Blackstar Amplification HT-Dual

BLackstar has been steady the last few years building high quality amps as well as very consumer budgeted amps. They have amps for every type of player and every time of musical situation. They have some of the best sounding amplifiers on the market right now. NOw they are better equipping guitar players with very useful and effective distortion pedals. They have taken their ISF control knob and their award winning preamp design and put it into a pedal.

This pedal has two boosts in one pedal. This is booster pedal and also a distortion pedal that both work independently of one another and can each be switched on and off or used at the same time.

UTILIZATION

* Genuine valve design
* Operates at 300V HT
* Cascaded valve gain stages
* Responds like a valve amp
* 2 channel operation
* Clean, Crunch & Lead modes
* Unique switching operation

* Unique enhanced tone controls
* Exclusive Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)
* Fully equipped for stage or studio
* Speaker emulated output
* High integrity buffered bypass
* Power supply included
* Silent switching





SOUND QUALITY

This will make you have a three channel amp or it can make you get your clean amp to a distortion zone and then have a boost for solos or you can have one mega distortion channel with both boosts going at the same time. There are so many possibilities with this pedal that is makes it fun to explore your tones and find what fits you for your personal needs.

The tone of this pedal is very good. It sound like the distortion boxes that BLackstar already carries and only has one foot switch. Plus this pedal has the speaker emulated output for going direct into a PA system or to a recording session. This pedal can really do it all as preamp foot pedal. The tone is fantastic and I hate distortion pedals.

OVERALL OPINION

You can find these pedals new for right at around $199, which is a great price for two pedals in one. This can be simply a booster pedal or a distortion box or two booster pedals or two distortion boxes. This is a very versatile pedal. The tone is what separates this pedal from the rest of the competition. The tone comes form that famous and useful Blackstar tone that many of thier amps have. I would recommend this pedal to anyone trying to get their sound down and need a few extra tools in one to nail don their tone.

This is a distortion pedal that basically tries to emulate a tube amp. While there have been a few of these that I've tried, not many have really come close, so I was skeptical about this one. It is basically an analog effect. It has 1/4" input and output, as well as an "emulated output" which is good for DI as it basically is amp modeler. I don't particularly like using it but it is definitely an interesting addition to the pedal. It requires an external power supply which is 16V, which is a shame since you'll most likely have to buy a separate power supply.

UTILIZATION

This pedal has a lot of variety to it. It's got two channels on it which makes it a lot more versatile than the average distortion. The first channel has the option of being a clean boost or a light crunch, while the second channel is more of a heavy crunch. The controls feature a volume knob and gain knob (which both have separate controls for each channel). There's also a three band EQ as well as a knob labeled ISF, which operates like a presence control. The website advertised that it switches between the classic British sound and the classic US sound (basically, between Vox and Fender). I don't know if I buy that comparison but it definitely changes the sound up quite a bit. There's a switch for each channel as well as a switch that changes channel one from clean to crunch.

SOUND QUALITY

This pedal sounds pretty good. I definitely prefer the sound of the first channel as it goes from a lighter, cleaner boost to a relatively light crunch. It's basically a little harder than an overdrive but not as powerful as a distortion. The second channel is a lot more aggressive, and in my opinion, the weaker of the two. It definitely gives me a too-heavy vibe that I wasn't really looking for. I'm sure there's some people who would like it but it tends to be way too muddy for me. Either way though, there's definitely some good tone to be found in this pedal. It sounds great with actual tube amps as the first channel tends to bring out the warmth of the tubes quite a bit. The second channel kind of loses that sound though. It sounds equally good with a Les Paul or a Strat which are the main guitars I use it with.

OVERALL OPINION

This is a pretty good pedal overall. I'd say that the best thing about it is probably the first channel which gives you a nice distortion sound. Is it worth the price? Probably not, really. It doesn't really have that much more to offer me. It's certainly good but not worth 250 dollars new. I'm sure somebody would dig it, though, so I'd have to say it's worth checking out if you come across it.

(Originally written by Izzy11/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
2-channel effect pedal. I couldn't believe it but it provides a great sound palette without having to change your instrument during the song.

Effect pedal ranging from clean to crunch or slight overdrive (channel 1) and from overdrive to fat distortion (channel 2).

But watch out: it's not a distortion effect for heavy metal freaks.

It will allow you to play Guns and Roses, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, etc.

Output with speaker emulation.

Convenient PSU operation.

UTILIZATION

Quite simple configuration. You'll need time to master the ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) but it's worth it.

The ISF allows you to go from a blues rock sound to a modern US sound without changing the settings.

But the user's manual will be of great help.

SOUND QUALITY

I'm more than satisfied with the effects. I play with an Epiphone Les Paul Standard (Seymour Duncan SH1 and SH4 pickups ), Blackstar HT Dual and Marshall DFX 50.

I get a good fat sound ranging from blues to Queen, Guns and Roses, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin; etc. The sound is well-defined.

Avoid boosting the lows and highs excessively. I think it's the only disadvantage of this pedal, which actually surprised me in the beginning.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for three months and it became essential to my setup (Marshall) and my playing style.

If it ever breaks (which I doubt because the housing is very sturdy) I will buy it again without hesitation!!! This pedal is ultra versatile and it provides the best value for money among tube pedals if you buy it secondhand. You can play everything from clean to crunch and hard rock.

I certainly don't use all its possibilities (who does?) and that's the reason I like this pedal that provides an exceptional musical value (Blackstar makes a very good use of the tube).

Everything has been said in the description, I spend ...
Heavy housing and quality. contrary to what I read sometimes double potentiometers are not bad, it's just the design that lets too much dust. A helping cleaner contact and hop it goes again.
So 8 out of 10 because of this problem of dust a little annoying at times. Otherwise it's tough.

USE

Simple Config and the possibilities are quite large with the ISF. It has everything from crunch to overdrive until the HiGain distortion. American or British colors to choose from.

SOUND QUALITY

Basically it sounds good, but changing lamp (DD about me), we gain in definition and bass. The sound is very warm. I use it in overdrive channel 1 (switch crunch on it) and the gain at two thirds. It depends on the channel2, 50% to 70% gain generally. The TFR is instead turned the British side (13 / 14h approximately) because I play a Fender lamp, so I already have a good basic clean.
In any case it quite dépote live.
On the recordings, it takes very good things with the release emulated 4x12.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I use it for 2 years and I do not regret, especially since the changing lamp!
I played on dozens of overdrive and distortion but it crushes not bad. In any case it suits me perfectly. It's not cut out for the big metal (there are others for that) but for the large energetic rock, it sticks!
Although a bit expensive but it makes good.