The Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $499.99. Close alternatives include the Blackstar Unity 250 and the Peavey Max 300. It pairs well with the Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature and the Walrus Audio Eons.
Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar Unity Bass U120 is a 120-watt 1x12 solid-state bass combo amplifier built for stage-ready performance. A custom-designed Eminence Opus 12-inch speaker in a closed-back cabinet delivers tight, responsive low-end with punchy midrange. Three preamp voices — Classic for vintage warmth, Modern for high-headroom clarity with extended low end, and Overdrive for harmonically rich grind — are complemented by a three-band EQ with semi-parametric mid control and a Response control selecting between Classic, Modern, and Overdrive power amp behavior. Built-in compressor and chorus effects round out a fully self-contained gigging bass amplifier platform.
What stands out
“Three preamp voices — Classic for vintage warmth, Modern for high-headroom clarity with extended low end, and Overdrive for harmonically rich grind — are complemented by a three-band EQ with semi-parametric mid control and a Response contro…”
— from the listing
“Three voice modes provide authentically different tonal starting points from vintage warmth to clean modern articulation to harmonic overdrive”
— from the reviews
“The three voice modes genuinely differ in character: Classic for warm vintage grunt, Modern for transparent articulation and extended low end, and Overdrive for harmonic grind and grit”
— from the community notes
“Very loud open venues or outdoor stages may require PA support for full projection”
— from the reviews
“At 120 watts through a single 12-inch driver the amp handles club and rehearsal volume with headroom to spare”
— from the reviews
- clarity
- low end
- overdrive
- response
- stage
- grind
- club
- harmonic
Good for
- Live
- Practice
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier is commonly used in
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Acoustic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Jazz
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
22% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
Into a transparent tone, Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature brings a pull toward low gain that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
Walrus Audio Eons
Walrus Audio
20% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
Into a transparent tone, Walrus Audio Eons brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
19% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → high gain)
Into a transparent tone, Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase
MXR
12% 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 MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase after Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer
pedal
11% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer leans toward dynamic, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Goes in front of the amp
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
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.
Eventide Modulated Delay's modulated voice goes in Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay in Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier's effects loop, clear of Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Into a transparent tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Cheaper alternatives
Hartke Lightweight Bass Amplifier
Hartke
47% similarityShared character: punch, solid state, punchy
Orange Crush Bass 50
Orange
42% similarityShared character: solid state, punchy, middle
Ampeg RB-112 Rocket Bass 100-Watt Combo Bass
Ampeg
41% similarityShared character: grit, gig, headroom
Blackstar Unity Bass U60
Blackstar
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Blackstar Unity Bass U500
Blackstar
55% similarityShared character: compressor, solid state, chorus
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
47% similarityShared character: round, compressor, punch
Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus BG-450
Phil Jones
45% similarityShared character: articulation, gig, headroom
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
42% similarityShared character: compressor, punch, solid state
Mesa Boogie Powerhouse 2x10" 600watt 8 ohm
Mesa Boogie
41% similarityShared character: punchy, headroom, stage
Blackstar Unity 500
Blackstar
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Blackstar Unity 250
Blackstar
54% similarityShared character: grit, compressor, punch
Peavey Max 300
Peavey
48% similarityShared character: punch, solid state, gig
Ampeg BA- 115 V2
Ampeg
46% similarityShared character: punch, solid state, gig
Laney Richter RB4 Bass Combo
Laney
46% similarityShared character: volume, compressor, punch
Gallien-Krueger MB-210 II Bass combo 350 watts
Gallien Krueger
45% similarityShared character: punch, punchy, gig
Gallien-Krueger MB-212 II Bass Combo 500 watts
Gallien Krueger
43% similarityShared character: punch, gig, clarity
See all alternatives to the Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier?+
The closest matches in character are the Blackstar Unity 250, the Peavey Max 300, the Ampeg BA- 115 V2. Budget picks: Hartke Lightweight Bass Amplifier, Orange Crush Bass 50, Ampeg RB-112 Rocket Bass 100-Watt Combo Bass. Boutique upgrades: Blackstar Unity Bass U500, Orange Little Bass Thing, Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus BG-450.
What pairs well with the Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature, Walrus Audio Eons, Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz — Into a transparent tone, Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature brings a pull toward low gain that's missing.
How much does the Blackstar BASSU120 Unity 120-Watt Bass Amplifier cost?+
Around $499.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).