Blackstar Friday Fun

[KingsXJJ]

This nice looking setup gives me nine tones at my feet. I thought about throwing some UAFX pedals in the loops of the two DD’s but didn’t want any TGF forehead veins to blow out. I’m running this in to my TM Super loaded with CB’s. I will say for anyone that might be interested and curious that I agree totally with one reviewer (PG maybe?) that where the two drives really shine is when used direct. They have “latency free” Cab Rig options for that. It includes a choice of 27 cabs, 6 mics on/off access, choice of power amp tubes, amp drive, presence, resonance, reverbs master 4 band EQ and high and low cuts.

I got these on sale and I think the total was about $520 new for all. So Iridium and a booster territory. I also have an Amped 1 and Amped 3 at another location waiting to be explored but that’s another story. I know some folks here have used the Amped 1 with great success with modelers. An AxeFX III if I recall correctly. For those not familiar with the Amped 3 in detail, I’d suggest reading the owners manual. You might just be surprised at it’s level of functionality and what all it can do.

I could write up my impressions of what kind of tones this setup offers. But a lot of eyes glazed over the moment they saw the word Blackstar. The amps get a bad rap and sometimes justifiably so. The Dept.10 pedals don’t deserve the same judgement IMO. Happy Friday Everyone! Be nice.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Blackturd?

 

[KingsXJJ]

Blackturd?

Dude.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Dude.

I kid I kid

 

[KingsXJJ]

So I spent some time warming up and ripping through these pedals. While I was “in the groove and the mood” I compared a couple of other drives to see how things went. I tried the Strymon Riverside and the LPD Eighty7 Deluxe. Each pedal has it’s own strengths and character so it wasn’t a tone match attempt but rather are these in the same class or level of tone? The answer to me is a solid yes. I could record or play a show with any mix of these and sound great as far as I’m concerned. Back when I gigged the audience seemed to agree my tone was on point. My band members all felt that way too. Not bragging, most of us hear are tone fanatics so I imagine the same could be said about most TGF members.

Bottom line? Blackstar gets a lot of hate and I really don’t think they should sometimes. I mean Lord knows I tried to get Boss and a few other popular brands that serve others well. Maybe cut a little slack for different opinions?

New players look at these posts and take a lot of what is said to heart. I think a young player starting out could do a lot worse than an affordable Blackstar product in their price range. Just a thought.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Just to add a little perspective, you guys know I love Dave Friedman. Mt dream amp is his Plex.

I tried two of his pedals in this product category. The IR-X and IR-J. I expected to love the first one but didn’t so I bought the IR-J. While I loved the form factor and feature set, they just didn’t do it for me. On the other hand the BS pedals do and certainly feel like amps under my fingers. They do what I had hoped the Friedmans would do. I am not knocking either of the Friedman pedals though.

 

[Mikael Dez]

You won’t see this cuz you ignored me, but Blackturd all the way with its snake oil “tube”

 

[KingsXJJ]

Set up 4 primary tones that I used all evening. I put a EP3 typed delay in the loop of the Dual Distortion. And set channel one on a heavy rock tone and channel 2 on a liquid harmonic lead tone. I put a plate reverb in the loop of the Dual Drive. And set up channel one as a light crunch and channel 2 like a super crunch. Took off the Dept 10 boost to keep it simple and focused on the core tones of the various channels.

It was really, really nice. Great tone and feel. It gets said a lot but I really was getting a strong amp vibe on all four channels. I especially paid attention to dynamics and how the pedal responded and I thought it was just fantastic. I think these pedals just got overlooked by association with some of the HT series amps that were common. Then again it may just not be what some people want or expect. I am digging it a bunch though. I think these two pedals with a Dept 10 Boost (or Micro Amp+) and a Klone could pretty much cover pretty much anything for gain players. The Amped 3 offers full-on presets across the channels and for the boost, plus manual WYSIWYG mode. I’m really looking forward to exploring that.

Very nice evening and I came away pleasantly surprised frankly. I got some solid playing in too and had a blast. I think over the weekend, I’ll set up the three Cab Rigs each on both of them. Then I’ll have headphones/direct covered too.

 

[dronerstone]

Blackstar are just so "meh". Not crap, not awesome, not sure.

Like when "decent enough" isn't enough. Just decent.

Build quality and pricing are fine. Their non-pedalboard amps tho? Never bonded with any of them, despite them not being garbage either.

Probably too averagely average.

To be fair, I just got their AirWire wireless system and it's legit. Does what it says, sounds alright.

And one time when I bought a used cab locally, I got to play through an Amped 1 and was pleasantly surprised - considering the price tag. Sounded pretty good for such a small and affordable thing!

I find it irritating that I can't really decipher where they see themselves on the market. Their corporate identity/spirit? I have no idea.

 

[KingsXJJ]

I can understand the sentiment on the amps. I think their basic approach there was to offer a more refined or polished Marshall type of sound while offering a bit of an option to lean toward Mesa or Soldano via the ISF. I can totally get why some people feel that way.

I’m glad you had a positive experience beyond that. And with the Dept.10 Amped 1, I’m not too surprised and that’s kind of what I’m saying and trying to get across here. I think the Dept.10 stuff might be better and in fact excellent to some… like me.

Although I haven’t tried the newer v4 ID amps, I did try a v3 once. I think something in that line might be an excellent starter amp for beginners. Definitely something to plug in and try while you’re at GC and trying out Katana’s, Catalysts, Cubes and whatnot.

Thanks for the cool reply @dronerstone.

 

[paisleywookiee]

My disdain for them is strictly their tube amps. Anything else I’ve got zilch experience with, so I’m just skeptical but open minded.

 

[KingsXJJ]

My disdain for them is strictly their tube amps. Anything else I’ve got zilch experience with, so I’m just skeptical but open minded.

I’ll let you know how the Polar 2 goes…

 

[KingsXJJ]

Quick note: fired up the Dual Drive this morning to check my work last night with “fresh ears” while sipping my first cup of Joe.

Sounded great. I really do dig Blackstar’s “Super Crunch” it plays like a nice crunch with a tube power amp right in the sweet spot.
Lots of great feel and harmonics.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I’ll let you know how the Polar 2 goes…

2 or Go? Or is that the same device?

 

[KingsXJJ]

My disdain for them is strictly their tube amps. Anything else I’ve got zilch experience with, so I’m just skeptical but open minded.

BTW, I have zero Blackstar amps. I tried the HT line and ended up moving on. Tried a Series One head and it was much better but I ended up returning it and going with a JVM. I really can’t justify more than one 100w head. I did use a Studio 20 head into a CB loaded 1x12 in a studio recording session once. I had it dialed in pretty tight. The engineer kept coming over and checking out my gear on breaks. The tracks captured with it were pretty tight, sounded great and didn’t need much post work. I think that intrigued him. So yeah, maybe a more polished tone that folks playing live with on Stage don’t think cuts. Or just don’t dig the tone.

 

[KingsXJJ]

2 or Go? Or is that the same device?

My bad man, the Polar Go!

 

[david57strat]

This nice looking setup gives me nine tones at my feet. I thought about throwing some UAFX pedals in the loops of the two DD’s but didn’t want any TGF forehead veins to blow out. I’m running this in to my TM Super loaded with CB’s. I will say for anyone that might be interested and curious that I agree totally with one reviewer (PG maybe?) that where the two drives really shine is when used direct. They have “latency free” Cab Rig options for that. It includes a choice of 27 cabs, 6 mics on/off access, choice of power amp tubes, amp drive, presence, resonance, reverbs master 4 band EQ and high and low cuts.

I got these on sale and I think the total was about $520 new for all. So Iridium and a booster territory. I also have an Amped 1 and Amped 3 at another location waiting to be explored but that’s another story. I know some folks here have used the Amped 1 with great success with modelers. An AxeFX III if I recall correctly. For those not familiar with the Amped 3 in detail, I’d suggest reading the owners manual. You might just be surprised at it’s level of functionality and what all it can do.

I could write up my impressions of what kind of tones this setup offers. But a lot of eyes glazed over the moment they saw the word Blackstar. The amps get a bad rap and sometimes justifiably so. The Dept.10 pedals don’t deserve the same judgement IMO. Happy Friday Everyone! Be nice.


View attachment 50442

I had no idea Blackstar even made tube pedals. Will have to research these. Thanks for posting!

I've never owned any of their tube amps (or even electric guitar amps, for that matter), but have a pair of Sonnet 60s that I use with my acoustic setup (and sometimes my Strat, combined with an Walrus ACS1), and couldn't be more pleased with them, for their size, price, and feature set.

(for size reference, standing next to a Fender Ultimate Chorus

I've had these amps, running a stereo rig, for about three years. Absolutely love them!


Passionflower, by Jon Gomm, one of my favorite acoustic players. demoing a pair of these amps (with his pedalboard set-up, as well)



He co-designed this amp, with Blackstar.