This Amplifier Powers Differently... | Blackstar St. James 6L6 Combo

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Blackstar's St. James amplifiers have reimagined valve amp design, ditching the heavy power transformer for a universal 400V Switch Mode Power Supply. Alongside the many advantages a SMPS brings, the St. James packs in an internal reactive load and CabRig for silent stage and recording applications in a combo that weights almost nothing!
This video contains paid promotion from Blackstar.
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#Blackstar #stjames #valveamp
Timecodes:
00:00 - Introduction
01:02 - Versions of the St. James
01:19 - Innovations & Technical Changes
05:36 - Standard Amplifier Features
06:29 - How the Sounds are Recorded
07:16 - Sound Examples
10:14 - Conclusion
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Опубликовано:

25 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 222

@ScienceofLoud 2 года назад

@LounnEnterprise 2 года назад

Is that you ? (Comment above) Or it is a fake account ?

@gregmerritt9366 2 года назад

I really appreciate the niche you found for yourself in the guitar community. Hearing about the science that tells how the technology operates is something I find to be very fulfilling. Thank you.

@comajoebuck999 2 года назад

True that!

@USSLIBERTYREMEMBERER 2 года назад

I hate what geartube has become. This is pretty much the only channel that doesn’t exist strictly to sell me made in china garbage

@geemac7267 2 года назад

Agreed, concurred, and harumph!

@willonglet391 2 года назад

Not just fulfilling, but helpful too! Collin making all the wizardy sound so simple makes doing your own mods and experiments less intimidating!

@austinp95 2 года назад

Love how you go about discussing different items in your videos. You do a very good display of proper research while conveying that information in an entertaining and enjoyable manner. Keep it up!!!

@alexdenton6586 19 дней назад

Thank you for all this information. You are the only channel where I could find these explanations presented in a clear and simple way. I knew that Blackstar had done a bit of magic with their amps, but I didn’t realize it was to this extent. I’ve had the chance to play them, and not only do they sound great, but they are also very lightweight. What you mentioned about the true standby mode and so on is incredible. I wasn’t aware of that, but it’s great to know. Blackstar is indeed a very innovative brand.

@JohnDoe9764 2 года назад

I'm 37 and I love that "new" technical approach!

@HCkev 2 года назад

I love how Blackstar was started by a bunch of former Marshall employees, and yet, instead of just sticking to old, true and tested designs, they're not afraid to try new things and innovate

@hawshimagical Год назад

trying to innovate? no wonder marshall fired them!

@Rich6Brew Год назад

@@hawshimagical They left and set up by themselves because their ideas about amplification was becoming too far from the Marshall ethos.

@richardshank9583 Год назад

Yet they ignore their customer bases wishes by and large and split hairs when accused of false marketing and poor design and stability. Do you know what most people do when a blackstar amp stops working? They don't fix it cause blackstar is stingy with their schematics, and tech support in the US. Even with multiple design flaws peavey classic amps and fender hot rod series amps continue to be used and operate pretty good with maintenance well into two or three decades of use. Blackstar amps however due to the reasons listed above and poor design are either gutted and redesigned into a proper amplifier design or just thrown in the trash cause repair costs are too high cause few techs want to waste their time with these engineering failures of amplifiers.

@bannedit999 8 месяцев назад

@@richardshank9583there are authorised techs all over UK! I've been chatting to one recently

@michaelgarcia2050 Месяц назад

Blackstar is killing it with amp innovation.

@kennyjohnson336 2 года назад

Finally a good breakdown/explanation of the topology, Good job

@fayser1 2 года назад

what a fantastic comprehensive and technically indepth description... total hats off to you sir

@colinhall1216 Год назад

great review thanks, i'm def going to buy one now, your description and info has put my mind at rest over a few things, the weight and sound a key factor for an old timer like me

@pauljamesstevens4955 2 года назад

Very good and accurate video. You clearly really understood the features and had read up on them first. I've seen some others that are shockingly ill informed, even from some of the apparently respected 'influencers'. Well done.

@albertplaysguitar 2 года назад

Very well said! Especially the part about keeping valve amps relevant by rethinking their fundamentals. 🤔😎

@DogFoodTunes Год назад

Holy grail amp. It's replaced even my Fuchs modified fender. Great tones, super flex. The clean channel is brilliant by itself or with pedals and the gain channel is the best blackstar I've had, open and articulate. Kudos to Blackstar for both the innovation and the great result.

@alexpagodin5947 Год назад

Your balance of super nerd-level knowledge of the technical aspect combined with clean and melodic playing is what makes channels like this and JHS's so successful and enjoyable to watch. Keep up the great work!

@aryanz66 11 месяцев назад

Love those combinations. Nice job!

@topher4677 Год назад

All these modernizations to the tube amp design are really cool and I'm glad companies like Blackstar are willing to experiment and put out stuff like this. Not huge on the speaker though, but I wouldn't mind rocking the head version on this amp.

@LeeGee Год назад

I've never learnt so much about amps in my life. Subscribed! XD

@EasyHeat Год назад

The switch mode PSU is honestly just brilliant IMO. Well done Blackstar, and well done Colin for great content as always! Cheers!

@michaelfrancis1 Год назад

Thanks for this! Valuable info! The software looks amazing!

@StratsRUs 2 года назад

Technology is moving at a jawdropping pace.I am happy with a few valve amps and a Helix. Wish I could write and record faster though ! Thanks

@Mr-Foad 2 года назад

years ago my friend spoke about doing something like this when I asked if he could install a new transformer on my amp, good to see he was not mad !

@gavinpearcey 2 года назад

Traynor amplifiers have used DC filament voltage for years, I built it into my amps as well, nice quiet tubes that way.

@danpearce4547 Год назад

Yeah, the heater rectifier is the most unreliable component in my Marshall JTM30!

@richardshank9583 Год назад

Epiphone valve juniors had it in versions 2 and 3. I build amps. Never had noise problems with ac supplied filaments. As long as you twist your leads properly and keep them separated from audio signal wires you're good. Amps have used ac filaments for years with no problem with noise as long as they were designed and built properly

@Merjia 2 года назад

I was waiting for your review! Anyone can show me what it sounds like, but only you go into the kick-ass detail.

@mikearmitage4147 2 года назад

Loving the guitar geekery as always dude, didn’t realise these new amps were such a rethink on the classic design. I’ve always wondered how freeze/sample sustainers work, any chance you could do a video on the EHX Freeze, TC infinite or similar please?

@Bleats_Sinodai 2 года назад

Finally, I've been using smps on tube projects since 2017, it makes a huge difference in weight.

@scottcarpenter701 2 года назад

great overview of the impact of how it uses DC..

@svenrustempasic8332 Год назад

Excellent presentation, thanks!

@blessedheavyelements8544 2 года назад

Very cool and thank you. You have an excellent instruction presentation. Very comprehensible. Best Regards and Best Wishes!

@thomaspatton1991 2 года назад

I love single digit watt amp heads. My Two Notes Captor makes them a dream in a studio setting. Would love to see a shootout with the Bugera G5, Orange Micro Terror, and this guy. The price points are wayyyyy off, but I still think it'd be cool.

@keithzibrat5721 2 года назад

I've never owned a tube amp, don't know if I'm missing anything, but there's tons of tube amp guys that won't switch up. I saw a Andertons vid where Chapman wouldn't play a modeling amp, later to see him impressed with a kemper after he spent a fortune on shipping his valve rig,,,I love your vids, thank you so much! Love from louisiana brother!

@HCkev 2 года назад

Prople typically like tubes because of the unpredictable way it works, makes the tones more natural and less sterile. But solid state technology indeed has improved a lot, the modelling amps are a good example, many famous artists started to use them live, less hassles to transport and set up, more reliable, etc, and nobody can really tell the difference through the PA system. However they usually stick to "real" tube amps for recording for the tiny difference in tone

@DrTacoPHD665 2 года назад

On top of being pretty innovative and one of my favorite amp companies, I am SO HAPPY to see a new smaller logo on this lineup. The logo on my HT Club 40 has always been the only thing I dislike about it.

@jross68052 Год назад

Excellent review. Best one on you tube

@gregmerritt9366 2 года назад

Loving that strat in this vid.

@danielatherton1631 2 года назад

Blackstar have genuinely impressed me since they started up and the innovation in this is impeccable. I've seen this amp advertised but didn't learn anything about it from that. Looking forward to a bass amp with this tech.

@richardshank9583 Год назад

There's really no need for it. A bass amp typically is solid state (unless you're into the older bassman tube heads and what not) which solid state needs little voltage to operate. Therefore the Transformers are smaller and don't affect the weight much also solid state Amps which again bass amps tend to be also don't need a output transformer. The st James was designed for cutting weight in a tube amplifier which requires two Transformers traditionally. A solid state amp only needs one and even then it would be much easier to do with a bass amp as voltages among solid state components are pretty much equal. In other words with bass amps there's largely no need and I'm sure it's already been done as like I said you don't need very high voltage with solid state technology so using the technology they used in this amp which is used in phones, laptops etc (solid state devices) wouldn't really be an engineering or design problem it's simple.

@danielatherton1631 Год назад

@@richardshank9583 Did I stutter? Bass, valve, light. Thanks.

@bassyey 11 месяцев назад

Yeah, bass amps are getting left behind.

@davenator6514 2 года назад

Crate made tube amps (v18,v33,v50) with a switching power supply about 12 years ago.

@Furtheronmusic 2 года назад

Really impressive amp

@samuelxavier2473 2 года назад

Interesting. Not a big fan of the tones but the application is good and it will be really something to see what traditional amp builders come up with down the line.

@michaelwallace1189 Год назад

Blackstar is killing it. I love mine so much I almost had an aneurism when the house was hit by lightning. Amp was strangely unplugged at the time, which literally never happens, so, TV's and Play station's all toast, but amp is fine. No 90 day fiance for the wife, plenty of play time for me... WINNING!

@jst601 Год назад

Would love to see lots of chassis pics; curious to see *how* it's put together & the repair scenario potential.

@randyupchurch1899 2 года назад

...My Brother,good-day!!!...Love the "concept"...Not crazy about the "voicing"...Peace & much-love from Southern Illinois...

@geoffdillon6013 Год назад

Lately, I have noticed your videos (if not all) are becoming more product specific based. I do realise that we can generally say that they are the same as similar products, because everything now is just emulating something from the past. But, as much as your videos are immensely informative, for me they are starting to come across as advertisements for products. Understand you have to make a living, but, don’t want to have particular products shoved down my throat. This product is unique though, and this comment is based on a lot of previous videos that I have watched and not this one in particular. Love what Blackstar are doing and the tech that are using and appreciate your learned input.

@ScienceofLoud Год назад

This is a channel about the science of musical equipment, I wouldn't have much to say if I wasn't featuring the equipment, nor would I be able to justify the production time if I wasn't being paid. I choose the products and companies I work with on the basis of what will make an interesting and educational video. I turn down a lot of offers relating to products that wouldn't yield informative videos. You don't have to watch them all, but even if the specific product isn't of interest to you there's always something more general to learn on my videos.

@oldmanfran5523 2 года назад

Great video as always! Looking at alternative way of doing things, maybe you can do a video on Vox/Korg 's Nutube amps

@JoeMcGuire Год назад

For what it's worth, I believe the Traynor YCV amps also use a DC on the filaments and are really very quiet. Yes, I am a Traynor fanboy and the YCV40WR is an INSANE tube amp that really deserves more attention.

@samizdat113 Год назад

I'm 50 years old and I think this is brilliant.

@AutismRocksOfficial 2 года назад

Love seeing Mr Muppet on display behind you 🤘

@jcugnoni 2 года назад

DC heater circuit is actually a great plus indeed.

@delusionwalker8852 Год назад

You have managed to change my opinion about this amp and actually give it a fair try

@dakotad3970 2 года назад

Yes Colin couldn’t wait to see this once you posted it on Insta, but can you do a luthier tool starter I’m aspiring to be one thanks to you so what do you have that a started would need or should look more into I have a soldering lot already just for info thanks love you much man

@felinekaiju4517 Год назад

I think valves will always have a place until they can be completely emulated, which I think in scheme of things won't be long. I'm 40, but I enjoy Blackstar's Innovation and the fact that they listen to people and make revisions.

@midi510 2 года назад

Thanks for this video. I'd like to hear a comparison, though, between the 6L6 and EL34 versions. I can kind of hear them in my mind, but wondering how accurate my inner ear is.

@dylanmcgarry1221 2 года назад

I love that the Grittycaster has earned a spot on the wall

@DMSProduktions 2 года назад

Nice aye! \m/

@jessebreakspear6656 Год назад

Awesome video as per usual! I was just wondering about the very subject of switching adaptors. I knew they can step the voltage down but i wansn't 100% sure

@jessebreakspear6656 Год назад

oops, hit reply by accident. I mean I wasn't 100% sure if they can step the voltage up! now I know! while there's a lot to be said for a transformer that is literally a century old and still working fine. the switch mode power supply really is a game changer it will be interesting to see how well they hold up over time. and it would be the perfect thing for an engineer to design amps with.

@kebab_boi 2 года назад

2:35 I love you Colin, but that voice crack made me crack up so hard 🤣🤣

@evanduffy1015 2 года назад

Seems like the switch mode power supply brings several benefits but I have heard concerns from techs about repairability of these “black box” power supplies. The plus side of the heavy transformers is they’re simple and easily replaceable if they break. They might stop making replacements of that specific SMPS in the far future but they’ll never stop making power transformers

@tyr4489 Год назад

wish they would make a fully solid state version of this, ideally with thick wood enclosures and metal corners like an old peavey. it would be the ultimate indestructible touring amp

@Bob-of-Zoid 2 года назад

A freind of mine had an older ~60W tube amp from the mid 80's that also doesn't have a huge transformer, and its sick for blues, jazz and rock. Not sure if it uses the same type of power supply, but it shows that it's not absolutely necessary. It's also not as large as any amp with the same power it put out from the time, and doesn't need to be cranked to sound good n' ballsy. I don't remember who made it, but I do know it was hand made as part of no more than 50 by some electronics geek who made them in his basement. I'd look into it further, and it was on my list of things to do, but it's owner died suddenly of a heart attack and his son just sold all of his gear (lots of great and some rare stuff) as a lot to who knows who, without consulting some of the musicians who jammed with his dad and knew what some of it was worth. He sold it for cheep just to get it done with.

@GonJilman Год назад

I was never a big fan of Blackstar…to me they always sounded a little stale and bland. But the St. James however…I am very much interested in especially since it comes in a 6L6 platform. And for a affordable price. Awesome explanation of this gem my friend.

@DJBuglip Год назад

That's cool as hell, Colin. Thanks!

@charlesb7831 2 года назад

Maybe it's just me or the whole RU-vid sound quality thing, but I'm hearing a brittle top end I'm not crazy about. That's just me. Great video and still appreciated it though, Cheers!

@ragnadrabinowitz7629 2 года назад

whole…

@LounnEnterprise 2 года назад

Does those silicon rings on the tubes, comes from factory or de you install them ? I’ve heard they extend the life, I know they help with tube rattling. But I’ve been wondering about dampening vibrations from the chasis, when installed right at the tube socket.

@AsyncVoid 2 года назад

Plenty of modern amps have transformers with coil taps allowing you to switch between US and Europe voltages. Also very common to run the pre-amp valves on dc, as thats where the noise will be most noticable. "Rectification happens within the power supply itself" I suppose thats different depending what you classify as the power supply. Also switch mode power supplies are highly irreplacable due to the components they use - so if you break one you're going to be out of luck in 10 years time, take Bugera as an example

@PAHVID 2 года назад

Seems to share a lot of similarities with the Revv G20. A “real” tube amp with reactive load and cabinet modeling capabilities built in.

@TheStrykerProject 2 года назад

I was kind of disappointed at first, but there were actually some good sounds later in the demo. Going through the Celestion gererally sounded way better than their stock speaker. I think I'd be pretty happy with their 6L6 head, with a couple of neo-creambacks. That'd be a lot lighter rig given the sound/tone!

@alexwalker67 2 года назад

I've been using a Blackstar HT20 combo for the last couple of years. Great amp, but no without it's issues. One is weight, another is the slightly crappy DI and the third is access to the back is on the underside rather than the back. This fixes two of the issues. I don't understand why on the combo the back panel faces the ground. And the fixed cable for the footswitch makes it less practical for gigs too. Still, great video, I'm selling some gear to buy the EL34 version.

@rugbygirlsdadg 2 года назад

Same problem with my artist 30. I've stuck my own labels on the back so I can easily find the right socket. Really basic and usability testing should have identified this issue. Other than that, it's a good amp.

@ScienceofLoud 2 года назад

The reason the rear connections are oriented towards the ground is because the combo and head versions share an amp chassis. This is easier and cheaper from a manufacturing perspective because creating two machine lines to punch out two different amplifier chassis with different layouts for the same amplifier line is a costly thing to do. The chassis is oriented with the controls to the front, the outputs to the back and the valves to the top. This works well for the head unit. When placing that same chassis in combo it often makes most sense dimensionally and for heat venting to turn the chassis so that the controls face up, the valves face forward, and the outputs face down. Furthermore regarding the footswitch: While it is hardwired to the switch, it features a very cable which terminates in a TS connection - which can easily be extended if more distance is required. It is not fixed on the amp side.

@brianburke808 2 года назад

this. is. cool.

@omnaraiya 2 года назад

Good to hear a descent sound example on this amp. Some of the first videos to hit sounded absolutely atrocious.

@wizardito7741 2 года назад

Hi Colin!, Between this and the Orange Super Crush 100, what do you choose and why?

@RealMusicHype 2 года назад

Great stuff! We would like to add you on our music blog!

@atrumluminarium 2 года назад

These last few years have been amazing in terms of tech innovation in guitar equipment. Feels good to have some options other than stagnant boomer tech

@ScienceofLoud 2 года назад

The industry have been making the same thing over and over for far too long. It's good to see all these features that used to be separate companion products being integrated into amplifiers AND some rethinking of the fundamentals that address long standing problems.

@atrumluminarium 2 года назад

@@ScienceofLoud 100% agree

@oonamorrioghanblackthorne 2 года назад

Don’t blame boomers, valve amps have been around longer then they have.

@atrumluminarium 2 года назад

@@oonamorrioghanblackthorne But they clinged onto them. People who saw the birth of valve amps hated the "quirks" that boomers love about them lol

@SeanDeluge 2 года назад

@@atrumluminarium Now think about that a second... What if Boomers then decided that distortion was a flaw or it's quirkiness wan't desirable?

@pabcrane 2 года назад

The ideas in this amp are really interesting and clever. I would be keen to try the lower gain one in-store. This may be a little premature in my thinking however I do wonder if these amps are easily replairable though - or does one replace the switching power supply if something goes wrong. By the way Colin, I think you did a fantastic job repairing the SG.

@IcedForce 2 года назад

Probably as good as normal modern Blackstar, you can't find diagrams, they won't provide diagrams and so it's either finding the fitting sub-assemblies or it's not worth it (tracing out the PCBs and finding out what is broken and with what it should be replaced is too time consuming). PSU is as repairable as the rest of the amp, so that is jump from the old power transformer but those things rarely break unlike caps and microcontrollers and old transformers you can replace with whatever takes in the right voltage and outputs the wanted while with this you probably need to find the exact right replacement PSU. Blackstars own repair probably just swaps out sub-assemblies so they can fix anything but it is what it is.

@Tomislav_B. 2 года назад

@@IcedForce It has a warranty I guess

@IcedForce 2 года назад

@@Tomislav_B. Won't be much after the 3-year warranty is over. Also will be very bad situation if this is your only amp and you need to send it to Blackstar for warranty service and you have a tight schedule.

@castleanthrax1833 2 года назад

@@IcedForce If you have only one amp, you probably don't have a schedule.

@richardshank9583 Год назад

Lol likely they're not as even their more traditionally built amplifiers such as the ht series are a techs nightmare. That and the fact they don't release schematics also further screwing any tech who isn't a blackstar licensed one which btw are few and far between as is. There's pretty much none in the US

@BlakeC27 Год назад

Blackstar makes some nice amps but the serviceability and lifespan of their amps seem to be an issue once out of the warranty phase. The switchmode power supply might be more efficient and save power but what about all the e-waste from junked amps that need to be disposed of?

@HisHiasness Год назад

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?

@ReiCow 2 года назад

Oh my... I may have to get one of the EL34 versions of this.. Moo

@fadlyhans82 Год назад

I’m gonna get one of these combos. But you guys think it’s fixable if it’s broken and such? If not I shall just get the MARSHALL Jubilee combo.

@InsomniacMatt 2 года назад

I'd love to see Boss do a Katana version of this with valves/toobs

@hazrod13 2 года назад

it sounds hella cool !

@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t 2 года назад

And, as an ageing muso, I think my back would particularly appreciate the fact that the 2x12 cab is just over half the weight of my Marshall 2x12. EDIT: In fact, the head and cab weigh less combined than either my current head and cab.

@PooNinja 2 года назад

DC!!! Not all the comics, all the POWER!

@jaydenspencemusic 2 года назад

Great video as always Colin. Gives me all the more reason to love Blackstar, and maybe think twice about buying more outdated and inefficient technology... hmmmmmm

@Tonedefy Год назад

Great concept and amazing tones. Just wonder how reliable this thing is in the real world? That and how serviceable it is? I have a Boss Katana head that crapped out on me after 2 years of use and none of the local amp techs want to touch it.

@harrybryan9633 Год назад

Did you see the circuit boards? It will be unserviceable.

@Tonedefy Год назад

@@harrybryan9633 That's what I'm afraid off. Seems like a good concept, but would be a total waste of money if amp is un-repairable.

@vorpalblades Год назад

Most modern amps are PCB construction. Nothing new here besides the power supply.

@rydinorwin Год назад

Yeah, it’s going to be massively more reliable tbh. Valves are 70 years old.

@ZeeEm1991Gr 2 года назад

Personally, judging by the mic'd sounds, I'd rather go for the head version (if I had the money to spare, lol). But looking at the weight of this thing... man! It's much lighter than the cheapo 100w solid state that I currently use in my multieffect pedal setup! I'm not sure about the cab rig out though, despite the options. Your samples of that sounded a bit better than Ola's (who, to be fair, didn't really dive into the software side of things), but it still sounds somewhat weird...

@ScienceofLoud 2 года назад

I was using one of the standard CabRig presets and I know for a fact that if I had spent some time tweaking out exactly what I wanted I could have found something more representative, but for the sake of review it seemed fairer to show what you get right out of the box. The CabRig is all very context sensitive too, it's voiced for a mix and the expectation is that you'll find a sound that works within the mix of the song you are tracking. The sound that works in mix often does sound 'weird' in isolation.

@wido123123 2 года назад

@@ScienceofLoud "The sound that works in mix often does sound 'weird' in isolation.", well let me tell you how to fix that: NO MIDS! ALL THE GAINNNNNN!!!!!!

@ZeeEm1991Gr 2 года назад

@@wido123123 Funny you mention that, actually; the tone I always keep coming back to, just so happens to be mid-scooped 😅

@jsullivan2112 2 года назад

Some realllly cool design features that made me think "how come no one has thought of this sooner??", particularly the power supply. Unfortunately Blackstar amps still sound like hot garbage to me. Just not a fan. :\ It's great seeing that SG getting some proper use after that stellar repair job though! Anyways terrific video as always, thank you sir!

@USSLIBERTYREMEMBERER 2 года назад

They’re also IMPOSSIBLE to work on. The tubes are all always mounted directly to the circuit board. I can literally do more maintainence more easily on my joyo JTA

@valueofnothing2487 2 года назад

There's a lot of superstition about amps. People swear by tube driven power supplies because they have 'sag'. I don't buy it, but whatever.

@jsullivan2112 2 года назад

@@valueofnothing2487 The thing about sag is true but only with tube rectifiers, because they’re terribly inefficient compared to silicon diode (which is why solid state diodes and transistors were invented to begin with). Solid state creates DC voltage WAY faster than tubes can. I’m sure there are other ways to achieve it though.

@drdfx159 2 года назад

@@jsullivan2112 Maybe so, I have built my amp with both, but for the life of me I couldn't tell any difference. For this amp: a lot of interesting ideas, however good luck with repairing it when (and not if!) it fails.

@jsullivan2112 2 года назад

@@drdfx159 I've played my Hiwatt (silicon diode) side by side with Fenders and a Mesa Triple Rec (multiple tube diodes) and there was a huge difference. The Hiwatt has super fast attack and no sustain, the note just drops right off. There's a reason David Gilmour uses three compressors with them. I'm sure there have to be other design reasons as well but efficiency definitely has a lot to do with it. As for amps, they all fail lol. Ease of repair definitely matters though, agreed.

@Bassguitarist1985 2 года назад

Is the effects loop buffered or passive?

@comajoebuck999 2 года назад

Buffered

@SonofTheMorningStar666 2 года назад

👍🤘

@michaelmattson3515 2 года назад

Heh pretty cool.

@elbowjames7625 Год назад

I recall when Crate took a stab at switchmode power supplies when they changed to having them made in Vietnam. They were very unreliable and there are basically none left that work. Hopefully Blackstar have done a better job of it this time around.

@SunsetPunk Год назад

Was that first lick on the SG a nod to Psonic? 😏

@weedeeeter 2 года назад

Hello Colin, here's my TATA: Is there any difference in tone between 4 ohms speaker x 2 in series vice 16 ohms x 2 in parallel? Thank you!

@PippPriss 2 года назад

Theoretically, one could argue that no, the impedance is the same. But the coil wound within the speaker is less/more and therefore inhereting more capacitive elements, which might differ the tone slightly. I personally would say it's nothing to break your head about. In a 2x12 configuration, I'd personally go with 2x 8 ohms - that was you can run parallel for 4 ohm, serial for 16 ohm or 2x8 ohm stereo. More flexibility :-)

@weedeeeter 2 года назад

@@PippPriss Ok. My intent here is to get an 8 Ohms impedance at the end with 2 speakers. I just wanted to know if it's better to go with 4 Ohms x 2 or with 16 Ohms x 2.

@Ninjametal 2 года назад

16 ohms x 2 (in parallel) is 8 ohms. To use 4 ohms x 2 to get 8 ohms, you need speakers wired in series

@weedeeeter 2 года назад

@@Ninjametal Thank you. So, is it better to buy 4 Ohms speakers or 16 Ohms speakers? What are the pros and cons for each option?

@alexcrouse 2 года назад

Oh, so it's my 20 year old Crate v50. Which i love, but they have reliability issues in the switch mode power supplies.

@stanislavmigra 2 года назад

Too afraid to ask. What happens when I put non matched power tubes to push pull or AB class amplifier? Do it just sounds off, or can I damage something?

@VintageSG 2 года назад

Leave matched valves to the hi-fi crowd. In a cathode bias setup, a quick check to ensure your 'hottest' valve is still within limits, and away you go. For fixed bias, set the bias to the 'hottest' valve and away you go. For fixed, fixed bias ( Fender Blues Junior, so Mesa ), again, check the bias is within safe limits and play. Your phase inverter is likely unbalanced. Your transformer will be unbalanced. A few mA discrepancy is normal, and may well contribute to the sound, as there'll be asymmetry. Asymmetric clipping is a desirable, or at least a marketing, thing in pedals 🙂 You'll not hurt anything, and the lovely '3D' sound will add, not detract. Guitar amps are about producing music. Hi-fi amps are for reproducing that sound, that gronk, that graunch, that roar, accurately and repeatedly. Make noise. Play music. Worry less.

@stanislavmigra 2 года назад

@@VintageSG I was thinking exactly the same. That little bit of asymetrical clipping cant hurt anything and for driven sound, it might be desirable

@adhaskym.a9536 2 года назад

The genius of China and it's production. I am buying one soon.

@bozakarlin9034 2 года назад

In what country was this amplifier manufactured?

@NebulaStudios1 2 года назад

Where is it manufactured?

@brentmydland5176 2 года назад

If it doesn’t have a power transformer… and doesn’t run on any AC… does it still have an output transformer??

@CTBlaze Год назад

Lotsa good info, but why does nobody, not even you, mention the FAN? how noisy does it get? does it only run in "Standby Mode", when the reactive load is active? Or is it for the SMPS?

@ScienceofLoud Год назад

Fan is for the smps. The reason I (and probably everyone else) didn't mention it is because it's not worth mentioning. If it were loud we'd have mentioned it. It's not something worth thinking about.

@lenwhatever4187 2 года назад

Just how much more efficient is this? With a class D amplifier (a switching power supply modulated by audio) on one side and a transformer powered class B tube amp on the other (assuming a tube rectifier). The switching PS seems to be more expensive than the transformer and supporting parts judging by the prices of Blackstar's transformer based products. As someone else has mentioned, replacement parts have to come from Blackstar, it is not like a transformer that can be bought from anyone... One hopes Blackstar stays in business. Anyway, it's a good idea and if enough others follow suit, maybe 400v switching PS will be available from more than one source and get to be cheaper than transformers. I think for me, a class D amp, 12 inch speaker, and a good analog tube/cabinet emulator may be the way to go.... or a self built transformer run, low powered tube amp.

@LillianAredhel 2 года назад

Me: "oh this seems really cool, I do need to replace my old amp I wonder how much- oh, it's £500 minimum, never mind"

@mikefloyd3152 2 года назад

How much is £500 euros on US dollars?

@vav413 2 года назад

@@mikefloyd3152 no one knows

@pabcrane 2 года назад

@@mikefloyd3152 - £500 is approx. 585 Euros and 615 US dollars

@Tomislav_B. 2 года назад

@@mikefloyd3152 To much for you

@jst601 Год назад

Your comment around :50 about BLACKSTAR's Cab Rig "tech" being NOT the same as IRs? Can you please elaborate? These terms, cab sim, amp sim, IRs, digital/analog amp sim, digital amp sim, digital/analog cab sim. Ugh. It would seem naming standards need to be applied to this evolving technology by manufacturers. Thanks for another very informative video. Being an owner of 2 Dept 10 Dual Drives, I'm completely on board w/BLACKSTAR's choice to move forward with tech & the way they're implementing it.

@ScienceofLoud Год назад

IR is an Impulse Response, it is essentially nothing more than a very specific EQ profile created by capturing the response of a specific speaker and microphone arrangement across all audio frequencies. IRs are therefore a static sound profile which can be applied to a sound to give the same EQ curve as the speaker under those specific conditions. Blackstar are using a digital modelling method which simulates all the ways in which a speaker, mic and room interact reactively with a changing signal to generate sound. It does not capture the EQ from a physical speaker, but rather attempts to recreate a speaker response in the digital realm using software. 'Cab sim' is a general term for simulating the sound of a speaker cabinet. That can be done with an IR, or using analogue components to shape the EQ, or digitally model it.