Blackstar HT-1R What a surprise

[Tellboy]

Been staying with friends in Bristol for a few days. As there was an 'open mike' night down at the local pub was asked to bring some gear and have a go. I was advised not to bring anything too expensive as it was not exactly the posh side of town (is there a posh side in Bristol?) so put my PRS and Cornfords to bed and grabbed my reliced tele with BKP Blackguard Flat 50s (knowing any knocks etc would improve it's appearance) and the Blackstar HT-1 Mrs Tellboy gave me last Christmas.

It was a typical Monday open mike night ranging from a folk singer to a young heavy metal trio (whose guitarist had ear splitting howling feedback between numbers as he forgot to turn his Boss overdrive off  :?). The tiny stage was crammed full of equipment so I tucked the HT-1 behind one of the PA speakers and used the emulated output direct into the PA desk. At home I've used the HT-1 mostly for convenience/practise and never really took it too seriously and got 'OK' sounds. So when I heard what was coming out the PA I thought 'clucking bell' - a monster sound, no pedals, a little reverb and the volume and tone on the Tele gave from pristine clean to singing distortion. Must have been one of those rare occasions where the guitar/pickups/amp just work together - using the emulated output through a good PA seemed to give much better results than I got at home. After I had finished my numbers I was asked what amp I had used - when I showed them my little lunch box tucked behind the PA they thought I was taking the p*ss :lol:.

The icing on the cake for me was I was asked to have a jam with four other guys on the old Crosby Still & Nash number Long Time Gone - one of the guys was an amazing flute player (a la Jethro Tull style). If only I could find musicians like that (old f***s) near where I live.

I was so stoked when I got home I nearly bought a guitar on ebay  :roll:

[Modular1]

I can concur. When I bought mine I made the mistake of too many pedal syndrome with it and I was underwhelmed and was thinking of selling it. Out of the blue I decided to run my strat directly into it. It made a hell of a difference to the tone. I'm now thinking of getting a second HT-408 to go with the current one for a full on mini stack. These little 4x8 cabs are brilliant and have the connection on the back to add another. Brilliant.

[Ian Price]

Been staying with friends in Bristol for a few days. As there was an 'open mike' night down at the local pub was asked to bring some gear and have a go.

Did Mike know that he was open?  :lol:

[Ian Price]

Really good to hear that the HT1-R is working for you! I had one and wasn't impressed with the tone I got at home, I found it too 'artificial' sounding. I never got the opportunity to really crank it though.

[Tellboy]

I found it too 'artificial' sounding.

Yes I felt the same until Monday. I'm not saying I wouldn't have prefered my Cornford but it certainly was a good sound. I think that part of it was that the PA projected it over the top of the punters whereas the numerous combos there tended to get lost as it was a very low stage and they were projecting into the feet of the punters.

One of the bands had a blind drummer (could this have been the elusive Mike?) - I don't think he was allowed to drive the band van though :band5:

[38thBeatle]

Nice one. I have done a few of those "open Mike" nights and it is a lot of fun though some nights I have had to sit through dreary sub-Dylan "songs" but hey, it takes all sorts.

[stonevibe]

I could do with a small amp for this kind of scenario as I've been lugging around a Mesa LSS 2x12 for the last few years and its bloody heavy...

[Shotgun]

I had an ENGL Thunder head that was pretty amazing. 50 watts of dynamic raw power, it sounded like a 5150, but more clear and just better. But I bought a Blackstar HT-100 head cause I wanted to have a more agressive tone. Not the Series One head, cause I think the amps with great mids sounds better than scooped modern voicing heads and HT-100 give me more than this. I'm so satisfied about my tone. It's lead channel sounds like a modded, perfect Rectifier with a lot of punchy mids and f*cking fast reaction for my picking. It's a beast, so clear and punchy and silent as well. Clean is the best clean channel in a higain amp. It's heavy as hell, about 22 kilogramms and big like Marshalls. Anybody play on it is very surprised that amplifier can be so agressive and clear.