The Blackstar Artist 30 is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $1082.33. Close alternatives include the EVH 5150 Iconic Series 60W 2x12 Combo and the Two-Rock Classic Reverb Signature 6V6 40W 1x12 Combo. It pairs well with the Xotic BB Preamp and the Catalinbread Formula 5F6.
Blackstar Artist 30
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar Artist 30 is a 30-watt 2x12 tube combo amplifier built around 6L6 power tubes in a fixed-bias Class A/B circuit. Two independent channels — clean and drive — are each distinctly voiced: the clean channel delivers glassy American-style headroom with extended high-end clarity, while the drive channel provides British crunch and gain with assertive mid-forward character. Blackstar's ISF tone control spans American and British voicing across both channels. Features include onboard reverb, a series effects loop, and extension speaker output. The 6L6 power stage paired with 2x12 speakers produces balanced midrange, tight low-end, and a dynamic, responsive platform for pedal use.
What stands out
“Two independent channels — clean and drive — are each distinctly voiced: the clean channel delivers glassy American-style headroom with extended high-end clarity, while the drive channel provides British crunch and gain with assertive mid-f…”
— from the listing
“The 6L6 power tubes deliver American-voicing headroom and glassy clean clarity, while the fixed-bias output stage adds tightness and punch through the 2x12 speakers”
— from the reviews
“Features include onboard reverb, a series effects loop, and extension speaker output”
— from the listing
“Players describe the Artist 30 as a boutique-voiced amp at a non-boutique price — the 6L6 power stage delivers American headroom with Class A/B clarity that benefits pedal use, and the ISF control gives British-style mid-presence at the tur…”
— from the community notes
“The drive channel transitions from JTM45-style vintage crunch to more aggressive modern gain, and the clean channel responds expressively to dynamic playing and pedal input”
— from the community notes
- british
- american
- headroom
- stage
- crunch
- clarity
- reverb
- gain
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Blackstar Artist 30 is commonly used in
- Rock
- Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar Artist 30
Xotic BB Preamp
Xotic
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Xotic BB Preamp leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread Formula 5F6
Catalinbread
27% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (crunchy → mid-forward)
Catalinbread Formula 5F6 pushes a crunchy tone toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Zvex 59 Sound
Zvex
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Zvex 59 Sound's own voicing points at Fender-style amps, and Blackstar Artist 30 delivers it
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread Valcoder '70s Collection
Catalinbread
19% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Catalinbread Valcoder '70s Collection is voiced for Fender-style amps — Blackstar Artist 30 gives it exactly that
Goes in front of the amp
Origin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe
Origin Effects
18% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Origin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe is voiced for Fender-style amps — Blackstar Artist 30 gives it exactly that
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe
Catalinbread
14% matchBlackstar Artist 30 leans into Marshall-style amps, precisely the platform Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe wants — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
9% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte in Blackstar Artist 30's effects loop, clear of Blackstar Artist 30's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive is voiced for Marshall-style amps — Blackstar Artist 30 gives it exactly that
Cheaper alternatives
Catalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box
Catalinbread
72% similarityCatalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box 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
Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp
Friedman
72% similarityFriedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Blackstar CV30
Blackstar
56% similarityShared character: two channels, effects loop, crunch
Marshall Origin 50 Head
Marshall
51% similarityShared character: effects loop, headroom, middle
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
EVH 5150 Iconic Series 60W 2x12 Combo
Evh
49% similarityShared character: two channels, presence, headroom
Two-Rock Classic Reverb Signature 6V6 40W 1x12 Combo
Two-Rock
48% similarityShared character: two channels, reverb, vintage charm
Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-50 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
48% similarityShared character: two channels, glassy, crunch
Fender Dual Showman (Silverface)
amplifier
48% similarityShared character: presence, clarity, vintage charm
Suhr SL67 MKII
Suhr
48% similarityShared character: presence, headroom, middle
Matchless Clubman 35
amplifier
47% similarityShared character: glassy, effects loop, clarity
See all alternatives to the Blackstar Artist 30 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar Artist 30?+
The closest matches in character are the EVH 5150 Iconic Series 60W 2x12 Combo, the Two-Rock Classic Reverb Signature 6V6 40W 1x12 Combo, the Mesa Boogie Triple Crown TC-50 1x12 Combo. Budget picks: Catalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box, Friedman IR-D, Soldano SLO. Boutique upgrades: Suhr Badger 18.
What pairs well with the Blackstar Artist 30?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Xotic BB Preamp, Catalinbread Formula 5F6, Zvex 59 Sound — Xotic BB Preamp leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it.
How much does the Blackstar Artist 30 cost?+
Around $1082.33 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).