The Blackstar S1-50 is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $1319.28. Close alternatives include the EVH 5150III LBX II and the Brunetti Pleximan 50/5W Head 230. It pairs well with the Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz and the Walrus Audio Eons.
Blackstar S1-50
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar Series One 50 is a 50-watt all-tube amplifier head from Blackstar professional Series One range. EL34 output tubes power two independent channels — Clean and Overdrive — each with ISF tone shaping. The Series One line is Blackstar premium all-tube tier, positioned above the HT series for headroom, dynamic response, and build quality. At 50 watts it suits club and mid-sized venue performance, providing clean headroom for pedal-heavy rigs and natural power-tube saturation at stage volumes.
What stands out
“At 50 watts it suits club and mid-sized venue performance, providing clean headroom for pedal-heavy rigs and natural power-tube saturation at stage volumes”
— from the listing
“EL34 output tubes power two independent channels — Clean and Overdrive — each with ISF tone shaping”
— from the listing
“The Series One line is Blackstar premium all-tube tier, positioned above the HT series for headroom, dynamic response, and build quality”
— from the listing
“The ISF control provides tonal flexibility across both channels, enabling wide variation in EQ character”
— from the community notes
“Players who gig professionally at medium venues choose the 50W output as a practical balance between power-tube saturation at stage volume and manageable amp weight”
— from the community notes
- power tube saturation
- clean
- dynamic response
- stage
- mid
- club
- headroom
- clean headroom
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Blackstar S1-50 is commonly used in
- Hard Rock
- Blues
- Alternative Rock
- 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.
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar S1-50
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz
Cusack Music
20% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (high headroom → fuzzy)
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz leans this high headroom tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
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. (high headroom → fuzzy)
The high headroom tone has headroom to spare — Walrus Audio Eons leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Goes in front of the amp
Way Huge Swollen Pickle
Way Huge
19% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (high headroom → fuzzy)
Into a high headroom tone, Way Huge Swollen Pickle brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Goes in front of the amp
Wampler Mini Ego 76 Compressor
Wampler
12% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (high headroom → compressed)
Wampler Mini Ego 76 Compressor leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
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.
Keep MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase after Blackstar S1-50 in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar S1-50's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy 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.
Run Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay in Blackstar S1-50's effects loop, clear of Blackstar S1-50's own gain stage — 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 S1-50's effects loop, clear of Blackstar S1-50'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
The high headroom tone has headroom to spare — Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Cheaper alternatives
DV Mark Raw Dawg EG
Dv Mark
46% similarityShared character: tonal possibilities, alternative, clean
Fender Bassbreaker 007 7-Watt
Fender
44% similarityShared character: clean
Peavey Invective 120
Peavey
42% similarityShared character: two channels, gig, clean
Blackstar Series One 100 MkII
Blackstar
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
EVH 5150III LBX II
Evh
64% similarityShared character: two channels, attack, gig
Brunetti Pleximan 50/5W Head 230
Brunetti
53% similarityShared character: stage volumes, headroom, natural
Two-Rock TRCR100HD 100W Classic Reverb Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
52% similarityShared character: headroom, middle, stage
Wylde Audio Master 100 Amp Head
amplifier
50% similarityShared character: rich harmonic content, hard rock
Blackstar Series One 200
Blackstar
49% similarityShared character: headroom, alternative, stage
PRS Dallas 50W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
49% similarityShared character: two channels, headroom, alternative
See all alternatives to the Blackstar S1-50 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar S1-50?+
The closest matches in character are the EVH 5150III LBX II, the Brunetti Pleximan 50/5W Head 230, the Two-Rock TRCR100HD 100W Classic Reverb Tube Guitar Amp Head. Budget picks: DV Mark Raw Dawg EG, Fender Bassbreaker 007 7-Watt, Peavey Invective 120. Boutique upgrades: 3rd Power DRGN-100.
What pairs well with the Blackstar S1-50?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz, Walrus Audio Eons, Way Huge Swollen Pickle — Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz leans this high headroom tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Blackstar S1-50 cost?+
Around $1319.28 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).