The Blackstar Series One 45 is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $813.21. Close alternatives include the Carr Skylark and the Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo. It pairs well with the Friedman BE-OD and the Colorsound Overdriver.
Blackstar Series One 45
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar Series One 45 is a 45-watt all-tube guitar amplifier available as both a head and a 2x12 combo. Multiple channels span clean warmth through crunch and high-gain saturation, all shaped by Blackstar's ISF tone control for American-to-British character adjustment. The DPR (Dynamic Power Reduction) system scales the output continuously from full 45 watts down to approximately 4.5 watts, allowing power amp distortion characteristics at manageable stage and studio volumes. The clean channel delivers wide EQ range suited to humbuckers and single-coils alike, with warm bass and generous midrange. Reviewers found it one of the most tonally complete all-in-one tube solutions in its power class.
What stands out
“Multiple channels span clean warmth through crunch and high-gain saturation, all shaped by Blackstar's ISF tone control for American-to-British character adjustment”
— from the listing
“5 watts enables power amp distortion at practice and studio volumes while retaining the feel of the full-power setting”
— from the reviews
“The crunch tones received exceptional praise for response and character”
— from the community notes
“system scales the output continuously from full 45 watts down to approximately 4”
— from the listing
“The DPR-attenuated tones at low wattage retain the feel and character of the full-power setting better than many competing attenuators”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“the amp favors players seeking organic tube feel over digital convenience features”
— from the reviews
- clean
- distortion
- crunch
- full
- bass
- american
- british
- warm
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Blackstar Series One 45 is commonly used in
- Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - 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
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard 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 Series One 45
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Run Friedman BE-OD after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Goes in front of the amp
Colorsound Overdriver
pedal
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Colorsound Overdriver leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Goes in front of the amp
Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp
Beetronics
27% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (crunchy → clean boost)
Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost
Goes in front of the amp
Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo
Caroline Guitar Company
13% 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 Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo after Blackstar Series One 45 in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar Series One 45's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Wampler Ego Compressor
pedal
11% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Blackstar Series One 45's own transparent character is the real reason this is worth trying
Goes in front of the amp
Boss DD-200 Digital Delay
Boss
10% 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 Boss DD-200 Digital Delay in Blackstar Series One 45's effects loop, clear of Blackstar Series One 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
Boss RV-6 Reverb
Boss
10% 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 Blackstar Series One 45's transparent voice out front: Boss RV-6 Reverb goes in Blackstar Series One 45's effects loop so its shimmer voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Suhr Eclipse
Suhr
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Blackstar Series One 45 leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Suhr Eclipse wants
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Carr Bel-Ray
Carr
52% similarityShared character: lower volumes, wide range, gig
Blackstar St. James 100
Blackstar
47% similarityShared character: practice, gig, crunch
Brunetti Singleman 30 Combo
Brunetti
46% similarityShared character: power, crunch, warm
Bad Cat Cub V Hand-Wired 112 Combo
Bad Cat
45% similarityShared character: studio, stage
Carr Super Bee Combo
Carr
43% similarityShared character: lower volumes, two channels, response
Marshall Mini Silver Jubilee 2525C 1x12 Tube Guitar Combo Amp
Marshall
43% similarityShared character: practice, clean, studio
Similar character
Carr Skylark
Carr
48% similarityShared character: wide range, crunch, response
Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo
Laney
48% similarityShared character: two channels, practice, gig
3rd Power Dragon 25 112 Combo
3rd Power
48% similarityShared character: lower volumes, gig, bass
Marshall 2555X Silver Jubilee 100W Reissue
Marshall
47% similarityShared character: lower volumes, crunch, high gain settings
Marshall JVM210C Combo
Marshall
46% similarityShared character: wide range, gig, digital
Fender '59 Bassman LTD
Fender
46% similarityShared character: wide range, gig, warm
See all alternatives to the Blackstar Series One 45 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar Series One 45?+
The closest matches in character are the Carr Skylark, the Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo, the 3rd Power Dragon 25 112 Combo. Budget picks: Orange O Tone 40. Boutique upgrades: Carr Bel-Ray, Blackstar St. James 100, Brunetti Singleman 30 Combo.
What pairs well with the Blackstar Series One 45?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman BE-OD, Colorsound Overdriver, Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp — Run Friedman BE-OD after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright.
How much does the Blackstar Series One 45 cost?+
Around $813.21 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).