Blackstar St James Guitar Combo Amps - A Game Changer in Valve Amps!The Blackstar St James series are a series of 2 combos, a 2 heads and a 2 x 12 cab.
They are available in 2 output valve configurations, 6L6 and EL34
Pretty straightforward, you might think. However the reasons why we think these amps are game changers are as follows - and it's a pretty long list....
Unmatched lightweight 50w valve amps - these are so light it's really unbelievable
Reactive on board load - just DI out into the main PA for a killer sound
Unmatched range of tones - well it is a Blackstar
USB out
Cab Rig technology to give to the sound of the cab in your head
2 specific flavours of tone - EL34 and 6L6
A valve amp for the price of a modeller, but with all the sounds you need.
Celestion Vintage 30 voiced speaker - not neo, but super-light.
Switchable between 2w and 50w
The 6L6 is just like a Boogie in quality of sound - and you can go from clean to pure filth. The EL34 is more restrained; it won't go full on overdrive - you need a pedal to give it that push over the edge.
Either amp is available in black or fawn tolex, and as a head or a 1x12" combo. The speaker is made by Celestion in conjunction with Blackstar sand gives Vintage 30 sounds, but at a neodymium magnet weight!
‘The St. James is a little miracle! Super light, super loud, and very versatile. Besides the huge valve tone, I love the Cab Rig features; it sounds great straight out of the amp into a DAW or mixing board.’
Gus G.
‘This is the combo I have been waiting 40 years for.’
Eliot Easton | The Cars
‘Jeez! Is this legal? This is cool man, that’s f***ing light!’
‘It’s got all that vintage woof that I love, but its super clear.’
Jared James Nichols
‘Warm, well rounded and Rocky at the same time. It sounds beautiful and is so light for a 50w valve amp!’
Toby Lee
‘Strikingly compact and light in weight for a head and cab; when I heard St. James, it was love at first riff.’
Will Sergeant | Echo & the Bunnymen
'Wow. They’re awesome dude – they really are.’
‘A wall of noise for 50 Watts!’
Michael Carter |The Luke Bryan Band
‘Ready to go badass tone.’
Nick DePirro | Night Verses
‘I’m digging it!’
Steve Conte | Michael Monroe
‘It’s beautiful.’
Laur Joemets | Drivin N Cryin
‘Oh my gosh, that’s a cheat code right there.’
‘This thing sounds insane.’
‘It makes you wanna keep picking up the guitar and playing.’
Sam Johnston | Solo artist
‘That’s amazing, how is it that light?’
Justin Eason | Session guitarist
‘A huge range of tonal capabilities for a 6L6 amp.’
Max Brown | The War & Treaty
‘Plays great, the feel’s there and the EQs are at noon?!’
‘I’m almost speechless at how good these things are sounding.’
Colby Thompson | Solo artist
‘I’m all about vibe and feel, and that amp makes me want to play it. How do I get one?’
Alyssa Bonagura | Solo guitarist
‘So much richness.’
‘Probably one of my favourite guitar sounds ever!’
Darren Hurst | Producer, guitar tech for Peter Frampton
'It’s super reactive… so much headroom.’
Toni Aleman | Vile A Sin
‘That sounds killer!’
Charlie Paulson | Goldfinger
‘Big sound, lightweight package. That’s killer.’
Taylor Barissoff | Graves & the Bad Weather
'The St. James EL34 head pairs amazingly with pedals to bring a clarity I couldn't find with other amps.'
Elliot Gill | Stone