First, to produce a range of heads and combos that were the lightest available while still

retaining the essential elements of traditional valve (tube) amps  specifically using valves

in the preamp and the power amp as well as keeping the loose-coupling effect of a real

output transformer.

The 6L6 models use a ‘modern’ preamp gain structure for Channel II. This specific

channel is a combination of Blackstar’s award-winning cascaded valve/tube overdrive

circuits and a traditional ‘British style passive tone stack’ (EQ). When CH. II is selected

but VOICE is off, the valve/tube power amp is set to be tight and relatively linear.

Switching to the alternative VOICE setting on the 6L6 model revoices the overdriven

cascaded valve/tube preamp for more saturation, as well as reconfigures the power

amp to be open loop, to provide that contemporary high-gain looser feel with plenty of

resonant low end ‘chug’.

All models feature a 3-way ‘POWER’ switch to give the user options on how their valve/

tube output stage is run.

Listening And Technical Research

At Blackstar we do not accept a ‘Black Art’ approach to the design of guitar amplifiers.

We believe it is imperative to have a thorough understanding of what makes traditional

guitar amplifiers sound the way they do; especially if we are to improve the performance

of those designs and offer players something new and exciting. That is why we place such

a great importance on technical research and the innovation that this research generates.

50W

This is the full power setting which will give the loudest clean headroom. This is likely to

be used for live, stage use

Mains Input

Unusually for valve/tube amplifiers, the St. James products are designed with a ‘universal

input power supply’. This means that the mains input range is rated at 100Vac to 240Vac

and capable of operating at 50Hz and 60Hz. We actually test them beyond these rated limits.

Speaker Ouputs

Unlike many other valve/tube amps, these have clever sensing and switching which

means that they can be used without being connected to a speaker load.

Cab Rig Emulated Output - Mono Balanced Xlr d.i.  Output Socket

This output is for using an industry standard 3 pin XLR cable for connection to a recording

device, stage box or mixing desk. This provides a low noise, low impedance.

Cab Rig Switch

This allows the user to switch between the three currently stored CAB RIG settings.

• EFFECTS LOOP RETURN socket
• EFFECTS LOOP SEND socket
• EFFECTS LOOP LEVEL switch

Features

• 50 Watt valve head
• Custom designed light-weight Switched-Mode Power Supply (SMPS)
• Lightweight ‘Candlenut’ cabinet
• 2 x ECC83 (12AX7) preamp valves
• 2 x 6L6 power amp valves
• Special design light-weight output transformer
• Two footswitchable preamp channels
• CHI based on Fender ‘black-face’
• CHII based on modern high-gain cascaded-valve stage circuits
• Footswitchable VOICE (gain boost) on CHII
• Electronically independent 3-band EQ specifically voiced for each channel
• Digital Reverb
• Master Volume
• 3 mode ‘POWER’ switch – 50 Watts, SAG, 2 Watts
• Effects loop with level switch for +4dBv/-10dBv
• Built-in Reactive load for ‘silent’ recording use
• CAB RIG control of emulations for Headphone and balanced XLR output
• Speaker outputs for 2x 8ohm and 1x 16ohm