Blackstar Amplification HT Club 40

Blackstar has made a huge splash on the amp world in recent years. They have made great sounding fantastically priced amps for the masses. The price is what is so amazing to me. The amp sounds so very good and to keep their prices for a multi-channel combo like this under $1000 is remarkable. Blackstar has effectively used a great design as well as superb marketing which has enabled them to produce a great quality and sounding amplifiers. Many touring and professional artists all over the globe are now turning towards Blackstar for their guitar amplifier needs. The have successfully taking a huge niche in the market over the last few years.

This is one of their more famous amps as the price is consistent with lower competitive priced amps and their tone is just remarkable. The cleans are nice and sparkly and the distortion flavor has a fantastic gain y quality that makes it a joy to spend time with.

UTILIZATION

Features:
40 Watt valve combo
2x ECC83, 2x EL34 tubes
Two footswitchable channels
12” Celestion speaker
Enhanced tone controls
Patent-applied-for Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)
Clean voice switch
Overdrive voice switch
Master volume
Digital reverb with dark/bright switch
Speaker emulated output
Effects loop
2-way footswitch included
Cool vintage styling

SOUNDS

The clean is chimey and vintage feeling in the note separation. If you switch over to the overdrive channel it has a definite British feel and tone characteristics. The overdrive tone is a good tone to fall in love with. It has a nice fantastic feel, grind, and drive to it that makes you want to keep playing. It has the right amount of British sizzle in the voicing and the right amount of saturation too. This isn't a metal players amp by any means but a cover music or country, rock, and pop, players combo amp.

It sound great with a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster. It also sound great with a Gibson Les Paul. Any guitar that already has a decent tone is going to match well with this amp. This is one of Blackstar's most popular amps and there is a reason for that: is sound awesome and works well under most circumstances.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these amps come in at around $700, which isn't bad for a solid combo 2 channel amp. Blackstar are also know for having great amps for recording. I recommend this amp to anyone who need a great sounding 2 channel amp that is not that expensive to own and at this price it is hard to pass up.

Blackstar has really stepped into the ring with this amp. Having two foot switchable channels that equally sound good and getting it well under $1000 in impressive.

The basic look of this combo amp is just an impressive. It has a clean sleek look that doesn't get to confusing as many other multi channel amps can. It has an easy enough operation with the footswitch and gets better and better the more you crank the tone.

UTILIZATION


Blackstar HT Club 40 Tube Combo Amplifier Features:

* 40 watts
* 2 x ECC83, 2 x EL34
* 2 footswitchable channels
* 12" Celestion speaker
* Enhanced tone controls
* Patent-applied-for Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)
* Clean voice switch
* Overdrive voice switch
* Master volume
* Digital reverb with dark/bright switch
* Speaker emulated output
* Weight: 53-4/5 lb.
* Dimensions: 24-2/5" x 22-1/3" x 11-7/10"
* Footswitch: FS-5 supplied


SOUNDS

I am not sure how they keep their prices so low, but if I were to guess than I would believe they are made in China. If this is true it will be a bit of a let down. But let me keep with the tone of this amp. The clean is chimey and vintage feeling in the note separation. It sound great with a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster. If you switch over to the overdrive channel it has a definite British feel and tone characteristics. The overdrive tone is a good ton to fall in love with. It has a nice grind and drive to it that makes you want to keep playing. When ever an amp does that you know you have a winner.

OVERALL OPINION

At new these amps come in at around $700, which isn't bad for a solid combo 2 channel amp. Blackstar are also know for having great amps for recording. They sound good going into a sound booth through a mic and sound excellent on stage as well.

I recommend this amp to anyone who need a great sounding 2 channel amp that won't break the bank too much. You can find them on the used market fro around $450. So if you need a good amp that will serve you in multiple purposes ten this is a good one.

Well, everything is already said, right? Bah, 4 lamps (see my comment ds "overall opinion on this)
It lacks a true equalization for clear sound: There is a knob for "tone"
The best would be to have 2 voicing (light and overdrive) pedal but I ask a lot.
Reverb (digital) is nice. There is a choice with a knob on the rear panel between dark and light, and it makes a real difference. The reverb is on the footswitch (nice)
The ISF is really effective.
Connectivity: great to select the level of the effects loop (+4 dBV or -10). At least we are sure that it works with all the pedals (at least with all the ones I've tried)
Power: bah is 40W lamps. What to say? enough to repeat and the small stage on stage knowing that we are always taken on the sound, so the power we do not care a bit. I would say that the power is usually a handicap as to have a balanced amp, front and back in a not too big room sound, the guitars play 15w max lamps and therefore are not at their optimum. Moreover, this amp works quite well, even (quite) low volume.

UTILIZATION

Very easy to use but how could it be complicated?
Manual: Not Read
Quickly found the sound that comes closest to that we seek.
Nothing special to report

SOUNDS

Style of music group song and French jazzifiante rockisante.
Home rather jazz and rock.
I use a Les Paul Studio, a half body Ibanez (AS80) and a Fender Strat.
effects:
Group: live, micro Qtron and OS2; loop in a Boss PH3 Phase shifter, chorus / flanger Ibanez CF7 and a little alligator volume
At home, a Korg AX3000 processor and a JamMan.
I play in clean, crunch and disto.Je not going to metal
I use OS2 (and even an Ibanez MS10) for several types of distortion to reach the feet but the overdrive of this amp is still something!
Sounds:
I start with the best, and overdrives available. Absolutely perfect and very versatile. ISF allows a rather britt or its U.S. and it is very effective. By a switch on the voicing and effective equalization. Really nothing to complain about.
In his clear, it is more questionable. As I said above, it lacks a real equalizer. The voicing switch is very effective. The clean sound is still not the strong point of this amp, although it is very acceptable. Only problem (which may not be one for certain): Can not cruncher, same general volume min (preamp volume and therefore stronger). It is true that for pure jazz, I prefer my Laney LC15R, but much less versatile ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 months. I also have a Laney LC15R and I have tried many other amps (Vox AC15, AC30, Engel, Marshall ...). Each has its specificity and it is impossible to see dishonest to compare. To play jazz, I prefer the Laney or Engel (yes, the ENGEL) but I find the HT Club 40 unique overdrive and very good clean sound (although I prefer to play without crunch).
Just a small note for the HT Club 20 (whose power is sufficient). Well, the difference in the grain of the sound (especially the bass) is huge, I think it is mainly due to the size of the fund that has an importance which we do not talk enough.
Otherwise, I must point out a problem I had: I had to change the power tubes. Surprising for an amp that has less than 2 years and was treated well! According to the electronics that made the distri (I did not know where was the problem) a very important and unusual amperage arrives on lamps and makes them fragile. According to him, I can expect to change often.
What I like most: versatility while keeping the character (especially overdrive)
What I like least: the frequent lamp replacement and then its weight ...
Otherwise, to summarize: excellent quality / price ratio, and I would do this choice.

Amp lamp, and 2xECC83 2xEL34.

Unless it is noted that the power level of 40W lamps and ben is standard, it rivals and surpasses a Marshall MG 100 DFX for example.

For the rest everything is dj said.

I just AIM to change the voicing of the foot footswich my taste the only complaint. (I Remde this because I wanted a troisime channel, well I bought one at Marshall BB2 pedals and everything is super nickel)

UTILIZATION

Configuration is very simple, and it is for her that I bought this amp, I have effects pedals and I always looking small bte ... The branch you, you RULES as you wish and in 2 minutes you have your sound. It's not like some amps and I have over 25 buttons (frankly it's anything ...). APRS all these tastes, but we return to the vintage and the vintage is in rglage very easy.

The manual is clear trs, trs enough, I just read a good time to give me the level of consciousness or heating lamps. (I see a specialist in prfr of Toulouse who said, "when you know, an amp you do lamp heat two minutes, no less, no more and you pr servera your lamps. "Beware of the stand-by is not the book but not let no more than 15 minutes so can damage the lamps.


I invite you to visit her site https://www.alain-lafon.fr/pages/amplis_infos.html


This gives a good sound very easy, on the other hand if you want a clean sound that crunch in the bin goes up and voicing mode mounts the volume, you will see what it's like the lights. APRS prfre I use for blues is my BB2 is clean in the voicing and retracted to three quarts (although round, warm, he bounced back well with my PRS).

Despite the lights when it rings pretty even in "I'm not too noisy", on the other hand up the volume and you'll fall in love.

For channel saturated say anything we go from crunch to mtal so large choice.

Ps the ISF is doing its job and is quite fun to use, so he is three quarts for me all the time, closer to what the british ct.

At the Tone and ISF, I not use for about 5 hours it starts to work well and hear the difference. I admit that some beginners j'tais dgmme if the seller had warned me

SOUNDS

On the Reverb, two mode, dark and light, I prfre the dark for its depth (it should have a fine ear means not much the diff)

Then at the voices for the clean channel when it is switched on a modern sound, low on serious and mdium, a sound round and warm with a PRS ben trs is good. When it is switched-ds (output) sound typical class A, bright and slightly slamming that crunch by mounting the volume

Distortion channel dj I given the opportunity to crunch the mtal, the voicing is to play on the sustain, I feel like notes almost endless with more solo gain as well, almost anything a boost.

I play a lot of arpge in clean and acoustic guitar accompaniment always clean. Some people have criticized this channel as clean without me, well, let that go and buy the amp and bumpkins Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (which I almost vomited in saturation. APRS I play blues and rock , well it suits me perfectly. It took me a while to find my type of sound, now it's perfect for me.

My kind of sound is of course hot (thanks to the lamp must then mount the volume a bit), round and rpond when asked. And Ben is perfect for me. I do not like the sound lens and snapping, but it is largely possible to do with this amp.

I use a PRS HS Customs (change of microphones), I also plug my Fender amus tlcoustic deluxe, I t I have to say, trs surprised in the sense positive.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 3 months and intensively on the weekend (or style 5h 6h).

I tried several other amps, here is the list (long):

- Marshall Haze 40: I do not have AIM ct: its bland, not my thing
- Fender Hot Rod Deluxe: I have not but then not at all AIM and more drive channel DIVR (too crystalline, screaming my taste) the clean channel is not evil against it, but this amp does not marry with my guitar.
- Vox AC30C2: good amp, however its VERY BRITISH (I love) but not versatile trs (that's the only shot I did not take).
- Marshall MH50C and H: saturated channel prcis ass not too rough and clean like
- Marshall JVM410C: rgler too long, 36 buttons, I go my way and double the price of Blackstar
- Orange Tiny Teror: wow what bte, but not versatile enough.
- Blackstar HT 60: TOO POWERFUL
- Blackstar Artisan 15 and 30: slap that I took ... but unfortunately no footswich else has them that I bought.

So the 40 silent ben a good compromise between the 20 (not standby) and 60 (too strong). I looked for about a year an amp that suited me, I find russi.

What I like most, its ease of use, its clean modern and versatility. The fact that it goes well with my guitars for the type of sound I was looking for.

What I like least arfff difficult, surely not the voicings footswitch. I found the default else beginners, but over time has become virtually qualities.

I consider the report good quality price trs I think the price for the other amps I tried it remains the one I prfr far. Of course there is always better, but much, much more expensive and less versatile. It would for example have a fender INTERESTED tween reverb in its clean and a marshall jcm 800 in saturated (but everyone's budget ...).

I do it again so it hsiter choices, the more I use, plus aging lamps and I'm happy. Against it by those around me as it is seen less power ...