Junkyard Sons - All Original Blues Rock

Blackstar HT Studio 20

 

A relative newcomer to the musical 'stage', Blackstar are yet another world class amplifier company hailing from the UK. Like its more established cousin Blackstar ensures it delivers what musicians want as it was set up by four bandmates in 2004 all with experience in designing top end amplification and have gone on to convince a stable that includes artists like Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne/Firewind), Neal Schon (Journey), Silenoz (Dimmu Borgir), James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers) and Roger Seierland of Junkyard Sons to switch to the brand.

 

After a loan of Rod's Studio 20, Roger was keen to have his own Blackstar to give life to the sound in his head. The onboard EL34s are at the tonal heart of every HT Venue amp, and the Studio 20 is no exception. The response and character of this classic British valve with unique innovations like ISF have forged one of the most flexible, toneful valve amps available.

 

Simple and intuitive controls, combined with pro features like studio quality reverb, effects loop and a speaker emulated output, make it perfect for any performance situation – whether you’re in the studio, gigging in front of a small crowd or playing to thousands. From chiming ‘boutique’ cleans, to on the edge crunch, or full-on distortion as well as huge versatility for home, rehearsal or studio use the Blackstar HT20 is perfect for Roger's needs. As a head the HT20 and can be used with a variety of cabinets including the matching HT112 and HT212 but Roger favours his twin Harley Benson GL212 closed back cabs with Celestion Vintage 30 drivers or more frequently his own Seierland homemade CrateCab!

 

The carefully voiced preamp coupled with a cathode-biased EL34 power amp, provides the user with the ability to create wonderfully lush valve tones. Roger has tuned this with a matched pair of ElectroHarmonix 6CA7 valves to give him everything from pure boutique cleans, to mild overdrive that cleans up by backing off the guitar volume control, up to highly saturated distortion, this amp does it all.

 

We know Roger loves his but Guitarist

magazine loves it too - so much it won a

Guitarist Choice award on its release -

no mean feat!

 

So if you want a taste of what it can do then check out Junkyard Sons EP - Wrongly Accused, or maybe Blackstar's own demo of this same amp in a combo version - https://www.blackstaramps.com/products/ht-studio-20h

 

If that gets you hooked then maybe you would like your own, for a smidge over £400 you can have your own here... (other suppliers are available but give them a visit and try it for yourself in their Brighton store!) http://www.gak.co.uk/en/blackstar-ht-studio-20h-all-valve-head/100461