Blackstar Artisan 30H amp plus 212 Cab offered to me - thoughts would be appreciated please

DB1

I'm selling a CS Strat and have been offered a couple of things plus cash as a trade - one was a Les Paul (see Guitars section!) which got a pretty universal thumbs down primarily on the basis of it's colour, which I agreed with.

The other is (as the title suggests) a Blackstar Artisan 30H amp plus 212 Cab, described as being in 'lovely' condition - value would be about £1000. I'm unlikely to want to keep them, as I'm just a bedroom player (fnaar!) and I'm not familiar with Blackstar amps, so, a couple of questions for the experts....

1) I like the jazzy side of blues, and I play quietly - any point me even thinking about keeping them?
2) If I sold them, would I be likely to catch a cold at £1000?

Thanks, and sorry for the stupid questions. 

dazzajl

The most popular of the series seems to be the 15 1x12 combo and the seem to fetch £300/400 around here these days. They are fabulous and a steal for that money but I can’t see you getting anywhere near £1000 for the 30 head and cab version. 

It might well sound amazing for jazzy blues at home but definitely like using a wrecking ball to break open a walnut. 

DB1

Interesting, thanks - I was going on the new prices of about £1800 for the two, but really don't know what the second hand values are like. 

dazzajl

Compared to the new prices, the whole Artisan range are an incredible bargain. Really nicely built, quality amps but not a wise investment. 

GavRichList

The Artisan 30h is a beautiful amp - loved mine. BUT! You wouldn’t get close to £1000 for one - they just don’t sell. You’d be lucky to get £500. They’re a steal at their market value, but are less popular than a Lost Prophets T-Shirt. 

MattBanshee

Best amp (maybe the only good amp?) Blackstar ever made, but super uncool since the company started marketing exclusively to floppy haired teenaged metallers.

Dominic

Had a 1x12.......it was decent but not truly special in any way
really hard to sell.......30w are even harder to sell
I think 30w is £600 in mint condition

ecc83

I don't follow prices but I agree, the amp is not going to be a good short term investment. But, and this is just MY PERSONAL THOUGHT!! I can see a day when production of their hand wired amps comes to an end. The cost of GOOD valves can only go ape shit in the next few decades as (I hope!) the world becomes ever "greener"? Valve are dreadfully inefficient and poluting to make. China and Russia don't, at the moment give much of a shit about that but I think world opinion and pressure will change that, expecially once we are rid of that silly orange person.

So, you have a very well made amp that is totally "old school" construction. It is very unlikely to go wrong, valves aside (and even THE worst case valve meltdown will not damage the BSH overengineered internal components) Sounds great and I would expect it to command a lot of money in 20yrs time. Today, not so much.

Dave.

gordiji

It's hard to think of anything more 'saleable' than a custom shop strat. If it doesn't sell the price is.........

Fifty9

It sounds like this deal is heavily weighted in favour of the other person. 

Hattigol

Sounds like a worse deal than Brexit. Have you got Theresa May negotiating for you?

DB1

Well, I don't know the market, hence the asking of advice, which is all taken on board and appreciated, thanks .

RMJ

GavRichList said:

.....but are less popular than a Lost Prophets T-Shirt. 

Rolling in the aisles!! 

ICBM

DB1 said:

1) I like the jazzy side of blues, and I play quietly - any point me even thinking about keeping them?

To be balanced (Dave will laugh ) - as long as you can physically fit it in the space, it's maybe not as bad a choice as you would think. Obviously it's miles too powerful really, but they have a good master volume, and the 'big' sound you can only get from a big amp even at low volume. They have the typical dark, tight Blackstar voicing so probably ideal for what would call 'muddy' jazz/blues tones... ie smooth, middy and with roll-off top-end - everything I don't like, but that's just me . And Blackstars do run very quietly, as in lack of background noise.

DB1 said:

2) If I sold them, would I be likely to catch a cold at £1000?

Yes, although the head and cab is worth a bit more than the combo due to rarity and not weighing as much as a car in one piece - although obviously the combined weight is even more. I think you'd be lucky to see £750 though - £500 for the head and £250 for the cab.

DB1

ICBM said:

DB1 said:

1) I like the jazzy side of blues, and I play quietly - any point me even thinking about keeping them?

To be balanced (Dave will laugh ) - as long as you can physically fit it in the space, it's maybe not as bad a choice as you would think. Obviously it's miles too powerful really, but they have a good master volume, and the 'big' sound you can only get from a big amp even at low volume. They have the typical dark, tight Blackstar voicing so probably ideal for what would call 'muddy' jazz/blues tones... ie smooth, middy and with roll-off top-end - everything I don't like, but that's just me . And Blackstars do run very quietly, as in lack of background noise.

DB1 said:

2) If I sold them, would I be likely to catch a cold at £1000?

Yes, although the head and cab is worth a bit more than the combo due to rarity and not weighing as much as a car in one piece - although obviously the combined weight is even more. I think you'd be lucky to see £750 though - £500 for the head and £250 for the cab.

Thanks, that's great - interesting notes about the sound. I don't like particularly bright tones, but not muddy either. On the pricing side, I've had a look round, and I think you're right. I don't need another amp and am selling the Carr Sportsman as it is (and want to make room rather than take extra room up) so it would only be to sell on. I don't want to rip anyone off, but don't want to catch a cold either, so that's all very helpful, thanks. 

relic245

Gigged that exact rig for years. Loved it, sold it on when I stopped gigging and got £600 for the head and cab both in fantastic condition.  Took ages to sell as well.

ecc83

Your might not like the absence of an FX loop? In fact you can kludge one using the 2 jacks on the two channels (one is all ECC83, tother ECC83 and EF86 but since the 86 is used in a low gain mode you are getting "pentode tone" but without the noise and microphonics. I think I only ever change one. O/C heater. VERY rare occurance with any valve.

Dave.

Fiftyshadesofjay

Used value is half what they’re claiming. Great amps though! 

DrJazzTap

Lovely amp but ask for whatever that guy is on for coming up with that suggested value.

notonlybutalso

I got my 30h and the 4x12 cab for 600 second hand