The Blackstar HT-Boost is a Blackstar boost pedal, currently around $111.84. Close alternatives include the Wadsworth Music Engager Boost and the Ibanez Tube King TK999OD Overdrive. It pairs well with the Peavey Invective 120 and the Supro 1668RT Jupiter.
Blackstar HT-Boost
Blackstar · pedal
The Blackstar HT-Boost is a 12AX7 tube-driven boost pedal that effectively adds two more valve stages to the amplifier signal path. In clean mode it provides low-noise, level boost; at higher settings it drives the amp input into natural tube saturation without adding pedal-level clipping. The valve circuitry distinguishes it from solid-state boost alternatives by producing genuine tube harmonic addition at the output. Part of the Blackstar HT pedal series built around real tube gain stages for tonal enhancement.
What stands out
“In clean mode it provides low-noise, level boost; at higher settings it drives the amp input into natural tube saturation”
— from the listing
“Used to add harmonic warmth and amp-push character to clean amps , or to drive a lightly distorted amp into heavier breakup”
— from the community notes
“The Blackstar HT-Boost is a 12AX7 tube-driven boost pedal that effectively adds two more valve stages to the amplifier signal path”
— from the listing
“The actual tube in the signal path is the standout feature -- the harmonic addition is organic and warm”
— from the community notes
“The valve circuitry distinguishes it from solid-state boost alternatives by producing genuine tube harmonic addition at the output”
— from the listing
- boost
- tube
- harmonic
- stage
- valve
- saturation
- warmth
- solid state
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Blackstar HT-Boost is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Blackstar HT-Boost
Peavey Invective 120
Peavey
27% matchPeavey Invective 120 leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Supro 1668RT Jupiter
Supro
12% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What Blackstar HT-Boost brings here leans toward harmonically rich — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Komet Ambikab 80W 3-Way Wet/Dry/Wet Cabinet
Komet
11% matchBlackstar HT-Boost leans toward harmonically rich, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey 112-6 1x12
Peavey
10% matchWhat Blackstar HT-Boost brings here leans toward harmonically rich — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Blackstar Acoustic Core 30
Blackstar
10% matchWhat Blackstar HT-Boost brings here leans toward harmonically rich — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Ceriatone Crème Brûlée
Ceriatone
9% matchBlackstar HT-Boost leans toward harmonically rich, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Bad Cat
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Bad Cat Lynx 50 brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar HT-Boost
Klon Centaur
Klon
31% matchStack the Klon's clear midrange boost with the HT-Boost's own natural, valve-driven saturation for two distinct shades of push.
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler
Dr Scientist
28% matchDr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler leans this transparent tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler
TC Electronic
21% 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 TC Electronic Mimiq Doubler after Blackstar HT-Boost in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar HT-Boost's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
MXR Dyna Comp
MXR
21% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Ahead of the HT-Boost, the Dyna Comp's squash keeps the attack consistent before that natural, valve-driven saturation ever colors it.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Revv Shawn Tubbs Tilt
Revv
13% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What Blackstar HT-Boost brings here leans toward harmonically rich — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
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.
Keep the Epoch-Set's warm tape echo after the HT-Boost's valve push, so the repeats trail the amp-like saturation instead of tripping over it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dawner Prince Boonar
Dawner Prince
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.
The Boonar's vintage studio delay trails the HT-Boost's natural, valve-driven saturation with real harmonic content to echo. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Donner Big Mouth Distortion
Donner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Donner Big Mouth Distortion brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Cheaper alternatives
DigiTech SC-2 Valve Distortion
Digitech
54% similarityShared character: tube driven signal path, warm, gain
Behringer VT999 Vintage Tube Monster
Behringer
51% similarityShared character: tube driven signal path, solid state, compression
TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive
TC Electronic
50% similarityShared character: natural, boost, warm
Boutique & premium upgrades
Blackstar Dept. 10 Boost
Blackstar
58% similarityShared character: tube driven signal path, solid state, natural
Xotic BB Preamp V1.5
Xotic
54% similarityShared character: boost, warm, gain
Fender MTG LA Tube Distortion
Fender
53% similarityShared character: solid state, compression, warm
Mad Professor Loud N Proud
Mad Professor
53% similarityShared character: boost, presence, natural
Benson Amps Portable Distortion 424 MKII
Benson Amps
50% similarityShared character: compression, boost, warm
Revv Amplification G2-V2
Revv
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Wadsworth Music Engager Boost
Wadsworth Music
60% similarityShared character: compression, natural, boost
Ibanez Tube King TK999OD Overdrive
Ibanez
55% similarityShared character: solid state, boost, warm
Vox CT-03BT
Vox
53% similarityShared character: solid state, compression, boost
Origin Effects RevivalDrive
Origin Effects
51% similarityShared character: compression
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
51% similarityShared character: compression, boost, warm
Behringer PB100 Preamp Booster
Behringer
51% similarityShared character: low noise floor, presence, natural
See all alternatives to the Blackstar HT-Boost (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar HT-Boost?+
The closest matches in character are the Wadsworth Music Engager Boost, the Ibanez Tube King TK999OD Overdrive, the Vox CT-03BT. Budget picks: DigiTech SC-2 Valve Distortion, Behringer VT999 Vintage Tube Monster, TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive. Boutique upgrades: Blackstar Dept. 10 Boost, Xotic BB Preamp V1.5, Fender MTG LA Tube Distortion.
What pairs well with the Blackstar HT-Boost?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey Invective 120, Supro 1668RT Jupiter, Komet Ambikab 80W 3-Way Wet/Dry/Wet Cabinet — Peavey Invective 120 leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Blackstar HT-Boost cost?+
Around $111.84 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).
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