Blackstar HT Studio 20H Guitar Amplifier Head (20 Watts)

No longer available at zZounds
The HT Studio 20H offers two channels of tube-driven output, with Blackstar's patented Infinite Shape Feature for honing your tone. Plug in and be impressed!

Your Blackstar HT Studio 20H guitar amp head dishes out boatloads of all-tube output through two channels with enhanced tone controls. This 20-watt beast amplifies your signal through two ECC83 and two EL34 tubes for a warm and full-bodied sound, and the included footswitch allows you to move seamlessly between channels. This baddie won't break your back, weighing in at less than 30 pounds -- and with its cool vintage threads, this head will assist you in rocking the stage, the studio, or your rehearsal space in sleek Blackstar style.

Two Channels of All-tube Tone

Your Blackstar HT Studio 20H amp head features two channels of warm tube tone. The clean channel sends out a clear, well-articulated signal pouring from your speaker cab with plenty of depth and presence. Kick in the overdrive channel, and you'll access a wide range of breakup from a light crunch to a heavy wall of force and sonic drive. Adjust your gain control to see how hot the HT Studio 20H can get.

Shaping the Sound of Your Signal

To craft your output to your personal preference, the Blackstar HT Studio 20H features a simple, easy-to-read control layout. Master reverb and volume controls give you universal output and reverb control, and your clean channel features a volume and tone control to brighten or darken your cleans. Your overdrive channels features volume and gain controls to dirty up our output for some serious distortion. Three-band EQ controls help you shape the overall presence and body of read more your axe's signal.

Infinite Shape Feature For Enhanced Tone Control

On the left side of our EQ controls is a dial labeled ISF. This is Blackstar's patent-applied-for Infinite Shape Feature -- a feature you won't find on other amp heads. This awesome and dynamic circuit lets you move between an American-colored output to a more British-leaning tonal contour, as well as anything in the middle. See how dynamic your sound can get by playing around with what this sonically spirited head has to offer.

Features:

- Tube amp head with 20 watts of power
- Two footswitchable channels
- Master volume and reverb controls
- Master bass, middle, treble, and ISF controls
- Volume and tone controls for clean channel
- Gain and volume controls for dirty channel
- Patent-applied for Infinite Shape Feature provides enhanced tone control
- Two ECC83 and two EL34 tubes
- One 1/4" instrument input
- Three TS outputs
- One TRS speaker emulated out
- Effects loop
- FS-4 footswitch included
- Weighs in at less than 30 pounds
read less

- Power (RMS): 20 Watts
- Valves: 2 x ECC83, 2 x EL34
- Weight (kg): 12.8
- Dimensions (mm): 517 x 288 x 274
- Footswitch: FS-4 supplied

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 631-390-8737
Email: enquiries@blackstaramps.com
Web: https://blackstaramps.com/support/

Blackstar HT Studio 20H Guitar Amp Head

The HT Studio 20 amp head offers huge versatility for home, rehearsal or studio use and can be used with a variety of cabinets including the matching HT112 and HT212. The carefully voiced preamp coupled with a cathode-biased EL34 power amp, provides the user with the ability to create wonderfully lush valve tones. 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.

Features

- 20 Watt valve amp head
- 2xECC83 preamp and 2xEL34 power tubes
- Two footswitchable channels
- Enhanced tone controls with Patent-Applied for Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)
- Master volume and Digital reverb
- Speaker emulated output and Effects loop
- 1-way footswitch included

ISF (Infinite Shape Feature)

This fully interactive control allows you to infinitely adjust the response of the tone control network between any of the traditional voicings. In this way you can design your own sound and truly find the sound in your head. ISF works in conjunction with the Bass, Middle and Treble controls to give you access to infinite sound possibilities.

Getting the Tone You Want

1. Start with ISF set to half way
2. Adjust Bass, Middle and Treble to taste
3. Adjust ISF to find your sound (the lower the Mid the greater the effect)

HT Venue Series

A design to inspire working musicians, HT Venue Series provides valve amplification to support every performance situation. Authentic boutique cleans and super high gain overdrives are combined, in this innovative, hightly portable amp line.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (9 ratings)
Submitted October 19, 2010 by a customer from sbcglobal.net

"A quality tone machine at a superb price."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I don't myself seeing "outgrowing" my HT-20,as this amp gives me the tones and flexiblity that I have desired for the last 20 years of playing the guitar.I also have several other high-end tube amps at my disposal,but my HT-20 has certainly earned it's way into my stable of fine toneware.

Sound
The Blackstar HT-20 gives up a high quality clean tone with solid bass,plenty of midrange body with nice top end shimmer.The single tone control can both warm up the superb basic clean tone,or add some cut and sparkle,if desired. The high gain mode is the amp's real star,as the available tones are everything from Texas blues type grit to very aggressive modern metal tones.The ISF control allows the basic tone structure to get both a warm,fat British sound to a more aggressive and somewhat scooped American vibe,and most everything between.I find that the British voicing [ISF turned more clockwise] works really well for fattening up single coil guitars.The HT-20 is real treat for most high gain lead players,as the overdriven tones stay tight,full and articulate all the way up through maximum gain settings,with great sustain and a quite seductive harmonic structure.I like to play classic hair metal and like tones similar to Satch,Schon and Lukather,and with this amp,those guys tones are right there.The digital reverb sounds pretty nice overall,though it does not sound much like a good spring unit.The effects loop works great with my Boss DD-20 delay,with read more the line/intrument level button adding to the loop's flexibily.Also,the amp sounds great at bedroom levels.Plus it can get quite loud,easily able to handle most any small to medium sized gig.Btw,I'm mainly running my HT-20 head through a Celestion G12H-30 loaded plywood cab and the head/cab combo sounds killer.

Features
For a relatively inexpensive and small 20 watt tube head,the HT-20 has a nice list of standard features.Some may wish for 3-band EQ's on both channels,maybe separate reverb controls and a presence control.But I feel that the amp is really cool as is.Btw,the emulated line out sounds quite convincing into a PA and for direct recording,great for when miking is not an option.The overall sound,feel and look of the Blackstar HT-20 suggest a quality,well built product.

Ease of Use
The HT-20 is a very easy to use and for getting a certain tone with a minimum of fuss or confusion.The controls feel solid and are clearly marked,while the 3-band EQ plus ISF knob gives superb tonal flexibility.

Quality
The Blackstar HT-20 is one solidly built amp.The black vinyl covering is neat and well applied,while the switches,jacks and pots feel sturdy and of quality.The only minor blemish might be the amp's use of MDF instead of quality plywood or wood for the headshell.But being that it's a head,it's not that big a deal to me.Anyways,I run the head through only quality plywood and tonewood cabs,which is where the tonal benefits of plywood/wood really show.

Value
The Blackstar HT-20 head is a superb value,especially considering it's modest price tag.The inclusion of a sturdy 1-button footswitch with red LED is a nice touch.

Manufacturer Support
Not really sure,as I have not had to contact Blackstar about any real problem.For what it's worth,I did email Blackstar with a few basic questions before buying my HT-20 and I have yet to receive a response.

The Wow Factor
I wanted it,I bought it,and I'm glad I did buy it!The HT-20 has all of the features and tones that I want,and are quite hard to find,in a relatively low power tube amp.

Musical Background:
Semi-pro and songwriter.

Musical Style:
Modern blues,classic rock,"old school" metal and pop.
read less
20 of 20 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

No longer available at zZounds

In most cases, a product is unavailable because it has been discontinued by the manufacturer