BLACKSTAR

Blackstar amps was formed by four musicians with over 50 years experience of guitar amp design and production including designing amps for Marshall. What they have come up with are boutique amp designs but at mass produced prices. These are not clones of classic designs but versatile amps that give you those vintage tones but a whole lot more besides. It is not hard to see why Guitarist has given the Artisan range 5 star reviews.  Using Korea as a manufacturing base has really been a great decision, the build quality of the amps is superb as taking a look inside will prove but best of all they sound fantastic and are incredible value for money just like the pedals.

ARTISAN SERIES

ARTISAN 15  £799

This is a straight ahead amp two channels with nothing but volume and tone controls but what channels they are. Channel one brings to mind classic Marshall tones whilst the EF86 loaded channel 2 is more like a Fender Champ. The amp can be switched between single ended 5 Watt class A operation and 15 Watts push-pull class A which is almost essential as these amps definitely come to life when the 2 EL84's are pushed hard whether clean of being run flat out for some amazing crunchy distorted tones. The simple tone section controls the top end nicely and really helps get the most out of the amp by  tweaking things to suit your guitar. For added versatility the two channels can be linked together. The amp has a valve rectifier for true vintage tones with the classic 'sag' when driven hard. The clean tones have plenty of depth but with a real chiming top end - this is the kind of sound that really has 'oomph' even at lower volumes. Driving the amp into distortion produces classic  rock and blues tones - the EL84s really respond well to the dynamics of the your playing. Both channels have high and low inputs and the speaker is a Celestion G12M. There are two speaker outs with an impedance selector.

Really all you need to do here is plug in and play - you wont be disappointed.

4 EL84s, 2 Celestion G12M's, two channels and whole lot of tone. Channel one uses an EF86 and has a 5 way bass shaping switch to tailor the low end response which is surprisingly effective. There is also a tone control to tame the top end. Channel 2 uses an ECC83 and incorporates a volume and gain arrangement as well as a Voice control to alter the response from warm to bright. There are also some standard bass, mid and treble controls. The amp has valve rectification for true vintage tones. As with the 15 the amp is simple to use and sounds good regardless of how you set the controls. The power can be switched between 30 and 15 Watts and as with the 15 we go from single ended to push pull class A - either way the valves are being driven hard in the tradition of an AC30.  This really takes off where the 15 finishes giving the extra spread of the 2x12, more volume, more drive and more control. This amp is easily loud enough for all but the biggest venues and with an AB box can be switched between channels (the channels can also be linked). There are two speaker outs with an impedance selector. If you want vintage tones but with modern build and design this is the amp for you.

A trio of 12AX7s in the preamp and 4 EL34s in the power amp with solid state rectification - serious volume and tone are on offer here. The amp has low and high inputs (about 6db lift on the high) and two channels - normal and bright in effect. The channels share all EQ settings but these are well suited to both. Also we have a 4 position voice control which really makes this a superbly versatile amp. The control represents early 50's American, late 50s American, early 60s British and late 60s British and whilst not intended to be models this gives a fair idea of what it sounds like. Positions 3 and 4 could easily be described as classic and heavy rock whilst 1 and 2 give some bright and open clean sounds with plenty of headroom. There are two speaker outs with an impedance selector. This amp combines great tones which let the sound of your guitar come through and sheer power to great effect. If you need an amp for big stages then this is probably it. If you like the tone but sometimes need less power a THD hotplate would be a good partner for the 100.

4X12 ANGLED AND STRAIGHT     £499

2x12                                                      £299

Check out the Blackstar Website

The full range of Blackstar Amps are available from Jam Guitars.

Take a look at the Blackstar Pedals