mid, treb. This amp is not loud enough to compete with drums. You could play small venues, like a small bar with a backing track perhaps, but for gigging, this is not your amp. HOWEVER, one nice thing is you can run the emulated output while having the speaker on at the same time. This means you could run the signal out to a PA system, then just use the amp as a monitor. Thats pretty sweet. Anyway, the amp has some awesome tones, huge range of versatility, and lots of useful features. I hear a speaker swap makes these things sound even better, but I am satisfied as it is. Perhaps in a year or so. Awesome amp. (8.5/10)

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• i wish I could do 4 and a half

  
  As reviewed by Zane Smothermon on 11/18/2011

  I rated it a five because I it is closer to 5 than 4 stars but I believe it earns a respectable 4 and a half. I will start out by saying it is hard to find a low watt tube amp so I was naturaly drawn to this amp. I needed a good practice amp and I hate emulation amps like the line 6 spider. So on to the specifics it has a great gain channel that for its size it can reach big heights. I have never played a amp that does rock and old school metal any better for its price and size. However if you want a more modern metal sound or thrash tone you will most likely need a tube screamer not for the gain but to tighten up the low end for heavy palm muting. The clean channel is great for me but it is pretty limited the tone is very crisp and you won't have lack of clarity however if the natural clean of this amp is not in your style the lack of ability to change clean tone would frusterating. Its reverb is much better than most amp reverb and is actually able to be turned on be useful. As a practice and recording amp I love the lead tone and with a the ability to achieve many tones is exactly what I want in a practice amp. If you play stricly new styles of metal you want to look else where unless you plan on using a tube screamer (like I do) or have a guitar with active pickups. But overall great amp, great price and don't hesitate because im sure as blackstar gets bigger the prices will sky rocket because they are really onto something BIG.

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• Like their ad says "the sound in your head"

  
  As reviewed by JIM BIERMANN on 11/12/2012

  I love this amp I purchased it a couple months ago after reading many reviews on several amps, listening to reviews on you tube and visiting shops and jamming on different gear. Having read reviews, I did swap out the speaker with a Warehouse Guitar Speaker(made in the USA) Veteran 30, their version of Celestion's Vintage 30, I had bought and used in my old amp(a Peavey VK112). I did check out the stock speaker before I swapped, just to hear out of the box. Sounded nice, but after the swap it was great. I later swapped out the stock EH 12AX7 for a Mullard 12AX7 and it went from great to AMAZING. I like to play blues, classic rock, 80's hair band, and every now and then like to thrash it up. This thing can do it all. The picking attack response is great on the gain channel. When I play the blues I like to set the gain at about 10 o'clock and use the volume on the guitar to easily control the distortion level along with picking attack. The distortion has depth to it that is easily controllable, thick, and aggressive yet articulated at the same time, even when pushed to max gain. I am saving my pennies for a NOS Mullard 12AT7 to try and coax a more creamy, bluesy tone from it. I play a BC Rich Mockingbird with Rockfield Mafia humbuckers(set up with coil splits) and a VERY nice Les Paul clone for the more bluesy stuff. The amp allows the true tonal differences in the guitars come out. I can't wait to get to borrow my uncle's semi hollow body Epiphone and my mother in law's Gibson Melody Maker with P90's. I HIGHLY recommend this amp. I have read reviews that did say once the stock speaker has some hours on it the tone gets MUCH better, I had this one and I knew it did wonders for the harsh Peavey I had for a minute. Maybe I will find a cheap empty 1X12 cab, stick the stock speaker in it and plug it in to break it in. Until then I will stick with my current upgrade. I will give another review when I finally get the Mullard NOS 12AT7. BUY the amp before they raise the price, this amp is a definite future classic. Rate before the minor upgrades 4, with the upgrades I would push for 6 or 7 stars....IT IS THAT AMAZING.

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