is blackstar done ?

darcym

they started off making mid/higher end amps, went through a list of endorsers now seem to push the cheap usb amps, and I've not really heard anything of them since ?

I know they are still trading, website etc etc, but are they actually "done" ? they don't seem to have any market or any real product development any more

Fiftyshadesofjay

As far as I'm aware they shift quite a lot of units of those smaller amps.

It's funny how people assume that if a company isn't pumping out high end heads etc, they're finished. The simple matter is that those type of amps just don't sell anymore and are actually quite a specialist item now. It's the lower, cheaper end where  most sales are to be made.

Danny1969

They sell a lot of HT amps  and similar in Portsmouth to people looking for cheap reliable gigging valve amps. I see more Blackstars than any other amp at gigs and rehearsals. There's even a few bands of guys in their sixties gigging cheese from the seventies using HT20's. 

darcym

Fiftyshadesofjay said:

As far as I'm aware they shift quite a lot of units of those smaller amps.

It's funny how people assume that if a company isn't pumping out high end heads etc, they're finished. The simple matter is that those type of amps just don't sell anymore and are actually quite a specialist item now. It's the lower, cheaper end where  most sales are to be made.

it's not because they are not putting out high end heads, it's more because they seem to have not done anything for ages, no-one talks about them any more, you don't see "that guy" using the blackstar brand and getting a great tone, or anything like they just seem to not exist in any context, doesn't mean they are not still selling.

prowla

They seem to have a presence at guitar shows/fairs.

fretmeister

They seem to be hugely popular round here, both at local gigs and in the rehearsal studios as the provided backline.

The HT series has pretty much destroyed Marshall in the affordable valve amp sector.

I've rehearsed quite a bit with studio provided Blackstars - usually the HT50 or HT100 and I really like them. If I didn't have the Helix I'd have one without hesitation.

I think for the rock / metal market they have become the equivalent of the Fender HRD. Nothing new to see, but an affordable gigging amp.

darcym

fretmeister said:

I think for the rock / metal market they have become the equivalent of the Fender HRD. Nothing new to see, but an affordable gigging amp.

that's an interesting way to look at it, and without the huge "other product" from Fender which does do new/different things, it looks like they are just dead, when in reality they are knocking out amps all day long.

I'd not considered them in that way

ecc83

I was in PMT Npton  a few months ago and the guy said they shift more Blackstars than probably all other brands together. Mind you that is in Home Town!

I was in the offices a few weeks ago: 'Stuff' is being developed as we speak! I cannot say more or they would have to kill me.

Dave.

Danny1969

darcym said:

fretmeister said:

I think for the rock / metal market they have become the equivalent of the Fender HRD. Nothing new to see, but an affordable gigging amp.

that's an interesting way to look at it, and without the huge "other product" from Fender which does do new/different things, it looks like they are just dead, when in reality they are knocking out amps all day long.

I'd not considered them in that way

Lets be honest, no one does does anything new when it comes to guitar amps

olafgarten

The Artist series just came out last year, they are releasing more new products than Marshall. 

darcym

ecc83 said:

I was in PMT Npton  a few months ago and the guy said they shift more Blackstars than probably all other brands together. Mind you that is in Home Town!

I was in the offices a few weeks ago: 'Stuff' is being developed as we speak! I cannot say more or they would have to kill me.

Dave.

that's good to know.

Sassafras

Maybe they get it right first time unlike Marshall who seem to lumber from one disaster to the next.

impmann

ecc83 said:

I was in PMT Npton  a few months ago and the guy said they shift more Blackstars than probably all other brands together. Mind you that is in Home Town!

I was in the offices a few weeks ago: 'Stuff' is being developed as we speak! I cannot say more or they would have to kill me.

Dave.

Hmmm... yes, having been on the receiving end of their sales tactics surrounding Blackstar, that doesn't surprise me. I'm not 'target market' - so when trying out a guitar suggesting I "give one a go, you never know" and then acting surprised and arguing with me when I tell them what I don't like about it really didn't endear me to the brand or the store...

Bucket

I assume that, as a footballer would put it, they're keeping their heads down and letting their amps do the talking.

mellowsun

Strange thread! Is a manufacturer 'done' if they don't bring out a new product every month? Are Strymon 'done'?

The Blackstar ID:Core range is very popular.

ecc83

impmann said:

ecc83 said:

I was in PMT Npton  a few months ago and the guy said they shift more Blackstars than probably all other brands together. Mind you that is in Home Town!

I was in the offices a few weeks ago: 'Stuff' is being developed as we speak! I cannot say more or they would have to kill me.

Dave.

Hmmm... yes, having been on the receiving end of their sales tactics surrounding Blackstar, that doesn't surprise me. I'm not 'target market' - so when trying out a guitar suggesting I "give one a go, you never know" and then acting surprised and arguing with me when I tell them what I don't like about it really didn't endear me to the brand or the store...

Then you should complain IMO to both PMT head office and to Blackstar. The latter always struck me as fair minded people and would not I am sure condone any such 'pressure' selling.  They are I am sure confident enough of their products to let them sell themselves (obviously not to ICBM!)

It IS a very competitive market but I am sure we can all be gentlemen (and gals!) and still make a crust.

Dave.

darcym

mellowsun said:

Strange thread! Is a manufacturer 'done' if they don't bring out a new product every month? Are Strymon 'done'?

The Blackstar ID:Core range is very popular.

I don't think it's strange, it's not because they are "not bringing out new products" - but that is part of it, they just don't seem to exist, I don't see any talk about them, they haven't brought out a new product for a while they just seem "nowhere" to me, but looking at what other people saying that's very much not the case

dindude

They just celebrated their 10th anniversary and have achieved a lot in that time - there was a recent magazine article (Guitarist?) and they seem to have a lot in the pipeline and said they had a achieved what they wanted in the first 10 years. Getting a view of their accounts on-line probably wouldn't be too difficult.

PolarityMan

The market for high end heads is tiny, the money is all in volume at the low end. I bet line6 sold to yamaha for waaaaay more (probably 100 x)  than the capitlization value of the dumble brand. 

ecc83

darcym said:

mellowsun said:

Strange thread! Is a manufacturer 'done' if they don't bring out a new product every month? Are Strymon 'done'?

The Blackstar ID:Core range is very popular.

I don't think it's strange, it's not because they are "not bringing out new products" - but that is part of it, they just don't seem to exist, I don't see any talk about them, they haven't brought out a new product for a while they just seem "nowhere" to me, but looking at what other people saying that's very much not the case

If you lurk on other forums as I do D' you will see a HUGE preponderance of MFV and the 'esoterics/booteek' amps.

Blackstar belong in neither category.

Dave.

Jack_

When I see what Jared James Nichols can get out of a Blackstar, I wonder if there's any need for more exotic amps.