Product: Blackstar S1-45W combo
Price Paid: GBP 899
Submitted
11/02/2009
at
04:10am
by
The Big H
Features
:
9
This amp is very versatile, you can do it all from lush cleans to Texas Blues to full out rock. It has two channels each with two modes. It comes with a footswitch and built in FX Loop. The DPR is a fantastic addition you, can play it at home and still get cranked tones. The ISF feature allows you to change the character of the amp from British to American and everywhere in between I only wish it had a reverb if it did I would give it a perfect score.
Sound Quality
:
10
I mainly use a Gibson Les Paul Standard, an SRV Fender and an EB Musicman. I tend to play Rock and blues and It does these 2 Genres extremely well. The super Crunch channel is more than enough distortion for me, however for true metal heads they may want a bit more. Having said that, turn the ISF control counter clockwise drop the mids and you can get a decent Metallica tone as it tightens the whole sound. It does take some dialling in however and a lot of trial and error. But if you persevere the tones are outstanding. This amp is loud, 45 watts and you are blasting the windows out of any medium sized venue.
Reliability
:
3
Now here's the thing. The amp arrived, I plugged it in, it worked for 20 minutes then POP!!!! no sound, HT Fuse blown. I have to say the quality control must be non existent, it turns out there was a problem with the Power transformer, do they not test these things, this isn't something you would expect from a company that is in competition with Marshall. I've had various Marshalls and have never ever had a problem with any of them. Extremely disappointing. It's no use having a great sound if you can't trust it to function onstage. I would not gig this amp not now, not ever. I've since had a replacement, but I do not trust it, because of aforementioned Quality control issues. The company prides itself on being British, well it may be designed in Britain but they are manufactured in Korea.
Customer Support
:
8
The company are extremely helpful and I got a replacement. If it wasn't for the versatility of the amp however I would have asked for a refund. I feel it is a good job they are helpful as I've got a feeling you'll be needing them with this amp.
Overall Rating
:
7
I have been playing 25 years and have owned numerous amps, Marshalls Fenders and many others . I have to say when its working this amp is as good if not better than all of them, the sheer versatility of sounds are breathtaking. I love the way the amp cleans up by tweaking the volume knob on your guitar. But it comes down to reliability if I could only take one amp to a gig this wouldn't be it, I'll stick to my marshall JCM 800.!!!
Product: Blackstar S1-45W combo
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
10/06/2009
at
01:26pm
by
Stuart Lawrence
Email: studuke at hotmail<dot>com
Features
:
9
2009
Extremely versatile evrything from crystal clean to warm clean fantastic crunch to super crunch/lead
2 channels each with two modes
No reverb
At home and gigging 45watts is enough for anyone - a wedding gig recently saw me running at 10 watts!
All tube amp but solid state rectifier
Sound Quality
:
9
I use with a variety of guitars sounds great with a Tele and a Les Paul however when switching from a strat to a Les Paul you may have to up the mid and bass as can be quite bright
This amp will cover anything - I play in a covers band playing pop and rock - it does the lot - the warm channel can do jazz and the crunch is great for Blues - I don't do metal but suspect the super crunch would cover that
Reliability
:
7
Although now a brilliant amp when I recieved it I could not get a squeak out of it and it had to go back to Blackstar HQ. The factory arranged for the amp to be picked up the next day and kept me informed of the progress with the repair . Turned out to be simple - a faulty input jack-but the amp was clearly not tested at the Korean factory which is a concern for Blackstar-amp returned to my dealer in 3 working days - Blackstar gave me a free amp cover for my inconvenience -great communications despite my stroppy emails and phone calls
Customer Support
:
10
See above
Overall Rating
:
9
playing for 20 years gear list incls a Strat , Tele ,PRS Custom 22, Greco Zemaitis , a Les Paul, an SG and a Gibson Dove
Too many effects to list from Keeley ,Fulltone , HAO ,and Boss and Digitech
Amps: Fender Vibrolux. Marshall Handwire, The S1 and a Blackstar mini stack for practice
The S1 is definately the go to amp now its so versatile and despite the initial glitch I would buy another
I suppose it could have a reverb unit
