Blackstar’s Back with the HT-20R MKII Head & Combo Amps

Ahead of NAMM 2019, Blackstar have revamped their popular HT-20 to the HT-20R MKII, promising enhanced cleans and overdrives, USB connectivity, digital reverb and their patented ISF tone shaping to compliment the 20-watt EL84 powered amplifier. The model also once again features the fantastic power reduction feature, taking the power down to 2-watts at the press of a button, so you can get that overdriven-tube sound at bedroom-level volumes.

The amp features two foot switchable overdrive voices, a classic British style crunch and a higher gain sound inspired by Blackstar’s HT Venue range, giving additional aggression the high-end with a tight resonant low-end. The clean channels also feature two voicings, a tighter American style tone and a looser, highly responsive British style chime tone.

The combo amp features a single 12″ speaker for a wide frequency response with a 3-degree tilt-back design so the sound reaches your ears rather than bouncing off the floor. Available cabinets for the head include the HT112VOC MKII 1×12″ cab, loaded with a Celestion Seventy 80 and removable back panel, as well as the HT212VOC MKII with 2×12″ Celestion Seventy 80s.

These have landed in Australia already, so get onto your local Blackstar dealer if you’re keen to give them a crack.

Specs:

• 20 Watt combo
• ECC83 preamp valve
• 2x EL84 power amp valves
• 2 Channels
• Footswitchable Voices for Clean and Overdrive
• Power reduction to 2 Watts
• USB audio out
• XLR D.I. Out
• Newly voiced studio quality reverb
• 2-button footswitch included