Blackstar Amplification Series One 45

I originally bought the Blackstar Amp Series as a backup amp for my Peavey Classic 30 (EL34 tube amp). I tried a Fender Mustang III (same price), but wasn't as impressed - especially with the cleaner sounds. It also has only 2-button or 4-button footswitches. I didn't want to buy a 60 lb tube amp.

UTILIZATION


This is pretty easy to lug around at only 36 lbs - lighter than my Peavey. I've had the Blackstar for about two weeks now and am just getting to the point where I love it. It takes some tweaking of the presets to find "your" sounds. I've used it on about 4 gigs so far. The first gig, I just used it in manual mode with my regular pedalboard and it worked OK - no problems, and I actually got some nice compliments on the tone.

SOUNDS

Then I started using it with the FBV Express and it was even better, but I was using two pedalboards, so I upgraded the FBV Mk II Express to the Shortboard. Now, I'm really impressed. I no longer need my other pedalboard (which cost $300) and the FBV Shortboard doesn't require A/C or batteries. BTW, this amp has some balls - louder than you'd think based on it's size. It's also "upgradable", as I downloaded new firmware which gave me about 4 or 5 additional kinds of reverbs and who knows what else.

OVERALL OPINION

My only complaint is that the master volume control seems to have 80% of the gain between 8 and 10 o'clock on the control. Not much gain is available after the 10 o'clock position. It should be more linear. This amp will replace a pedalboard AND an amp for $500 ($300 for the amp + $200 for the Shortboard). So far, I'm in no hurry to get my Blackstar amp back - I'm getting spoiled. It's a really versatile amp.

Like all the other Blackstar combo amps this one is basically about the same thing. It has a distinct tone and character that transcends through the amplifier line. These series is a bit more in price than the HT series, but to me doesn't really sound all that different.

Blackstar Series One 45 Features at a Glance:

45-watt, 2x12" combo with built-in DPR power reduction
1 x ECC82, 3 x ECC83, 2 x EL34 valves
Clean channel with Warm (Plexi) and Bright (Class A) type modes
Overdrive channel with Crunch and Super Crunch modes
ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) equipped tone control section
Presence control
Master Volume
Series effects loop
MIDI switching
Speaker-emulated output

UTILIZATION

Details
Type Tube
Number of Channels 2 Channels
Power 45W
Speakers 2 x 12"
No Effects
No Reverb
EQ Trreble, Middle, Bass, ISF, Presence, Resonance
No Amp Modeling
Preamp Tubes 1 x ECC82, 3 x ECC83
Power Tubes 2 x EL34
Inputs 1 x 1/4"
Outputs 2 x 1/4" (Speakers), 1 x XLR (DI), 1 x 1/4" (DI)
Footswitch I/O
Effects Loop
Height 21.69 inches
Width 27.9 inches
Depth 11.88 inches
Weight 64.15 lbs.
Notes MIDI In/Out

SOUNDS

This amp is a classic Brisitsh style amp with the character style of voicing and distortion grind. What is unique to BLackstar is their ISF control that shapes the overall EQ of the amp to give a more Brisith flavor to a American metal flavor. So if you take the control all the way to the right you will get a woody British tone and if you take it down to zero you get a tighter more American sound.



OVERALL OPINION

This amp is a bit up in price from the HT so be prepared for that. At new these amps come in at around $1800. Almost double the HT series amps. To me there isn't enough difference in tone and features to get me to shell out twice the amount.

These amps are great for recording silently with the emulated speaker output. I would never recorded that way but helps for jotting down ideas late at night in a uncontrolled room.

All-tube combo amp. 45w two channels each with two different modes.
A three-band EQ section for both channels, with the ISF settings (to modulate the response following a rather typical sound british or U.S.), master section with the presence control (treble frequency response speaker ) resonance (bass response frequency speaker) and master volume. And finally the DPR which allows to vary the response lamps w 4.5 to 45w.
For dissemination, the amplifier is equipped with two Celestion G12NV7 HP (never been able to find any doc on the way) 16 ohms connected in series (thus connected with the switch to position 8 ohms).
In the rear panel, there are the effects loop in series with a switch 4 following db/-10db pedal effects if it is used in a rack. The input / output MIDI control of the amp, the output emulated the footswitch jack and connection for speakers with impedance selector (16/8/4 ohms)

UTILIZATION

It's super easy to use I think. Modes enable a wide range of all different sounds, and all usable at any given time.
The manual is well done, and explains in detail each point.
Good rare black spot on the list, therefore the weight, but it's still on a combo (2x12 at that.

SOUNDS

The sound is excellent. Both modes allow the clean channel to have a fairly wide range (rather brilliant or more round and warm). on the other hand, do not expect a clean that remains after a certain volume it pleasantly crunch (provided you have the opportunity to grow in volume).
The crunch is usable and interesting. Overall, it was a fairly fine-grained, very nice booster pedal via a facade (for me I had a lot of fun with the 78 badass distortion in MXR). Finally, the crunch is super nice, the race gain knob is really exploitable, you can go from nice little overdrive the big saturax more compressed (on the other hand, no extreme style in my opinion, not enough gain for it. In Indeed, as we will be able to do heavy piece of cake, as it lacks a tad that can go in the big nag way prog metal, djent, death and others).

OVERALL OPINION

I will not have it possessed very long, but keep in mind that this is an excellent amp, very versatile, very malleable. I switched to something else (the desire to change, but I was looking for something more distinctive).
The price / quality ratio is very good in my opinion. The only downside, but it remains completely subjective, it may be that fades much to the material presented to it (pedals, guitars), it fails a little more personality to be in excellence.

45W tube amp
1 x ECC82, 3 x ECC83, 2 x EL34
2 X 12 for pregnant
4 channels (clean / warm / crunch / lead) with pedals
One classic EQ (bass / medium / high) + ISF
At Masters level: in addition to volume, we have the right to presence, resonance and DPR
29 Kg (ouch), but the side handles to help.

on the other hand no reverb on this amp (I do not care but hey).

The two features of this amp are:
- ISF, which actually allows to play on the frequency range of settings equation, the type of American to British
- DPR sending more or less sauce in lamps is quite complicated to describe but basically if left to 45W lamps, all the dynamics is then expressed as 4.5 W it is immediately the cleat. So basically you can not play much in volume and yet as if the lamps in response to their max. It is trying to find balance.

UTILIZATION

Setup is simple, you set the equation once and for all for all channels. I guess some would prefer to have different settings per channel but in this case, go your way!
Must be tested against by the ISF and the DPR if they had never used before to find happiness.

The manual is clear enough in my opinion.

SOUNDS

I play rock / pop / funk and this amp matches my expectations: I chose it because it offers a true wide range of sounds good, thanks to the ISF and the DPR.

I like the difference between the clean and warm clean sound, it really plays. Maybe a little less between crunch and lead, especially the latter responding to the need to pass in solo, that's fine with me.

I play with a Telecaster, a Vigier Excalibur, an Ibanez S440.

OVERALL OPINION

In conclusion, I use it live and in rehearsal for a few months.
I was looking for a tube amp strong enough to hold a concert but in combo with sounds clear and saturated that I like.
I tried other amps (Vox, Mesa Boogie, shop ...) but in the end for me it was the best compromise such sound palette / price.

With all its settings, hard to be in a room setting where I can not find a sound that fits me, so I keep it!