3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo vs Blackstar S1-45

The 3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo and the Blackstar S1-45 are both amplifiers sharing high headroom, mid-forward, transparent. The 3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo leans dynamic and warm. Current prices: $4099 vs $845.65.

Similarity
citedBlended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.

50% — moderately similar

Shared genres
citedGenres both listings are associated with.
  • Classic Rock
Shared tone character
citedDerived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.
  • high headroom
  • mid-forward
  • transparent
Citation fame
citedCitation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.
0%
0%
Price

$4099via Reverb

$845.65via Reverb

Description

The 3rd Power Dragon 45 is a hand-wired 45-watt EL34 1x12 combo amplifier in the Dragon series, bridging the gap between the 25-watt and 100-watt Dragon platform offerings. Inspired by the 1967-1968 Marshall Plexi Super Lead 100, it delivers British midrange authority, explosive harmonic texture, and touch-sensitive response in a self-contained combo format. The 45-watt EL34 power section provides headroom for medium-to-large venues while reaching natural power-tube saturation at realistic stage volumes. It suits players seeking Plexi-toned authority without the setup complexity of a separate head and cabinet.

The Blackstar Series One 45 is a 45-watt all-tube amplifier head from Blackstar premium Series One range, built for professional stage and studio use. Four EL34 output tubes drive two fully independent channels — Clean and Overdrive — each equipped with Blackstar ISF tone control. The Series One line sits above the HT series in terms of headroom, channel separation, and build quality. At 45 watts it delivers genuine tube power for mid-sized venue performance while keeping stage volume at a practical level.

Genres
citedGenres this gear is documented as being used in.
  • Blues Rock
  • Blues
Tonal lean
  • dynamic
  • warm
  • crunchy
—
Good for
citedOccasions this gear suits — judged per model, or derived from its wattage, connectivity and category.
  • Live
  • Studio
  • Live
  • Studio
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3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo vs Blackstar S1-45 — Shared Character & Differences — NodeTone