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Post subject: Comparison of Blackstar HT40 with Fender, and Marshall combo
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 12:30 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:55 pm
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Location: Atlanta, GA
Hello folks

As my playing has improved, I am making the decision to gravitate out of solid state and go "tube"

I have been looking at the 40 watt combo amps. My musical tastes are diverse, so I want an amp that can accompany that. I know with Fender amps - - - I can't go wrong with playing country, blues and old rock & roll. However I like the clarity and crispness of the Marshall DSL Series DSL40C 40 and Marshall 900 JCM guitar amp. However I have a friend who bought a Blackstar HT40 and he practically lives by the fact he bought a stellar amp. Although I have not played my guitar through the Blackstar HT40 ; I have spent some serious time reading reviews and listening to YouTube clips. I know there are many factors when listening to these demonstrations, such as the kind of guitar being played, the acoustics in the room and how they are comparing to other various rigs . . .(and perhaps opinions can be pretty bias) However I have read some great reviews and not so great reviews. And some of the demonstrations I have heard . . . the Blackstar HT40 sounds rather solid state. And when they compare to a Fender amp . . . I don't hear the buttery, sweet tonal quality on the Blackstar HT40. Now . . . Some YouTube footage I have seen, I could sort of hear the the quality of Fender and Marshall. After this post . . . .I will drive to a dealer that carries a Blackstar and test for myself.

What is your take on this? Are there any Blackstar HT40 owners here?
I am sold on Blackstars price . . . however if it does not float my boat I might as well spend the extra $100-$150 more for Marshall . . . . Maybe a Fender product.


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Post subject: Re: Comparison of Blackstar HT40 with Fender, and Marshall c
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 6:23 pm
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You need to play these amps in person, no computer speaker can do a good tube amp justice. Grab your guitar and go play the amps in person, listen with your ears, not your eyes. That doesn't mean you shouldn't look the amps over for quality of construction, etc. Spend some time with each and twirl the knobs to find the tone your after. That will be the one you should buy. If there is a certain sound you are looking for then spend the extra $$ for the one you want.

Reading the reviews on the amps in question, the biggest thing to pay attention to is build quality, because everybody's ears are different. And my last piece of advise...take your time, nothing worse than buying an amp and later find your not as enamored with it as you thought.

HTH

T2

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Post subject: Re: Comparison of Blackstar HT40 with Fender, and Marshall c
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 6:59 pm
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Rock Star
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I almost bought a used ht40. I then saw that the 60 watt soloist was on sale at sweetwater for only 499.00. I got it about 10 days ago and am liking it so far. a very good clean sound. single tone control with a voicing switch and presence control. the overdrive channel is darn good too.
I tried the dsl 40c, the hot rod deluxe, and a few others, and for the price I think I got a great amp. only your ears can tell you if you'll like it.
good luck in your journey.


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Post subject: Re: Comparison of Blackstar HT40 with Fender, and Marshall c
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 7:10 pm
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I was a mere child of 14 in 1966 and knew enough to take my guitar to the store and try them out. I was dead set on the Vox and came home with a Super Reverb. The ears tell the tale.


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Post subject: Re: Comparison of Blackstar HT40 with Fender, and Marshall c
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 8:46 pm
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LawFlow wrote:
I was a mere child of 14 in 1966 and knew enough to take my guitar to the store and try them out. I was dead set on the Vox and came home with a Super Reverb. The ears tell the tale.


+1

The rich kid down the street decided he'd outgrown his blackface Fender Deluxe and told his pop he wanted a Vox Super Beatle only because they looked so cool on that chrome trolley. The old man buys him a Vox Viscount instead and I got the opportunity to buy the orphaned Fender for ninety bucks which of course I jumped on. It made my two-pickup Teisco "tulip" sound almost palatable and was downright heavenly once I stepped up to a Gibson Melody Maker.

:mrgreen:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Comparison of Blackstar HT40 with Fender, and Marshall c
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 9:25 pm
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Roadie
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Blackstar owner here. I have an HT-5C. I like it for playing Madison Square Basement and recording. The channel switching is nice and with the effects loop I can tuck a delay pedal behind the amp, set it and forget it. I did replace the speaker.

I have some Fender solid state amps too (Princeton Chorus, Champion 110) and they're great. Wonderful cleans and the distortion channels have their own thing going.

I don't think you would go wrong with any of the amps you're looking at. The Marshall DSL40C is very well-regarded too.


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Post subject: Re: Comparison of Blackstar HT40 with Fender, and Marshall c
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 12:17 pm
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Aspiring Musician
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Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:55 pm
Posts: 437
Location: Atlanta, GA
Thanks everyone . . . All of you are correct on this. It's best to try it out. Sad to say . . . I have been swamped with other life issues . . I might have to put the amp hunt on hold. I'll still test the Blackstar HT40 though!

T2Stratman . . . thanks for thy input!


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