Depends on what sound you want.

Sorry, should have mentioned that. I play mostly metal and rock, more of the latter lately. Want something with a good clean sound and some gain. Think Stone Sour type tone.

Not too sure about the other ones you mentioned, but I recently got the Washburn AMP3 below. Its quite nifty as it can also be used as a portbale iPod speaker, although many will probably not class it so much as an 'amp'. But for my needs (a house with a sleeping toddler at night, portability, and a bit of sound modelling), its perfect. I got mine off Gumtree so I dont know if the are available here though...

I havent ever played through the Blackstar. But the Marshall Class 5 has a beautiful tone. Breaks up nicely to and it has that Typical Marshall rock tone ?

ezietsman's blackstar is really flippin' awesome as a practise amp. You should ask him about it because he's been doing 9-5 research on amps recently ?

I use a Fender Champ 600 which is great. I had mine shipped directly to Matt Allison (Ashton Audio), "matta" on the forum, to be modified. I don' know all the details but there are threads on the forum if you search which explain what he does. Anyway, it is a 5W amp and he added a 2W switch which is really cool for those very late nights.

I simply love this little amp and it is very special after Matt "breathed" on it. Awesome tone!!!

Thank you for the ideas. I will look at the Fender and Washburn as well. After browsing the web last night I came across the Blackstar HT-1, a 1 watt valve amp. I will look around to see who stock them, would really like to try it out sometime.

WantzChas wrote: Thank you for the ideas. I will look at the Fender and Washburn as well. After browsing the web last night I came across the Blackstar HT-1, a 1 watt valve amp. I will look around to see who stock them, would really like to try it out sometime.

That Blackstar HT-1 sounds pretty good on the demos I've seen. Bare in mind it doesn't have an effects loop nor does it really have an EQ section, only the ISF knob AFAIK. The HT-5 on the other hand has both those things but no reverb, and it is quite expensive for a new one. The Music Company in Mellville is the place to go to play on Blackstar's goodies.

You said Rock and Metal, which knocks out the Class 5 and the Champ. They good for blues and cleanish things. The Blackstars can dish out clean through to full on filth with a smile. I can highly recommend the HT5, haven't played a HT1 yet.

no one mentioned the Vox AC4 ...great lil amp.

For practice an lugging around on holiday i use a lil Vox mini 3 (not valve though) which is perfect cos it has the ability to utilise batteries ... takes 6 x AA batteries (most take C size) which last around 30 hours or more so works out quite cheap too. has 11 amp models etc etc etc ... Also this lil amp is tough as i have on occasion been quite rough with it ....

Blackstar and class 5 and champ also great amps ...so much choice , we are spoilt

You can not go wrong with a HT-5 (Or any other Blackstar for that matter.)

Incredible little amps, both in combo and stack form. In hindsight I'm quite sad that I sold mine, and I will definitely buy one again in a heartbeat.

The ISF allows it to switch from Marshall tones to the scooped sounds of a Mesa Boogie and anything in between. The HT-1R also has this functionality, with the added reverb that the HT-5 lacks. It obviously does not have as much power as the HT-5.

My view is a bit biased though, as I have not heard the Class 5 from Marshall yet. It is very possible that this might also be an option for you, depending on price of course.

The Blackstar HT-5 is great for rock.

I listened to clips of the Marshall Class 5 and really like it. But in all fairness nothing touches the Blackstar.

I have the marshall Class 5 and it does sound great but as they say its more of a bluesy or clean amp without pedals, haven't tried any high gain on it since I only have a ts-9 (which wont take a clean amp to metal). The amp sounds great when its cranked though, nice overdriven rock/classic rock sound, but its VERY loud, like honestly I turned it up and walked from my room to my parents room to go play cause otherwise it hurts to play 0.5m away from the amp...so most of the time you're gonna get a clean sound out of the amp, unless u live on a farm ?