sharpant

I'm currently in search of a new head so I went down to machine head to check out some amps.

Machinehead Music, Guitar Shop - Where service counts!

i tried three different amps

Engl Powerball http://machinehead.co.uk/product_in...roducts_id/2429
Hughes and Kettner Trilogy http://machinehead.co.uk/product_in...products_id/379
Black Star one series 100 http://machinehead.co.uk/product_in...roducts_id/2335

Engl Powerball

This was the amp I couldn't wait to try, it looked amazing too, now for a sound test!
The cleans were very impressive for a 'high gain' amp but they somewhat lacked character.

Cruch- The crunch was awful for any kind of classic rock / hendrix / Srv Etc it just fails awfully. Really disappointed with the low gain channel which by the way is very high gain if you want it too be.

Lead Channel- This was very good for riffing and low end. It was also good for leads but not breathtaking. It also got fizzy at times.

All in i was left disappointed with the powerball 6/10

Hughes and Kettner Trilogy

I'll be honest and say that I only tried this for 4/5 minuets but the only word to describe it would be bland. The cleans were average, the crunch was better than the powerball and the lead channel was average too. Considering how cool this amp looks I really wanted to like it but just didn't 5/10

Blackstar one series 100

This amp left me breathless. The clean can either be warm or bright, the cleans are far superior to the two amps above. The bright channel sparkles and you can hear clarity in every note. The warn channel is so fat and warm.

The crunch channel is where this amp excels, I played my PGM301 through it and thought wow that sounds nice, then i plugged an American strat and almost fenited.

The other channel is the super crunch, which is basically a boost. It was soooo good. There was so much tone and I could hear the EL34 character shining through. There is a lot of gain on tap but it could be boosted by something like a fulltone ocd.

An extra function of this amp is the built in attenuator, you can play it at 10/20/30/40 and up to 100 watts.

The dials are really sensitive and have a huge impact on the tone, for example if you lower the mids it instantly sounds more American voiced.

I have nothing bad to say about this amp, I simply loved it. If only it had built in reverb Trust me to like the 1 that looks the worst of the three!

Blackstar has defeated Engl and H+K, now all i left to try is an orange rockerverb.

All I have to say is that if you get a chance to try a Blackstar series 100 out.....

Do it!

jcmjmp

Blackstar amps really are ahead of the game compared to the current offerings by Marshall IMO. Awesome amps.

MartyStrat54

I've not seen a bad review on "any" Blackstar amp. That tells you something.



Marty

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MARTY

2009 Gibson Explorer-Hell Raising Machine
1989 Fender Strat Plus USA
2008 Fender Tele USA
2004 Schecter Elite w/DiMarzio's

TSL100 with custom 4x12 cab. TSL122 with Man 'O War Speakers.
TSL602 #1 with JBL D123 Speakers and 602 #2 with Altec 417 Speakers. "Oh so sweet my friends."
DSL401 #1 with Red Fang Speaker and 401 #2 with JBL D123 Speaker.

Tubes: Let's just say they are NOS that kick ass.

pinto79

I hear you on the Powerball. My personal opinion is that the best thing in Engl's line is the 60 watt Fireball.

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My Marshall Gear:

1983 JCM800 2203
1986 5210 1x12 Combo loaded with a G12M-70
1992 Anniversary Series 6100
1992 6960A Cabinet loaded with G12T-75s
2008 JMP 1959RR
Old, beaten 1960A loaded with G12M-25 Greenbacks
Ed the Compressor
Regenerator

American Viking

+1

A buddy of mine had a Powerball. It wasn't very good. I had a hard time coming up with a style of music anyone would want to use it for. A JCM2000 beats the pants of the Powerball. Engl does have other good products though, that's just not one of them.

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-I'd rather be a good liver than have one...

JohnH

Aussies round here will know Rose Tattoo - a great Australian hard rock band that just keeps on going and getting better. The lead guitarist, Dai Pritchard, plays a Blackstar 100 halfstack. He came to our local pub with his own 3-piece band, and the sound of his playing through that amp was just awesome.

__________________
DSL401
8412 cab
Crate Powerblock
1 x 12 Vintage 30 cab
'76 Shergold Masquerader
'93 Les Paul Studio
'83 Roadstar

rockinr0ll

Black Star FTW.

Papus

I bought a blackstar DISTX pedal to drive my Marshall 2061x handwired 20 watt head and I was so impressed with the sound that I bought the blackstar HT-5 combo straight away!
The only words to describe my impressions are "blown away", "gobsmacked", "incredulous" and "fanatical convert".
Blackstar oozes tone, with the most articulate and organic touch from hands to strings to speakers not only kept intact but somehow magnified and polished.
Articulation, pick attack and fretting technique are all expressed beautifully, even on the highest gain of the DISTX pedal.
Blackstar have got some powerful mojo going on!
I tried all of blackstar's HT pedals and each one blew me away with it's unique voice.
The HT-5 combo is my primary practice, recording and rehearsing amp - I leave my Marshall/4x12 rig at home.
I heartily recommend blackstar pedals to anyone seeking a toneful front-end for their Marshall amp, and the blackstar HT-5 combo for those players in need of a bedroom-sized substitute with big-stack sound.