Blackstar

[Chienmortbb]

I did hear that the Bass designer was ex Trace and Peavey. 
 

I would like to try the Unity700H but they are out of stock at Absolute Music, my store. 

[Stub Mandrel]

Founded by four ex-Marshall staff.

 

https://blackstaramps.com/about-blackstar/

 

[Ironmaiden]

The Blackstar is nice but I decided on the Fender Rumble 100. 

[DanDoesBass]

Hey everyone!
If anyone’s after info on Blackstar gear, feel free to give me a shout.
I’ve got pretty much every Unity amp here at my studio in Milton Keynes, I’m on Blackstar’s artist roster, and I’ve been gigging and recording with their amps for years, happy to share first-hand experience or answer any questions.

[Russ]

18 hours ago, DanDoesBass said:

Hey everyone!
If anyone’s after info on Blackstar gear, feel free to give me a shout.
I’ve got pretty much every Unity amp here at my studio in Milton Keynes, I’m on Blackstar’s artist roster, and I’ve been gigging and recording with their amps for years, happy to share first-hand experience or answer any questions.

Since you're round the corner from them in MK, is there any news from Blackstar about whether there's updates coming to the Unity range? As I mentioned in my little "review" earlier in this thread, there's lots to like but a load of little niggles (no mute/standby switch, fragile toggles, effect controls being on the back, only being able to get the full 700W out of the U700 head into 2.67ohms) - these all seem like relatively simple things for them to address. 

 

As I mentioned, I have a Unity combo that I use at home every day and I love it for practising. I'd be far more inclined to invest in the bigger rig if they could address these relatively small issues with it. 

 

Oh, and ditch the cloth grilles.  I bought a bass amp, not a scratching post! 

[BassAdder60]

Blackstar tried to take on Marshall and several of their guitar amps were / are amazing products so well done Blackstar. 
 

Perhaps in time they will become a big name in the bass world. 
 

I liken them in reverse to Ashdown, who offer guitar amps but seldom see many users and of course massive success in the bass world. 
 

Blackstar guitar amps well received but bass amps less so 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

I see guitarists playing Blackstar amps almost as often as I see bass players using Mark Bass.

[Russ]

6 hours ago, BassAdder60 said:

Blackstar tried to take on Marshall and several of their guitar amps were / are amazing products so well done Blackstar. 
 

Perhaps in time they will become a big name in the bass world. 
 

I liken them in reverse to Ashdown, who offer guitar amps but seldom see many users and of course massive success in the bass world. 
 

Blackstar guitar amps well received but bass amps less so 

 

In order to break through in the world of musical instruments, amps, etc, you need visible players using your gear - whether that's bass players in touring bands, YouTubers or whomever. And, as far as their bass gear goes, I can't say I've seen anyone using them. Marco Mendoza is probably their highest profile endorser on the bass side of things, and you still mostly see him playing through SVTs provided as backline. Although, to be fair, he was playing through the Blackstar stuff on the SatchVai tour recently. 

 

Blackstar's artist relations people are usually really good about getting gear into the hands of guitarists - both big names and grassroots ones. A good friend of mine was in an unsigned band who were bubbling under for some time and Blackstar sorted them out with free gear and promotion. Plus they provide an excellent backline service for touring bands. I've not seen any of this extended to the Unity range, which they seem to be treating the same way they treat their practice amps and lower-end guitar gear.

 

It's sad, really - the gear sounds great, but it almost feels like they don't believe in it enough to push it hard, or to keep it updated. 

 

Also, regarding the Ashdown comparison, back in the day Trace Elliot produced some excellent guitar gear - it wasn't hugely popular, but it was very well thought of by those that owned it. And their acoustic guitar amps are still sought after today, attracting silly money on the secondhand market. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Russ

[Wombat]

Ooo, I’ve got an Acoustic TR40R if anyone is interested….

just sayin’….

[Wombat]

I’ve also got a Unity700. Great little amp with loads of sounds. Doesn’t get much love unfortunately as I’m mostly straight to desk nowadays.

[Jo.gwillim]

I had to take mine apart to replace one of the flimsy little switches. Blackstar were really on the ball providing spares and the amp was really nicely made inside. I didn't keep it, not because it was bad,  there was just too much scope for fiddling with the sound, I am such a fiddler!

[Russ]

2 hours ago, Jo.gwillim said:

I had to take mine apart to replace one of the flimsy little switches. Blackstar were really on the ball providing spares and the amp was really nicely made inside. I didn't keep it, not because it was bad,  there was just too much scope for fiddling with the sound, I am such a fiddler!

I think the built-in chorus and octaver are surplus to requirements. The distortion/overdrive, power amp character switching, etc - all good since they’re actual “amp” functions, but the other stuff should probably get ditched for the next revision. I doubt all that many people use them anyway. 

 

I know Ashdown heads have had the built-in octaver since forever, but I’ve never met an Ashdown user who’s actually used it! 

[Jo.gwillim]

1 hour ago, Russ said:

I think the built-in chorus and octaver are surplus to requirements. The distortion/overdrive, power amp character switching, etc - all good since they’re actual “amp” functions, but the other stuff should probably get ditched for the next revision. I doubt all that many people use them anyway. 

 

I know Ashdown heads have had the built-in octaver since forever, but I’ve never met an Ashdown user who’s actually used it! 

No I haven't ever used my Ashdown octaver. The chorus isn't easy to control either. It's easy to play with all the other nice sound options when I'm home,  but when I'm at a band prac, and can actually hear how they sound in a live context a 3 or 4 band EQ is all I can really have time to fiddle with, and maybe a bit of gain. I'm not saying all those options are bad,  I don't think they are,  I'm just not clever enough to cope with them all.