Blackstar HT-Metal Pedal

In the following video, Guitar World's Paul Riario reviews the new HT-Metal pedal from Blackstar, a two-channel, 12AX7-driven distortion pedal with a full EQ section, ISF midrange sweep control and speaker emulation output.

[jeffmartinaz]

Dude...you're a freaking monster of player!

[RumbleFish]

Believe it or not, I just purchased one of these, brand new. I couldn't pass it up for $75 bucks! I purchased a used guitar and the guy threw this pedal in for an extra $75 bucks. It sounds great! I'm super excited to use it live!

[Techoftomorrow]

I like him, but others have complained he gets lazy about showing stuff. Most likely just jealous people who like to hate. he does a good job from what I can tell.

[TTBlueMetal]

He's playing in the style that the pedal is intended for.
What should he play Jazz licks with ultra high levels of gain?
If you want to hear what it sounds like with your playing, go to music store and check it out.
B'ching about someone giving you a free sample doesn't serve anyone including you.

[richfiryn]

these guitar pedals are exceptional as are most in the line from Blackstar. great sound and built like a tank. never had a prob with any of them. the Blackstar delay is a really great pedal worth a look as well.

[theultimaterockr]

I think he set it up scooped using the isf and has the bass and treble set up higher than the mids.

[mechmat]

Thanks. I really wish you'd list the entire signal chain in the details section of every video.

[MEGATROID]

oh, i thought you were just talking down el84 amps altogether.. sorry bout that.. yea i do agree on with ya on that, and i wish they would tell us their setup: amp, cab and mic.

what cheap el84 amps are there that fit that description?? cuz i havent seen any around that were fizzy or overall undesireable..

[DrCowinabox]

being glass they can shatter so be careful... however: that is not easy to do. as far as burning out or something... occasionally the tubes in amps must be replaced... not sure about pedals. hope this helps.

[NeutralDepth]

First demo I've seen and I'm sold already

[awsomejustin]

The guitar in this video is not a Telecaster, its a G&L ASAT, its pretty much the same because Leo Fender sold his company but continued the tele/strat shapes in his new company, G&L. I was using EMGs as an example.

[TTBlueMetal]

So true. The Blackstar HT40 I bought only has a "tone", ONE, control on the clean channel, knowing darn well how ridiculous that is.
Then comes their line of dist/OD pedals that, HEY, have bass, mid, and treble adjustments. And, they know that dist/OD pedals need to be run in the clean channel. Want tone control on that amp? Then pony up another $250 for the pedal cause that's where we put your tone adjustments.
The HT40 is going back..

[TTBlueMetal]

I think I missed your video showing us your great tone.
I missed G. Martins video as well.
Please post a link to your vids and tones so we can hear the wonderful tones you guys have created.
Perhaps I can pick up some info to use as I'm researching dist/OD pedals for myself. Thanks. :)

[oansun]

the reviews are in print, these are supplementary to the literature. It says as much on their website.

[awsomejustin]

Cool, I am thinking about getting a custom ESP guitar with an EMG 81/60 pickup set. But I was just trying to make a point with the guy I was arguing with. I really like EMGs too. Rock on brother!

[Mrkkdud]

I mean like the tubed metal pedal looks like it gives out no hiss at all, but there goes the annoying hiss when I tried the EH at GC. Anything to know about tube pedals including this one?

[wwit]

Im gonna jump on the Youtube compression making it sound that way. Ive heard that pedal live and up close, it sounds good. Great Playin' by Paul as usual.

[metalfiend]

the thing is, he's a well rounded player, he has to be able to play a lot of styles to demo a lot of different gear. He has to be able to be more than just a hard metal player. Also the ISF feature blends between a California Mesa sound on the left with a British Marshall to the right on the knob. I thought this was a good review, and they showed that a G and L tele could sound pretty heavy with this pedal. it's not an ESP custom shop, after all.

[jesman]

I have the Blackstar HT-Blackfire which was made before the Metal but essentially as far as I know is almost the same pedal. I run the pedal through a Line 6 Spider IV on clean and honestly it works great. It gives the amp, which has crappy built in distortion, a huge stack sound and great dynamics. Plus just roll the volume down and you can have a great blues sound or classic rock sound. I highly recommend Blackstar despite the tone in this video

[elitenOb]

Because experience?
When playing rock, it's good to have some extra grit on the pedal, but in metal, the best distortion is the one already built into the amp, since it's full tube anyway, and you benefit more from using a channel switcher. Rock, on the other hand, is more pecky about having crunch rather than high-gain, which pedals tend to control better.

And those settings shows jack; it's when you show a NEUTRAL setting that you can start give a proper review.