TEST: Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head

Large, sensitive and above all heavy, almost all all-tube amplifiers in the world have been presenting themselves for almost 6 decades now, not forgetting that they were and are the icing on the cake of the sonic phallic symbol of every full-stack. However, as is generally known, times are changing and hardly any guitarist today is still willing, for sound reasons, to heave a corresponding head, possibly still packed in a flight case for transport reasons, to the next club gig, only to hear both from colleagues and the FOH repeatedly that he was once again much too loud on stage. Those who would still like to know the ultimate look of rock'n'roll on stage, but without having to lift the corresponding weight, definitely belong to the target group of the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head, which sonically prepares to emulate the familiar as well as possible and present modern.

The construction of the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head

The Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head is sometimes touted as a single-channel hybrid amplifier, which is misleading in several respects. On the one hand, with the combination of digital preamplifier and analog power amplifier, a tube often used in the hybrid range is looked for in vain in the signal path and the so-called single-channel on the other hand has up to 128 memory locations, which can be managed via the optionally available FS-10 footswitch, or a MIDI bar. The weight of just under 23 kg is, as expected, primarily based on the wooden construction of the housing, the internally installed transistor technology is, in contrast to the weight-driving components of the all-tube amplifiers, especially in the form of input, output and power transformers, only responsible for a minimum weight and could easily be accommodated in a fraction of the housing dimensions.

Visually, the Chinese-built Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head presents itself in a vintage-like look of gray and silver, which goes a little in the direction of the current Sound City amps. It does not lack a certain charm to lay out optics and technology as diametrically as possible. In terms of dimensions, the head is slightly smaller than the classic Marshall briquette and is in the range of the Rectifier Heads. In terms of workmanship, there are no points of criticism, although the knobs and push buttons have a touch of play and indirectness, which lack the classic "massive" of an all-tube head, although this should be the target audience probably quite "latte". The head brings a power of 100 watts at 4 ohms, which decreases as with all transistor amplifiers with increasing number of ohms, so that the amp at 8 ohms still has about 50 watts and at 16 ohms just under 25 watts of power. From there, with a large stage and the use of 412er Cabinets is to be made certain that the box has a 4 ohm input, old Mershall Mono Cabinets could make one with their 16 ohms a line through the acoustic calculation.

Interesting is the choice of words of the modeler, which avoids the association to the blueprints of the classic sounds and only falls back on already established terms for some innocuous details. For example, the digital preamp is called "Voicings", which are divided into Warm Clean, Bright Clean, Crunch, Super Crunch, OD 1 and OD 2. To be honest, I personally like these names much better than the sometimes rather embarrassing names of some competing products, which for example come up with "Fander", "Saldona" or "Marhall".

In addition to the typical 3-band tone control in the preamp and the resonance and presence controls in the power amp, Blackstar relies on two additional tone controls that go beyond the usual level of sound management. First, the Brits have built their ISF circuit into the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head, which is supposed to allow seamless blending between an "American sound" (designed to be more scoop-heavy) and a "British sound" (mid-peak). Of course, it's not possible to crossfade between a Twin Reverb and a JMP using a single knob, but you can set your preferences in advance.

As a special feature, however, the amp has a selector switch, which emulates the sound and resonance behavior of the most common power tubes (EL84, KT66, 6V6, 6L6, EL34 and KT88) and should thus provide more tonal variety. In order to be able to offer at least a rudimentary stand-alone solution in terms of FX, the amp has a simple internally installed multi-effects unit, similar to the Grandmeister and BS200 series from H&K, which pre-selects modulation, delay and reverb using a rotary control and then adjusts the intensity with a level control. If one wants to use appropriate effects, this is unfortunately the only possibility selbige to use, over a serial FX loop, which permits it to place straight room effects such as delay or reverb between preamp and output stage, does not exist. Perhaps a useful addition for the MKII version.

The rear panel of the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head is simple and appropriate to the concept of the head. In addition to the two footswitch inputs, the amp offers a TRS input for feeding external sound sources such as an MP3 player and it offers a frequency-corrected output for demo recordings or for all users who want / need to do without a miked pickup of the guitar, a direct feed into the P.A..

In practice

Despite the many setting options, you can quickly find your way around the front panel of the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head. First a basic sound selected and then roughly with the ISF controller its preferred alignment selected. One point is already noticeable with the first tones that flow out of the speaker, the amp was not primarily designed for clean sounds. The sound files were recorded with a Les Paul Standard, whose burstbucker pickups have a truly moderate output and yet the gain control had to be turned down to near zero to achieve a more or less clean sound. Despite this setting, the one or other saturation occurred under hard attack, but ultimately all not bad, older JCM have not managed this and in a pinch there is always the volume control on the instrument.

The focus of the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head is of course on the power tube simulations, which makes the amp in this price range clearly stand out from the field of competitors. I therefore recorded all sound files with the different power amp simulations one after the other to demonstrate the sonic differences. The amp was connected to a H&K Oversize 412 Cabinet with Celestion Lead 80 speakers, recorded with a Fame MS57.


If you take the 6 different voicings and combine them with the 6 different power tube emulations, the whole thing still in combination with the ISF control, results in a very high sound yield for the amp indeed. Thereby everything is present from cutting sharp to pumping fat, which one would like to call on the plan at sounds. Especially in the high gain range, which basically starts at Super Crunch, the amp offers many possibilities to determine your preferred sound. However, all sounds seem to derive their diversity from different EQ settings in the presets, less from the complex interaction of the individual components, as is the case with a tube power amp. Of course, at a retail price of less than €500, no one will have expected a perfect representation of the individual tube parameters, and in some combinations you can also very nicely make out the different characteristics of the individual tube emulations in direct comparison, but it remains an emulation, albeit an ambitious one.

Only one point makes me think, although it is well thought out by the designers. The respective power tube emulations are programmed in the comparison in the approximate volume, which they also deliver in the original, that is, the EL84 simulation is for example many times quieter than a KT88 simulation. Well thought, but there is with the personal programming of the sounds this accordingly to consider. One can also understand the different volumes well in the sound files.

Sonically, the amp is quite convincing, especially at lower volumes, although with a slightly busy basic sound, it sometimes has some problems to assert itself in the band context. But if you keep your drummer on a tight leash and hide the 8x10 cabinet from the bass player, you should be able to handle it ;-)

Conclusion

With the Blackstar Silverline Deluxe Head, the British manufacturer has a sonically flexible and visually appealing head on the market. The amp offers a wide range of sounds through 6 different voicings, 6 power tube emulations and Blackstar's own ISF circuit, which score especially in gain and high gain. If you want to shine visually on stage without having to transport an all-tube head, you should test the head once.

Additional Infos:

- Blackstar Amplification is a British guitar amplifier manufacturer that has been making waves in the industry since their inception in 2007. Founded by a group of former Marshall Amplification employees, Blackstar has quickly become known for their innovative designs and high-quality sound.

The company's philosophy is to create amplifiers that inspire musicians to play better and make great music. To achieve this, Blackstar has focused on incorporating cutting-edge technology and features into their amplifiers while maintaining a classic sound that guitar players love.

One of Blackstar's most notable innovations is their patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) technology. ISF allows players to adjust the EQ of their amplifier to achieve a wider range of tonal possibilities. By rotating the ISF knob, players can dial in a more American-style sound with a tighter mid-range or a more British-style sound with a fuller mid-range. This feature has been widely praised by guitarists for its versatility and ability to achieve a variety of tones.

Blackstar's product line includes a range of amps suitable for players of all levels, from beginners to professionals. Their entry-level series, the Fly 3, is a compact and portable amp that is perfect for practicing at home or on the go. The Fly 3 also features Bluetooth connectivity, allowing players to easily stream music from their phone or tablet and play along with their favorite tracks.
For intermediate players, Blackstar offers the ID: Core series, which features programmable presets and advanced tone shaping capabilities. The ID: Core amps also come equipped with a built-in tuner and USB connectivity for recording and editing.

Blackstar's flagship series is the HT (High-Tension) series, which is designed for professional players and studio use. The HT amps feature all-tube designs and a range of advanced features, including multiple channels, footswitchable boost and reverb, and power reduction technology for playing at lower volumes.

In addition to their amplifiers, Blackstar also offers a range of effects pedals designed to complement their amp lineup. The pedals include overdrive, distortion, and modulation effects, as well as a versatile delay pedal.

Blackstar has received numerous accolades over the years, including the Music Industry Association (MIA) award for Best Amplifier in 2012 and the Guitar World Platinum Award for the HT Club 40 in 2013. The company has also been endorsed by a range of notable guitarists, including Gus G, Neal Schon, and Phil X.

Overall, Blackstar Amplification has established itself as a leading innovator in the guitar amplifier industry. Their focus on technology and tone has resonated with guitar players of all levels and has helped them to build a loyal following. With a commitment to quality and innovation, Blackstar is poised to continue making waves in the world of guitar amplification for years to come.

- Guitar amplifier heads, or topteile in German, are an essential component of any electric guitar setup. They are responsible for amplifying the signal from the guitar and shaping the sound to the player's liking. In this article, we'll take a closer look at guitar amplifier heads, their features, and why they are such an important piece of gear for guitar players.

First, let's define what a guitar amplifier head is. It is essentially the main component of a guitar amplifier, consisting of the preamp, power amp, and sometimes the effects loop. The head is connected to a separate speaker cabinet that contains the speakers and provides the sound projection.

One of the main advantages of using a guitar amplifier head is the flexibility it offers. Players can mix and match different heads and cabinets to achieve a variety of tonal possibilities. For example, a player may choose a vintage-style head paired with a modern speaker cabinet to create a unique sound.

Guitar amplifier heads come in a range of sizes and power ratings, with options available for everyone from bedroom players to professional musicians playing large stages. The power rating of an amplifier head is measured in watts and determines the volume and headroom of the amplifier. Higher wattage heads are capable of producing louder volumes and can handle larger speaker cabinets.

Many guitar amplifier heads also come equipped with features such as multiple channels, built-in effects, and EQ controls. These features allow players to dial in a variety of tones and customize their sound to their liking. Some heads also feature built-in attenuators, which allow players to reduce the volume of the amplifier without sacrificing tone.

When choosing a guitar amplifier head, it's important to consider the type of music you'll be playing and the venues you'll be performing in. If you're a bedroom player or only play small gigs, a lower wattage head may be suitable. For professional musicians playing larger venues, a higher wattage head may be necessary to achieve the desired volume.

There are many reputable guitar amplifier head manufacturers to choose from, each with their own unique sound and features. Some of the most popular brands include Marshall, Fender, Mesa/Boogie, Orange, and Peavey.

In conclusion, guitar amplifier heads are an essential component of any electric guitar setup. They offer flexibility and customization options, allowing players to achieve a variety of tones and sounds. When choosing a head, it's important to consider factors such as wattage, features, and your specific needs as a player. With the right head and speaker cabinet combination, guitar players can achieve the sound they've been searching for.