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Average Price: $358
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$300
$801+
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Description
Unleash your creativity with the Blackstar HT-5RH 5 Watt Guitar Head, a powerhouse in a compact package designed to cater to the discerning guitarist seeking versatility without compromising on sound. This amplifier head is perfect for both home practice and studio sessions, offering a dynamic range of tones from pristine cleans to rich British crunch and modern overdrive. The inclusion of Blackstar's patented Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) allows you to effortlessly transition between iconic British and American voicings, giving you the sonic flexibility to explore your unique musical expression.
Crafted with a dual-channel design, the HT-5RH provides seamless footswitchable access to clean and overdrive settings, enabling quick shifts between styles and moods. Its innovative push-pull output stage delivers the harmonic richness and responsive breakup of a larger amp, all within a manageable 5 watts. This makes it ideal for late-night practice without sacrificing tone. Plus, the speaker-emulated output lets you capture that legendary Blackstar sound directly into your recording interface, ensuring studio-quality audio without the need for a cabinet.
Whether you're jamming at home or laying down tracks in the studio, the Blackstar HT-5RH provides the tools you need to craft your perfect tone, making it a must-have for guitarists who demand both quality and versatility in their gear.
Key Features:
- 5-watt all-tube guitar amplifier head
- Two footswitchable channels: Clean and Overdrive
- Patented Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)
- Push-pull output stage for dynamic breakup
- Speaker-emulated output for direct recording
- Built-in reverb for added depth and texture
Product specs
| Brand | Blackstar |
| Model | HT-5R Series HT-5RH 5-Watt Guitar Head with Reverb, HT-5RH 5-Watt Tube Guitar Head |
| Finish | Black, White |
| Year | 2010s |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Built-In Effects | Built-In Effects |
| Color Family | Black |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 1 Input |
| Output Power (Watts) | 5 |
| Power Tube Type | None |
| Powered | Unpowered |
| Reverb | Digital Reverb |
FAQs
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What type of tubes does the Blackstar HT-5RH use?
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The Blackstar HT-5RH is a tube amplifier head featuring a 12AX7 preamp tube and a 12BH7 power amp tube, delivering classic tube-driven tones.
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Is the Blackstar HT-5RH suitable for home practice?
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Yes, the Blackstar HT-5RH's 5-watt output is ideal for home practice, providing rich tube tones at manageable volume levels.
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How many channels does the Blackstar HT-5RH have?
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The Blackstar HT-5RH features two channels, Clean and Overdrive, allowing for versatile sound options ranging from sparkling cleans to saturated overdrive.
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Does the Blackstar HT-5RH have built-in reverb?
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Yes, the Blackstar HT-5RH includes digital reverb, adding depth and ambiance to your sound.
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Can the Blackstar HT-5RH be used with different speaker cabinets?
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The Blackstar HT-5RH supports 16-ohm and 8-ohm speaker cabinets, offering flexibility in pairing with various cab setups.
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Is the Blackstar HT-5RH loud enough for small gigs?
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While primarily designed for practice and recording, the Blackstar HT-5RH can handle small gigs, especially when mic'd or paired with efficient speaker cabinets.
Videos
Rob Chapman
Blackstar HT-5RH & HT-1RH heads - COMPETITION CLOSED
Blackstar HT-5RH & HT-1RH heads - COMPETITION CLOSED
Rob Chapman
Blackstar HT-5RH in-depth demo - MasterThatGear!
mastertheguitar
HT-5RH MkII and HT-212VOC MkII | Little amps, big sound! | Blackstar
Blackstar Amplification
Blackstar HT-5RH MkII - Sound Demo (no talking)
Guitar Bonedo
Blackstar HT-5RH - METAL
Victor Hugo Targino
Reviews
PROS
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Impressive volume for a 5-watt amp
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Excellent "dirty" channel with plenty of crunch
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Direct out for silent practice with headphones
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Versatile recording options with stereo direct out
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High-gain metal tones and clear rock tones
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Built-in digital reverb surpasses most spring reverbs
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Tube tones superior to solid-state distortion pedals
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Flexible tonal characteristics for various styles
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Handy MP3/iPod input for silent practice
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Pristine and balanced clean tone
CONS
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Drive channel can be noisy above 50% gain
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Construction quality concerns, major component failure within two months
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Lacks a "Presence" dial and gain control on the clean channel
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Crunch zone lacks depth, needs ISF knob adjustment
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Blackstar HT-5RH 5 Watt Guitar Head.
User experience
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One owner experienced cracking and popping sounds, unresolved by a power tube change, affecting the amp's previously loved tone.
Source -
Owners recommend using delay or reverb effects for enhancing the clean tones, noting that some overdrive pedals may not pair well with its transistor gain stage.
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Some owners find the older HT-5H's tone preferable, highlighting subjective differences in sound quality between the models.
Source
Comparisons
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Another user returned their HT-5RH head due to a digital-sounding tone, contrasting with the positive experience they had with an HT1.
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Users have compared the HT-5RH's distortion to the heavier tones of a Marshall JCM 2000, recommending it for rock and metal genres.
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The MkII offers alternate voicings and a power reduction switch, potentially replacing solid-state components for achieving low-volume tube tones.
Source
Use cases and applications
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The amp is appreciated for rock/metal tones, but users suggest a boost pedal like a tubescreamer for heavier styles like Metallica.
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The amp delivers high gain at low volumes, making it suitable for TV or bedroom practice while maintaining clarity in clean tones, especially with a Strat.
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It's reported that the gain control becomes a deep saturator past the 8 mark, suitable for achieving heavy metal tones akin to Amon Amarth.
Source
Features and functionality
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The HT-5RH's ISF knob allows users to transition from American to British tones, providing versatile sound shaping directly on the amp.
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The HT-5RH MkII adds reverb and recording features, enhancing its practicality for users who value these functionalities.
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The MkII's 1W mode likely lowers B+ and bias voltages, increasing distortion at lower volumes for versatile sound shaping.
Source
4.5 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 18 Ratings
91
One of the highest quality low-wattage heads out there.
After using this amp to record for over a year, I can easily say that it's flexibility and tonal characteristics continue to amaze me. The cabinet emulation feature is decent but it's true potential shines when connected to a cab and mic'd. You can get high gain metal tones that will melt the faces of death metal fans and also get clear and well defined rock / hard rock tones that could suit many styles. I personally find it's "crunch" zone (gain knob between 7 and 10 o'clock) to be a little lacking in depth, but you can reinforce it with the ISF knob to the "British" side. The clean tone on this amp is pristine and evenly balanced. I don't find that it works well with overdrive or distortion pedals, however, I don't find them to be necessary with this amp. If there was anything I could add to this head, it would be a "Presence" dial and a gain dial to the clean channel but that's just to have 100% control over super-fine details for the studio. These features can be found on it's higher-watt cousins. All in all, it is my go-to amp for my studio work when doing hard rock and metal tracks because of it's solid tonal character, studio versatility and ability to retain clarity without fancy modification, eq's or pedals. This machine is a cut above.
Artist usage
Add artist
Adrian wanted to get the sound he got in his home studios. When asked by Kevin Shirley the producer what he used Adrian replied, ‘The Blackstar HT-5’. So on a weekend trip home to UK Adrian brought back his trusty HT-5. Adrian used the powerfully fitting tone of the HT-5 to help record the rest of the The Book of Souls album.
Album Usage
The Blackstar HT-5RH 5 Watt Guitar Head has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Blackstar HT-5RH 5 Watt Guitar Head, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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