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Blackstar Amplification Club

#41
Daniel Piper said:
I’ve been through a number of rigs over the years, but none have sounded better to me than my Blackstar setup.
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Nice. Good to see another Kiwi on here (long time reader first time poster lol), just signed up to ask you a few questions on the combo, what's the weight of it? (Seems strange that the manual through the Blackstar page is not available?) I'm downsizing from a monster heavy 4x10 + 1x15 Peavey Stack, and need something lightweight, that has distortion, Chorus, compression, and a tuner. So was planning on U500 + U250ACT + FS12, recommend? Influences are RATM, TOOL, PRIMUS, CLUTCH and anything funky or punky.. Also noticed that Hotcovers do covers for these... expensive to ship from the U.K? Finally, where did you purchase from? Rockshop? Seems like a great price for a decent product!
 
#42
Kia ora brother!!!

So good to find Kiwis on here aye!

The u500 is a total beast - I love mine. I have had mesa, traynor and GK rigs - and in terms of quality of tone, this thing hangs with all of them. It feels about 22-23 kgs in the hand, which is its big drawback, its quite heavy.

I bought mine from the Rockshop, along with the fs12. When buying from them, make sure you get a 10% discount - just ask for their best price.

The hotcovers, when compare to other high quality amp cover makers, are actually very cost effective. It still costs over a hundred bucks, but they are VERY nice.

As for the tone - I like a good aggressive tone with deep bass and slightly grindy upper mids - and this thing does it. It is still only a 210, so it wont keep up with a rock band practicing at full volume - but it is LOUD for its size, and covers all my practices and gigs. I'm definitely going to buy the extension cab when I stop pissing my money away on pedals!

I was practicing some tool tunes today in fact. Sounded great. The chorus is very good, the OD is good and the octave is hit/miss depending on what you want to get from it (like ALL octaves).

Where you based?

MeshuggahN8 said:
Nice. Good to see another Kiwi on here (long time reader first time poster lol), just signed up to ask you a few questions on the combo, what's the weight of it? (Seems strange that the manual through the Blackstar page is not available?) I'm downsizing from a monster heavy 4x10 + 1x15 Peavey Stack, and need something lightweight, that has distortion, Chorus, compression, and a tuner. So was planning on U500 + U250ACT + FS12, recommend? Influences are RATM, TOOL, PRIMUS, CLUTCH and anything funky or punky.. Also noticed that Hotcovers do covers for these... expensive to ship from the U.K? Finally, where did you purchase from? Rockshop? Seems like a great price for a decent product!
Click to expand...
 
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#43
Daniel Piper said:
Kia ora brother!!!

So good to find Kiwis on here aye!

The u500 is a total beast - I love mine. I have had mesa, traynor and GK rigs - and in terms of quality of tone, this thing hangs with all of them. It feels about 22-23 kgs in the hand, which is its big drawback, its quite heavy.

I bought mine from the Rockshop, along with the fs12. When buying from them, make sure you get a 10% discount - just ask for their best price.

The hotcovers, when compare to other high quality amp cover makers, are actually very cost effective. It still costs over a hundred bucks, but they are VERY nice.

As for the tone - I like a good aggressive tone with deep bass and slightly grindy upper mids - and this thing does it. It is still only a 210, so it wont keep up with a rock band practicing at full volume - but it is LOUD for its size, and covers all my practices and gigs. I'm definitely going to buy the extension cab when I stop pissing my money away on pedals!

I was practicing some tool tunes today in fact. Sounded great. The chorus is very good, the OD is good and the octave is hit/miss depending on what you want to get from it (like ALL octaves).

Where you based?
Click to expand...

Kia Ora! Yeah based in Welly. Just getting back into playing after a 10yr hiatus (career and having 2 kids took over), then blew the dust off my old stack and thought to myself "Nah my back aye....". Plan was to Get a Darkbass head then 2x2x10's (vertical stack style) to start gigging with my bros again, but couldnt find a cheapish option in the 2x10 that could handle the head (from cheap, good and lightweight pick any 2 aye!) Long story short i think the combo amd ACT will do me for now. The FS12 is what will swing me i think, that built in tuner and ability to hit the comp on will be killer. I reckon i'll be able to affix a guitar keeper to the side of the full stack for the perfect compact rig! I've emailed Hotcover for a quote for covers for both, looking at the way my old gears Tolex has held up over the years, it'll be a sound investment.... looking forward to joining the club bro, just gotta move my old Peavey gear first so the wife don't kill me...
 
#44
MeshuggahN8 said:
Kia Ora! Yeah based in Welly. Just getting back into playing after a 10yr hiatus (career and having 2 kids took over), then blew the dust off my old stack and thought to myself "Nah my back aye....". Plan was to Get a Darkbass head then 2x2x10's (vertical stack style) to start gigging with my bros again, but couldnt find a cheapish option in the 2x10 that could handle the head (from cheap, good and lightweight pick any 2 aye!) Long story short i think the combo amd ACT will do me for now. The FS12 is what will swing me i think, that built in tuner and ability to hit the comp on will be killer. I reckon i'll be able to affix a guitar keeper to the side of the full stack for the perfect compact rig! I've emailed Hotcover for a quote for covers for both, looking at the way my old gears Tolex has held up over the years, it'll be a sound investment.... looking forward to joining the club bro, just gotta move my old Peavey gear first so the wife don't kill me...
Click to expand...

Ha ha! Yip - fully understand the role wives and children play in the pursuit of awesome bass gear...

The fs-12 is an awesome addition. Tuner is good - not the fastest, but tracks awesome once it has the note.
 
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#45
New U500 owner here! I went back and forth in the store for 3 days comparing the U500 to the Ampeg BA-210 and Rumble 500, both of which I have owned in the past. I much preferred the Blackstar features and huge variety of tones, especially the 6L6 and 6550 responses! I even preferred it to the SVT7 Pro with 4x10 cab and decided Im not crazy about Fender or Ampeg SS/digital tones, its really only their tube amps that sound killer IMO but thats out of my budget for now. Anyhow, loving the U500!
Amp1.jpg
 
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#46
mbell75 said:
New U500 owner here! I went back and forth in the store for 3 days comparing the U500 to the Ampeg BA-210 and Rumble 500, both of which I have owned in the past. I much preferred the Blackstar features and huge variety of tones, especially the 6L6 and 6550 responses! I even preferred it to the SVT7 Pro with 4x10 cab and decided Im not crazy about Fender or Ampeg SS/digital tones, its really only their tube amps that sound killer IMO but thats out of my budget for now. Anyhow, loving the U500! View attachment 3363955
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Nice! Getting the Ext cab and FS12 footswitch?
 
#47
mbell75 said:
New U500 owner here! I went back and forth in the store for 3 days comparing the U500 to the Ampeg BA-210 and Rumble 500, both of which I have owned in the past. I much preferred the Blackstar features and huge variety of tones, especially the 6L6 and 6550 responses! I even preferred it to the SVT7 Pro with 4x10 cab and decided Im not crazy about Fender or Ampeg SS/digital tones, its really only their tube amps that sound killer IMO but thats out of my budget for now. Anyhow, loving the U500! View attachment 3363955
Click to expand...

It really is that good aye! Congrats on your purchase!

I am a ‘classic’ into ‘6550’ kinda guy myself.

Beautiful tones in these combos.
 
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#50
681148C2-3D10-4447-9367-5424CD124C1F.jpeg

This shows the guitar version, but I bought the bass version first. I work as a park ranger and wanted to do something less cliché than long-haired-guy-with-acoustic-guitar at campfire talks, so I wear the bass version in a hip pack, run on battery power, and rock my pointy ‘80s bass for our singalong bit. Light years beyond all other micro amps for the job. I would like a belt clip, though. I’m intrigued by Blackstar’s bigger combos but between my Mesa Buster and my old Peavey gear, I think I’m good.
 
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#51
Riff Ranger said:
View attachment 3364231
This shows the guitar version, but I bought the bass version first. I work as a park ranger and wanted to do something less cliché than long-haired-guy-with-acoustic-guitar at campfire talks, so I wear the bass version in a hip pack, run on battery power, and rock my pointy ‘80s bass for our singalong bit. Light years beyond all other micro amps for the job. I would like a belt clip, though. I’m intrigued by Blackstar’s bigger combos but between my Mesa Buster and my old Peavey gear, I think I’m good.
Click to expand...

THE MAN!

I had images of you walking through (insert famous American nature getaway here, like Yellowstone), rocking a pointy 80s bass, just one with nature- bears, campfires and coyotes.

I bet it is just like that!
 
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#52
Riff Ranger said:
View attachment 3364231
This shows the guitar version, but I bought the bass version first. I work as a park ranger and wanted to do something less cliché than long-haired-guy-with-acoustic-guitar at campfire talks, so I wear the bass version in a hip pack, run on battery power, and rock my pointy ‘80s bass for our singalong bit. Light years beyond all other micro amps for the job. I would like a belt clip, though. I’m intrigued by Blackstar’s bigger combos but between my Mesa Buster and my old Peavey gear, I think I’m good.
Click to expand...

Oohhh a buster- those things are awesome. Is yours the wedge shape?
 
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#54
Daniel Piper said:
THE MAN!

I had images of you walking through (insert famous American nature getaway here, like Yellowstone), rocking a pointy 80s bass, just one with nature- bears, campfires and coyotes.

I bet it is just like that!
Click to expand...
Hard to believe, but nobody got a photograph last summer. I will rectify that by this June (summer on the opposite end of the Pacific, haha).
 
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#55
Very proud new owner of a Blackstar U250! :D Just arrived today and can't stop grinning - this thing is a tone machine! I got to demo one of these at a local GC just as I was about to buy a Rumble 500 - but was so impressed with this amp, I just had to have it!
20190327_155415.jpg


Was contemplating the U500, but loved the sound of the 15 inch speaker and the 250 watts are plenty for my purposes. I can't get anywhere near half volume at the house without taking out some windows! I do play with a power trio and we do get tend to get loud. If needed down the road, I'll just add an extension cab and crank 500 watts through 2 15's! :thumbsup:
20190327_155309.jpg


The build quality is excellent on these amps. The options are many for unlimited tonal possibilities, but I'm really digging the classic voice with the 6550 response! Sweet with my jazz bass and can tell it'll really cut through the mix.

Anyway - I'm very happy I decided to "boldly go where few bassists have gone before" and go with Blackstar. I'm convinced they really did their homework before producing the unity line of bass amps. Oh yea - I got the last one from SW. They are also sold out of the U500. MF is sold out the U500 as well as my local GC's. So looks like the word is getting out there!

Yes Mr Piper, I'd love a number to join this "small" prestigious club!
 
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#56
bhendrix said:
Very proud new owner of a Blackstar U250! :D Just arrived today and can't stop grinning - this thing is a tone machine! I got to demo one of these at a local GC just as I was about to buy a Rumble 500 - but was so impressed with this amp, I just had to have it!
View attachment 3368958

Was contemplating the U500, but loved the sound of the 15 inch speaker and the 250 watts are plenty for my purposes. I can't get anywhere near half volume at the house without taking out some windows! I do play with a power trio and we do get tend to get loud. If needed down the road, I'll just add an extension cab and crank 500 watts through 2 15's! :thumbsup:
View attachment 3368960

The build quality is excellent on these amps. The options are many for unlimited tonal possibilities, but I'm really digging the classic voice with the 6550 response! Sweet with my jazz bass and can tell it'll really cut through the mix.

Anyway - I'm very happy I decided to "boldly go where few bassists have gone before" and go with Blackstar. I'm convinced they really did their homework before producing the unity line of bass amps. Oh yea - I got the last one from SW. They are also sold out of the U500. MF is sold out the U500 as well as my local GC's. So looks like the word is getting out there!

Yes Mr Piper, I'd love a number to join this "small" prestigious club!
Click to expand...

Awesome, congrats! I just ordered a new Player series Jazz to go with my P and so glad I got the U500. Why? Because I can warm up the sound of the Jazz a bit while playing with a pick, something I couldn't do with the Rumble or any of the SS Ampegs. They either sounded too muffled, like turning on the vintage button on the Rumble 500, or in the Ampeg's case, it just has this hollow kind of tone I couldn't dial out. Love the 6L6 response with the voicing set to flat with my P and the 6550 set to the modern voicing with the Jazz sounds killer IMO.

Im really interested to see if Blackstar brings out heads and cabs this year as was rumored. An 800 watt head with a 4x10 cab would be pretty awesome. We shall see.
 
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#57
bhendrix said:
Very proud new owner of a Blackstar U250! :D Just arrived today and can't stop grinning - this thing is a tone machine! I got to demo one of these at a local GC just as I was about to buy a Rumble 500 - but was so impressed with this amp, I just had to have it!
View attachment 3368958

Was contemplating the U500, but loved the sound of the 15 inch speaker and the 250 watts are plenty for my purposes. I can't get anywhere near half volume at the house without taking out some windows! I do play with a power trio and we do get tend to get loud. If needed down the road, I'll just add an extension cab and crank 500 watts through 2 15's! :thumbsup:
View attachment 3368960

The build quality is excellent on these amps. The options are many for unlimited tonal possibilities, but I'm really digging the classic voice with the 6550 response! Sweet with my jazz bass and can tell it'll really cut through the mix.

Anyway - I'm very happy I decided to "boldly go where few bassists have gone before" and go with Blackstar. I'm convinced they really did their homework before producing the unity line of bass amps. Oh yea - I got the last one from SW. They are also sold out of the U500. MF is sold out the U500 as well as my local GC's. So looks like the word is getting out there!

Yes Mr Piper, I'd love a number to join this "small" prestigious club!
Click to expand...

Ohhhhhh very nice! They are great amps aren’t they! I too am a classic—>6550 guy. Great sound.
 
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#58
mbell75 said:
Awesome, congrats! I just ordered a new Player series Jazz to go with my P and so glad I got the U500. Why? Because I can warm up the sound of the Jazz a bit while playing with a pick, something I couldn't do with the Rumble or any of the SS Ampegs. They either sounded too muffled, like turning on the vintage button on the Rumble 500, or in the Ampeg's case, it just has this hollow kind of tone I couldn't dial out. Love the 6L6 response with the voicing set to flat with my P and the 6550 set to the modern voicing with the Jazz sounds killer IMO.

Im really interested to see if Blackstar brings out heads and cabs this year as was rumored. An 800 watt head with a 4x10 cab would be pretty awesome. We shall see.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Having a blast with this amp - it feels like yesterday was Christmas! Jamming this weekend with some old bandmates, so I'll really be able to crank her up and tame the guitar player and drummer!

Excellent choice with getting a player series jazz - man I just love mine. I started playing many years ago and learned on a jazz bass. Bought, sold, traded many different basses over the years, but came back to my first love - it feels like being home again! Fender jazz + Blackstar amplification = Bliss! :smug:
 

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