The Blackstar S1-45 is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $813.21. Close alternatives include the Strymon Iridium and the Peavey Classic 50W Combo. It pairs well with the Marshall Guv'nor and the Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler.
Blackstar S1-45
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar Series One 45 is a 45-watt all-tube amplifier head from Blackstar premium Series One range, built for professional stage and studio use. Four EL34 output tubes drive two fully independent channels — Clean and Overdrive — each equipped with Blackstar ISF tone control. The Series One line sits above the HT series in terms of headroom, channel separation, and build quality. At 45 watts it delivers genuine tube power for mid-sized venue performance while keeping stage volume at a practical level.
What stands out
“The Series One 45 is chosen by professional and serious gigging players who need premium EL34 tube tone at mid-venue volumes”
— from the community notes
“at 45 watts it delivers genuine tube power for mid-sized venue performance while keeping stage volume at a practical level”
— from the listing
“Four EL34 output tubes drive two fully independent channels — Clean and Overdrive — each equipped with Blackstar ISF tone control”
— from the listing
“The ISF on both channels provides the full American-to-British EQ sweep, giving both channels independent tonal flexibility”
— from the community notes
“The 45W output is praised as the sweet spot between power-tube saturation at live volume and manageable stage presence”
— from the community notes
- tube
- mid
- clean
- stage
- headroom
- overdrive
- response
- presence
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Blackstar S1-45 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. - Metal
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 S1-45
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
24% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (high headroom → mid-forward)
Marshall Guv'nor leans this high headroom tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Goes in front of the amp
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler
Dr Scientist
22% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (high headroom → low gain)
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler leans this high headroom tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Goes in front of the amp
Browne Amplification Carbon
Browne Amplification
22% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (high headroom → low gain)
Blackstar S1-45 leans into Marshall-style amps, precisely the platform Browne Amplification Carbon wants
Goes in front of the amp
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Boss
14% 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 BF-2 Flanger after Blackstar S1-45 in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar S1-45's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Lab Ratz 3D Boum Warming Unit
Lab Ratz 3d
12% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Blackstar S1-45's own mid-forward character is the real reason this is worth trying
Goes in front of the amp
Binson Echorec Delay
Binson
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 Binson Echorec Delay in Blackstar S1-45's effects loop, clear of Blackstar S1-45's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo
pedal
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 Strymon El Capistan dTape Echo in Blackstar S1-45's effects loop, clear of Blackstar S1-45'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 high headroom tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Cheaper alternatives
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
Crate V18-212
Crate
56% similarityShared character: two channels, presence, headroom
Marshall Origin 50 Head
Marshall
53% similarityShared character: gig, headroom, middle
Bad Cat Cougar 15
Bad Cat
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
EVH 5150 Iconic Series 60W 2x12 Combo
Evh
59% similarityShared character: aggressive playing, two channels, presence
Fender Dual Showman (Silverface)
amplifier
57% similarityShared character: presence, warm, clarity
3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo
3rd Power
51% similarityShared character: headroom, warm, response
Bad Cat Hot Cat 50 Mod Shop Combo
Bad Cat
51% similarityShared character: aggressive playing, two channels, headroom
Blackstar Artist 30
Blackstar
50% similarityShared character: aggressive playing, two channels, presence
3rd Power Lyra 20 1x12" Combo
3rd Power
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Strymon Iridium
Strymon
72% similarityStrymon Iridium recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Peavey Classic 50W Combo
Peavey
61% similarityShared character: presence, gig, stage
Fender Blues DeVille
amplifier
55% similarityShared character: clarity, response, classic rock
Blackstar HT-5C
Blackstar
51% similarityShared character: two channels, middle, warm
2002 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe II Combo
amplifier
51% similarityShared character: presence, gig, headroom
Milkman 85W Pedal Steel Amplifier
Milkman
51% similarityShared character: clarity, stage
See all alternatives to the Blackstar S1-45 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar S1-45?+
The closest matches in character are the Strymon Iridium, the Peavey Classic 50W Combo, the Fender Blues DeVille. Budget picks: Friedman IR-D, Soldano SLO, Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp. Boutique upgrades: EVH 5150 Iconic Series 60W 2x12 Combo, Fender Dual Showman (Silverface), 3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo.
What pairs well with the Blackstar S1-45?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Guv'nor, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler, Browne Amplification Carbon — Marshall Guv'nor leans this high headroom tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Blackstar S1-45 cost?+
Around $813.21 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).