Blackstar HT-20
- Thread starter tman
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IM4Tone
New member
Re: Blackstar HT-20
I have the HT20 Head. Had to swap the V1 fm a 12AX7 to a 5751 to tame the gain for my taste. It's a nice amp for me to have when I want to move from my preferred sound, but I tend to be a Fender fan and favor the R&R of the 60's/70's if that tells you anything. That's not really where this amp excels. Lots of YouTube videos to give you an idea on the sound.
You'll get better response if you state your favorite genre of music and some of your favorite artists.
I have the HT20 Head. Had to swap the V1 fm a 12AX7 to a 5751 to tame the gain for my taste. It's a nice amp for me to have when I want to move from my preferred sound, but I tend to be a Fender fan and favor the R&R of the 60's/70's if that tells you anything. That's not really where this amp excels. Lots of YouTube videos to give you an idea on the sound.
You'll get better response if you state your favorite genre of music and some of your favorite artists.
IM4Tone
New member
Re: Blackstar HT-20
Should work for those (although I'm not very familiar with 80's metal).
skyydogg01
Active member
Re: Blackstar HT-20
I just picked one of these up yesterday in a trade. Still haven't plugged it in yet. I'll let you know once I get a chance to.
I just picked one of these up yesterday in a trade. Still haven't plugged it in yet. I'll let you know once I get a chance to.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Re: Blackstar HT-20
Haven't tried it, but I'm pretty curious about it too, so definitely post a review if you end up with one.
It would seem like they went for a brown-sound power section with the underpowered EL34's. Don't really know any specifics, but a pair of EL34's just pumping out 20 W would seem kinda sorta like what Soldano went for with the Hot Rod 25.
Haven't tried it, but I'm pretty curious about it too, so definitely post a review if you end up with one.
It would seem like they went for a brown-sound power section with the underpowered EL34's. Don't really know any specifics, but a pair of EL34's just pumping out 20 W would seem kinda sorta like what Soldano went for with the Hot Rod 25.
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Re: Blackstar HT-20
I'm a huge fan of the Blackstar amps. I own two HT-5's, Series One 104EL34 head, two HTV 412 cabs, and a Series One 412B cabinet. I've played the HT-20 combo, HT-40 combo, and the HT-60 combo in music stores. I love them all. The only Blackstar that I didn't really care for was a pedal that I had. I believe it was a Blackstar Dist-X Pedal. It was nice, but it just wasn't my sound per se.
I'm a huge fan of the Blackstar amps. I own two HT-5's, Series One 104EL34 head, two HTV 412 cabs, and a Series One 412B cabinet. I've played the HT-20 combo, HT-40 combo, and the HT-60 combo in music stores. I love them all. The only Blackstar that I didn't really care for was a pedal that I had. I believe it was a Blackstar Dist-X Pedal. It was nice, but it just wasn't my sound per se.
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kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Blackstar HT-20
I treated myself to a ht1 and man its superb. Its even better when mated with my 5150 cab. Huge sound for a tiny amp.
I treated myself to a ht1 and man its superb. Its even better when mated with my 5150 cab. Huge sound for a tiny amp.
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
IM4Tone
New member
Re: Blackstar HT-20
Better yet, replace the 12AX7 in V1 with a 5751. You'll have more control of gain in the lower range and still have plenty at the top. That's what I did and love the results.
Better yet, replace the 12AX7 in V1 with a 5751. You'll have more control of gain in the lower range and still have plenty at the top. That's what I did and love the results.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Blackstar HT-20
I like it but not as much as i like the Hovercraft, Orange OR15, and the Jet City 20w heads available for similar money.
I like it but not as much as i like the Hovercraft, Orange OR15, and the Jet City 20w heads available for similar money.
Re: Blackstar HT-20
What is it about the Jet City 20w that you like better? Just curious since I've never played either, but I've been curious about both.
What is it about the Jet City 20w that you like better? Just curious since I've never played either, but I've been curious about both.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Blackstar HT-20
I generally prefer a single-channel amp that does one sound very well to channel switchers that try to do everything. The Jet City has a great core tone that you can kind of tweak with the knobs. The Blackstar tries to be a Mesa Recto, a highgain Marshall, and a clean Fender all at once and it doesn't really do any of them justice. Lots has been said about how the Blackstar HT series uses distortion pedal-style clipping diodes and i definitely remember my first impression of those amps being, "It sounds good but it sounds kinda solidstate." That said, they sound fine and if you value versatility over "tone purity" the Blackstar wins, but I've always used single-channel vintage amps with stompboxes and the Jet City has a great core tone that loves pedals so it's what i would pick... unless i could save a bit more and grab the Orange or Hovercraft.
I generally prefer a single-channel amp that does one sound very well to channel switchers that try to do everything. The Jet City has a great core tone that you can kind of tweak with the knobs. The Blackstar tries to be a Mesa Recto, a highgain Marshall, and a clean Fender all at once and it doesn't really do any of them justice. Lots has been said about how the Blackstar HT series uses distortion pedal-style clipping diodes and i definitely remember my first impression of those amps being, "It sounds good but it sounds kinda solidstate." That said, they sound fine and if you value versatility over "tone purity" the Blackstar wins, but I've always used single-channel vintage amps with stompboxes and the Jet City has a great core tone that loves pedals so it's what i would pick... unless i could save a bit more and grab the Orange or Hovercraft.
skyydogg01
Active member
Re: Blackstar HT-20
I played mine yesterday for a bit and a little today.
The clean is beautiful. Notes ring clear and punchy without being boomy or ice-picky. Very even tone that just works.
The overdrive channel ... I found it really dark unless I put the master at noon or above and the channel volume about 10 o'clock. I think a speaker change is in order!!
I played mine yesterday for a bit and a little today.
The clean is beautiful. Notes ring clear and punchy without being boomy or ice-picky. Very even tone that just works.
The overdrive channel ... I found it really dark unless I put the master at noon or above and the channel volume about 10 o'clock. I think a speaker change is in order!!
