Blackstar St. James 50-Watt 6L6 Tube Amplifier Head with Cab Rig
The St. James 50 is Blackstar's lightest valve head, built from candlenut plywood so a full 50-watt amplifier stops being a two-person lift. The 6L6 version brings extra heat for aggressive playing while staying sonically balanced. Cab Rig cabinet simulation and switchable power reduction are built in, which means the head can go straight to an interface or a mixer with no cabinet and no separate attenuator.
- 50-watt valve head with 6L6 power valves
- Candlenut plywood construction for a significant weight reduction
- Two channels, from crystal cleans through vintage crunch to heavy grind
- Channel and voicing selector switches on the front panel
- External footswitch included, with a footswitch input on the rear
- Cab Rig Output with three cab simulation options
- Balanced XLR, line out and phones outputs plus USB to a computer
- Power reduction with 50-watt, 2-watt and Sag settings
Blackstar built the St. James range around a straightforward problem: valve amps are heavy, and the weight is the reason a lot of them stay at home. The St. James 50-watt head is the lightest and most innovative head Blackstar makes, and the 6L6 version is the one with the extra heat.
Weight without compromise
The cabinet is candlenut plywood, which reduces the weight significantly while maintaining the look and feel of a boutique amplifier. That single decision is what makes this head realistic for players who load in and out on their own, and it does not come at the cost of the tone.
Two channels and the 6L6 voice
Two channels take you from glassy cleans through vintage crunch to gut-punching grind. Channel and voicing selector switches sit around the front for easy toggling, and a footswitch input around the back works with the included external pedal if you prefer switching with your foot. The 6L6-equipped model brings additional heat for today's most aggressive genres while staying sonically balanced, which is the difference between this and the EL34 variant.
Cab Rig and power reduction
The head ships with Blackstar's Cab Rig Output on board, offering three different cab sim options and your choice of balanced XLR or line out and phones output, plus USB for running to a computer. No cabinet is required to record or to go to front of house. Power reduction runs at 50 watts, 2 watts and a Sag setting that gives a softer, more vintage sound, so the amp covers a stage and a home practice room without extra gear.