The Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $1423.11. Close alternatives include the Strymon Iridium and the 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe. It pairs well with the Browne Amplification Carbon and the Browne Amplification Gritador.
Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo is a hand-wired 30-watt Class A tube guitar combo amplifier featuring two channels and a pair of Celestion Vintage 30 speakers in a 2x12 cabinet. Channel 1 uses an EF86 pentode for a fat, warm response with smooth tube compression and dynamic clean character that breaks up naturally under hard picking. Channel 2 provides a broader range of clean to crunch tones via Blackstar's ISF control. Power is switchable between 30-watt pentode and 10-watt triode modes. The hand-wired build and Class A circuit deliver boutique-quality dynamics and tonal complexity comparable to Carr, Divided By 13, and Victoria amplifiers.
What stands out
“Channel 1 uses an EF86 pentode for a fat, warm response with smooth tube compression and dynamic clean character that breaks up naturally under hard picking”
— from the listing
“The dual Vintage 30 speaker pairing adds depth and articulation to the Class A character”
— from the community notes
“The hand-wired build and Class A circuit deliver boutique-quality dynamics and tonal complexity comparable to Carr, Divided By 13, and Victoria amplifiers”
— from the listing
“Channel 2 provides a broader range of clean to crunch tones via Blackstar's ISF control”
— from the listing
“The Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo is a hand-wired 30-watt Class A tube guitar combo amplifier featuring two channels and a pair of Celestion Vintage 30 speakers in a 2x12 cabinet”
— from the listing
- compression
- class a
- dynamic
- clean
- tube
- crunch
- country
- fat
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A is commonly used in
- Blues
- Rock
- Country
- Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A
Browne Amplification Carbon
Browne Amplification
24% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A leans into Marshall-style amps, precisely the platform Browne Amplification Carbon wants
Goes in front of the amp
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
23% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Into a transparent tone, Browne Amplification Gritador brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread RAH
Catalinbread
23% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Run Catalinbread RAH into that transparent platform and it finally leans toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive
Origin Effects
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A delivers it
Goes in front of the amp
Wampler Mini Ego 76 Compressor
Wampler
11% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Wampler Mini Ego 76 Compressor's compressed voice suits Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A's own compressed character
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe
Catalinbread
9% matchCatalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A delivers it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb Pedal
pedal
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb Pedal in Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A's effects loop, clear of Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion
JHS Pedals
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A gives it exactly that
Cheaper alternatives
Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp
Friedman
72% similarityFriedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Friedman IR-D
Friedman
72% similarityFriedman IR-D recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Soldano SLO
Soldano
72% similaritySoldano SLO recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Blackstar CV30
Blackstar
47% similarityShared character: two channels, crunch, warm
Blackstar Artist 15
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar TV-10
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Blackstar Artisan 30 HW
Blackstar
69% similarityShared character: channel 2, power, two channels
3rd Power Lyra
3rd Power
52% similarityShared character: channel 2, two channels, articulation
Divided by 13 BTR 23
Divided By 13
46% similarityShared character: tonal character, natural, touch
3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo
3rd Power
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Strymon Iridium
Strymon
72% similarityStrymon Iridium recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe
Fender
52% similarityShared character: fat, volume, touch
Carr Hammerhead MkII
Carr
52% similarityShared character: tonal character, natural, touch
Fuchs Blackjack21 MKII 112
Fuchs
50% similarityShared character: natural, touch, crunch
1958 Fender Twin 5F8-4
amplifier
49% similarityShared character: compression, natural, warm
Bad Cat Cub
Bad Cat
49% similarityShared character: design, tonal character, compression
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A?+
The closest matches in character are the Strymon Iridium, the 1959 Fender Tweed Deluxe, the Carr Hammerhead MkII. Budget picks: Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, Friedman IR-D, Soldano SLO. Boutique upgrades: Blackstar Artisan 30 HW, 3rd Power Lyra, Divided by 13 BTR 23.
What pairs well with the Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Browne Amplification Carbon, Browne Amplification Gritador, Catalinbread RAH — Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A leans into Marshall-style amps, precisely the platform Browne Amplification Carbon wants.
How much does the Blackstar Artisan 30 212 Combo 30W/2x12Zoll Class A cost?+
Around $1423.11 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).