negative - there is no power transformer in this amp. This uses a 400Vdc switching power supply like any home appliance or PA/mixing console would use(computers, TV's, wall warts, etc...). It is a big reason why this amp is so light, the power transformer is both the heaviest and the most expensive component in a tube amp. Obviously not an off the shelf one but reengineered to support the current demands of the tubes as well as having a negative bias tap and a tube 6Vdc heater tap. Also as you mentioned it uses Zephyr speakers which are light because of the ferrite magnets they use and the plywood is candlenut. This amp is gonna change the way tube amps are designed going forward. Bye Bye backpain!.....lol
Love his demo's. He plays very good and looks like a very friendly guy. And good explanations, he knows what he's talking about. This amp sounds awesome by the way. Very impressive.
I really love this amplifier! Particularly with the thump that you get out of those el34s! The only thing that I'm not a fan of is the Reverb. It just is not deep, it just is not lush. I'm a Fender guy forever and a day! You just can't beat the Reverb that Fender amps have. But this Blackstar amp is really touch sensitive and has that really organic kind of breakup sorta like a Dr Z Maz 18 Jr vibe. For the price point I think it's a great deal! Thanks for the upload John and great playing their my friend!😉🎸🎶
That’s an impressive sounding amp. I d probably just play it at 50 watts in Sag mode all the time and mic it if needed. But, my non master amps already do that. The versatility and weight would be good for gigging, but I’m a studio player.
Dude that amp is catching every single pick, finger, string, bite-y attack-y slice-ish , Snidely Cutlash nuance of every tonal innuendo that your fingers are putting out🤜💥🤛Man it's a Sick Puppy faSHO!🖤🖤 Has a great sounding midrange which you can't say about a lot of amps, since so many of em get boxy in the mids.
I think that is a criticism that could be levelled at many/most modern PCB based amps. I would expect that Blackstar want you to take the amp to an approved service centre/engineer so perhaps a better question is how many of those there are globally and how long they expect to support the amp for? - the latter because I believe they no longer sell some of the parts for the HT-5. It can be frustrating - I had an Orange amp that melted the output transformer and I wanted to replace it - simple swap, I build amps, I can do that... Do you think Orange would sell me the part? No chance.
Thinking about switching from my beloved Engl Screamer to the St. James (for various reasons). Anybody have any comparison between the two, would it be a downgrade tonewise to go from the Engl to the Blackstar?
To be fair this is a potential risk for any proprietary part in an amp or other gear. I had an Orange tube amp that melted the output tranny, its a simple swap, I build amps, I haz the skillz - but do you think Orange would sell me the transformer? Oh well, fitted a Hammond one that was better anyway and the amp still rocks many years later.
I uncovered the PAF bridge pickup in my 1960 Gibson Les Paul I was getting feedback because of the cover on it and sounds killer I think Jimmy Page uncovered the bridge pickup on his number one Les Paul
@@DMSProduktions ya there's probably no difference from getting them factory uncovered or uncovering them yourself is there. The Gibson PAF they're probably all uncovered then they put covers on them they're probably not sold any different as far as that goes what do you think
John could take a stick, put steel string on it, grab a pick up from a beginner guitar and plug it into a wall outlet and it would sound like Hendrix walked in. Great work brother.
I hate you. My son just watched this. He already has an HT Stage 100 MK II (I think) and a Blackstar 4 x 12. What are you trying to do to me?!😂 Now he's in the trading of his Marshall head mode!
That is totaly normal. Have you ever played a Stratocaster and a Les Paul with the same settings ? One thing that experienced guitarists know is that you gotta set your rig according to the type of guitar you're using. Humbuckers vs single coils. Didn't you know that? Well now you know
