Whether you’re an electric guitarist, an acoustic picker/strummer, a singer-songwriter, or a performing duo, Blackstar’s latest releases should be of interest to you and many attendees at the NAMM 2020 show. From a tube amp and several acoustic combos to accessories designed to make life on stage easier, the new offerings from Blackstar are worth checking out.
First up are the 60W and 120W Sonnet Series acoustic amplifiers, each available in black or blonde Tolex to match your preferred aesthetic. All Sonnet amps were designed with the same guiding principle… transparency. They’re made to make your sound louder, not different. So, the Sonnet’s signature timbre is meant to be the tone you’ve taken the time to perfect.
Their cabinets utilize a ported design to extend the bass response without relying on larger drivers, thus keeping the overall size more compact and the weight down. If you tend to leave your amp on the floor, you’ll appreciate the Sonnet’s integrated tilt-back stand, which lets you angle the amp so its sound projects up and out to your audience. Alternatively, you can get the SA-2 stand adapter (available separately) to mount a Sonnet atop a standard 35mm speaker stand.
The 60W Sonnet is outfitted with a custom-voiced 6.5" woofer, while the 120W version opts for an 8" speaker (also custom voiced); both models have tweeters, of course. Though all Sonnet amps can accept four simultaneous inputs, they do so in slightly different ways. The Sonnet 60 features a 1/4" instrument input, an XLR-1/4" mic input, a 3.5mm stereo aux input, and a Bluetooth wireless input. The Sonnet 120 boasts two XLR-1/4" combo mic/instrument inputs with independently selectable 48V phantom power along with the aforementioned aux and Bluetooth inputs.
Beyond that, you’ll find that the Sonnet 120 just offers more ways to nail the exact sound you’re after. Sure, the Sonnet 60 has EQ and reverb, but the Sonnet 120 has more EQ and more reverbs. The Sonnet 60 includes adjustable high-pass filter and brilliance settings, whereas the Sonnet 120 has those and per-channel anti-feedback controls. The Sonnet 60 sports an XLR DI output; the Sonnet 120 gives you three (channel 1, channel 2, and mix outputs). Need an effects loop? The Sonnet 120 grants you one for each channel.
The Sonnet 60 and Sonnet 120 include a USB output for easy recording to your computer and a 1/4" input for compatibility with the separately available FS-17 footswitch. Add the FS-17 to your setup if you want hands-free control of mute and reverb on/off functions.
The last product in the latest Blackstar batch is the candy apple red HT-20R MkII tube combo guitar amp. Also available in black or limited-edition Trafalgar Blue bronco Tolex, the HT-20R MkII packs in foot-switchable clean and overdrive channels, four tubes, selectable 20W or 2W power output, and a 12" speaker. It’s also equipped with multiple speaker outputs, emulated XLR DI and 1/4" line/phones outputs, and a USB audio out. From the per-channel voice options to the patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature), the HT-20R MkII is built to hold its own in the studio, at rehearsals, or miked up on stage.
Incorporate Blackstar amplification into your setup to elevate your recording or live performance sound. If you want to know more about the new Blackstar goodies, you’re welcome to visit the B&H SuperStore or surf our website!
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