N.A.D. Blackstar.

[richard]

Took a trip to my local music shop today (GAK Brighton - great bunch of people). I was looking to treat myself to a new practice amp as an early retirement present. I've been youtubing for a few weeks and had decided that it was going to be either the Yamaha THR10 or the Blackstar ID TVP 15. I had pretty much convinced myself that it was going to be the Yamaha. Bear in mind that I am only looking for a practice amp, not a recording tool.

So, on arriving at the shop I told Dave what I was after and grabbed an SG Standard for a try out. At this stage I had only mentioned the Yamaha. I tried a few of the amp models and I was truly surprised. It sounded TERRIBLE. In fact it sounded exactly like what it is - a tin can. I can't tell you how disappointed I was.

Next stop the Blackstar. Now this is a very different proposition. It's a fair size and quite weighty for a modelling beasty. It sounds a LOT better than the Yamaha. I wanted something that would give me a reasonable facscimile of my Cornford Roadhouse but at home volumes. After half an hour of twiddling I'm getting close. Is it as good as valves ? No, but it's a good sound in it's own right. There's a lot to mess around with between the amp options and the different output valve simulations. It has a nice response under the fingers and bags of sustain if you want it.

The Yamaha is not intended for gigging but you could easily do a small pub gig with the Blackstar. It is HELLISH loud but sounds just as good at really low volume. I'm off to make more racket before Mrs gets home.

If you're in Brighton GAK is a must. Great shop and very friendly staff.

[AndyR]

That's weird - about the Yamaha "sounded TERRIBLE"

I've come across polarised views from several folks who've actually played one (rather than just heard clips or whatever). It seems some are like me - "oh WOW! this is it" and others are "oh it's AWFUL" ... haven't really heard any in-betweens.

There's one thing I'm wondering - what sort of surface was it standing on? I discovered a few months back that it's VERY sensitive to the surface below and immediately in front of the speakers. Stand it on a reflective surface like a bare table top and it sounds very harsh and tinny to my ears. Lay out a towel or something in front of it (better if the thing is actually standing on it too) and it sounds like it did in the other room sat on the cushioned arm of a sofa. (EDIT: Even my wife can hear the difference! And that's saying something... She'd wondered why I was nicking her cushions one day, so I demonstated the effect)

The sound of it on a reflective surface is "livable with" if you already own it, as in "you can tweak it for improvements"... or you can angle it "upwards" by leaning it on a book or something... but, you're right, it sounds a lot more like a tin can on a reflective surface!! I've learnt to make sure I don't use it like that... (cork table mats on the living room coffee table usually sort me out)

And the more I think about it - no, I wouldn't have bought it, not in a million years, if it had sounded like that when I tried it out!  (the shop I tried it in has a carpeted step under the guitars hanging on the wall - I was stuffed into a corner with the thing on that carpeted step, I thought it was a bit odd, I felt a bit "unloved" when they put me there... but maybe they knew it was the only place in the shop where it sounded good!!).

Kind of makes me think Yamaha have got a bit of a marketing problem on this thing if this really is what causes some people to love it and others to hate it!!


Anyways! Congrats on the Blackstar, sounds like you've got a solution that makes you want to play... and that's what it's all about

[Alex]

Did you also play the new ID core Beam? I'm interested in that for late night practice.

[richard]

Alex - No I didn't tray the Core amps. Their even smaller Fly amp looks like a very simple late night practice solution.

[Brow]

The Beam is essentially the Core amps but with Bluetooth, Acoustic Guitar Models and Bass amp models. If you need those features then pretty goodm if you don't, then save the money!

The Fly on the other hand sound really good for what they are, especially with the 2nd/stereo cab. Also sounds great with an iPod etc plugged into it, and only £80 compared to the £200 odd for the beam.