• From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
  • Posts: 131

Topic: Blackstar HT-40

Anyone own a Blackstar HT-Club 20, 40 or 60? I'm considering looking at one after realising that my playing style is changing and my old Fender HRD just isn't doing it for me anymore...I've heard and read good things about both clean and drive channels on the Blackstar HT amps and they're reasonably priced too. Could anyone who owns one chime in on how they sound? Cheers smile

PS. If anyone in the UK wants to swap their Blackstar HT-40 for a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and an Earthquaker Devices Chrysalis OD then please let me know  wink

Peace
James

'What's the use in gettin' sober......when you're gonna get drunk again' - Louis Jordan
Guitars - Gibson VOS R8 LP, Custom built Telecaster w/Bare Knuckle and Duncan pickups, 60's/70's Kay Tulip  (for slide)
Amps n ting -1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1961 Gibson GA30 Invader, Fredric Effects Golden Eagle, Wampler Faux Analog Echo
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Blackstar HT-40

The 40 is what I've played through most... and they are all pretty similar. A major game changer for me is that the clean channel has a tone and a volume... the EQ only works on the dirt channel. If you need an EQ for your clean channel, I believe the 60 has it.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
  • Posts: 131

Re: Blackstar HT-40

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

The 40 is what I've played through most... and they are all pretty similar. A major game changer for me is that the clean channel has a tone and a volume... the EQ only works on the dirt channel. If you need an EQ for your clean channel, I believe the 60 has it.

I think I'd stick with the 40, the 60 is a bit overkill for me in the wattage department and I don't often use a completely clean tone...what's the drive like on  the 40? I've heard it's very smooth and singing, almost boutique-like, which kinda caught my attention..:)

'What's the use in gettin' sober......when you're gonna get drunk again' - Louis Jordan
Guitars - Gibson VOS R8 LP, Custom built Telecaster w/Bare Knuckle and Duncan pickups, 60's/70's Kay Tulip  (for slide)
Amps n ting -1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1961 Gibson GA30 Invader, Fredric Effects Golden Eagle, Wampler Faux Analog Echo
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Blackstar HT-40

I like it overall... you can get british or american drive out of it... and the crunch is still good at bedroom levels considering it's 40 watt amp. You could get rid of your 15 watt practice amp if you get the HT40. I would say it's boutique like, but most bout. amps don't play well quiet... this one does wink

I played both a strat through it and a Les Paul, and I must say I liked the cleans more with the strat and the dirt more with the LP. I could get a really good chime and percussive spank out of the clean with the strat... and I could get late 60's flower power - 90's grunge with the dirt on the LesPaul. Very fun amp. Good reverb too... easy to set, not too wet.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
  • Posts: 131

Re: Blackstar HT-40

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

I like it overall... you can get british or american drive out of it... and the crunch is still good at bedroom levels considering it's 40 watt amp. You could get rid of your 15 watt practice amp if you get the HT40. I would say it's boutique like, but most bout. amps don't play well quiet... this one does wink

I played both a strat through it and a Les Paul, and I must say I liked the cleans more with the strat and the dirt more with the LP. I could get a really good chime and percussive spank out of the clean with the strat... and I could get late 60's flower power - 90's grunge with the dirt on the LesPaul. Very fun amp. Good reverb too... easy to set, not too wet.

Sounds great! smile I'm thinking of getting one to replace my old Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for a better drive tone (I use an awesome OD pedal at the moment but pedals can't hide an average-sounding amp) and the Blackstar seems to be the best for my budget, they're only around £400 ish second hand...

'What's the use in gettin' sober......when you're gonna get drunk again' - Louis Jordan
Guitars - Gibson VOS R8 LP, Custom built Telecaster w/Bare Knuckle and Duncan pickups, 60's/70's Kay Tulip  (for slide)
Amps n ting -1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1961 Gibson GA30 Invader, Fredric Effects Golden Eagle, Wampler Faux Analog Echo
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Blackstar HT-40

The other guy in my band plays and HRD... those are very trebly and beamy... between the two? I'd take the Blackstar... you can get more tones out of it.

Good luck! cool

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
  • Posts: 131

Re: Blackstar HT-40

Having said all that, I now have the chance to trade my HRD for an old mid-eighties horizontal-input Marshall 2204 50w JCM800 combo...a little tatty cosmetically (I think it's cool like that big_smile ) but in perfect running order...the only snag is having to drive from Wiltshire to London to get it...:/...what do you think?

'What's the use in gettin' sober......when you're gonna get drunk again' - Louis Jordan
Guitars - Gibson VOS R8 LP, Custom built Telecaster w/Bare Knuckle and Duncan pickups, 60's/70's Kay Tulip  (for slide)
Amps n ting -1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1961 Gibson GA30 Invader, Fredric Effects Golden Eagle, Wampler Faux Analog Echo
  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 438

Re: Blackstar HT-40

One thing to consider.  You will probably have trouble running any modulation effects with a mid-eighties JCM 800 as I don't think it has an effects loop.  I think the master volume Marshalls work much better for Joe B. type tones if they have an effects loop for delay, reverb, chorus, ect.

  • From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
  • Posts: 131

Re: Blackstar HT-40

HoosierRock wrote:

One thing to consider.  You will probably have trouble running any modulation effects with a mid-eighties JCM 800 as I don't think it has an effects loop.  I think the master volume Marshalls work much better for Joe B. type tones if they have an effects loop for delay, reverb, chorus, ect.

That's true, but it doesn't really bother me as I don't tend to use modulation effects...I used to have a Fulltone Deja Vibe (still regret selling it) as my only modulation pedal but I always found it sounded best in front of the amp...after all, that's how Hendrix and Trower would have run their Uni-Vibes wink

I suppose delay would be a bit of an issue though as I do like a bit of delay.....but heck, it's a mid-eighties 2204 combo! Such things as delay pale in insignificance when faced with the prospect of that TONE....:)

'What's the use in gettin' sober......when you're gonna get drunk again' - Louis Jordan
Guitars - Gibson VOS R8 LP, Custom built Telecaster w/Bare Knuckle and Duncan pickups, 60's/70's Kay Tulip  (for slide)
Amps n ting -1966 Fender Deluxe Reverb, 1961 Gibson GA30 Invader, Fredric Effects Golden Eagle, Wampler Faux Analog Echo
  • sted
  • sted
  • Platinum
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-03-20
  • Posts: 333

Re: Blackstar HT-40

Sorry but I just couldn't recommend the HT series, the other guitarist in the band had a HT60 for a while and it was awful, disappeared into the cymbals, no discernible bottom end, terrible thing. He's ended up with a JVM now and we are all much, much happier.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Blackstar HT-40

yeah, playing it in a full band will sound WAY different than by itself.

So get it from (evil) Guitar Center so you can use the 30 day money back guarantee of you play it in band practice and it blends into the mix too much. hmm

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • SgtB
  • Platinum
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-03-08
  • Posts: 309

Re: Blackstar HT-40

James Davis wrote:

Having said all that, I now have the chance to trade my HRD for an old mid-eighties horizontal-input Marshall 2204 50w JCM800 combo...a little tatty cosmetically (I think it's cool like that big_smile ) but in perfect running order...the only snag is having to drive from Wiltshire to London to get it...:/...what do you think?

Get the 800, you will not regret it!

Gibson Collectors Choice #6
Joe Bonamassa Custom Shop Goldtop Unaged 1st run
Alvarez Acoustic '95
Gibson Skylark GA5-T '65, Marshall JTM45 Reissue, Fender Princton Reverb '72, Modded Bugera V5, Fender Bandmaster '68, Marshall Silver Jubilee 2558