I was reading wikipedia about Blackstar amplifiers and say this about the HT 5

Quote Wikipedia:

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One of Blackstar's smaller amplifiers at 5 watts, it is effectively an HT pedal packaged as an amplifier. Having ISF and EQ features in common with some of the pedals, the HT-5 also includes an emulated output, which can allow the valve sound to be captured for recording without the need for microphones.

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Is it fair to classify the HT-5 and presumably the HT-1 as repackaged pedals?

Also, I was looking at some Blackstar cabs. It says they are equipped with Celestion speakers but I couldn't find any more information. Any chance you could elaborate?

Thanks in Advance,

Tony

Hi Tony
The HT-5 does take much of the circuitry of the pedals it is true but the filter,"voicing" component values are changed to match the speaker (and changed again I shouldn't wonder now that a 12 is fitted instead of a 10incher). The push-pull triode output stage and its associated phase inverter stage are also uniquie AFAIK to the guitar amp world? The HT-1 is if anything even "less of a pedal" since it is a far simpler design. The Five is a small, low powered but serious musicians amplifier. I think the guys at Northampton will forgive me for saying that the HT-1 is not. Very good wee practice amp tho'!

Speakers: The Artisan cabs use Vintage 30's. The HT range (IIRC) 70/80's. I am gone too long to tell you more!

NB: That definition of an emulated output is misleading. The signal is an analogue ELECTRONIC simulation of a good speaker system (probably V30s) NOT the valve/speaker in the amplifier. That could only be done if the amplifier also incorporated a load for the output stage and would in anycase be rather pointless.

Dave.

i'd add that my HT5s didn't sound much like the Blackstar pedal our other guitarist used on the front end of his marshall....

while i would acknowledge that the vastly different power stage and speaker will have had something to do with that, i have to say i felt the HT5 to sound much nicer than the pedal....


(mind you , there's next to bugger all marshall amps i actually like anyway.... )


partly as a result, his marshall has now been replaced by a blackstar series 100 6L6 model..


still prefer my Laney, but it's a shedload better than his Marshall was....



Edited by Off duty BBQ lighter AKA Idris (19/10/11 09:21 AM)

Which pedal was that Idris?
Re the Marshall "sound". You could say that the Artisan range are what a "money almost no object" Marshall would sound like (tho' the A15 and 30s have some "Vox" in them!)the rest of the amp range tho' are very different, pretty original designs, tho' it is difficult to do different with a push pull valve op stage! (they did tho' little bit, trade secret!).

I take it that is the Series One 104 6L6 amp? Well after my time. PLEASE don't quote me but I would THINK the original S100 could be rebiased for L6's for a small fee +valves?

Dave.

Thanks for that Dave. One more question if you don't mind. Does the isf control only affect the overdrive channel or does it also affect the clean?

Cheers,

Tony.

Quote BigElectricCat:

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Thanks for that Dave. One more question if you don't mind. Does the isf control only affect the overdrive channel or does it also affect the clean?

Cheers,

Tony.

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Ha! Very good point! The first, 10" loaded HT-5s had tone control and ISF affecting both clean and od channels. The new 12incher, (AFAICS, don't have a schematic for that) is laid out as per the HT-20/40s. i.e. you have a simple treble tone pot on the clean channel and all the other controls including ISF on the od. Reverb if you go for it, affects both channels.

A design decision that suprised me frankly but "they" must have had their reason? But, shoot! WDIK? I just fixed 'em!

The HT-1 has only ISF and last I saw that affected clean and od.

Dave.

Quote ef37a:

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Quote BigElectricCat:

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Thanks for that Dave. One more question if you don't mind. Does the isf control only affect the overdrive channel or does it also affect the clean?

Cheers,

Tony.

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Ha! Very good point! The first, 10" loaded HT-5s had tone control and ISF affecting both clean and od channels. The new 12incher, (AFAICS, don't have a schematic for that) is laid out as per the HT-20/40s. i.e. you have a simple treble tone pot on the clean channel and all the other controls including ISF on the od. Reverb if you go for it, affects both channels.

A design decision that suprised me frankly but "they" must have had their reason? But, shoot! WDIK? I just fixed 'em!

The HT-1 has only ISF and last I saw that affected clean and od.

Dave.

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The lack of ISF function on the clean channel really puts me off the amp. Maybe I can find an older version still for sale. I've never had a 10 inch speaker before.

"The lack of ISF function on the clean channel really puts me off the amp. Maybe I can find an older version still for sale. I've never had a 10 inch speaker before."

PLEASE! Go and check a new HT-5 for yourself and if the ISF IS limited to the dirty channel please make your feelings known to Blackstar. I confess to being a little miffed myself in not having tone controls on the clean side of our HT-20 but son finds the clean sound very acceptable into a Greenback anyway and he could put a Boss graphic in the FX loop should he wish.

I suppose the logic to the decision was that not having the tone controls common gives the opportunity to setup two EQ instances? Having two independant tone circuits could not be done for an amp at this price point. So, you pays yer money di da..Just one clean tone pot and all the bells and whistles on the mayhem channel or, as you say, look for an earlier Five. That last should not be difficult, try the classifieds at www.musicradar.com The amps are very reliable so a s/h one is little risk (blindingly good service backup anyway!).

Don't forget the amps have jacks for 8 and 16Ohm speakers and although I have no knowledge of the 12" unit fitted to the new 5 it ain't gonna be a Vintage 30!

Dave.

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#They did not listen, they are not listening still...Perhaps they never will?#

I liked the idea of being able to get a Fenderish clean and a Marshallish distortion from it but also being able to do vice versa.

At 5 watts I imagine it's main use would be as a recording device where 2 EQ instances would be of next to no use. Stupid decision IMHO.

However, it will not deter me from demoing one.