H&K 5 watt OR Blackstar HT-5 head for my Randall 4 X 12 cab....

[guitarSQUIRELL]

I'm looking at replacing my SS RX120 with a high gain low wattage tube head. Mainly using processors and pedals in front of the amp, so it has to take pedals really well. Opinions on this issue is welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: H&K 5 watt OR Blackstar HT-5 head for my Randall 4 X 12 cab....

Do you plan to use it to play with other people? Or to practice at home? I'm going to have to advise against it in either scenario, lol.

I have a Randall RD5 combo that I can plug into my Marshall 4x12. Even though the 4x12 has two efficient Vintage 30's, the 5-Watt Randall is nowhere near loud enough to jam with a loud, busy rock band with a heavy-hitting drummer even if you crank the volume to 10, IME. Now let's say the drummer hits his drums moderately and it's a smaller band: you still have to turn the amp's volume pretty high, and, at that point, these amps don't sound their best. If you're going for the "amp on the verge of meltdown" kind of tone, I guess it's ok, but even the thinner low-end a tiny 5-watt power section can put out is farting out at this level. And forget about cleans, which is a big deal since you plan on using processors and pedals... and then again, if you're going for that kind of brown sound, you're probably not the kind of dude who likes the sound of drummers to hit their drums like they're afraid to ruin their manicure.

For bedroom or home jamming by yourself or with a couple of other guitarist dudes... I mean, 5 watts at low volume barely tickle the speakers on a 4x12, so expect slighly fizzy, stiff kind of tones... at least compared to a full-on 50 or 100watt amp. I mean, even if you're going to be using the amp mostly for recording, this is going to be the case, which might or might not be workable, depending on what kind of tone you're going for and the style of music you play.

So... honestly, I hate to be a naysayer, but I'm going to have to.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: H&K 5 watt OR Blackstar HT-5 head for my Randall 4 X 12 cab....

For bedroom or home jamming by yourself or with a couple of other guitarist dudes... I mean, 5 watts at low volume barely tickle the speakers on a 4x12, so expect slighly fizzy, stiff kind of tones... at least compared to a full-on 50 or 100watt amp.(

This is probably a silly statement.

A 50 or 100 watt amp at the same low volume as a 5 watter at low volume (say, 2 watts) isn't going to sound more robust. In fact, a 100 watt amp at extreme low volume is going to sound MORE stiff and tinny than a 5 watt at the same volume.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: H&K 5 watt OR Blackstar HT-5 head for my Randall 4 X 12 cab....

Yeah, what I meant is you won't get the speakers moving as much as you would when you run a cranking 100 watt amp through a 4x12, not that the 5 watt isn't going to sound robust itself. Part of what makes a half-stack sound great at high volumes is not just poweramp saturation, but how the speakers react to being pushed as well.

 

[johnthomas]

Re: H&K 5 watt OR Blackstar HT-5 head for my Randall 4 X 12 cab....

H&K or Blackstar 5 watter thru a 4×12?
I play with a guy who uses a Blackstar 5watt into a Marshall 4×12. It is ok by itself but comes to life with a Tech 21 Flyrig in front of the clean channel. Also tried a Vox Stomplab 2g in front of clean.
The Blackstar loves pedals. The clean channel is about as basic as it gets but add a pedal and you have a monster. Been playing guitar since 1969 and never heard a better rig. And don't tell me but...$$#%...I had an Ampeg V2 with a V4 bottom and VT22 twin extension cab and also had the Gallien-Krueger 250 ml that Billy Gibbons used on Afterburner so I have heard plenty of good setups

Regarding the guy who thinks it isn't loud enough for a hard hitting drummer. Good luck to you. Hoping you have some hearing left at my age. The Blackstar has a great headphone out that can be used direct to a pa board for live gigs of more than say 150 audience.


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[Empty Pockets]

Re: H&K 5 watt OR Blackstar HT-5 head for my Randall 4 X 12 cab....

Are you sure you want a high-gain amp to run an effect processor into? I would think you'd want a big clean amp for that.

Either way... I'd rather have an Orange Micro than either of the amps you mentioned.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: H&K 5 watt OR Blackstar HT-5 head for my Randall 4 X 12 cab....

I love my Blackstar HT-R!!! I run it through a 2x12 loaded with Greenbacks though, its loud enough to keep up with my drummer but just barely & honestly even that's a lot of speaker for the head? I think I actually liked it better when it was pushing a single Greenback in my 2/3 open back 1X12 cab but another one of my amps has claimed that cabinet for the time being...