The Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head is a Blackstar amplifier, currently around $904.03. Close alternatives include the PRS HDRX 100 2-Channel 100W Head and the Suhr SL67 MKII. It pairs well with the Carl Martin Crunch Drive and the Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive.
Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head
Blackstar · amplifier
The Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Signature Head is a 50-watt tube amplifier developed with blues-rock guitarist Jared James Nichols, finished in a distinctive British Racing Green livery. It reflects Nichols' specific tonal requirements for thick, aggressive blues-rock tone, part of Blackstar's St. James series built to deliver premium tube tone with artist-informed voicing.
- blues rock
- british
- thick
- authentic nichols inspired tone
- tube
- headroom
- gigging
- blues rock guitarist
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head is commonly used in
- Blues Rock
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head
Carl Martin Crunch Drive
Carl Martin
22% matchRun Carl Martin Crunch Drive into that high headroom platform and it finally gets some crunchy
Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive
Fulltone
19% matchRun Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive into that high headroom platform and it finally gets some fuzzy
Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3
Carl Martin
19% matchInto a high headroom tone, Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3 brings the high gain it's missing
Outlaw Effects RockerBox
Outlaw Effects
13% matchKeep Outlaw Effects RockerBox after Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head's own gain stage
Lab Ratz 3D Boum Warming Unit
Lab Ratz 3d
9% matchWhat Lab Ratz 3D Boum Warming Unit brings here leans toward low gain — that's worth building a pairing around
Binson Echorec Delay
Binson
7% matchPut Binson Echorec Delay in Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head's effects loop, clear of Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo
TC Electronic
6% matchRun TC Electronic Alter Ego V2 Vintage Echo in Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head's effects loop, clear of Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head delivers it
Boutique & premium upgrades
Orange Marcus King MK Ultra Head
Orange
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Park P75H
Park
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Marshall 2245 JTM45 Head
Marshall
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Framus Ruby Riot
Framus
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
PRS HDRX 100 2-Channel 100W Head
PRS
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Suhr SL67 MKII
Suhr
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Díaz CD-100 Amp Head
Diaz
90% similaritysimilar tone character
PRS "30" Amplifier
PRS
90% similaritysimilar tone character
PRS Archon Classic 50 2-Channel Head
PRS
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Chicago Blues Box Bassman Amplifier
Chicago Blues Box
90% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head?+
The closest matches in character are the PRS HDRX 100 2-Channel 100W Head, the Suhr SL67 MKII, the Díaz CD-100 Amp Head. Boutique upgrades: Orange Marcus King MK Ultra Head, Park P75H, Marshall 2245 JTM45 Head.
What pairs well with the Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Carl Martin Crunch Drive, Fulltone OCD Obsessive Compulsive Drive, Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3 — Run Carl Martin Crunch Drive into that high headroom platform and it finally gets some crunchy.
How much does the Blackstar St. James 50 Jared James Nichols Head cost?+
Around $904.03 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).