Blackstar HT Stage 60 112 MkII 60-Watt 1 x 12-inch Valve Combo Amp
The HT Stage 60 112 MkII is the gigging end of the HT Venue MkII range. Two EL34 valves put 60 watts into a Celestion 12-inch speaker, and a pair of ECC83s in the front end drive three separately voiced channels, so this is the model to look at when you need headroom and more than two sounds.
- 60 watts of valve power from a pair of EL34s, balanced into a single Celestion 12-inch speaker.
- Two ECC83s in the front end giving each channel its character.
- Three carefully revoiced channels ranging from boutique clean to intensely overdriven.
- Voice switch on the clean channel: select between a British Class A and a US dynamic clean tone.
- Voice switch on the overdrive channels: select between a more aggressive modern sound and a flatter, classic sound.
- Tone shaping options that cover pedal platform cleans, edge of breakup grit and searing drive.
Part of the HT Venue MkII series of amps and cabinets, which are built around giving you options rather than one fixed voice.
Blackstar HT Venue MkII series amplifiers are built to be inspiring to play, with a spread of tone shaping options you can use to dial in the character and expression of your sound. The HT Stage 60 112 MkII is the all valve combo in that family, and it is the one with the power for a stage.
Three channels, two continents
The clean channel features a voice switch that lets you select between a British Class A and a US dynamic clean tone. The overdrive channels also carry a voice switch, choosing between a more aggressive modern sound and a flatter, classic one. Between those switches and three separately revoiced channels, you can move from a pedal platform clean to edge of breakup grit to searing drive without leaving the amp, and virtually no tone is out of reach.
The valve complement
- A pair of EL34s in the power section delivering 60 watts of balanced power.
- A pair of ECC83s in the front end, which is where each channel gets its character.
- A single Celestion 12-inch speaker.
What 60 watts buys you
Sixty watts of EL34 power through a 12-inch Celestion is a classic gigging combination. It gives you clean headroom that survives a loud drummer, which is exactly what a pedal platform needs, and it keeps the amp's character intact at stage volume instead of collapsing into fizz. If your set relies on pedals in front of a clean channel, the extra power is the reason to choose the Stage 60 over a smaller Venue amp.
Made to be dialled in
The MkII revoicing work was about character rather than gimmicks. Each of the three channels was tuned to stand on its own, so switching channels sounds like a decision rather than a compromise. Combined with the voice switches, this is an amp that suits a player who wants to keep adjusting until the sound is exactly right.