I can’t remember and I may have confused myself.
Is the ht-1r all valve or half solid state?
If my memory serves, I seem to remember the ht-1 metal being half solid state, but unsure about the normal ht-1.
Regardless, I’m after a portable amp that would take pedals well.
I currently run my chain straight into the front of a clean solid state katana.
Or I use the amps dirt for metal tones and just run the effects that work well into a dirty amp such as an octave on occasion.
But I’ve been wondering if its worth getting a lil tubey amp to play with.
I actually had an Ht-1 metal for a day...but didnt like it much. Felt too muddy, and to my surprise 1 watt of distortion was too loud for the bedroom.
So wise ones, my thinking is that running the amp clean with distortion pedals going in may allow me full on distortion but at much lower volumes than if the amps distortion was cranked..
Or am I way off here?
(Never owned a tube or hybrid amp before).
The only easy day, was yesterday...
Comments
They may be valve but they aren't a patch on a Katana, in terms of versatility or sound.
Which Katana do you have that isn't portable? I use the 50 and you can carry it for miles.
What I think is widely accepted, is that it’s not ‘really’ an ‘all’ valve amp. That said, they respond well to playing dynamics - they ‘feel’ valve-like under the fingers.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mxDr2jPrYgA
So although it's not "all valve", it's not a hybrid in the sense of a Marshall Valvestate - it's more complicated and clever in that it uses the valves where you need them most. In fact, it's basically a similar signal path to having a Tube Screamer as a clean boost into the front of a valve amp, with a solid-state unit in the FX loop.
I actually like the HT-1R best of the Blackstar amps I've played - it still has that rather dark, tight tone that they all seem to, but it's not as pronounced. It also has a nice overdriven sound if you use the *clean* mode and crank the gain all the way up - I prefer it to the actual overdrive mode, even with the master volume turned down.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Mainly a weak excuse to buy stuff I probably don’t need... lol.
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youICBM has pretty much nailed the HT-1 design philosophy, it is in fact very similar to most of the Bstr amps in that it uses low noise, no microphony , 'last forever' op amps to get the input signal up by about 12dB then uses mostly a double triode to get OD sounds. Plus of course the tiny OP stage runs into distortion pretty quickly (tho', as has been said, one watt can still be quite loud!) Do note, you could build a power soak in a tin the size of a 20s fag packet! (or a 2oz baccy tin. Remember those?!)
FWIW My son, THE guitarist, did not like the HT-5 but did like an HT-1 but only using the clean channel over driven!
Dave.
It is also really rather cute, I have to admit a fondness for little baby amps, my wife would love it if I got a teeny tiny amp instead of the Katana in my living room I suspect!
I also preferred the HT-20 to the HT-5 - at least when fitted with a good speaker! - but I won't own one because of that awful ugly bodge with the master and reverb knobs above each other - shallow I know . But it would piss me off, as would the lack of a standby switch probably. (Yes, I know... )
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The marmite effect their sound has in the forum notwithstanding, I'd hate to see them go under.
I think their little starter amps (the Fly, the small ID Cores, and yes the HT1R) are great bits of kit, really only the super-cheapness of the Katana 50 can be held against them IMHO (and the hiss on the Cores).
I kinda want one at that price, you cant argue with it for that.
My Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youMy Trading Feedback | You Bring The Band
Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after youIt HAS got a standby function! You just yank the guitar jack out of the input!
Have you ever gigged one IC? We have one running into a Greenback (old HiWatt combo cab) but son has never used it outside of the house. I would bet it would be ok for 'rock' sound in a pub but would struggle for cleans?
Dave.