BLACKSTAR HT CLUB 40 MKII 6L6

The best combo amp for value.

RRP: $1,799 Type: All-Tube

Speakers: 12-inch Celestion Seventy-80 Output: 40 watts

No. of channels: Two Tubes: Two 12AX7, two 6L6 Weight: 24 kilos

PROS

• Will do just about any style you want

• USB output great for recording

• Dark/Bright reverb switch is handy

CONS

• None

The HT range from Blackstar has been a firm favourite since its release in 2010, with the Club 40 one of the shining stars of the series. After years of R&D, Blackstar has delivered the hotly anticipated Club 40 MKII. But was it worth the wait?

Bluntly, yes. Still capable of virtually anything you throw at it, the Club 40 MKII is seemingly a perfect blend of power, tweakability, simplicity and fancy added extras, all while remaining super easy to use. 40 watts of all-tube power provides bags of clean headroom, meaning you won’t have to look any further for that pedal platform amp you always wanted. That being said, it’d be a shame just to set this clean and let your pedals do all the work.

The overdrive channel on this amp is another hive of capability, with more than enough gain to satiate the majority of players. Pair this with Blackstar’s I.S.F (Infinite Shape Feature) calling card and you’ll go from Petrucci and EVH territory all the way across the Atlantic, to channel your inner Brian May. Power switching functionality allows you to bring the wattage down from 40 watts to four, so you can keep your tubes glowing without too much blood pouring from your ears.