The Blackstar S1-50 is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $1371.89. Close alternatives include the EVH 5150III LBX II and the Blackstar HT-20R MkII. It pairs well with the Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive and the Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3.
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.
- clean
- mid
- club
- headroom
- final tone
- overdrive
- el34 tone
- tube
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Aug 27, 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. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar S1-50
Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive
Fulltone
20% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive gives it fuzzy to fill it with
Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3
Carl Martin
19% matchRun Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3 into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Way Huge Swollen Pickle
Way Huge
19% matchInto a transparent tone, Way Huge Swollen Pickle brings the fuzzy it's missing
MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase
MXR
12% matchMXR ZW90 Wylde Phase's modulated voice goes after Blackstar S1-50 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Blackstar S1-50's own transparent character
Wampler Mini Ego 76 Compressor
Wampler
8% matchWampler Mini Ego 76 Compressor leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath
EarthQuaker Devices
6% matchKeep EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath 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)
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Mad Professor
6% matchMad Professor Deep Blue Delay's analog warmth voice goes in Blackstar S1-50's effects loop — it's not there to compete with Blackstar S1-50's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 gives it fuzzy to fill it with
Cheaper alternatives
Blackstar S1-45
Blackstar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W 1x12 Combo
PRS
94% similaritysimilar tone character
DV Mark Raw Dawg EG
Dv Mark
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar
amplifier
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Stage 60 MKII
Blackstar
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Blackstar HT Club 50 MKII
Blackstar
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
EVH 5150III LBX II
Evh
60% similarityShared character: head, two_channels, attack
Blackstar HT-20R MkII
Blackstar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall DSL20HR Head
Marshall
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Carr rambler
Carr
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall DSL15H 2-Channel 15-Watt
Marshall
93% similaritysimilar tone character
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 Blackstar HT-20R MkII, the Marshall DSL20HR Head. Budget picks: Blackstar S1-45, PRS Archon 50 2-Channel 50W 1x12 Combo, DV Mark Raw Dawg EG. Boutique upgrades: 3rd Power Dragon 45 112 Combo.
What pairs well with the Blackstar S1-50?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive, Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3, Way Huge Swollen Pickle — The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive gives it fuzzy to fill it with.
How much does the Blackstar S1-50 cost?+
Around $1371.89 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).