The Blackstar Artist 15 is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $716.67. Close alternatives include the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Suhr Bella 44-watt Tube Amplifier Head. It pairs well with the Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31 and the Analog Man King of Tone.
Blackstar Artist 15
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar Artist 15 is a 15-watt 1x12 tube combo amplifier built around 6L6 power tubes with two distinctly voiced channels. Channel 1 delivers a characterful British voice with the bark of an Orange or early Marshall, highly dynamic and responsive to pick attack. Channel 2 covers a broader range from glassy Fender-style clean to modern Marshall crunch via Blackstar's ISF control. Both channels respond expressively to playing dynamics without a master volume, making them excellent for driving natural breakup at manageable stage levels. The 6L6 power section produces tight low-end and glassy high-end that rewards pedal use and single-coil pickups.
- clean
- crunch
- british
- modern
- glassy
- dynamic
- boutique
- responsive
Good for
- Practice
- Studio
- Worship
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Blackstar Artist 15 is commonly used in
- Blues Rock
- Rock
- Blues
- Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Soul
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar Artist 15
Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31
Tone City
22% matchTone City Model B Distortion TC-T31's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
22% matchInto the Artist 15's glassy, modern British clean, the King of Tone's transparent boost pushes real crunch.
Catalinbread Formula 5F6
Catalinbread
21% matchInto a transparent tone, Catalinbread Formula 5F6 brings the mid-forward it's missing
Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device
EarthQuaker Devices
16% matchBlackstar Artist 15 leans into Marshall-style amps, precisely the platform Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device wants
Seymour Duncan Vise Grip Compressor
Seymour Duncan
16% matchInto Blackstar Artist 15, Seymour Duncan Vise Grip Compressor is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps
Catalinbread Cloak
Catalinbread
13% matchCatalinbread Cloak's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and Blackstar Artist 15 delivers it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Wampler Catacombs
Wampler
13% matchWampler Catacombs is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Blackstar Artist 15 gives it exactly that — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Cry Baby Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q Multi-Wah
Cry Baby
tonal matchInto Blackstar Artist 15, Cry Baby Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q Multi-Wah is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps
Boutique & premium upgrades
Morgan Dual 20
Morgan
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Stage 60 MKII
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar CV30
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Artist 30
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head
amplifier
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
62% similarityShared character: response, crunch, blues_players
Suhr Bella 44-watt Tube Amplifier Head
Suhr
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Supro 1668RT Jupiter
Supro
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Suhr Bella 1X12 Hand wired Combo New
Suhr
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Blues DeVille
amplifier
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Club 40
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Blackstar Artist 15 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar Artist 15?+
The closest matches in character are the Friedman Dirty Shirley, the Suhr Bella 44-watt Tube Amplifier Head, the Supro 1668RT Jupiter. Boutique upgrades: Morgan Dual 20, Blackstar HT Stage 60 MKII, Blackstar CV30.
What pairs well with the Blackstar Artist 15?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31, Analog Man King of Tone, Catalinbread Formula 5F6 — Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Blackstar Artist 15 cost?+
Around $716.67 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).