new blackstar mini stack/combo fao mike/lamp

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:55 am

Fibus wrote:
Mike wrote:I saw one in Vintage & Rare on Saturday, they do look very nice (by the way your Boss sounds fucking awesome!)

Do me a favour and try some low palm-muting around 3 o clock on the gain channel (which is a lot of Gain I gather), apparently there is an issue with some bad "farty" clipping due to the ancient 240V/230V thing (people design for 230 for Europe and since we have 240V things sometimes go wrong)

See this thread for discussion:
http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthr ... 00&page=12

This is the pertinent post from Blackstar themselves:

As a company we are very wary of intervening on user forums as we believe that companies should not use forums to promote their products or put a positive spin on any customer service issues. However, in this case we feel that some clarification of the current situation is required.

The HT-5 palm muting issue is caused by â€˜mains overvoltageâ€™. This is where the mains supply voltage varies significantly above its nominal rated value. This issue is prevalent in the UK where historically the mains voltage has been 240V rather than the standard European 230V. This is compounded by the fact that mains supplies can vary significantly locally, so some areas of the UK may be more susceptible than others. Although we always extensively test new products before their launch, this mains variance means that a minority of HT-5 users in the UK may experience the palm muting issue on units from the first production run. We have now implemented a simple modification to the HT-5 making it immune to these mains voltage fluctuations.

We will of course remedy any HT-5 problems that any Blackstar user may have. If you have experienced the HT-5 overvoltage issue than please return the unit to the dealer you made the purchase from.

As musicians ourselves we are very passionate about Blackstar products and take all customer service issues extremely seriously. We are also very proud of our UK dealer network and are confident that Blackstar customers will always receive first class service from them. Obviously, if this is ever not the case you can contact us directly at enquiries@blackstaramps.com or 01536 312620, on this or any other issue.
I see myself getting the stack in 6 months or so so I can get a rev 2.0 version.
I came across that forum while googling issues with the amp and this is pretty much the only thing which is stopping me from buying one. Hopefully its not a huge issue. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

It sounds like they understand it and are fixing it, not a big deal. I'll wait for a next generation one, although I think it will only affect hi-gain high output pickup chuggers from the sounds of it.

Fibus · Post by **Fibus** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 11:23 am

Yeah i heard it was only really happening with PAF pickups. Though the pickups on my new jazzmaster classic player (excellent guitar by the way will posting photos soon) are pretty hot, i read somewhere they may even be P90s in JM clothing given the individual screws for each pole piece. So i would be hesitant to buy a blackstar if the problem really is there.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:44 pm

Ok.
Been playing on the amp for the last 20 mins.
It's amazing.
Seriously good.
Sounded bright and spanky with my Jag and thick and thumping with the LP.
You can dial in a lot of different sounds, the EQ is really responsive and the ISF knob is great - works even better than on my HT-Dual pedal.
I had the gain up at 3 and at full and with P90s or HB's I didn't experience any clipping or anything.
It's loud too. Would love to take it to practice to really open it up.
The clean channel is nothing spectacular, but not bad either. But the OD channel is superb, from light crunch to grinding overdrive, and works great when boosted too.
I have to say, if I didn't have a TT I'd be buying one tomorrow. In fact I think it's likely I will sell the TT and replace it with one. It's much more versatile, along with the 2 channels and FX loop.
Overall I'd say I prefer it to the TT. For the price I can't fault it.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:45 pm

Blimey Thom.

You complete and utter bastard.

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:47 pm

Haha. Mke has gear lust again

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:49 pm

Lol.

I didn't expect to like it this much.
It's amazing that they can offer so much at that price.

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:51 pm

I hear they are using foetus labour in China.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 5:52 pm

It's clearly the way forward.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:07 pm

Have been pretty much playing it since I got home. This is bad.

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:08 pm

Don't put ideas into my head.

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:09 pm

lamp wrote:Have been pretty much playing it since I got home. This is bad.

I really got to rup inot mine last night with the classic vibe tele... it sounds great...

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:11 pm

I can imagine Mickie.
I think it's going to have to happen in the near future.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:11 pm

euan wrote:Don't put ideas into my head.

The ideas are firmly implanted in mine now...

euan · Post by **euan** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:12 pm

I would be totally tempted by the stack now as well.

NNNNNNNNNOOOOO!

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:16 pm

It is v tempting!
I think I'd manage to just stick to the head as I have my 1x12s now.

EDIT: Oh shit, they have them in stock in Project Music in Exeter.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:27 pm

I'd need to get the stack if I got one. Having the TT on one cab and the Blackstar on the other is too tempting. Or using the two cabs side by side with my Marshall head.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:29 pm

Mike wrote:I'd need to get the stack if I got one. Having the TT on one cab and the Blackstar on the other is too tempting. Or using the two cabs side by side with my Marshall head.

This would also be very sweet.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:30 pm

Mike wrote:I'd need to get the stack if I got one. Having the TT on one cab and the Blackstar on the other is too tempting. Or using the two cabs side by side with my Marshall head.

Damnit, I was hoping to offset the cost of buying the Blackstar by eventually taking the TT off your hands.

I don't know why I make plans like this, I'm going to be skint for forever.

OH, somehow we've been basically nocturnal for the last few days so haven't got the bank yet. We both have a lot on at the minute, which means that we'll be awake during the day to get to the bank, so hopefull tomorrow. I'm really sorry about this, it's not really on, like.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:33 pm

BacchusPaul wrote:
Mike wrote:I'd need to get the stack if I got one. Having the TT on one cab and the Blackstar on the other is too tempting. Or using the two cabs side by side with my Marshall head.
Damnit, I was hoping to offset the cost of buying the Blackstar by eventually taking the TT off your hands.

I don't know why I make plans like this, I'm going to be skint for forever.

OH, somehow we've been basically nocturnal for the last few days so haven't got the bank yet. We both have a lot on at the minute, which means that we'll be awake during the day to get to the bank, so hopefull tomorrow. I'm really sorry about this, it's not really on, like.

Totally don't mind.

Judging by how much the TT weighs, you wouldn't want it shipped over, it would be pricey-as.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:35 pm

Really?

I suppose it is a tube amp. The fact that it's tiny makes me think I could pop it in my pocket to take ti to gigs and such.