Blackstar Delivers “Lightest All-Tube Amp In the World”

By Rod Brakes
published

The British amp builder introduces their new St. James series in EL34 and 6L6 formats.

Blackstar St. James series
(Image credit: Blackstar)

Despite their reputation for heavy tone, Blackstar have unveiled what promises to be “the lightest 50W tube amp in the world.”

The result of some deep-dive R&D into classic vintage guitar amps, Blackstar's new St. James series offers an intuitive dual-channel configuration providing both clean and overdriven electric guitar tones.

Also featuring built-in reactive load and impulse response for silent recording, the St. James amps are available in 50-watt 6L6 and EL34 formats, either as a head (matching 2x12 cab optional) or 1x12 combo.

While the EL34 amps are voiced for that timeless British rock sound, the 6L6 designs deliver crystal clean tones and higher gain.

According to a recent press release, the models’ light weight is attributable to several factors, notably a candlenut wood cabinet and custom Celestion Zephyr speaker.

All four models feature twin-channel 12AX7 preamp tube circuitry, along with three power switch options.

While a 50W full power setting offers the greatest amount of clean headroom, a 2W low power setting has been provided with recording and smaller stages in mind. 

Meanwhile, a SAG setting allows a softer, more compressed feel characteristic of the power supply ‘sag’ associated with some vintage amps (particularly those featuring tube rectification.)

Blackstar St. James series

(Image credit: Blackstar)

The 6L6 combo, head, and matching cabinet are available in black tolex with salt and-pepper fretcloth, while the EL34 combo, head, and matching cabinet come in fawn tolex with gray fretcloth.

U.S. MAP pricing is as follows:

Visit Blackstar (opens in new tab) for more information.

Rod Brakes
Rod Brakes

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar World (opens in new tab), Guitar Player (opens in new tab) and MusicRadar (opens in new tab) in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.