BlackHeart. In fiction, a powerful demon created by Mephisto. This superhero possesses unmatched abilities, such as superhuman strength or staggering speed. Following that thread, the product's name caught my attention for how magical and superpowered it sounds.
Applied to an amplifier, I don't think we'll find abilities like teleportation, changing appearance and size, or moving between the different planes of existence. What I am sure of is that, besides having a punchy name (black heart), the energy of this "little guy" is also, to a certain degree, superpowered. Let's look at the reasons.
Introduction
I had heard some comments about this new line of amplifiers. In general, good references regarding their quality and prices. It was about time to try one. So, down to work. As soon as I unpacked it, this mini head powerfully caught my attention. I especially liked its look, its logo, its name and its finish. A combination of a vintage vibe added to the passion of the heart in its logo, and the magic of its comic-book-hero name.
Standing in front of the head, I was struck by its small size and its 3 W/5 W switch. At first I thought how great it was that someone had finally designed a manageable, small, low-wattage head that still had some meat on its bones. With that idea in mind, the goal is clear: a small, portable amp that gives us warm, powerful, creamy tones. In many situations we don't need to play at high volumes. On the contrary, we want to work at a reasonable, moderate volume, but without losing the thick, warm sound of tubes.
Now my question was crystal clear: would it be a little toy or a truly useful tool? Still unplugged, and looking at the delivery note showing the (affordable) price, I leaned toward the first, still not very solid idea: was it rather a cute indulgence of little use? It was very cheap.
I set the amp on top of a 4 x 12" cabinet (which I would use later to test the head), left it wired up and ready for testing. It stayed there for three days, ready, motionless, silent. Curiosity was nagging at me, and every time I passed through the test room I'd poke my head in, itching to try the tempting, curious Blackheart.
The Test
That long-awaited moment came. Grab a guitar, plug in and switch on. I started testing in 3 W mode. It's something I've been looking for quite a while: low volume, plenty of meat. As an alternative for recording guitars in the studio. I was frankly surprised, because the punch delivered by those 3 W was really powerful. Obviously, please don't compare it in your head with a 300 W amp. The mini head far exceeds the expectations for three tiny watts.
Wonderfully defined clean tones, with power, warmth and a great attack. Its three-band EQ (bass, mid, treble) is very effective. We can shape the sound in a really serious way. Quiet, and with practically professional precision.
Now on to 5 W mode. Another surprise. Those two added watts (from 3 to 5) give the signal coming from the guitar a good kick. We're handling even more meat. The sound gets a little more raw and gutsy. As a preamp for getting authentic tones, this little guy is certainly an excellent tool. Especially when we consider its price: 199 €, approximately.
Possibilities
The head comes well equipped: three-band EQ, 3 or 5 W selector, a 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tube, an EL84/6BQ5 power tube and a rear panel well prepared for different cabinet impedances. Specifically, 1 x 16 ohms, 2 x 8 ohms or 2 x 4 ohms. That last point means good compatibility with the various cabinets we may have in mind. Among the brand's cabinets, I've seen (though not tried) the 75 W BH-112 Little Giant, set up for possible modifications, 16 ohm, with a 12" BlackHeart 1216B speaker. It looks like a good companion for this head and, considering its not-outrageous 169 € cost, it's certainly an option.
In this case, we tested it with cabinets from different brands. Various speaker configurations and varied quality. Although in every case the cabinets were built to take much more power (in watts). Even so, this great little amp drove the speakers with energy and delivered a sound that, as I mentioned a bit earlier, is truly powerful for its price.
Conclusions
By adding your own personal "drive" touches, with your effects, pedals and so on, you'll get practically any sonic goal you set yourself. Except for thundering the way you would with a 300-watt beast, of course.
I think the head is perfect for working in moderate-volume situations. Studio sessions, rehearsals (not wild ones with hard-hitting drummers), and even for getting by at gigs (small or large venues if we mic the signal).
Until now many guitarists who have needed to work with warm sounds, but without excessive volume, have opted for amp and cabinet simulators. I'm talking about Line 6, Rocktron, Vox, etc. Some experiment with the options available in computer simulations: Guitar Rig, AmpliTube, Eleven, Peavey plug-ins. You'll also find people who mix a bit of each of these tools, plus a preamp, to get a really convincing sound.
This kind of alternative, low-power tube amps, is turning out to be one of the most appealing and functional options among all those mentioned above. Even mixing some of the variables listed in the previous paragraph and adding this head will give really versatile, warm and extraordinary results.
I liked the head a lot, for its looks and for its performance. For its price range, from my point of view, it's a great alternative. If its power fits your needs, I recommend that you try it.