So I tried out the Marshall Class 5 over the weekend, as well as the Blackstar HT-1 and HT-5.

I wanted to like the Marshall Class 5, I really did... but it just didn't do it for me. One of the letdowns was the headphone output, but the biggest was that it didn't do it for me sonically. I think my 57 Champ sounds a lot better, and the Class 5 wouldn't offer me a compelling reason to NOT use my 57 Champ for any reason.

I also tried out the HT-1 and the HT-5. The only reasons I can see going for the HT-1 over the HT-5 would be if price and/or size were an issue. Those are both really good issues in many cases. The HT-1 was surprisingly loud, I'll give it that.

I ultimately went for the HT-5... a bit more versitile than the HT-1, especially given the EQ choices.

I originally thought the ISF was a gimmick - turn a dial to go from US to UK sound, yeah right. You really need to hear it in person, and you'll see the beauty of it. I can't 100% prove that it really is a US vs UK knob (and that it's not just marketing talk), but it sure sounds like that's what's going on there.

Volume wise, this thing can get very loud, but it also sounds good at low volumes... in fact, I think I prefer it at low volumes over my 57 Champ.

At one point over the weekend, I tried out the mini-stack as well as the combo. I went with the combo because it fits my needs better (space and ease of transport). The mini-stack is really cool looking though. Not too big, but certainly enough to be noticed.

So all in all, I think that Blackstar's really done some great work. I don't really see their amp as a direct replacement for getting pure Fender tones, but rather for someone who needs to have something that will get them close enough to having a Fender, Vox, Marshall and Mesa Boogie on tap, but without all the electronic-digital-doohicky-whatchamacallits built in.

They also have some pedals that have the ISF feature built in too, apparently...

congrats!
I tried the HT-5 combo a few months ago and I was amazed! nice little monster!

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2010 Gibson Les Paul Studio (Silverburst)
2007 Fender CD-60 (Sunburst)
G.A.S-ing for a Fender Stratocaster HSS with floyd rose

I can't wait to hear what it sounds like in the flesh with a humbucker... unfortunately, my only guitar with a humbucker has a Floyd Rose and needs a restring & setup.

What? No picture, no video, and no sound clip...didn't happen...

Seriously though...Congrats! I was looking at the ht-20 when I was looking for a new amp. They really have some nice tone.

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Hi gar1013: that's true - their HT series valve/tube driven pedals. Which in fact came first: the HT amps are simply the pedal circuit with a power stage and speaker added. And a wooden box of course. Blackstar aren't the first to turn a pedal into an amp, but they've arguably done it the best.

I don't have an HT amp (erm, I use a Marshall Class5 [sorry] for practice and Marshall TSL100 for real) but they certainly have sounded good to me in shops.

I do have Blackstar's HT-Dual pedal, which is effectively the front end of your combo. A two channel unit with distortion on one side and boost/drive on the other. Used in conjunction with the practice amp that gives all the lead flavors a man could reasonably desire. (No need for pedals in front of the TSL beastie.)

And the HT pedal has the ISF knob, as you mention. I find I keep that set around 12 o'clock - which by their geographical designation must mean somewhere out in the mid-Atlantic. Neat - though watch out for sea traffic.

Oh, another nice thing about the HT pedals is that you can DI them and they effectively turn into a full guitar pre-amp without the inconvenience of the rest of the rig. Potentially very handy for recording, practicing or whatever. That's a cool trick to offer.

(I am in no way affiliated... etc.)

Anyhow. Enjoy that amp!

Cheers - C

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Ahh! So you're going for more of a Greenland/Icelandic sound.

I wish they'd put the ability to flip the ISF setting to the mirror image of what you have it set at using a pedal (the more US it was, the more UK it becomes). Such a feature would probably be called Australian Mode.



As I was researching the pedals, that idea was starting to creep up on me and would have arrived at some point in the next few weeks.


Have you tried out the Boost and Drive pedals as well? I'm already plotting my next pedal purchase... I might end up going for either their modulation, delay, or reverb pedals...

Hee-hee - that's it!



Well, since you ask. I did taste the Boost and the Drive in a shop and liked them. But I just happen to know of what might turn out to be The Ultimate boost pedal currently in pre-production, so I'm sort of saving myself for that.

And the point of the HT-Dual pedal is that while it offers full on (and very Santana-ish) distortion on the right-hand side, the left foot switch gives us a channel that can either be set for a nice early '70s crunchy drive (my core sound) or at the flip of a small button can work as a boost instead.

So those cunning little Blackstar guys have given us all their gain options in one meaty pedal. I love it!

By the way, I wouldn't worry about buying their drive or distortion pedals. If I understand your amp's circuitry then you have them right there already! Cool.

Their modulation, delay and verb units are fairly new to me and I haven't heard them yet. Can't wait!

Cheers - C

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Interesting! Any timing on that?



That's how I was interpreting it, but wasn't sure I was spot on.



That confirms what my initial leaning was. It sounds like the boost could still be of use, but the drive and distortion pedals would really only serve a purpose if I needed multiple drive/distortion setttings on tap at once.


I've only heard them on YouTube so far. They ain't cheap, but they do sound rather nice.

Random thought--

If New Amp Day is NAD, would it be wrong to yell "GO NAD!" when you are excited about your new amp?

...like I said, it was just a random thought.

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Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Cheers - C

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I'm not the man to ask. Interestingly, the man who IS the man to ask may very well be reading this. I have the strongest feeling he won't want to talk about it in public for a while yet - but that's up to him.

And I bet it's not who some of you might be thinking...

Cheers - C

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The mystery deepens!

Hopefully someone else will come forward with some hints.