Blackstar St. James EL34H

Thanks to CMI Music and Audio for loaning me this amp.

Gear I use to make my videos

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I am a Fractal Audio beta tester. Pronounced bee-tah.

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⪢ My Cab IR's (Free)

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00:00 - Intro
01:59 - Strat Tones
08:03 - Les Paul Tones
10:37 - LP Jam
11:54 - Strat & Fuzz
13:36 - Strat Jams
15:25 - Chunky Stuff?
17:01 - Tones with a Real Cabinet

[anthonytumia]

This is perfect for the modern online marketplace. No step down/up transformer needed for international purchases because it has a universal power supply. Light weight for cheaper postage. This is a game changer for Australians!

[donewithmodernlife]

I’ve never wanted a Blackstar but I really like what I’m seeing & hearing with these. The EL34 seems like it would be the more flexible of the 2.

[carlroberge]

I’m not the one for negative comments but this sounds super thin 😳 Great playing as always!

[techniqueswithtodd]

Making a Blackstar video is a brave choice and you made it sound great!!!

[SMZD]

That LP jam was epic! What else can I say! wow!

[sundrenched]

Wow, this one sounds especially good. Both the Fender and Marshall channel.

[electroKrunch]

Sounds pretty dang nice, I like the concept!

[heavybrett-al]

Wow what a versatile amp, loved it with your cabinet, and yea great look to it.

[pauljamesstevens]

Great review and really nice playing. I was the designer. Thanks.

[davegmarti]

I’m not always in the market for some of the gear you demo. But always nice hearing you jam random stuff.

[neilmcleish]

Excellent review 👍 Would love to hear that LP through the 6L6 Version. Actually just watched the Anderson’s review and found yours more informative. Keep up the good work.

[CarlKennedyMusic]

As always, go job on the demo. You are a pleasure. The amp seems short of the mark and has an annoying hi frequency character in the 8-10kHz range that seems present at all various settings. At $1, 200.- US for the head alone, I would make a different choice personally.

[zaz]

Came here for the Blackstar! Stayed for the Stratocaster! 13:38 That is a awesome jam!

[ianfurqueron]

I like it. A lot of the same features as the Suhr PT-15, but for a lot less $$$.

[Bluesplayer]

Looks really nice, some great features...reminds me of a lot I like in principle about the revv g20

[jessetate]

Bro I’m super excited about it!!! Definitely might get this in the combo or the 6l6 combo

[thechannelforeverything]

I wasn't super impressed with the IR tones. However when you plugged it into your Marshall 4x12, that's where the magic started happening for me. Great video as always Leon 🤘. Getting my Mark III Red Stripe serviced right now, and can't wait to give it a rip once I get it back.

[guitarsampsandcoffee]

On the plus-side: it looks awsome and being lightweight is a great feature. But it feels like it stops there. Basically it sounds like a katana but costs 1200$. They can call it a valveamp but it doesn’t sound like it. Im not sure what drives the price up but had the head been 599$ i think it would have killed. And also, if you make an amp look like it belongs in the livingroom, why does it have to be lightweight.

[Widdy]

I'd love to see how this sounds using 4cm with Fractal/Helix 😋👍🏻

[adamwatson]

These sound quite different from the Blackstar Ht 50s and the usual blackstar sound in general .
Not near as dark or warm less compressed and more open . Much more top end . They sound more classic while the Ht series sound modern.