Bedroom/Practice amp Blackstar HT5 or Jet City??

[reverymike]

I'm looking for a great sounding, rock amp that I can use for lessons, practice at home, etc. I has to have a great distortion sound, and realisic feel of a tube amp (no POD compression, etc).

I was thinking of the Blackstar (I could drop a Nanoverb in the loop), and use my Racksystems pedalboard in front). I think that would be badass. But, I know these Jet City amps are supposed to be cool too.

Suggestions?

 

[1big1]

i think they would both work for you.. but the pico has more options. you could slap almost any octal based tube in the pico without re-biasing.. whereas the ht5 takes a 12bh7 in the power section.
if all you really need is brit crunch and a loop is important: ht5.
if you like to swap tubes: pico valve.

 

[D-Rock]

IMO these two amps are very much opposites in terms of sound and feel.

The HT-5 is relatively "closed" sounding with lots of compression.
It sounds best at very low volumes, but the tone declines with added volume.

The JCA20 is relatively "open" sounding, with less initial compression.
It sounds best at medium/high volumes were the natural compression kicks in, but not as good at very low volume.

 

[Audioholic]

You can get a very good sound at low volumes with the HT-5. not sure on the JC, but the HT-5 sounds fantastic low

 

[PBGas]

Love my HT-5. Still sounds great at any volume. Awesome little amp!
It's one of those purchases that was easy on the pocketbook and actually has been totally worthwhile!

 

[reverymike]

I think a little HT-5 would KILL with a nanoverb in the loop and my pedalboard in front. What kind of volume do they put out? I know it'd be fine for bedroom playing and giving lessons, but would it be enough to take to practice (and play with a drummer and bassist)?

 

[Audioholic]

I think a little HT-5 would KILL with a nanoverb in the loop and my pedalboard in front. What kind of volume do they put out? I know it'd be fine for bedroom playing and giving lessons, but would it be enough to take to practice (and play with a drummer and bassist)?

I was able to jam with a drummer and bassist with mine, but you start to push the top of the amp at that volume, the clean channel is pretty broken up and compressed (which I actually kinda liked) the drive channel still sounded good. I had to move a little aways from the drummer, but with the right cab, you can get away with jamming on it

 

[AndyK]

Nothing beats a Trademark 10 or 30 for home practice use! Great gain sound, very tubey to me. Sounds great super low for night time bedroom use. Love my TM10!

 

[reverymike]

I've heard good things about the Trademark 10 (and 30). Have you compared it to the Blackstar HT-30? The blackstar is a tube amp. . .I believe the Trademark stuff is not, correct?

 

[mmorse]

Or get an HT Dual pedal and run it into to your existing tube amp (I assume you have one). The HT5 basically is and an HT pedal married to a 5 watt power section with some added goodies (loop, direct out etc). I run my HT Dual into the low input of my 2204 and get killer OD at very low volumes. The dual has 2 channels and can be set up for a nice crunch and a higher gain solo boost. It's powered by a 12ax7.

I had the HT5 full stack and it was no match for the Dual running into my Marshall into my TM 212.

 

[reverymike]

Or get an HT Dual pedal and run it into to your existing tube amp (I assume you have one). The HT5 basically is and an HT pedal married to a 5 watt power section with some added goodies (loop, direct out etc). I run my HT Dual into the low input of my 2204 and get killer OD at very low volumes. The dual has 2 channels and can be set up for a nice crunch and a higher gain solo boost. It's powered by a 12ax7.

I had the HT5 full stack and it was no match for the Dual running into my Marshall into my TM 212.

Nah. I have a few big amps (1978 Marshall 2204, 1971 Marshall 100w Superlead, Bogner 101b, and a 1992 Mesa Dual recto) --- I'm interested in the HT-5 just for home practice and pure portability for practices or impromptu fill-in gigs when I don't feel like dragging a halfstack into the club). I'm 99% there. . .I guess I need to go play a HT-5.

 

[AndyK]

Nah. I have a few big amps (1978 Marshall 2204, 1971 Marshall 100w Superlead, Bogner 101b, and a 1992 Mesa Dual recto) --- I'm interested in the HT-5 just for home practice and pure portability for practices or impromptu fill-in gigs when I don't feel like dragging a halfstack into the club). I'm 99% there. . .I guess I need to go play a HT-5.

Do yourself a favor and plug the HT-5 into a Marshall cabinet before you try it. The mini stack speakers makes the head sound like a toy IMHO!

 

[mmorse]

Nah. I have a few big amps (1978 Marshall 2204, 1971 Marshall 100w Superlead, Bogner 101b, and a 1992 Mesa Dual recto) --- I'm interested in the HT-5 just for home practice and pure portability for practices or impromptu fill-in gigs when I don't feel like dragging a halfstack into the club). I'm 99% there. . .I guess I need to go play a HT-5.

Do yourself a favor and plug the HT-5 into a Marshall cabinet before you try it. The mini stack speakers makes the head sound like a toy IMHO!

+1 Those 110s sounded like a transistor radio to me.

 

[Audioholic]

yeah in order for the HT-5 to work, you need to use it with a better cab. The combo won't cut it especially if you are wanting to jam with live instruments

 

[reverymike]

I was thinking of getting the combo, and use a 4x12 if it wasn't cutting it for practice.

 

[King Guitar]

I think a little HT-5 would KILL with a nanoverb in the loop and my pedalboard in front. What kind of volume do they put out? I know it'd be fine for bedroom playing and giving lessons, but would it be enough to take to practice (and play with a drummer and bassist)?

Mike,

I have a HT-5 Head into a 2x12 and I put a TREX Replica in the loop and it is great. Slap a little TS808 in front for boost and you are set. Cranked up it sounds great and at 5 watts it can still do a small gig if you wanted and mine hangs with acoustic drums as long as the drummer isnt bashing it up like Bonham. Get that IMO

 

[racerevlon]

Played the HT-5 full stack today... not impressed.

However, also played the Egnater renegade---IMPRESSED!!
Fender Hot Rod Deville III 4 x 10---Not Impressed
Fender SuperSonic 2 x 12 --- Impressed
Peavey Vypyr--Moderately Impressed
Fender Mustang--Quite Impressed... More than I thought I'd be
Fender G-DEC--Not bad--better than the original one I have