Looking for an amp that doesn’t break the bank? The Blackstar HT-5R is your best bet.
Not everyone can afford high end guitar amplifiers and sometimes you want something smaller than a half stack, but you still want your tone to sound great. Why not try this five watt amplifier? It will be perfect for practicing at home, jamming with friends or even playing on bigger stages when you’re starting out.
Features Of The Blackstar HT5R MKII
This 5 watt combo amp has two channels, one clean and one overdrive, which can give you a decent sound for a low priced amp. It has a 3 band EQ with volume, gain and master volume controls that are fully adjustable to your own specifications. The amp also features an effects loop and built in reverb which can be dialed in using the knob on the front panel.
The Overdrive channel gives you a well rounded hard rock sound that can be tweaked to your liking and the clean channel gives a bright clean tone. This amp will also make a decent practice amp or for those who don’t want to spend” too much money”, but still want a good tone.
CHECK THE LATEST PRICE ON THE BLACKSTAR HT5R MKII
Another cool thing about it is that it has the ability to change the output power from 5 watts to 0.5 watts so you can get the sound you need. The only thing that I don’t like is the fact that you have to crank up the volume on this amp to get a good level. This is not a problem for those who play high gain rock n roll, but it can be annoying for those of us who play other styles of music.
The USB output for recording (as well as the 1/8″ headphone output which can also be used as an additional line out) is a great feature for recording and it will give you a decent quality that most recording software like GarageBand won’t be able to replicate.
The Blackstar HT5R amp is reliable and durable, but if you do decide to use it live, it might drain your wallet because you are going to have to replace the tubes in the near future.
Listen To This Amp
Pros
- Good cleans.
- Tons of features: USB recording, Headphone/Line out, Effects loop.
- Durable and Reliable.
Cons
- The fact that you have to crank up the volume to get a good sound.
- Poor power on the clean channel.
Other Similar Options From Blackstar
- Blackstar HT20
- Blackstar HT1
Conclusion
The Blackstar HT5R MkII amp is a good sounding amplifier that has some great features that will surely make you happy. There are just a few problems with this amp, but those problems can be fixed with the purchase of a new tube for the preamp and right bias. If you don’t mind spending an extra 25 dollars to get a tube for your amp, then I highly recommend this amp.