Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: indysmith on May 03, 2009, 06:27:14 PM

Title: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: indysmith on May 03, 2009, 06:27:14 PM
How are you finding it...?
I know a few of us have had them a while now and I'm just wondering how they're settling in?

For me it's a strange amp; I like the sound, I like the look, the size, the volume... but I still feel like I always have - it's very modern, and somewhat "over-voiced" if you know what I mean? It sounds like there's an awful lot of components between the pickup and the speaker. The gain control on the drive channel also seems silly to me - just for normal playing I don't often venture past the 9o'clock point... It has a LOT of gain most of which I find unusable.
The ISF control is a great feature, I'd have it on every amp if I could - it's a really interesting additional control... hard to describe exactly what it does but it definitely works and makes a big difference!
Overall so far I'm very happy with the amp, and glad I got it - best practice-style amp I've tried still, but there's still room for improvement.
Can't wait for some mods to come out for it... maybe something a bit more vintage-sounding, less hard highs, more open sound. Considering changing the speaker. The Celestion G10 Vintage and G10 Greenback both look good. I'm more of a greenback kind of guy nowadays but they are very expensive and I can't help thinking the G10 Vintage would suit the amp a lot better.
Thoughts?
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Stevepage on May 03, 2009, 06:33:33 PM
I tried the HT-5 combo yesterday with a Strat Plus. I was really impressed with it. Clean tone was great and warm and so was the drive channel. Had alot of depth for such a little thing. I'd buy one myself if I needed a smaller amp.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: lamp on May 03, 2009, 06:56:42 PM
I like mine a lot.  I do tend to play with a fair bit of gain, so it suits me just fine. 
Impressive for the price.  In fact since I got it, I haven't touched my Tiny Terror. 
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Ivan on May 03, 2009, 07:13:20 PM
I had the combo for a few months and sold recently because I wanted the head (although I haven't got it yet).

I loved it but I know what you mean when you say over-voiced. I guess that voicing is what gives it great drive sound at low volumes. However that drive sound is only great up to a point and like you said its due to the gain knob. I usually had mine around 10:00 and NEVER beyond 12:00. My opinion is that they tried to cover too much gain range and at higher levels it just doesn't sound as good.

I didn't have much use for the ISF though as it was more of a set and forget feature for me.

The headphone output + the cabinet emulation was the best thing about the amp as it was made for practicing!


On a side note, am I right to assume that the HT-5 is not 100% tube? Because it sure didn't feel like it....
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: dheim on May 03, 2009, 07:14:38 PM
i've got the combo version from a little while and i'm loving it! it's an high gain kind of amp, so your impression of over-voicing is inevitable, in my opinion. usually i play with every bit of available gain turned to the max, so this is not a problem for me! if i want more vintage tones i've got a very nice overdrive/distortion that sounds quite like a plexi, the EHX english muff'n... i changed its tubes with a couple of 12AX7s and now it's perfect!
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: dheim on May 03, 2009, 07:15:54 PM
i don't think that blackstar products are 100% tube, but if they sound good who cares?
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Matt77 on May 03, 2009, 08:00:49 PM
I use my Martamp in the day.
I tend to use the HT-5 at night going straight in to my recording unit and then out to a pair of active near field monitors. I can get a good quiet tone at night that way.

A more expensive amp sounds more open but I think the HT-5 is the best at that price.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Ivan on May 03, 2009, 08:19:07 PM
I actually think its the best amp at its price range!
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: HTH AMPS on May 03, 2009, 08:53:11 PM

It sounds like there's an awful lot of components between the pickup and the speaker.


Thats because there is - the gut shots that're floating around the net show this.  It uses just one ECC83 so you have a maximum of two gain stages (the same as an Epiphone Valve Junior, i.e. not very much gain) so the majority of gain must come from opamp stages.  Nothing wrong with that of course if it sounds good - I have no problem using a stompbox for more gain and don't care if it's inside the amp or outside.

Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: _tom_ on May 03, 2009, 10:09:30 PM
Yeah I know what you mean about the "over voicing" thing. The only other thing that pisses me off is that it doesnt clean up very well with the volume knob at all.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Bradock PI on May 04, 2009, 12:39:33 AM
My wife has one of these with Riff Raffs it seems fine but I think it is designed to give right up to meaty 90s drive from moderate pickups I can imagine with anything else it will be overblown although my wifes guitar teacher did want it cranking up more for some stuff he wanted. You do need to use the clean channel for cleans as it seems to be designed to give heavy drive at very low volumes which may be disconcerting if your used to a more traditional amp response.

I have the Vox AC4TV and because that still gets a bit loud even on a 1/4W for crunch I use a blackstar HT Dual the crunch channel on that is a lot gentler than the HT5 and the drive channel is similar but with a vintage flare from the vox.  The Vox is also a 2 tube amp but I did compare that with the Fender junior and junior blues which are 4 and 5 Tube respectively I believe. It was funny because I demo'ed the Vox several times and each time had one of the shop crew play while I listened most of them had not heard the Vox and were amazed that a sub £200 amp had that tone.

The blackstar is tighter and clearly more 80s upwards the Vox is very 50s/60s.

The HT5 is marketed as a bit of an all things for everyone amp but we all know that doesn't exists I think all in all for a small combo it has a great range for a pretty reasonable price and the ISF really does alter the tone a lot.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: jibidy on May 04, 2009, 11:08:00 PM
I really like mine. Its the best amp i've owned. Although ive only owned a MG and Randall G3.

I like the features, Headphone/Line out with speaker emulation. Lots of outputs for cabs. Good effects loop.

I use a Jekyl and hyde for more gain now. The clean also works wonderfully for me. Sounds great with my vintage Shergold, and my modern Epi SG.

Though someone did say that it sounds like its got a blanket over the speakers...I slightly agree. You just need to match it with some suiting speakers. I am running it in to a Randall 2,12" (not the american one), and to my ears it could do with a little opening up.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: juansolo on May 05, 2009, 06:30:02 AM
I really like mine. I've got the head going into a Martamp 1x12 loaded with a Hot100. Very versatile little amp and an absolute bargain. I really don't think there's anything out there at the price to touch it.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: LazyNinja on May 05, 2009, 08:48:24 AM
I really like mine too it's the best bedroom tone I've ever had. I like my gain set to about 10 oclock and push it with boost. It does a great convincing cranked sound.  But I also know what you mean about the over-voicing thing. Fortunately it's a good voice! I remember people saying similar things about the Blackstar pedals. About the blanket thing, I find this amp to be very pickup sensitive (or rather, prefers ones with lots of clarity i.e. BKP!).

Indy; I've got the greenback in my combo and I must say the difference is no where near as big as I was expecting, at least for bedroom volumes anyways. It might be that the voicing is too prominent? It has tamed the harsh highs a bit though so it's worth doing but I'd give G10 Vintage a go too.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: indysmith on May 05, 2009, 09:59:13 AM
Indy; I've got the greenback in my combo and I must say the difference is no where near as big as I was expecting, at least for bedroom volumes anyways. It might be that the voicing is too prominent? It has tamed the harsh highs a bit though so it's worth doing but I'd give G10 Vintage a go too.
Interesting! I might give the G10 Vintage a go then and report back! :)
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Dr. Vic on May 05, 2009, 06:45:46 PM
You guys make me now GASing for an HT-5...

Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: HairyChris on May 05, 2009, 06:50:20 PM
<---- Has wanted to try one out for a while but is scare too.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: JDC on May 05, 2009, 10:45:47 PM
Indy; I've got the greenback in my combo and I must say the difference is no where near as big as I was expecting, at least for bedroom volumes anyways. It might be that the voicing is too prominent? It has tamed the harsh highs a bit though so it's worth doing but I'd give G10 Vintage a go too.
Interesting! I might give the G10 Vintage a go then and report back! :)

I look forward to hearing how the speaker upgrade goes

I love my HT5, but coming from modellers I'm probably bias, need some bkps now!!!

if I was to nit pick I wish it had a 12" speaker so I had more choice of upgrading in the future but that's about it
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Bradock PI on May 06, 2009, 12:20:13 AM
Best to get the head if you want upgradability, although the blackstar cabs are 2x10s dun understand this my Vox AC4 is a 10 but the head and Cab has a 1x12. Woulda seemed sensible for them to do 1x12 cabs sell the half stack and and as single. They don't even sell the cabs seperately if you buy the HT5 head.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Fikealox on May 06, 2009, 12:36:36 AM
Urgh, this thread is pretty relevant to me. I'm looking at getting an HT5, but the speakers are the sticking point. I don't know if I want to get the combo (with a view to later upgrading the speaker or getting an extension cab), or the head and a 1x12 or 2x12. And I don't know which speakers I would want if I did upgrade or get a cab >.< It'd be an easy decision if cabs weren't so heinously expensive
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: juansolo on May 06, 2009, 07:13:08 AM
Urgh, this thread is pretty relevant to me. I'm looking at getting an HT5, but the speakers are the sticking point. I don't know if I want to get the combo (with a view to later upgrading the speaker or getting an extension cab), or the head and a 1x12 or 2x12. And I don't know which speakers I would want if I did upgrade or get a cab >.< It'd be an easy decision if cabs weren't so heinously expensive

(http://www.juansolo.demon.co.uk/misc/ampage.jpg)

Sorted,
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Fikealox on May 06, 2009, 07:57:35 AM
I like :D I have a viper too, oddly enough. I'm in Australia, so Martamp is a bit hard to find (or any cheap cabs, really), but I'm more and more set on getting the head and a cab, now. What made you go for the hot 100?
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: juansolo on May 06, 2009, 11:54:49 AM
What made you go for the hot 100?

Reading up on them they seemed to be a really good, cheap, all-rounder. Easy to drive with a small amp but will also handle being plugged into a bigun. Seemed like a good starting point so I got that with a view that it's easy to swap and change if I didn't like it. As it was, I really think it's stonking so I'll not be bothering. I've tried all sorts in the past, I have a Celestion Blue on the end of my old Minimat and that was incredible, but I'm not sure that would have suited the nature of the Blackstar. Before that I had a V30 in a Marshall DSL combo. Again, not sure that would suit the more modern tone of the Blackstar. The Hot100 so far has proved to be a really good jack of all trades.
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Crazy_Joe on May 06, 2009, 05:31:55 PM
I'm gassing for one of these!
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: Bradock PI on May 06, 2009, 11:24:02 PM
The stack is really good value with 2 1x10s I would go for that initially and then if you wanted to upgrade to a 1x12 or 2x12  I am sure you would have no problem selling the 1x10s singly to combo owners wanting the second speaker, or to head owners wanting one of the 1x10s for a practive rig - since blackstar don't sell them seperately you may even make the head even cheaper by getting a good price for them here they work out at £75 each (£249 head £399 stack) they could sell for more possibly
Title: Re: Blackstar HT-5 Owners...
Post by: viking on May 07, 2009, 01:26:30 AM
In Thoman,it's already sold out :?!At that price,it's not so surprising..