HT Stage 60 Mark II 1x12" 60-watt Tube Combo Amp Review

Mostly what I was looking for

So…Amp seems to be built well. I needed a 3 channel amp. I'm in a classic rock band and need to go from a clean sound, to a tom petty, to journey type tones. My previous amps(that I still own) are a Rivera Clubster, and a Dsl Marshall 40. I got tired of playing through the clean channel only while using distortion pedals. Yes the Marshall has a good rock tone but it doesn't clean… read more up to be a versatile sound..for me. So what I like about the Blackstar is the 3 channels. I really like that each channel basically has 2 tones. A USA and a British. British is just brighter and a little more distortion sounding. I wish the clean channel had eq other than just bass and treble. I also wish channels 2 and 3 had separate eqs rather than sharing them but I only had around 1,000 to spend on an amp. Saying that I bought a demo which I've done several times through sweetwater and they never disappoint. Looks brand new to me. I really like the back panels options as well. No more

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Slamma Jamma

So I've had this amp for a year now and have been waiting it out to see if there were any issues. None so far.... I play mostly classic Rock and Country covers also some hard rock originals. I have several amps including a Fender Deville, Carvin V-3, Traynor, and Ampeg tube amps. The Black Star can hang with any and all of them. I like that it's light in weight and easy to transport.… read more You definitely need the 5 button foot switch for live performances, and the amp covers any style that I play. For the money I give it 5 Stars, for the sound, ease of use, and packing an amp to gigs I give it 5 Stars. Bottom line, it's a good amp with plenty of tone! I see other reviews saying they've had over heating issues, tube issues and sound issues. I imagine some bad ones may get thru QC checks but Sweetwater backs these amps up 100%. Rock on!

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Killer Amp

I just picked one of these up used - and turns out I was shipped a brand new one (not through Sweetwater, because they don't sell used unfortunately). I wasn't looking to break the bank on an amp. A couple years ago I got out of gigging, and sold most of my gear off - Mesa JP-2C, Mesa Mark IV, Mesa rectoverb 50 combo, and a mini rec. As you can see, I loved Mesa stuff (still… read more do). Anyway, I had a Blackstar HT Club 50 head a while back, and gigged with it for a good 8 or 9 months, but found it missing a gear, especially loud in a band mix. I liked it though - but that's about when I got my Mark V and there was no looking back. Well, long and short of it - work and family live took over, and left my band of 25+ years. I just got an opportunity to jam again, on a more casual basis, and needed something loud that wouldn't break the bank. I didn't want to invest $3000 in an amplifier. I saw one of these used at a great price, and ordered it - knowing I'd at least get close to what I had with the Club HT 50. I was shocked to get a brand new amp - not sure why the mistake happened, but not complaining about it. All I can say, this amp cranks. The cleans are decent - but the magic happens in the two drive channels. They open right up in a way the 1st series HT's didn't. It's not the Mesa Mark V, but I'm impressed with the changes. I'm not going to be losing much. I was torn between the 1X12 and the 2X12, but like the smaller footprint of the 1X12, and have always preferred going vertical rather then 2X12, so if I feel the need, I can get an extension cab and stack down the road. I won't go into an extended audio review of this amp - there are good videos out on what this can do. All I know is I have an amp that I will have no problem covering a variety of tones at gig volumes. My only complaint is it didn't come standard with the 5 way switch. I would rather have that then the USB interface - not much need for one with the XLR DI. I guess it's handy for someone only recording guitar in their home studio that doesn't already have an interface. Good work by Blackstar in upping the ante with this line of amplifiers.

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Outstanding!

I was looking for a two or three channel combo with separate EQs, FX loop, and a footswitchable volume boost. I listened to some demos, compared it to the few others available with all of those features, and decided to order one. I tend to have bad luck with gear....seems like if there's one in the warehouse with a problem, I'll end up with it. The first one I got had a problem… read more where in the 6 watt setting, it would make static and crackling noises. Sweetwater exchanged it and the replacement is perfect. The clean channel is great. I've seen the two voices described as Fenderish and Voxish, and to my ears it sounds pretty close to those descriptions. The Voxish voice starts to break up as you turn up the channel volume. The very edge of breakup tones on the Voxish voice aren't all that great to my ears, the clipping can sound a little harsh, but as you turn it up it starts to smooth out. The Fenderish voice is a really nice clean. The two dirt channels share an EQ but it's voiced pretty well between the two. If I had to find something to complain about is that if you have Voice 1 EQd perfectly on the dirt channels, switching to Voice 2 gives you a pretty big jump in gain, upper mids, and volume, especially on channel 2, so it can be tricky finding a good EQ balance between the voices. I've found that it's more noticeable at low volumes but in a band mix at higher volumes, switching to Voice 2 can make for a nice lead boost with more gain and more upper mids so it works out pretty well. BTW, you need the optional 5 button footswitch to be able to switch between the voices. The included 2-button switch only lets you switch between clean, Gain 1, and Gain 2. You can also switch voices on the clean channel, but not on the dirt channels. The two dirt channels are voiced slightly differently. Ch 1 is lower gain and more of a vintage or classic gain tone. Ch 2 has a little more gain and sounds more modern. Not too many tones you can't find between them. I play everything from old school funk and disco, classic rock, blues, old school metal, some newer metal, 90s stuff, and a bunch more in the bands I'm in and this amp covers all of those tones well. The FX loop works great and is very transparent, I haven't used the XLR out to record since I really don't record anymore but I did use it at a gig and it sounded great. I didn't notice any big difference in tone between the 6 watt and 60 watt modes. It's a little on the heavy side to be a perfect grab n go but a cheap little folding handcart from Costco takes care of that. Overall a great amp.

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Beautiful, versatile, and really "for the sound in your head"!

You may think it strange for an old "Blues" guy to end up with this amp, but I have to say that no where else could I find the versatility that this amp provides along with the great tones and usable features available. I strongly considered two other brands. The clean is not the clean of "the others" nor does it need to be. It stands on it's own! Absolutely gorgeous with more than… read more enough tone shaping available with the simple low, high, the "voice" switch and the master presence. And the two lead channels? Many familiar tones here and MUCH MORE thanks to the tone circuits, the ISF circuitry and the individual voice switching capability. The first lead can be tamed down almost a volume boost, the second lead is much higher gain. Both are smooth, stunning and rich. The reverbs are fine, the presence control effective. As a matter of fact, all the controls are actually usable with relatively small adjustments making a difference to your tone. Not too small, as in touchy, but just right..."usable"! I am more than happy with the switching options available with the included 2 button foot switch, it is all that many may need. It's a little bigger than some 1x12's and a lot bigger in it's presence. It seems to be much more spatial than other single 12's. Of course it takes pedals well but I find myself plugging direct much more than I have in a long time and just enjoying the amp itself. One more thing, the option to drop the power down to 6 watts was something I thought wouldn't be used but what a great feature!!! My wife and I are not on the same sleep schedule and this feature is used every day the amp is! I am very happy with this purchase. I think I'll be happy for a long time! As always, a huge thanks to the Sweetwater staff and especially to David Mikautadze who has helped me through many purchases and is always personable, efficient and professional.

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