Are the Blackstar Venue Series of amps true valve amps (aside from the digital reverb and effects loop)? I almost bought an HT Club 40, but I noticed there are only two 12AX7's. I have read in several places that the HT-5 isn't a true valve amp, so I was wondering if the same held true for the new Venue Series. Also, what is the third 12AX7 that's found in most valve amps used for? Any info is appreciated.
Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
- Thread starter iceman79
- Start date
alteredbeast
New member
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
what guitar you gonna be playing thru it?
what guitar you gonna be playing thru it?
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
The number of tubes doesn't have anything to do with if an amp is truly valve or not.... if that is what you are asking.
The number of tubes doesn't have anything to do with if an amp is truly valve or not.... if that is what you are asking.
Andrew Lamprecht
Minion of One
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
It's getting old guys.
It's getting old guys.
Binnerscot
New member
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
The number of pre-amp tubes won't tell you if it is an all tube design.
A lot of companies make budget "tube" gear in which they run some 12AX7s in a starved plate design vs. full voltage. These designs are more for show than any real practical use and are a sales gimmic.
The number of preamp tubes in an all tube amp depends on the design, number of channels, etc. The last 12AX7 in line is usually the phase inverter. Most tube amps usually range from 3 to 5 preamp tubes into 2 or 4 power amp tubes.
The number of pre-amp tubes won't tell you if it is an all tube design.
A lot of companies make budget "tube" gear in which they run some 12AX7s in a starved plate design vs. full voltage. These designs are more for show than any real practical use and are a sales gimmic.
The number of preamp tubes in an all tube amp depends on the design, number of channels, etc. The last 12AX7 in line is usually the phase inverter. Most tube amps usually range from 3 to 5 preamp tubes into 2 or 4 power amp tubes.
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misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
No, it's not all-valve. No, it doesn't matter.
If I understand it correctly, the valves in the HT Venue series are both used as gain stages. I know the HT-5 has some diode clipping in the overdrive circuit, but I don't know if that's the case in the Venue series.
Your question about the third tube in other amps is a bit more complicated than I think you realize, but we'll take the example of a JCM800 preamp as an example. The first tube is for either one or two gain stages, depending upon whether you use the low input or the high input, and the second tube gives you another gain stage. The second stage of the second tube is used to give current drive to the power section, if I remember correctly.
The third tube, which is replaced in the Blackstar amps with solid-state, is the phase inverter. It takes half the signal and reverses the phase by 180 degrees and passes it on to the power section.
Now that I think about it, no good can come out of this answer, because I'm not even close to the authority on this, and the OP will never read it. I am in the running for most useless post of the year, though.
No, it's not all-valve. No, it doesn't matter.
If I understand it correctly, the valves in the HT Venue series are both used as gain stages. I know the HT-5 has some diode clipping in the overdrive circuit, but I don't know if that's the case in the Venue series.
Your question about the third tube in other amps is a bit more complicated than I think you realize, but we'll take the example of a JCM800 preamp as an example. The first tube is for either one or two gain stages, depending upon whether you use the low input or the high input, and the second tube gives you another gain stage. The second stage of the second tube is used to give current drive to the power section, if I remember correctly.
The third tube, which is replaced in the Blackstar amps with solid-state, is the phase inverter. It takes half the signal and reverses the phase by 180 degrees and passes it on to the power section.
Now that I think about it, no good can come out of this answer, because I'm not even close to the authority on this, and the OP will never read it. I am in the running for most useless post of the year, though.
devastone
New member
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
I'm with Andrew, not sure what the guitar question or pics have to do with the original question. *EDIT* Nice Eclipse though!
As far as the Blackstar Venue amps go (not sure about the 60 and 100W versions, I don't have any experience with those), but the 5W preamp is a variation of the HT-Dual Distortion pedal, the PI is SS, and alot of the drive is generated SS and is fed through the tube to warm it up. The 20 and 40 are variations on the same theme with more control added, and have 1 preamp tube for each channel and a SS PI. So, no, they are not "true valve" amps.
That said, I use a HT20 head and really like it. They are great sounding amps, especially at the price point. I wasn't sold on the stock speakers, which is why I sold my 40 combo and got a 20W head to use with a 1-12 cabinet that I already had.
*EDIT* Wow, 2 posts while I was typing this one... The Blackstars do run the valves at full voltage, not starved, but they do use alot of SS too. You might be able to find more info at the Blackstar forum.
I'm with Andrew, not sure what the guitar question or pics have to do with the original question. *EDIT* Nice Eclipse though!
As far as the Blackstar Venue amps go (not sure about the 60 and 100W versions, I don't have any experience with those), but the 5W preamp is a variation of the HT-Dual Distortion pedal, the PI is SS, and alot of the drive is generated SS and is fed through the tube to warm it up. The 20 and 40 are variations on the same theme with more control added, and have 1 preamp tube for each channel and a SS PI. So, no, they are not "true valve" amps.
That said, I use a HT20 head and really like it. They are great sounding amps, especially at the price point. I wasn't sold on the stock speakers, which is why I sold my 40 combo and got a 20W head to use with a 1-12 cabinet that I already had.
*EDIT* Wow, 2 posts while I was typing this one... The Blackstars do run the valves at full voltage, not starved, but they do use alot of SS too. You might be able to find more info at the Blackstar forum.
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speed2dirt
Butterball
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
In all honesty, if it sounds good, get it. I was at Sam Ash several months ago trying out the USA Charvels. I was using the Blackstar HT-40, I believe, and thought the amp was killer. I could care less how it was designed. It sounded good and that's all that mattered. I haven't gone back to buy it, but I still think about that tone every now and then. I'm holding off for some of the newer amps to hit the market (Bogner Panama, Jet City JCA22H with SLO lead tone, etc).
In all honesty, if it sounds good, get it. I was at Sam Ash several months ago trying out the USA Charvels. I was using the Blackstar HT-40, I believe, and thought the amp was killer. I could care less how it was designed. It sounded good and that's all that mattered. I haven't gone back to buy it, but I still think about that tone every now and then. I'm holding off for some of the newer amps to hit the market (Bogner Panama, Jet City JCA22H with SLO lead tone, etc).
Binnerscot
New member
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
If there are only two preamp tubes, it is likely a starved plate design (maybe Blackstars are an exception - IDK). Most true tube amps will have three preamp tubes at a minimum (one being the PI in v3).
If there are only two preamp tubes, it is likely a starved plate design (maybe Blackstars are an exception - IDK). Most true tube amps will have three preamp tubes at a minimum (one being the PI in v3).
Franknfilms
New member
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
The ICEMAN Cometh! You are pretty notorious in some other threads, you should drop in and defend yourself. Thanks for the ec pic!
The ICEMAN Cometh! You are pretty notorious in some other threads, you should drop in and defend yourself. Thanks for the ec pic!
Binnerscot
New member
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
Interesting. That last time I had seen full voltage 12AX7s in a less than "all tube" design was the Peavey TubeFex rack processor/preamp (a pair of 12AX7s @ 250 V).
Interesting. That last time I had seen full voltage 12AX7s in a less than "all tube" design was the Peavey TubeFex rack processor/preamp (a pair of 12AX7s @ 250 V).
devastone
New member
Re: Question about Blackstar HT Club 40 (and amps in general)
http://www.blackstaramps.co.uk/products/ht/htdual.html
The Venue series amps are based off of this pedal design.
http://www.blackstaramps.co.uk/products/ht/htdual.html
The Venue series amps are based off of this pedal design.
