Blackstar HT-5R / HT-5RH

BobC · 2012-01-01T15:08:08+00:00

Firstly, Happy New Year to All & Best Wishes for 2012 Now, I have been thinking of getting a small valve amp for home use / practice and these little Bl...

Blackstar HT-5R / HT-5RH

BobC

Wizard wrote: Do a search around the forum. There is plenty of commentary on the pro's and con's of the HT-5.
There are some ardent supporters (hello EZ!) and some who have tried it and moved on elsewhere.

To reinforce what MikeM has said, this amp is magic if you like playing with lots of gain; but IMHO not too exciting for sparkling clean sounds.

I searched the forum and found stuff on the 'old' HT-5 and other Blackstar models but nothing much on the newer HT-5R.

Wizard wrote:
BobC wrote: ... but if that's the going rate, I'll be having second thoughts.
Also consider second hand!

Providing you don't get GAS panic, a patient wait will probably find you something wonderful at quite a lot less than new.
(which you may be able to sell for little or no loss if you don't like it)

You needed to be around a while back while Keira was trying to rotate out her Laney Cub 10.
?

I'm willing to wait it out until I find something that will give me what I'm looking for, and I'm definitely open to second-hand, or even custom stuff (within a certain budget). Until then I'll just keep mucking about on Logic Studio, which although it's not the real thing, is close enough for my hobbyist needs.

Thanks Wizard!!

Keira-WitherKay

Well if you looking for a small valve amp that has great clean's with a hint of breakup think laney cub's i bought a 2nd hand cub 10 to use at my pro jazz gigs and it stayed clean almost full as it had an input level gain control plus master volume so easier to stay clean and the 10w was loud enough for jazz gigs in a casino and clean enough to sound awesome but only down side is no reverb but i just used a pedal in front of the amp and it was sorted but the cub 12 has reverb built in and a 15 w output and 1 or 5 w option and they sell new after discount for about 3 k or maybe 4 k if i recall, but it has 12 inch speaker and best value for money tube amp out there also consider ibanez ts 15 they pretty cool too and also cheap . But yes the cub even the small 10 is great for cleans and unbelievably small in size but drive it hard and it's loud beyond what you expect at that size and rating

BobC

Thanks Keira

Those Laneys sound more like what I'm looking for if the videos I just watched are anything to go by.

I may change my strategy and keep the headphone playing for the computer (I have a feeling the variety and quality of emulations I'll get from Logic are better than those from the Blackstar) and I'll use the valve amp how it's meant to be used, out loud whenever the opportunity arises.

I'll definitely check out the Laneys. The Cub12R sounds like all the amp I'd need.

Thanks again for the tip

Cheers

Bob

Danny-B

Keira, I stop breathing when I read your posts due to lack of full stops.

But yes, I dig the cub series. Very nice clean tone, seeing as that is what you're after.

TomCat

Alternatively look at the Ibanez TS15 Tubescreamer amp......

Nice cleans with a lowish gain OD channel. Also goes for a steal at about R4k or so....There is a lot of comment about it elsewhere in the forum...

BobC

TomCat wrote: Alternatively look at the Ibanez TS15 Tubescreamer amp......

Nice cleans with a lowish gain OD channel. Also goes for a steal at about R4k or so....There is a lot of comment about it elsewhere in the forum...

That Ibanez is pretty high on my list as well. Thanks TomCat.

BMU

Wizard wrote: To reinforce what MikeM has said, this amp is magic if you like playing with lots of gain

Nope. Maybe if you like "medium" lots of gain but certainly not if you want "lots" of gain. Personally I just found it a really dry and uninspiring sound, both rhythm and lead.

Re. the price, remember there's substantial import duty on amps, unlike guitars. Tends to apply to all amps not just these.

guidothepimmp

BobC wrote:
MikeM wrote: If you are looking for something with good cleans to light drive, I'd recommend you look elsewhere, was massively unimpressed by the cleans, really cool drive tone though.
That is becoming apparent, the more reviews I read. It does seem like it's more of a high-gain screamin' / squealin' type amp, which is fair enough if that's its niche.

Pity it's the only one I've found so far which has all of the features I am looking for in one amp - effects loop, line-in, headphone/line-out, reverb, footswitchable overdrive......

I'll still check it out but the feedback is much appreciated.

Cheers

Bob

I certainly would not call it a high gain screamer... far from it, I would place it in themoderate gain, perfect for classic rock type sound.

I only ever played one whn they first came out and was put off because they didnt have reverb then.

I believe they now do have a reverb, allbeit digital.

My experience with it was that with a guitar sraight into the amp, it did lack a bit of life... seemed a touch dry, sterile.. Sounded a different ampwith pedals, but I dont do pedals much... I do enjoy the drive sound though... AC/DC on tap easily.

ezietsman

The original HT5 is high gain. It may not be enough for some but it has as much and more than Metallica style thrash. Its not a classic sounding amp imo, very much in the vein of Mesa express, Peavey Valveking and the like. (Maybe im weird but Plexis, tweeds and vox is in my mind the classc rock sound)

HT5 doesnt do sparkling cleans, doesnt do the slightly overdrven bluesy thing well but its drive sound is great and should have more than enough gain for most. It also cleans up surprisingly well for such a high gain beastie.

They are great but dont do ALL sounds convincingly. IF you want beano or zep, look elsewhere. Acdc can be done with the gain rolled way back to 2 or so.

The ISF knob works as they say and is a great feature. The new one also has a tone control for the clean channel and seperate eq for drive channel. The bigger 12" speaker also will likely be nicer than the 10" on mine.

If you live in cape town you can come play mine to see.

IceCreamMan

BobC wrote:
TomCat wrote: Alternatively look at the Ibanez TS15 Tubescreamer amp......

Nice cleans with a lowish gain OD channel. Also goes for a steal at about R4k or so....There is a lot of comment about it elsewhere in the forum...
That Ibanez is pretty high on my list as well. Thanks TomCat.

BobC , bring yr tele to my house and come play my ibanez anytime. I did not take it to CLarens cos my car was full already so brought a smaller Vox which ended up being just fine anyway but feel free to come round play the ibanez. the ibanez has a 5watt setting too but its still failrly loud. for the money its well worthy of a decent look.

did not realise the blackstar was 9 clip ....my gracious thats a load of moola....

also tkae a hard look at the marshall class 5 amp , while i never got to actualyl play one ...yet .. the net is full of good reviews and i think it can be had for around 4.500

BobC

IceCreamMan wrote: [BobC , bring yr tele to my house and come play my ibanez anytime. I did not take it to CLarens cos my car was full already so brought a smaller Vox which ended up being just fine anyway but feel free to come round play the ibanez. the ibanez has a 5watt setting too but its still failrly loud. for the money its well worthy of a decent look.

did not realise the blackstar was 9 clip ....my gracious thats a load of moola....

also tkae a hard look at the marshall class 5 amp , while i never got to actualyl play one ...yet .. the net is full of good reviews and i think it can be had for around 4.500

PM'd you

Cheers

Bob