Blackstar St.James amp
- Thread starter Wayne27
- Start date
They are not exactly pro-grade. While they have a lot of features and some neat technology, in the end, they are a slightly overpriced, mediocre brand. They don't sound bad, but they are made to meet a dollar amount.
The St James is really no more than an amp without a power transformer. They use a switch-mode power supply instead of an analog Iron transformer. This cuts a lot of weight but adds a part that is truly non-user serviceable. When the power supply goes tits up, the amp is done. And as with most things modern, when a part breaks, you don't fix it, you replace it, or the whole product... I don't see the value in an amp that weighs two pounds less but has an Achille's heel.
Now if that technology appeals to you, that is great, all I am saying is that I don't see much value in a $1,200 amp that has pretty much all the same features of similarly priced units, but is up to 47% lighter. For $100-$200 more you can get a Revv D20/G20 and while not 50 watts, they have a real IR loader built-in and are another level up from Blackstar. I would go Revv D20 or G20 all day every day over anything Blackstar. The Two Notes IR's alone make it worth the cost.
The St James is really no more than an amp without a power transformer. They use a switch-mode power supply instead of an analog Iron transformer. This cuts a lot of weight but adds a part that is truly non-user serviceable. When the power supply goes tits up, the amp is done. And as with most things modern, when a part breaks, you don't fix it, you replace it, or the whole product... I don't see the value in an amp that weighs two pounds less but has an Achille's heel.
Now if that technology appeals to you, that is great, all I am saying is that I don't see much value in a $1,200 amp that has pretty much all the same features of similarly priced units, but is up to 47% lighter. For $100-$200 more you can get a Revv D20/G20 and while not 50 watts, they have a real IR loader built-in and are another level up from Blackstar. I would go Revv D20 or G20 all day every day over anything Blackstar. The Two Notes IR's alone make it worth the cost.
Why wouldn't you think it wouldn't sound fine with a band?
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
I saw these and thought they looked pretty cool until I saw the price. Ouch.
They say the name harkens to the company's hometown in England ( Northampton ) and the hometown rugby team the Northampton Saints. The St comes from that. Then they decided to use name dropping for James ( also known as Jimmy ) to tie it together. I.E. James Hetfield, Jimmy Page, Jimmy Hendrix " and many more " in order to relate to James being a big part of their history.
I think they missed the mark. They offer a proprietary Cab IR program, in an amp that really only replaces the power transformer with a switch-mode power supply and then uses odd lightweight woods and a lightweight speaker offering from Celestion, the Zephyr. From a feature standpoint, they are not giving much, and the only real pro is the weight loss. All other features are common among many vendors costing roughly the same price.
I think they missed the mark. They offer a proprietary Cab IR program, in an amp that really only replaces the power transformer with a switch-mode power supply and then uses odd lightweight woods and a lightweight speaker offering from Celestion, the Zephyr. From a feature standpoint, they are not giving much, and the only real pro is the weight loss. All other features are common among many vendors costing roughly the same price.
Erlend_G
New member
xD lol!! =)
Erlend_G
New member
I have a Blackstar HT-20mkII. It's too quiet for a band (except a acoustic folk/rock one...), but sounds glorious at home, for practice, acoustic settings. I run a EHX allied overdrive for pre-boost, and a BOSS GE-10 in the effects loop, bandpass from 80-4000hz. The reverb is digital, and I prefer a spring one...
Not bad amps at all. I did not like their all-digital line
.
-E
Not bad amps at all. I did not like their all-digital line
.-E
soulforger
Active member
The Series One and hand wired Artisan series are absolutely pro grade, Adrian Smith and Uli Jon Roth are pros, no?
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
I've seen a whole lot of bands use them onstage..no problem. Regarding this new model ..it does'nt sound bad at all in the demo's (if a bit faceless) but I don't get the price being what it is. If anything a switched mode PS should be a whole lot cheaper than big iron...
Also are there two different models? Looks like the beige kinda one's more of a rock/blues amp while the black one has more of a modern/ 80's metal sound/way more gain(see Gus G's demo)
Also are there two different models? Looks like the beige kinda one's more of a rock/blues amp while the black one has more of a modern/ 80's metal sound/way more gain(see Gus G's demo)
I wouldn't say absolutely pro-grade. They are not Behringer, or Bugerea cheap, but they are not quite to Mid-tier Marshall standards. The hand-wired stuff may just as well be the same offering that VHT used for their Special 6... The VHT Special 6 was far from bad, so take that for what it is. But Blackstar is kind of in their own market segment perhaps. I would say that they were once sharing the light with Line 6, but line-6 has stepped back from amplifiers a little. Blackstar is almost too expensive for the value you are getting as a whole but is cheap enough to be on almost anyone's shortlist. Again not a bad thing. The big thing is that Blackstar makes amps that when they go bad, you don't fix it, you replace it. Many portions of the amp use SMD/SMT technology. This is a technology that 99% of guitar amp techs won't touch. So to fix things, you have to buy an entire board or daughterboard!. This increases the cost to repair ad in some cases makes the repair less than economical to even bother with. Imagine a daughterboard that costs $100 to replace because one component went bad, and then you are paying $75/hr. for the labor. After the bench fee, and an hour of labor you are nearly $300 deep on an amp perhaps only worth $300.
Blackstar is great for those that can afford to live with an amp that is not a FOREVER amp. Blackstar is not an amp that you buy to last you forever or be the last amp you will ever buy. Blackstar amps are not a desert island amplifier company. They build to meet a cost/performance margin. Nothing more, nothing less. Great amps, just not the greatest amps.
Blackstar is great for those that can afford to live with an amp that is not a FOREVER amp. Blackstar is not an amp that you buy to last you forever or be the last amp you will ever buy. Blackstar amps are not a desert island amplifier company. They build to meet a cost/performance margin. Nothing more, nothing less. Great amps, just not the greatest amps.
NegativeEase
New member
I don't care what anyone says -Blackstars can sound incredible, I've heard many that could stand toe to toe with the best. They aren't like the Crates and such of old -where the economical starter prices amps were vastly inferior than the good stuff.
I didn't pay attention to them until maybe 2 years ago, when I heard an amazing one in a music store after GuitarJr was raving about them... Since then Ive occasionally played one when there is one around to check them out.
You can use a Blackstar for a band and in recording NO PROBLEM.
I didn't pay attention to them until maybe 2 years ago, when I heard an amazing one in a music store after GuitarJr was raving about them... Since then Ive occasionally played one when there is one around to check them out.
You can use a Blackstar for a band and in recording NO PROBLEM.
Obsessive Compulsive
New member
Blackstar HT60 is often compared head-to-head with Laney Ironheart 60. From the sheer amount of bad rap about Blackstar I think I am good with my Laney, despite the annoying fizz.
Are they?
I have the IRT60h and I'm not familiar with the annoying fizz. It has a really versatile EQ. I'm running into a PV 412, so it may be the speakers you are using.
NegativeEase
New member
Good video, but holy hell fire, that kids playing is gawdawful
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
I blame the crappy djent axe w/ the wonky frets..
He needs to get himself a real guitar :bigthumb:
But back to Blackstar's. The few I've played always sounded great to me. They also feel great to play. They're gainy & smooth & warm but w/ real grit as well when you need it. You don't need a boost for tapping or liquid legato type stuff. The compression is really sweet & organic. I nearly bought one of the older HT-20's (w/EL34's) years ago but it was backordered and I ended up getting my Cicognani Brutus Live head instead (...no regrets
)
He needs to get himself a real guitar :bigthumb:
But back to Blackstar's. The few I've played always sounded great to me. They also feel great to play. They're gainy & smooth & warm but w/ real grit as well when you need it. You don't need a boost for tapping or liquid legato type stuff. The compression is really sweet & organic. I nearly bought one of the older HT-20's (w/EL34's) years ago but it was backordered and I ended up getting my Cicognani Brutus Live head instead (...no regrets
)
Obsessive Compulsive
New member
It's the combo so not the speakers. I like it better on clean with a higain distortion pedal.
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80's_Thrash_Metal
Slightly_Glazed_Believer
I've only played a couple blackstar amps. They sounded fine. I wouldn't say they sounded rich and beautiful, just sort of fine.
They do metal pretty well.
But for that kind of money..... I would buy a used Marshall, or Peavey head off reverb and be much happier.... That's just me and my 2 cents worth.
As for blending in a band, you can tweak most amps into sounding good in your mix. Most newer amps should work out just fine I'd think, depending on how much time you spend twisting knobs. I'm sure the new St Anger....I mean James would work fine in a band setting.
They do metal pretty well.
But for that kind of money..... I would buy a used Marshall, or Peavey head off reverb and be much happier.... That's just me and my 2 cents worth.
As for blending in a band, you can tweak most amps into sounding good in your mix. Most newer amps should work out just fine I'd think, depending on how much time you spend twisting knobs. I'm sure the new St Anger....I mean James would work fine in a band setting.
