ren
06-11-2008, 04:18 AM
GAS Alert! June '08 – Blackstar HT Dual
http://images4.thomann.de/pics/prod/138934.jpg
RRP $199 / £139
Blackstar's HT Dual distortion pedal is part of a range brought to you by some of the guys formerly behind Marshall. With a pedigree like that, this has got to be a winner.
The HT Dual is a 2-channel valve distortion pedal with 3 band EQ, independent gains for each channel and a unique 'ISF' (Infinite Shape Feature) control. A poor name in my opinion, but at zero this dial gives the unit an American voiced distortion, and at 10 it's British – allowing the player to blend the two together to find his or her voice.
Channel 1 is crunch, and tonal options range from a mild OD for a little warmth to an Ibanez Tubescreamer-esque drive. The crunch channel really just adds more body and bite to your tone without excessively colouring it – a warm and creamy distortion. Channel 2 then picks up where 1 left off. The lead boost channel 2 is strong and punchy with more gain than you'll need for any musical situation, giving you the chance to dial in the screaming lead tone of your dreams. Channel 2 has phenomenal clarity, with notes and harmonics sustaining for as long as you'd like.
Although this unit promises tube tone, I tested it in front of a valve amp and a solid state, and it must be said that it really performs best with a valve amp but is also pleasing to the ear in tandem with a solid state... This pedal's real strengths lie in its ability to faithfully recreate the sound of a valve amp being driven hard to the point of breaking up, and in its 'Direct Out' connections from both channels so you can go straight to the desk should you wish.
Specs from the Blackstar website:
Genuine valve design
Operates at 300V HT
Cascaded valve gain stages
Responds like a valve amp
2 channel operation
Clean, Crunch & Lead modes
Unique switching operation
Unique enhanced tone controls
Exclusive Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)
Fully equipped for stage or studio
Speaker emulated output
High integrity buffered bypass
Power supply included
Silent switching.
Overall, the best offering I've found thus far for tube tone in a pedal, and well worth checking out.
Check out the full specs on the Blackstar website: http://www.blackstaramps.co.uk/products/ht/htdual.html
Review equipment kindly provided by Professional Music Technology
http://www.drumcompany.com/images/PMT_Header.gif (http://www.pmtonline.co.uk)
http://images4.thomann.de/pics/prod/138934.jpg
RRP $199 / £139
Blackstar's HT Dual distortion pedal is part of a range brought to you by some of the guys formerly behind Marshall. With a pedigree like that, this has got to be a winner.
The HT Dual is a 2-channel valve distortion pedal with 3 band EQ, independent gains for each channel and a unique 'ISF' (Infinite Shape Feature) control. A poor name in my opinion, but at zero this dial gives the unit an American voiced distortion, and at 10 it's British – allowing the player to blend the two together to find his or her voice.
Channel 1 is crunch, and tonal options range from a mild OD for a little warmth to an Ibanez Tubescreamer-esque drive. The crunch channel really just adds more body and bite to your tone without excessively colouring it – a warm and creamy distortion. Channel 2 then picks up where 1 left off. The lead boost channel 2 is strong and punchy with more gain than you'll need for any musical situation, giving you the chance to dial in the screaming lead tone of your dreams. Channel 2 has phenomenal clarity, with notes and harmonics sustaining for as long as you'd like.
Although this unit promises tube tone, I tested it in front of a valve amp and a solid state, and it must be said that it really performs best with a valve amp but is also pleasing to the ear in tandem with a solid state... This pedal's real strengths lie in its ability to faithfully recreate the sound of a valve amp being driven hard to the point of breaking up, and in its 'Direct Out' connections from both channels so you can go straight to the desk should you wish.
Specs from the Blackstar website:
Genuine valve design
Operates at 300V HT
Cascaded valve gain stages
Responds like a valve amp
2 channel operation
Clean, Crunch & Lead modes
Unique switching operation
Unique enhanced tone controls
Exclusive Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)
Fully equipped for stage or studio
Speaker emulated output
High integrity buffered bypass
Power supply included
Silent switching.
Overall, the best offering I've found thus far for tube tone in a pedal, and well worth checking out.
Check out the full specs on the Blackstar website: http://www.blackstaramps.co.uk/products/ht/htdual.html
Review equipment kindly provided by Professional Music Technology
http://www.drumcompany.com/images/PMT_Header.gif (http://www.pmtonline.co.uk)