Bye Bye Blackstar
I have loved playing through my Blackstar Stage 60, but it is time to let it go. I’m trying not to be sentimental about gear- if I’m not using it, it should go.
My Gibson SG was somehow perfectly matched with the Blackstar. I’ve been continually impressed with the sound of this rig. From pearly-white cleans to raging high-gain leads, and everywhere in between. And the most musical feedback I’ve ever experienced.
In the last three years, I’ve played with the Blackstar in venues large and small, in grassy parks, on the back of parade trucks, and in garages and living rooms. It has been rock solid and never let me down.
Now having said all that, since I bought the Helix the Blackstar been sitting against the wall of my office collecting dust. I can’t tell you how delightful it is to not have to lug that 80 pound monster to to rehearsals and gigs. My back and hands are grateful! My stage footprint is so much smaller, and set up is a breeze – way fewer cables and no extra cab mic to set up. And the mix in my ears is clearer, not competing with the blast of air at my back.
The Helix sounds phenomenal, and is much more flexible than my old 4-cable amp setup with the Pod HD500x. When I first got the Helix, I was amazed how quickly I made a preset to cover the sounds I had been getting with the Blackstar.
The only thing I really miss from the Blackstar is that lovely musical feedback. That feeling you get when you take your fingers off the strings on a high gain sound, and gradually build up a raging gorgeous feedback. I haven’t really been able to get that with the Helix – I imagine it’s possible, but I haven’t found the magic ingredients. In any case, I’ve decided it’s a reasonable trade-off.
So now, on the 3 year anniversary of the Stage 60 arriving at my door, I bid farewell to this beast. I put it on Craigslist, found a buyer, and away it goes.
November 6, 2017 @ 8:52 am
wow…i had a helix and felt the complete opposite tube amp wise. Playing thru a tube power section to me is night and day with the helix thru a full range monitor system.I think the helix is a great value for all it can do and eliminated the need for a pedal board which is very nice. Have you tried using the helix into the BS returns so you can use the bs power amp tube section??
On the flip side i have had a katana 100 amp for a while now and find it an amazing value for the tones it it capable of.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMgFDnxkRkQ
here he is playing the 50 which is killer but the 100 is even better with a better speaker and effects loop…Just killer for us cheap bastards.
November 7, 2017 @ 10:53 am
There was definitely an adjustment period going ampless with the helix, and missing the “amp in the room” feel and sound.
But the only way to really get that power-amp-tube-vibe is to crank the amp, which is completely insane with the Stage 60 – it’ll tear the roof off!
Taking the trade-offs into account, I still prefer the flexibility and portability of my Helix-only rig. And being able to model different cabinets and mics is a nice benefit when going direct, versus mic’ing the 2×12 cab.
The Katana looks pretty impressive, and really inexpensive! Chappers always gives an entertaining demo 🙂
-John
November 7, 2017 @ 11:07 am
i agree the helix gives alot for the price but i am still not “sold” by the line6 new modeling in it. Something about line6 gives me pause.I had an hd500x and dt-25 combo and together this was the best way to get a good tone-using the dt25 power amp tube section. I still have a spidervalve mk2 2-12 combo that i think sounds amazing but it is also due to the tube power section it has. That being said i also use a vox vtx150 pro amp and a blue ad120vtx combo and also feel the tone from those amps is amazing where vox uses a valve reactor tech in them that uses a tube to really warm up the power amp section of those amps and it works…why they abandoned them to make the crap they make now is beyond me.
But i always keep my eye on line 6 and hope they will release a 2-12 stereo combo with helix guts and some sort of tube power section like the spidervalve mk2 amps.
September 11, 2020 @ 4:25 am
Nice post! I’ve just got a Helix LT and I’m still finding my way around it. What’s that stand you’re using to hold your Helix? Looks really cool! Thanks!
September 11, 2020 @ 8:04 am
Congrats on the new Helix! You’re gonna love it. The stand I use is the Musician’s Gear Deluxe Conductor Music Stand, which unfortunately doesn’t seem to be available anywhere anymore.
-John