On the hunt for a new amp today.

[Robert Hendrix]

Ok, I've had it! I am sick of trying to get a decent tone from the cheaper amps that I have on hand. They are decent amps, but I can't get anything I'm REALLY happy with. So I'm out shopping for a new amp today. My starting point is 2x12 combo and tube. I've been looking around for several weeks now and, so far, the frontrunner is the Blackstar Stage HT-60, mainly for it's diversity (right word?) and price point. I'm going to head to the store today to give it one final workout before I make my final decision, but I'm hoping to come home with SOMETHING today.
Whatever I come home with, I'll post a quick review.

[markD]

cool! good luck.

[Larz]

Those are EL34, right? People seem to be pretty happy with them and say good things about the clean channel too. How is the verb on it?

[EvilOdin]

Good luck! I can't wait to get another amp. thinking of getting a Mark V one of these days.

[javert]

I've been thinking about picking up a Mark V too. I would like something different to complement my Engls.

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Splawn Street Rod

[Robert Hendrix]

Okay I am conflicted now. Just checked out a carvin legacy. NICE! But I don't need a half stack.

[gtrlvr]

Hey Robert, I have heard Carvin is making a smaller version of the V3 in a smaller versoin head and a combo as well , might want to give them a look see as well.

[Robert Hendrix]

Hey Robert, I have heard Carvin is making a smaller version of the V3 in a smaller versoin head and a combo as well , might want to give them a look see as well.

Cool. I'll have to check it out later though. I just got the blackstar.

[mastrxplodr]

Congrats on the Blackstar! I got the HT-20 a couple of weeks ago and am really happy with it.

[Robert Hendrix]

Congrats on the Blackstar! I got the HT-20 a couple of weeks ago and am really happy with it.

Thanks, I'm loving it so far. The OD channels are pretty noisey. Not sure this is normal, but it freakin rocks!

[Grim]

I've been thinking about picking up a Mark V too. I would like something different to complement my Engls.

Do it.

On a related note, I fell in love with the Orange Rockerverb about two months ago. Pricey, but they sound phenomenal.

[Robert Hendrix]

Ok, now that I've had this amp for a couple of days, I wanted to give a short laymans review as promised. I really don't know what else to say other than OH MY F*&kING GOD!!!!
As this is my first REAL tube amp, I'm aware there is other amps out there that are better, but this amp COMPLETELY SMOKES EVERYTHING I've ever played though before. The tones I've managed to get out of this thing pretty much out of the box has left me nothing short of giddy.

If I had any complaints about this amp, it would be that the OD2 channel is pretty noisy, but from what I understand from some people on the Blackstar forum, a tube swap should take care of at least alot of that. I'm going to deal with it for now and give the amp a chance to get broke in real good before I try it though.

I took the amp out to a gig last night. I know, it might have been a little too soon but it performed flawlessly. The guys in the band and other people in the crowd that knew me were really impressed.

Anyway, that's my short review FWIW.

[petez0r]

nice dude, i havent played through one, but some of the clips ive heard just rock. on a side note if you can shell out 2k+, the markV is probably one of the most amazing amps ive ever played though, its impossible to get a bad tone out of it.

[javert]

Congrats on the new amp! Nothing like a good tube amp.

Sidebar: Regarding the Mark V, they're like $4000 over here, so I'm thinking that I'll either buy a used one or buy one when I'm in the states anyway.