Blackstar HT Club 40 MK III Guitar Amp (Venue Series) | Demo & Overview with Michael Eisenstein
Order the Blackstar HT Club 40 MKIII right now from Guitar Center:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Blackstar/HT-Club-40-MKIII-40W-1×12-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp-Black-1500000399468.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Shop the full Blackstar HT Venue MKIII series at Guitar Center right now:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Blackstar-HT.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Go deeper into the entire MKIII series with Blackstar Chief Engineer Paul Stevens: https://www.guitarcenter.com/riffs/product-demos/amplifiers–effects/blackstar-ht-venue-mkiii-overview-demo?source=4GOA4LOBA
Grab the Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s used in this video:
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson/Les-Paul-Standard-60s-Plain-Top-Electric-Guitar-Inverness-Green-1500000404905.gc?source=4GOA4LOBA
Introducing the new Blackstar HT Club 40 MKIII combo amplifier, part of the new HT Venue MKIII series. The HT Venue MKIII series includes the HT Club 40 MKIII, the HT Club 50 MKIII head, the HT Stage 60 MKIII, available as a 1×12 or 2×12, and the HT Stage 100 head. In this demo video, hosted by guitarist Michael Eisenstein (Letters to Cleo, Melissa Etheridge, Tonic, Our Lady Peace), we dive deep into the Club 40’s sound, features and versatility.
The HT Club 40 MKIII is a 40-watt, two-channel combo powered by two EL34 and two ECC83 tubes. The amp’s tonal authority is guided by four footswitchable voices, a revamped clean channel, high-gain overdrive channels, and Blackstar’s exclusive ISF feature that transforms the amp EQ into an American or British sound, and anywhere in between. The onboard CabRig speaker simulator extends the Club 40 MKIII’s facility during recording—as well as for direct-to-mixer live performances—by offering a bounty of cabinet, speaker, mic and room simulations via balanced DI, headphones and USB. You can save three CabRig presets right on the amp, as well as really dig into editing via Blackstar’s free Architect software. Also in the mix are an effects loop with a dedicated level switch, digital reverb, a 12″ Celestion speaker and a two-way footcontroller.
Eisenstein demos the HT Club 40 MKIII’s tonal superpowers by playing riffs through each of the Clean channel voices (American Style and Class-A British)—first, totally pristine, and then with a BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver in front of it to show how the amp manages pedals. Then, he unleashes the OD channel’s two little hot rods—a tight crunch (OD1) and boldly resonant, saturated grind (OD2). There’s more to the roar in the HT Club 40 MKIII, so Eisenstein takes you through some EQ and ISF tweaks that can truly deliver “the sound in your head.” The demo ends up with his demos of the amp’s dark and bright reverb sounds, the extremely beneficial Power Reduction circuit and the sonic wonders within the CabRig speaker simulation.
Learn more about Blackstar: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Blackstar?source=4GOA4LOBA
Keep up with Michael Eisenstein: https://www.instagram.com/theeisenstein
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
00:35 – Quick Overview of Blackstar HT Venue MKIII Series amplifier models
00:46 – Overview of Blackstar HT Club 40 MKIII Features
01:45 – Playing Demo#1: Exploring Clean channel Voice 1 and Voice 2 and their capabilities as pedal platforms
03:47 – Playing Demo #2: Overview of Overdrive channel Voice 1 and Voice 2 as well as ISF control
05:35 – Playing Demo #3: Overview of on-board digital reverb capabilities with Clean channel
06:23 – Overview and demonstration of the Power Reduction circuit
07:19 – Exploring the CabRig emulation feature
08:04 – Outro
#Blackstar #Club #III #Guitar #Amp #Venue #Series #Demo #Overview #Michael #Eisenstein
Originally posted by UCr4kaFJ16UqtDQRzadrVkzw at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=998UaZVnl_o
What do you think of the new Blackstar HT Club 40 MKIII? Let us know in the comments below!
Excellent review!
Good amp but the gain kinda sounds like SS
This is a good amp! But geez almost 61lbs.??
Forget about it
I have a HT 100, HT 100 MKII , and HT 20 I love them all The ISF lets me dial in any tone thats in my head at the moment. No other amp can do that!
I'd like to hear it opened up, volume turned up, to hear the real sound out of it. This low gain/volume sounds like a bedroom practice amp.
Architect software yeah I know what that is ????
Wow! What an impressive review! Well done sir! Any info on colour of LP standard? Year? Love it with that amp! Cheers and thank you! ????????????✔️
This is well thought out n designed circuit!! I was impressed with its response to a 5k volume pot any guitar really, its in the amp!! I was able to get enough tone to solo and have a clean tone!! From very low volume on the guirar to full blast!! Then its asking fer an overdrive pedal like a Blues Driver n a Wah like Cry Baby!! But its a straight in amp that needs nothing straight outta its box!! Like any Marshall a 30 min tube warmup is ideal before a jam!!
Sounds truly horrible, brittle and fizzy.
Damn throating tone
The HT preamp is one of the best out there. That's why Blackstar keeps using it in their amplifiers.
Im sceptical. This doesn't sound really at all that good to me. Looks like I will be heading over to To my nearest guitar center to see if this amp is really what it claims to be. I'm not convinced.
Ht5/20 questions blackstar:
I m Sorry DO I NEED A LOADBOX FOR LISTENING the sound' s amp THROUGH THE HEADPHONES IN A HEAD HT 5MKII?AND WHAT DOES IT CHANGE WITH NEW VERSION mkiii? I d like tò know if i can buy a head and listen without buying a CAPTOR for the load because i know tube amp broker themself .
God of Thunder- Kiss riff made more modern
Great amp and demo. Blessings
I have the 50w head showing up tomorrow – the new version III.
How much one of these? I’m just looking a great small amp, to play in my house.
did that ISF knob do didley squat or was it just me.
when using blackstars I have the isf at half I want the best of both worlds like Van Halen and Hannah Montana lol
Printed circuit board?
It would be nice to hear more of the CabRig options. It's not that the CabRig demo sounded bad, because it really didn't. But, to my ears, it sounded pretty bad when compared to the live mics on the speaker. Overall, the amplifier sounds quite good and if it's within Blackstar's usual price points, it represents an incredible value.
It's excellent that Blackstar has obviously worked on how their amps take pedals. I have one of the white, limited-edition HT-5R models and it did NOT take pedals well. The overdrive channel also had a habit of going into uncontrollable feedback when maxed out. After trying out a 12au7, I landed on a 12ay7 preamp tube and everything was resolved. Max overdrive gain is right where I want it to be, with no feedback issues, and it also takes pedals quite nicely. Anyway, it's nice that Blackstar has made the effort to resolve those issues.
A year ago I purchased the MK II, if I knew they were going to release the MK III, I would’ve waited, I should trade in the MK ii for the MK iii
badass amp!
why demo an amp and use help-me box's ?
Nice review of the amp. Im not that thrilled with the tones from the amp. I use Fender, marshall and Boogie. All I need is good warm clean tube amp and my pedalboard.
In fairness, I shouldn't be listening to this demo via my laptop speakers, as I can't hear the lower-end nuances. But from what I'm hearing, this is a really delicious amp — no need to apply more awesome sauce on it! ???? It would have been cool to see the software you're recommending, even though one could probably extend the demo by another ten or so minutes — and that would be just to start!
Full disclosure: I have a few different tube amps, but now that I'm in my 60s, lugging around that Fender Quad Reverb (because apparently two 12" speakers wasn't either loud enough or heavy enough!) is really starting to get me down. In looking for another option, I have to grudgingly admit that these new waves of digital amps are AMAZING in their sound and abilities! And they weigh significantly less than the old tube amps, yet produce a very, very convincing sound!
On the laptop speakers, it's hard at times to hear the nuances, such as the American to British stack sound, and I would love to have a couple more explanations as to what I'm listening for in those changes. No doubt, the Marshall and Vox sounds can't be beat, but to have a Fender sound included with the other sounds and possibilities makes my back feel better already!
I am convinced that this amp would be better for my back (lots of features), and certainly better for my pocketbook (as vintage amps are stupid expensive these days).
Enjoy making music with great gear, y'all!
It really is a dope amp!
This is an upgrade from my MK 1
Sounds Awesome and feature packed! Great job on the demo video Guitar Center! I want one