The Blackstar CV30 is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $788.06. Close alternatives include the Strymon Iridium and the PRS Sonzera. It pairs well with the Browne Amplification Gritador and the Catalinbread RAH.
Blackstar CV30
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar CV30 is a 30-watt signature combo amplifier designed in collaboration with guitarist Carmen Vandenberg of Bones UK and Jeff Beck collaborator. It runs two ECC83 preamp tubes and two 6L6 power tubes, housed in a 1x12 cabinet loaded with a Celestion V-Type speaker. Two channels each carry two voices: the Clean channel switches between American and British voicings while the Overdrive channel offers Classic and Modern gain characters. Blackstar patented ISF tone control, digital reverb, and an effects loop complete the feature set. The 6L6 power section delivers American-style dynamics with British Class A-style chime and shimmer.
What stands out
“The 6L6 power section delivers American-style dynamics with British Class A-style chime and shimmer”
— from the listing
“The ISF control is the community standout feature for dialling in American sparkle versus British warmth”
— from the community notes
“Carmen Vandenberg tone reference is blues, classic rock, and alternative rock — the four available voicings map well to that range”
— from the community notes
“The CV30 is positioned as a versatile single-amp solution for players who move between clean, crunch, and moderate high-gain territory”
— from the community notes
“The British Clean voice adds a slight warmth and early breakup that suits blues rhythm work”
— from the reviews
- american
- british
- classic rock
- clean
- crunch
- rock
- warmth
- modern
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the Blackstar CV30 is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Metal
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 CV30
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
26% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Into Blackstar CV30, Browne Amplification Gritador is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread RAH
Catalinbread
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Blackstar CV30 leans into Marshall-style amps, precisely the platform Catalinbread RAH wants
Goes in front of the amp
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Into the CV30's classic-rock British clean, the King of Tone's transparent boost pushes real crunch.
Goes in front of the amp
Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive
Origin Effects
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and Blackstar CV30 delivers it
Goes in front of the amp
Wampler Ego Compressor
pedal
11% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
What Blackstar CV30 brings here leans toward transparent — that's worth building a pairing around
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe
Catalinbread
10% matchCatalinbread Dirty Little Secret Deluxe's own voicing points at Marshall-style amps, and Blackstar CV30 delivers it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Boss DD-200 Digital Delay
Boss
8% 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 Boss DD-200 Digital Delay in Blackstar CV30's effects loop, clear of Blackstar CV30's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Behringer TO800 Vintage Tube Overdrive
Behringer
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Into Blackstar CV30, Behringer TO800 Vintage Tube Overdrive is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
Friedman IR-D
Friedman
72% similarityFriedman IR-D 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
Soldano SLO
Soldano
72% similaritySoldano SLO recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Peavey Valveking Combo 50
Peavey
58% similarityShared character: reverb, crunch, classic rock
Blackstar CV10 Carmen Vandenberg Signature 10-Watt 1x12"
Blackstar
56% similarityShared character: two channels, wide range, crunch
Blackstar HT Club 40 MkIII
Blackstar
53% similarityShared character: two channels, crunch, warm
Boutique & premium upgrades
Blackstar Artist 30
Blackstar
56% similarityShared character: two channels, effects loop, crunch
Framus Ruby Riot
Framus
53% similarityShared character: wide range, two channels, reverb
Milkman Sound HT15 15W 1x12 Combo
Milkman Sound
51% similarityShared character: reverb, wide range, clean
Gibson Falcon 20
Gibson
51% similarityShared character: crunch, clean, stage
Traynor YGL1
Traynor
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Strymon Iridium
Strymon
72% similarityStrymon Iridium recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
PRS Sonzera
PRS
53% similarityShared character: crunch, reverb, clean
Blackstar HT Club 40 MKII
Blackstar
53% similarityShared character: two channels, gold sparkle, effects loop
PRS Sonzera 20 Combo
PRS
52% similarityShared character: crunch, reverb, high gain settings
Blackstar HT Club 40
Blackstar
50% similarityShared character: high gain settings, two channels, effects loop
Marshall JVM205C Combo
Marshall
50% similarityShared character: two channels, effects loop, wide range
See all alternatives to the Blackstar CV30 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar CV30?+
The closest matches in character are the Strymon Iridium, the PRS Sonzera, the Blackstar HT Club 40 MKII. Budget picks: Friedman IR-D, Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, Soldano SLO. Boutique upgrades: Blackstar Artist 30, Framus Ruby Riot, Milkman Sound HT15 15W 1x12 Combo.
What pairs well with the Blackstar CV30?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Browne Amplification Gritador, Catalinbread RAH, Analog Man King of Tone — Into Blackstar CV30, Browne Amplification Gritador is right at home: it's built around Marshall-style amps.
How much does the Blackstar CV30 cost?+
Around $788.06 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).