Best headphone amps for guitar 2024: turn it up while keeping it down By Matt McCracken last updated 12 March 24 You don’t need to sacrifice tone to practice quietly with our expert pick of the best headphone amps for guitar players
Best budget guitar amps under $500 2024: cost-cutting amplifiers for the budget-conscious player By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 6 February 24 Get great sounds and features without blowing your budget – from affordable tube amps to wallet-friendly digital modeling amps and everything in between
NAMM 2024: “The ultimate playing experience without compromise”: Blackstar issues fourth generation of its best-selling ID:Core practice amp By Phil Weller published 23 January 24 Available in 40-, 20- and 10-watt versions, the ID:Core V4 offers a super wide stereo sound, six amp voicings, 12 effects and live-streaming capabilities straight into your phone
“Designed, not modeled”: Blackstar expands its digital amp arsenal with St. James EL34 and 6L6 plugins – which promise to provide “the most authentic guitar amp plugin experience possible” By Matt Owen published 21 November 23 Blackstar's burgeoning sim software catalog is growing apace – and the brand's latest drop looks to deliver streamlined, affordable takes on its St. James tube amps
Blackstar just launched some of the most versatile mid-priced tube amps on the market By Jonathan Horsley published 12 September 23 The HT Venue MKIII lineup borrows the recording-friendly features of the St. James and Amped range to make it a powerhouse option for stage or studio – and the new looks are pretty smart, too
“Living, breathing amplifier designs in their own right”: Blackstar breaks into the amp sim software market with St. James plugin By Matt Owen published 31 July 23 “Designed, not modelled” is the mantra for the brand's first-ever plugin, which offers digital versions of both St. James amp models and a wealth of extras
Blackstar and Toby Lee aim to cover everything “from Buddy Holly to Metallica” with new St. James signature guitar amp By Matt Owen published 23 May 23 Built for the teen blues guitar sensation, the TL50 6L6 is a cosmetically revamped take on the brand’s existing St. James 50 6L6 – and, yes, it’s ridiculously lightweight
Blackstar Dept. 10 Amped 2 review By Nick Guppy published 12 April 23 This expanded version of Blackstar’s feature-packed format might just be the finest pedalboard amp yet
NAMM 2023: Blackstar launches the Amped 3 pedal amp – featuring “one of the highest gain circuits Blackstar has ever developed” By Matt Owen published 4 April 23 Could this 100W triple-channel stompbox be the ultimate pedal amp for heavy players?
NAMM 2023: Blackstar unveils its most powerful entry-level amp yet, the Debut 50R By Matt Owen published 21 March 23 The $249 combo seeks to cover all practice and gigging needs
Blackstar delivers an entire guitar rig in a pedal with the Dept. 10 Amped 2 By Matt Owen published 24 January 23 Could this tricked-out pedal amp replace your pedalboard and amp head?
Best Blackstar amps: Everything from practice amps to studio quality gear By Richard Blenkinsop published 22 December 22 From digital to tube; traditional to modern, we look at the best Blackstar guitar amps currently on offer
Blackstar Dept. 10 Amped 1 review By Rob Laing published 29 November 22 Blackstar gets serious about scaling down with a pedalboard amp that has all the mod cons
We gave Blackstar’s Dept. 10 overdrive and distortion pedals 5 star reviews – and they’re both currently $100 off in this mega Cyber Monday sale By Matt Owen published 27 November 22 Thanks to Guitar Center, you can save big on “the world’s most advanced valve pedals” – which feature Cab Rig compatibility and ECC83 triodes for tube amp feel
Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head review By Nick Guppy last updated 10 November 22 Blackstar’s next-gen digital range has arrived and provides more proof that digital is the new black. We plug in…
These are the biggest-selling guitar amps of 2022 according to Reverb By Matt Owen last updated 9 November 22 Once again, digital amps continue to dominate the market, with tube amps proving less popular than the innovative modeling alternatives that have taken over the amp world
Best blues amps: electric guitar amplification for when the thrill is gone By Jonathan Horsley last updated 21 October 22 Guitar World picks out 12 of the best blues amps from Fender, MESA/Boogie, Marshall and more
Blackstar's new 100W Amped 1 might just be the pedal amp of the future By Matt Owen published 27 September 22 The next-gen Dept. 10 unit features five different power valve responses, onboard reverb, a trio of preamp voices, Cab Rig technology and more
Blackstar adds “the world’s lightest” 2x12 combos to its St. James tube amp family By Matt Owen published 9 September 22 Weighing only 37lbs, the two new offerings feature custom Celestion Zephyr speakers, lightweight candlenut exteriors, 6L6 or EL34 tubes and Cab Rig compatibility
Blackstar St James 50 EL34 Combo review By Nick Guppy last updated 26 August 22 Blackstar claims its latest release is “the lightest 50-watt all-valve combo in the world”. Is this really the future for tube amplification? Time to plug in