Blackheart Engineering Blackheart Engineering BH5h w/ Allen PTP Uprade

This is a Point-to-Point kit that replaces the PC board that is in the Blackheart Little Giant Head. I bought this amp because I new David Allen was working point-to-point kit replacing the PC board construction with quality components. I enjoy tube electronics and tube tone. It also introduces some quality upgrades and a couple of new features. One new feature is a new Carling switch that is a combination standby/power switch giving the amp a standby function. Also included are new Switchcraft jacks for input and output. An Allen specified Heyboer output transformer also comes in the package. I also took the opportunity to get PEC potentiometers, which are more expensive in comparison to other potentiometers available but worth the money, IMHO. This is still a single channel amp with a three band EQ but the components have been upgraded and you get to put it together and tweak as you like. This is a great platform for fun with tone at a great price.

The amp out of the box had some decent tones and was a versatile amp with the 3/5 watt switch. After the installation of the PTP components and output transformer the quality of sound improved. David Allen added his raw circuit to the tone stack in a clever way so that you can bypass the tone stack altogether getting power tube distortion at low volumes. I know this is a 5 watt amp but this thing can get loud. I have tried the amp with a variety of Eminence and Celestion speakers. All with good results but I have settled on a Eminence Tonker for now. The amp has descent headroom and a Marshall like clean. Then you can turn up and get a rich distortion. Putting in the Allen upgrade produces more gain than the stock amp. Do not get me wrong this not high distortion or metal amp. I play guitars with traditional humbuckers and firebird style pick-ups. This is a vintage British vibe coming out of this 5 watt amp. The amp takes pedals well even with the tonestack by-passed which surprised me that you hit power amp distortion with pedal distortion or compression and shape your tone.

This amp should last a long time. The amp has quality components and modification can continue after finished. The chassis and cabinet are great. This is great package David put together on a descent platform put out by Crate. It will last a lifetime.

Seeing as I have probably voided my warranty I am not worried. I have David Allen for parts and sometime ideas and insight in what he has seen in his career. And this is where David Allen always shines. He returns email to answer questions. This kit is supposed to be for experienced builders. I have built other kits and David always puts together a kit with a well designed circuit. a good layout drawing, and clear instructions. Allen Amps have a lot to offer guitar tone fanatics.

This is a killer project and the finished amp is very musical. I have encouraged David to design a kit using EL84???s. This PTP kit was worth the wait. This amp is just fun to play and to tweak. There I always some hype associated with some amp designers. David Allen keeps it real with clean design and quality components.

I am trying different some different capacitors, some at David???s suggestion on my quest for tone. If you come up with some cool modifications let me know. And if you want to sell your I might be interested.