Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

[Gingrel]

Hey folks,

Firstly for those who don;t know, my amp collection consists of a Marshall MG15 and a gorgeous Laney VC50. However, the Laney has to stay at my parents house while I'm up at uni, coz its just too big!

So I was playing through my Marshall earlier, and I noticed that the drive channel made a very strange crackly noise if i turned the volume or gain knobs at all, and sometimes the output would just drop dramatically. I tried it with different guitars so I know its an amp issue.

I started thinking about what might be wrong with it/where I might get it repaired, but then I thought "To be honest, I'm always complaining about how I don't have a nice amp to use up here in York, so maybe its time for a new amp!"

So I went browsing around a few websites, and came across this: http://www.andertons.co.uk/combo-amp...ith-reverb.asp

This looks like exactly what I need in an amp right now. Not too big, not too loud, but nice sounding. I listened to the demo video and liked what I heard, and there is a music store nearby that has some in stock so I can go try one out. I just thought I'd ask the forum if anyone has any experience with this amp?

[JeffB]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

Hated mine. Fun for a few hours as it is organic like a tube amp, and has tube like dynamics. But I Returned it within 2 days. Buzzy bees nest tone. Speaker and enclosure are awful and contribute to crappy sound. No tone controls so you are stuck with muddy bees nest ( marshall) or scoopy american bees nest ( mesa).


Dont fall for the hype and increased expense, considering what it is....a bad tube preamp distortion pedal. Much better sounding practice amps out there for the money...Fender Mustang, Vox VT, roland cube xl. HT5 is much better as well.

[Gingrel]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

I had previously been wondering about an HT5 or a Marshall Class 5. My concern there is that I'm worried even 5W tube will be too loud cranked. I live in a terraced house with paper-thin walls... Still, thanks for the heads up, I'll bear that in mind when I go to try it out.

[Gingrel]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

Oh, the other thing I meant to say was that I frequently use a Boss Blues Driver pedal (which as an aside sounds fantastic through the Laney)

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

As you like your Laney, why not look at the LC15 or VC15? Maybe that's a little powerful though. Alternatively, get yourself to a Radiospares store and grab a can of contact cleaner - that may be all those pots need. A quick spray and waggling them back and forth a bit should help clean the tracks up.

[Gingrel]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

As you like your Laney, why not look at the LC15 or VC15? Maybe that's a little powerful though. Alternatively, get yourself to a Radiospares store and grab a can of contact cleaner - that may be all those pots need. A quick spray and waggling them back and forth a bit should help clean the tracks up.

Yea I'm definitely looking for more of a practice amp. And regarding the Marshall, I don;t really like it that much anyway. It was a decent amp to start out with but it doesn't quite cut it anymore...

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

Get the contact cleaner anyway, it'll make it easier to sell at a decent price.

[richard parker]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

Hi Mike,

As you are very limited for volume I would forget tube amps. You know I like my valve sounds but at home I'm more than happy to play through my Microcube. I basically only use the Plexi sound with a little chorus and delay and it sounds wonderful. A friend has the Line6 15 watter and that sounds really good as well. I like my tube amps for gigs but the little modellers are great for home use.

[Gingrel]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

Hi Mike,

As you are very limited for volume I would forget tube amps. You know I like my valve sounds but at home I'm more than happy to play through my Microcube. I basically only use the Plexi sound with a little chorus and delay and it sounds wonderful. A friend has the Line6 15 watter and that sounds really good as well. I like my tube amps for gigs but the little modellers are great for home use.

Hi Rich, how are you mate?

I will probably try out some solid state amps as well, but I guess I'm just a sucker for tube sounds... I blame you for that one!!

My eye was also caught by the VOX AC4, which has built-in attenuation down to 1/4 of a watt... Opinions??

[JOLLY]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

I had previously been wondering about an HT5 or a Marshall Class 5. My concern there is that I'm worried even 5W tube will be too loud cranked. I live in a terraced house with paper-thin walls... Still, thanks for the heads up, I'll bear that in mind when I go to try it out.

I play my HT-5 alot while I'm watching tv. I keep the volume below the tv's volume and it sounds great.

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

There's always the Lil' Nightrain and its matching cab - that runs at 1.5-2w. You should have no difficulty running that at home - I know I don't with mine, then again my neighbours are perhaps further away than yours.

[Gingrel]

Re: Thoughts on Blackstar HT-1?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, you're giving me lots of options to try out.