Please note* We are also running this special in our Ebay store!
SCM - RRP $349 Blackstar HT1 1 Watt All Valve Guitar Amplifier 8″ Speaker - Only $248 Delivered Ozwide!
Blackstar HT1 - The ultimate bedroom jamming amp! Huge sound with a tiny price!
The Blackstar HT-1 guitar amplifier is based on the HT-5, just in a smaller footprint, lower output (heh!…a happy wife is a happy life..nudge, nudge…!) and with a reduced control set. From the front, the HT-1 looks like a scaled-down version of the HT5, with the virtually identical black cabinet and grille cloth, gold piping, and the bold, white block lettering proudley bearing the Blackstar logo. The HT-1 also features a custom designed 8" speaker and we would expect nothing less.
The Blackstar HT1 measures 308mm x 305mm x 172mm and is so compact that you have to look twice to realize it’s packing an 8" speaker making it a true, self-contained combo.
The amp itself features two channels, clean and overdrive. Overdrive is implimented via a pushbutton switch…simple. The other front panel controls consist of just three knobs: Gain, Volume and EQ/ISF (Infinite Shape Feature. There’s a single 6.3mm (1/4") phono input, plus two additional 6.3mm (1/4") phono jacks for Emulated Output & Headphones and MP3/Line Input. It's interesting that Blackstar went with the 6.3mm ( 1/4") jack here, rather than the more consumer-oriented 3.5mm (1/8") mini…it simply means that you can use the Blackstar HT-1 to accept other preamp outputs, from sources other than a guitar (such as a keyboard, drum machine, or vocal processor).
The power switch and indicator LED complete the top panel’s control scheme.
On the back is not only the expected 240V AC IEC power cable port, but also a pleasant surpris…for an amp in this price range at least…an extension speaker jack that accepts any cabinet with an impedance of 4 to 16 ohms. This is quite handy in a recording amp, as it allows the performer to keep the control panel close by (say, in the control room or in front of a computer) while the speaker of choice is placed in another location for optimal acoustics and mic'ing.
Specs:
Power: 1 Watt RMS
Valves: 1xECC83 and 1xECC82
Unique push-pull power amp design
Based on the award winning HT-5
Two channels
8" custom designed speaker
Patent-Applied-For Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)
Speaker emulated output
Stereo MP3/Line input
External speaker output
Weight: 6kg (13 lbs).
Dimensions: 12"x12"x7"
Reviews seem solid:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/guitar_amplifiers/bla…
http://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/blackstar-ht-1r-37…
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/blackstar-…
For those unaware, Blackstar was founded by ex-Marshall engineers in the UK. Produces most of its stuff in Korea. Dimmu Borgir, Gus G & Opeth have endorsed their stuff.
I'm quite tempted to pair this with my Epiphone Les Paul Special II; as that came with a rubbish amp.