Greets,

I am looking at purchasing a valve amp in the near future. I am after a valve amp that has either a volume and master controls or has a clean and overdrive channel. Being for pratice purposes I don't want anything over 15w. I have watched a few YouTube demos of the Blackheart 15w combo amplifier and even through the recording I have to say it sounds fantastic using a Stratocaster.

I am well aware of the Blues Junior and its features but I have to say the Blues Junior needs some upfront modifications to get the right sounds from a valve amp. The NOS version is great but it just does not have the tone that I am after. The Blues Junior and the Blackheart are around the same price and the only other amps I know of that fit this catagory are out of my price range (Laney Lionheart 5w and Hughes and Kettner Statesman)

Does anyone own or has anyone heard the Blackheart amplifier, is it a reliable amp? I quite like the fact that it has a 7w mode aswell as 15w and was wondering if the 7w mode still produces a nice valve sound. I will definately plug into the NOS junior again just to be sure but it would be great to hear from anyone who has heard these Blackheart amps.

I am also aware that Blackstar has a HT-5 and the Orange Tiny Terror and will be checking that out aswell although last time I heard the Blackstar I was not really into the tones that werer coming out of the amplifier.

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Fender Highway One HSS Stratocaster '09
Modified Fender Champ600
Honer Special20 Harmonica

Play an Egnater Rebel before you buy the either. Jus' sayin'.

I went with the Mesa 5:25. Expensive at $1100, but has lots of great features and great quality. I like having 2 channels with independent tone control knobs, great tone at low volumes that don't disturb my family, good reverb, and good looks.

I considered the Egnater and think it is a real contender, when head and cabinet is included it is still quite expensive. It lacks some of the features I value.

That said, I also use a Line 6 Spider Jam and it sounds really great, but requires a bit more experimentation to get great tones from it. This is a modeling amp and has great features for home use.

Alright, well I have never heard of Egnatar before and I have just been checking out their website. The rebel seems to have all the features I am after, I just can't find a price list. Does anyone know a there abouts price for the Rebel20w head and a 1X12 caninet? Thanks.

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Fender Highway One HSS Stratocaster '09
Modified Fender Champ600
Honer Special20 Harmonica

Strat08BLues, the Rebel is available exclusively through Guitar Center stores and online at Musician's Friend.

The head is $599, the single 12 w/ head "halfstack" is $849. They are also making a new 30-watt-max combo version called a Rebel 30 for $899.

Maybe a bit more than the other two, but well worth it. Most versatile amp I've ever owned.

Nice amp but did you read in his post where he mentioned the all important price range.

Have you looked at the Fender Vibro Champ? It's reasonably priced and a pretty sweet little amp. I can't offer a reliability opinion on the Blackheart line of amps,(I've only messed around with them in guitar stores), but they do sound pretty good and are decently priced.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

He didn't state his price range. He just said the two amps in question were close to the same price and the only others he knew of with the features he wanted were out of his range. I don't know what the Laney or the H&K sell for, so I don't know what his price range is.

Besides, my experience has been... I have a price in mind until I discover the product that really suits me... if it's a few more bucks, I'll pay it rather than buy the "not quite" item. AS they at Gucci: Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

Well I found a local store that stocks the Blackheart so I will definately check that out and as for the Egnator I can't seem to find a local retailer but I should be able to work something out.

As for the price range I was looking around $1000AUD but I know that sometimes you may need to spend more than expected, I have done so in the past. I forgot about the Laney and the Peavey Windsor also, there are actually a few amps with the features

What I am mainly after is the clean sounds but only the cleans that a valve amplifier can produce, that is were I get my tone and spend most of my time on the amplifer. I have a HSS so I believe an amp with the master and volume should at least pull some ACDC or rough Blues.

I know the Fender has some of the best cleans that I have heard (so far) but as I said in the OP I really beleive the Blues JR needs mods and I would rather an amp that I can leave as is. I have already spent lots of money on equipment and brought cheap equipment that I sold at a loss when I upgraded.

So my next amp really has to be a long term investment, I have a great guitar now so I just need the right amplifier to suite and later down the track I can buy pedals for overdrive or reverb etc. So the Blues Junior with mods and or a new speaker will work out to be at least a few hundred dollars which I don't want to spend after buying an amp for around $1000.

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Fender Highway One HSS Stratocaster '09
Modified Fender Champ600
Honer Special20 Harmonica

If i were you i wouldnt look to either the blackheart or the fender. Your better off getting a peavey, laney or marshall. I'd look at the marshall DSL's. Maybe even the haze mini stack. I really dont think your going to like the blues junior. Its a very uninspiring amp that cant be made good with modding. Unless you mod it beyond recognition. The gain is weak the clean is bland and lifeless. I prefer my vibrochamp xd to my blues jr infact i prefer my rhythm guitarists solid state behringer 100watt 2x12 to the blues jr. It sounds to me like you dont like cheap stuff. Despite the price tag the blues jr is very cheap. Plastic input, no trim pot, valves positioned directly under the pcb and their set way too hot. So sooner or later theres going to be overheat problems. Dont get me started on the weak noisy reverb either.

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No no and no

You should look at the Traynor amps as well. They sound very nice and are affordable.

You can get just about any tone you want from the Egnater Rebel. I tried one out and I'm really thinking about dumping my HRDlx for it just because the amp seems built like a tank, you can turn it down to a watt, can do it all from clean to metal and everything in between and is loud enough to play in small clubs un-mic'd. For $850 you just can't beat it.

I've been playing on a blackheart at the local guitar shop alot lately and positively LOVE it! I will be buying it very soon. Would love to try an orange amp, unfortunately none of the shops where I live stock them.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

I have a blackheart and love it - I keep it on the 3 watts setting and crank it, sounds awesome!

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"Wait a minute, somethings wrong here!"