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Topic: Does Blackstar make a good Steel Amp |
Nick Reed
From:
Russellville, KY USA
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Posted 9 Apr 2019 7:53 pm |
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| I've heard some good sounding lead guitar amps by Blackstar but was wondering if they make a model specifically geared toward Pedal Steel. |
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John McClung
From:
Olympia WA, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2019 4:16 pm
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I'll second that question, Nick!
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Steve Sycamore
From:
Sweden
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Posted 12 Apr 2019 12:39 am
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The amp I use during band practice is a Black Star HD-40. I think it's representative of the company's offerings up to a point, but I have no experience with the other offerings.
I've never tried it with pedal steel guitar. As yet the band isn't playing a song where PSG would fit especially well and I'm already 100% busy with 6 string guitar and vocals.
I can say that I rarely use the clean channel. There are several different clean configurations but I find that there is not enough gain, bite, sustain or aliveness to provide a player friendly feel. I'm quite certain that would be the case for PSG also. When I do use the clean channel I patch a very fine quality solid state distortion box between the guitar and amp. The setting basically boosts the gain with a certain EQ but does not put the signal into noticable distortion.
The HD-40 I believe has a solid state preamp for the clean channel even though the power amp is an dual El34 circuit (so it can be beautifully overdriven at high volumes). The high gain channel is more than adequate to provide a high energy rock tone for practicing and even for live situations in lieu of a higher quality amp. |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 12 Apr 2019 3:58 am
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Black Stars are great amps, the only thing I can see is with a 2 x El84 amp the design intent is for limited headroom, even at a 40 watt rating. Its inherent.
I recently acquired a 38 watt Dr Z, 4 x El84's over the 18 watt model which is 2 x El84's. The headroom improvement is significant as the entire purpose of the 4 x El84 design was for increased headroom, not necessarily for gain/volume. The amp is plenty clean for the Steel at moderate volume and certainly "killer" with the Telecaster, clean or growl.
Another consideration, if you can find one, would be a Carvin 50 watt, 4 x El84 amp. They call it the Vintage 50 . It comes in a Head, a S12 Nomad or a 2 x 12 Belair . Plenty of clean headroom with familiar EL84 growl when pushed. I use these often for double duty as well.
good luck ! 
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Steve Sycamore
From:
Sweden
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Posted 12 Apr 2019 6:44 am
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| Also, in the same price category as an HD-40 would be a used Bogner Alchemist (with an actual proper tube preamp and 2 6L6's). In my opinion that amp provides enormously better clean and high gain tone and headroom as long as you upgrade the speaker and get the settings right. You also get a built in high quality digital delay. |
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