Blackstar HT-5 love

[Renardm]

I picked up a used Blackstar HT-5 combo this week. I got the older version with the 10" speaker. I know the Blackstar amps get criticized for maybe not being a pure tube amp but the HT-5 sounds very organic. Great small amp for Van Halen-AC/DC tones. I also have the HT-40 but the overdrive sounds more natural on the HT-5.

[Renardm]

bump

Did replace the tubes once I received this and it did increase the gain and improved the overall tone. This makes me think that the most or all of the clipping is coming from the tubes.

[Eagle1]

Originally Posted by Renardm

bump

Did replace the tubes once I received this and it did increase the gain and improved the overall tone. This makes me think that the most or all of the clipping is coming from the tubes.

Nope.

[Guitarfool]

Great, a 1 word answer


I dont give 2 shyts about if its "all tube" as long as the tone and feel-response is good to me. Now to be honest it does feel 'slightly S.S." but the bottom line is it sounds really nice imo. Cant go wrong with one, especially for the $$ when guys spend that much on cables and pedals

Nice tone, 2 channels, effects loop in that small a package and at a great price? sounds like a winner to me

[Renardm]

Originally Posted by Guitarfool

Great, a 1 word answer


I dont give 2 shyts about if its "all tube" as long as the tone and feel-response is good to me. Now to be honest it does feel 'slightly S.S." but the bottom line is it sounds really nice imo. Cant go wrong with one, especially for the $$ when guys spend that much on cables and pedals

Nice tone, 2 channels, effects loop in that small a package and at a great price? sounds like a winner to me

Right! It only cost me a couple hundred for a used one + the cost of new tubes. I was very impressed with the feel and the tone.

[tennisplayer]

Originally Posted by Eagle1

Nope.

And the tube snobs, stick a pedal in front of their all tube amps............

[bilbal]

I have commented here a number of times. I really dig my HT5 head.

[telelion]

Originally Posted by tennisplayer

And the tube snobs, stick a pedal in front of their all tube amps............

That doesn't count though.

[Iceman8.6]

Originally Posted by tennisplayer

And the tube snobs, stick a pedal in front of their all tube amps............

Yep.

[Eagle1]

HT 5 sounds like a Marshall MG10 but costs twice as much and has a tube in it so that makes it better .

[bismark]

Originally Posted by Eagle1

HT 5 sounds like a Marshall MG10 but costs twice as much and has a tube in it so that makes it better .

Nope.

[shanesiegle]

I just sold my HT-100 but it is one of the best sounding amps I have ever owned\played thru period and was very, very organic sounding. Funny how nobody thought they didn't sound organic till it came out there are diodes in the circuit. I think that with some genuine backwards thinking, good old racism against Korea or anything not built here or the UK fuels the rest of the issues. Probably hurts some ego's too that these amps sound as good as some of the stuff they spent $2000 grand on too but i'm just guessing. Either way enjoy your new amps and don't worry about the cork sniffers they are too busy sitting in their basement with $40,000 worth of gear.

[autonomous]

Originally Posted by shanesiegle

I just sold my HT-100 but it is one of the best sounding amps I have ever owned\played thru period and was very, very organic sounding. Funny how nobody thought they didn't sound organic till it came out there are diodes in the circuit. I think that with some genuine backwards thinking, good old racism against Korea or anything not built here or the UK fuels the rest of the issues. Probably hurts some ego's too that these amps sound as good as some of the stuff they spent $2000 grand on too but i'm just guessing. Either way enjoy your new amps and don't worry about the cork sniffers they are too busy sitting in their basement with $40,000 worth of gear.

100% correct. Choose with your ears.

[Eagle1]

The whole HT range is thin and harsh sounding , so many better things out there for simmilar money.

[kush06]

Originally Posted by Eagle1

The whole HT range is thin and harsh sounding , so many better things out there for simmilar money.

Not in my experience for the thin and harsh sounding part. Mine sounded good through greenbacks. The guy I sold my HT-5H to brought along a 1x12 with an EV speaker (12L I think) and it sounded phenomenal. Tight and round, punchy tones on the clean channel, and the crunch sounded really nice too. I think speakers and tubes make a huge difference with this amp.