The Blackstar HT-5C is a Blackstar amplifier. Close alternatives include the Blackstar HT-5R Series HT-5R 5W 1x12 and the Blackstar HT-20R MkII. It pairs well with the Carl Martin PlexiTone and the Friedman BE-OD.
Blackstar HT-5C
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar HT-5C is a 5-watt all-tube combo amplifier from Blackstar HT series, using an ECC83 preamp tube and an EL34 output tube. It delivers genuine all-valve character at practice and small-studio volumes through a single speaker. A single channel provides both clean and overdrive voicings alongside Blackstar ISF tone control. Sitting above the 1-watt HT-1 in the line, the HT-5C offers slightly more clean headroom before breakup while retaining the compact, bedroom-friendly tube amp format. An emulated output socket allows direct connection to a recording interface without a speaker cabinet.
- practice
- direct recording
- tube
- mid
- response
- dynamic
- clean
- preamp
Good for
- Practice
- Studio
Genres the Blackstar HT-5C is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- 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. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar HT-5C
Carl Martin PlexiTone
Carl Martin
20% matchRun Carl Martin PlexiTone into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
19% matchInto Blackstar HT-5C, Friedman BE-OD is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Colorsound Overdriver
pedal
19% matchColorsound Overdriver is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Blackstar HT-5C gives it exactly that
MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase
MXR
10% matchKeep MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase after Blackstar HT-5C in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar HT-5C's own gain stage
Universal Audio 1176 Compressor
Universal Audio
8% matchWhat Universal Audio 1176 Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath
EarthQuaker Devices
6% matchKeep EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath in Blackstar HT-5C's effects loop, clear of Blackstar HT-5C's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Fjord Fuzz Mime
Fjord Fuzz
6% matchKeep Fjord Fuzz Mime in Blackstar HT-5C's effects loop, clear of Blackstar HT-5C's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
tonal matchBlack Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Blackstar HT-5C gives it exactly that
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Blackstar HT-5R Series HT-5R 5W 1x12
Blackstar
64% similarityShared character: amp, room, two_channels
Blackstar HT-20R MkII
Blackstar
61% similarityShared character: middle, room, two_channels
Magnatone Starlite 1x8 Combo
Magnatone
61% similarityShared character: room, gold_sparkle, practice
3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo
3rd Power
61% similarityShared character: lower_volumes, room, practice
Blackstar HT-1R MkIII
Blackstar
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT20R MkII
Blackstar
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar Studio 10 KT88 Limited Edition
Blackstar
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Club 100 HTV-100 MKIII 100-Watt
Blackstar
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar TV-10 BH
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar TV-10
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT20 Mk. II 20 Watt Combo
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Stage 100 MK III Head
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Blackstar HT-5C (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar HT-5C?+
The closest matches in character are the Blackstar HT-5R Series HT-5R 5W 1x12, the Blackstar HT-20R MkII, the Magnatone Starlite 1x8 Combo.
What pairs well with the Blackstar HT-5C?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Carl Martin PlexiTone, Friedman BE-OD, Colorsound Overdriver — Run Carl Martin PlexiTone into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain.