Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

[Diego]

I'm thinking about one of these heads. I like my Tweaker but it doesn't work nicely on an apartment. I imagine the Blackstar will be OK at whisper levels and will have more power than I'll ever need.

I'm after, uh, heavy tones I guess. I'm not into modern metal at all. My idea of heavy is Ty Tabor, Marty Friedman and James Hetfield. I've read this amp has some good clean sounds too, which I'd definitely appreciate.

It also has some gadgety features like USB recording which I may or may not use, but I'm about tone and apparently, it has lots of it.

Now keep in mind I'm far from a tube snob or a vintage purist. If it sounds good, I don't care how. But it better not sound like I remember cheap Randalls sound.

Also, man it's cheap. Less than half the price of a AMT Stonehead, which I also thought about.

Anyone tried it? Any reason to prefer the 60 watts head version?

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

I'm surprised how inexpensive they are, considering what they can do. I've tried them in the store and always get a good sound out of them, especially since it's got all the tube types on a rotary dial. With gain, you'll probably always gravitate toward KT-88, EL-34, and 6L6. With cleaner tones, it's fun to listen to 6V6 and EL-84, just to see how the amp tries to capture the vibe of real power tube breakup.

One thing about solid state modeling amps is that they can be dialed down for low volume, but when they're running at high volume, they sometimes have a bit more hiss than a tube amp. If you take a 100W and 60W, and turn them up loud, the 100W will run quieter because you're not maxing it out.

Overall, it's a pretty impressive modeling amp, not to mention it looks better than most others too. It's a big bonus that it's not overpriced. Sure, a Kemper or AxeFXII will probably beat it, but look at the prices of those.
The guys who spent over 2K on the high end modelers are going to take a huge loss in 10 years when they're worth $350 used.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...=b&network=g&gclid=CJKG7MHRkscCFU2SfgodjrMJJg

 

[Lampy H]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

Yay 10 times over. I have a 60 and love it. I can get great moderate-high gain level rhythm tones, and I love the clean and crunch stuff too. The built in effects probably aren't going to blow you away, but it's a convienient feature for such an amp. It gets quiet, and it gets loud. And it sounds like a quality amp while doing it.

 

[Progbusters]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

i have the small one. I lay it down on its side, and put my pov cam on top of it, play it at very low volume and it sounds big on the video...especially with the stereo.

it doesn't have the various tube simulations. It doesn't have the real tube amp feel and the noise gate is annoying until i figured out how to turn it off. The software is clunky to install. But its useful indeed for the home and apartment.

if you're looking for that sound in your head, then this amp might not be for you - it has a set amount of tones
if you're looking for fx loops and fancy stuff, this amp is probably not for you either, its just for practicing

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

Waiting for the ID10T model :lol:

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

haven't tried the Blackstar
but the Vox Valvetronix that I tried was great at low volume

If I were you I would consider these as well

 

[JeffB]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

I think the full size ID series sounds much better than their HT "tube" amps do. I have been thinking hard about picking up a 60 myself.


I have been in need of a practice toolbox, so. I got a id core 10. Came in last night but have not tried it yet..will see...

 

[Hank-]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

I like the ID series over the MG, valvetronix. The Yamaha THR is another option along with Fender Mustang series that sound good.

For something much compact there's the tech 21 character series british, that into a mixer or something can work for low volume or direct recordings.

 

[Diego]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

I'd forgotten about those Mustangs. The Mustang V head is priced very close to the ID100 actually, a bit more expensive.

Guess I'll have to try them all.

 

[dominus]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

I had a Mustang for a short time. Didn't like it at all.

Had the Blackstar and liked it, just sold it before I moved and haven't bought another one yet. I can recommend it though.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

Does it have an fx loop? If you considered the Stonehead and liked the sounds it comes up with but will never use the higher gain channels, buy the Blackstar now and get a used AMT SS-30 Bulava later. Its three of the Stoneheads 4 channels basically.

The Stonehead is capable of lower gain and clean stuff to an amazing level, but yeah, if not into modern metal, its probably overkill for what you are looking for. I don't use my Stonehead for modern either though and it can nail classic and early metal stuff as well as it does modern. Seems like the tube modeling would be pretty fun though on the ID series Blackstars.

Extremely happy with the Stonehead though if you change your mind. I think either would be a nice SS choice. If you like to tweak on amp stuff, then I think the ID has the edge on tweaking amp settings. Stonehead doesn't have the options to tweak tube types although it does have extra voicing options on its channels along with two master volumes footswitchable as well as individual channel volumes and individual gain per channel.

You win with either choice, so if budget is a concern, go with the one that fits better for now. You can always get an SS-30 later for Stonehead sounds.

Right now I use three out of four channels on the Stonehead anyway. Clean, crunch channel for classic rock/early 70's metal, Lead 1 for 80's Metal. If I want modern, I could dial in with Lead 2 channel, but rarely hit that channel.

Also, I don't know if amp color would influence a buying decision, but the new Stoneheads are yellow. Can't get black ones unless its new old stock and the green ones are only found if someone ends up selling one, but I really haven't seen much for used market on Stoneheads.

 

[Diego]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

Oh, ****.
Hadn't noticed it doesn't have an FX loop. **** **** ****.

Oh crap. It better be absolutely perfect in every other aspect.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

I have to go to guitar center this weekend to exchange my digitech RP360XP which has some lines that showed up on the LCD. If they have one of the ID series blackstars, I'll give it a spin and see how it does comparatively to the Stonehead.

Absolutely zero regrets on the Stonehead though. It is a fun amp to play with or without fx. It not only has the sound of a tube amp, it has the feel and dynamics sensitivity. I'll look for that feel on the Blackstar.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

Oh, ****.
Hadn't noticed it doesn't have an FX loop. **** **** ****.

Oh crap. It better be absolutely perfect in every other aspect.

I wouldn't worry too much on no fx loop with the ID100. All the fx that should be in a loop are built in. If you like to play with different preamps, all the AMT preamps have cab sim out as well as line out and you could easily buy a 1/4" to 3.5mm cable and use that mp3/line in to run a different preamp.

To me, that's the right kind of modeling too. No specific amp modeling, just modeling of characteristics of particular tube amps.

 

[dominus]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

The 60W and 100W IDs *do* have an FX Loop. The MP3 In/Line Out can be changed via software into a straight FX loop.

 

[Diego]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

Really? That is an awesome way to work it out.

I really like to have an EQ in the loop at all times, nothing's better for getting the midrange just right.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

I gotta say that little core10 is pretty swell. Kicks the crap out of the HT1 combo I had.

 

[dominus]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

The Cores don't have the FX loop, which is why I haven't touched one. I like going out from FX send into the computer and adding IRs.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

I have the 60W 1x12. Cool piece of kit. Even though it's a ways down the depth chart, my only gripe is that it's a little noisy if you don't have the gate dialed in just so.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Considering a Blackstar ID100. Yay or nay?

Went to guitar center this weekend, but after checking online, even the 5 Guitar Centers that are within 30 miles of me do not have the regular 60 or 100 watt models. Just the ID-core models. I didn't bother playing those. Most of the blackstar stuff around me is the HT series. Sorry. Can't do a comparison to the stonehead yet. If the Sam Ash in my area has one I could try it out, but have to call them to see what is in stock. They don't list store inventory like GC does.