Will blackheart be enough?

  • Thread starter Thread starter elenore19
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I wish I had a Blackheart - they look so cool. If there's a 15 watt coming out, I agree it might be best to wait.

I've got the Epi VJ head, and I don't think it's loud enough to put a dent in a loud drummer. One thing's worth noting -- it seems to be louder with higher wattage-rated speakers - to wit: Through a Marshall 1960A 4x12 cab with 75 watt Celestions, it's pretty darn loud (but *nowhere near* half as loud as the JCM800 2204 50 watt head that came with the cab, IMO). Through a 2x12 Sovtek cab with some 60 watt EVs, it's not as loud as with the 1960A. Then I put Weber Signatures (25 watts) in the 2x12, and it's still less loud. I think this is because it's causing more speaker break-up (which I like) with the lower rated speakers. It's *conceivable* that the lower number of speakers results in more power to each speaker which results in more speaker breakup and less loudness, too. I can't back this up with an electro-acoustic explanation, due to my lack of skilz in that area, but I'm pretty sure of my observation.
 
before i got the SCXD i was looking at Epi VJ/Blackhearts and I remember reading that they're really made in the same factory. I thought the only diff is the extra controls on the BH.

Since I was also looking for an amp to play with a drummer, the reason I didn't think VJ or similar would work for me was because it wouldn't give me a clean sound at high volume, only overdriven. It may work great for recording or maybe for some styles, like blues, but I needed both a clean and a crunch.

SCXD delivers both (actually much more than "both") and gives me FX, footswitch option (they're not available at retailers, but orderable through "fender dealers").

Epi and BH are good deals and good amps from what I read (I only played a VJ, both combo and head), but when looking at head+cab cost to have a useable rig vs. the cost of a new SCXD, which is a useable rig in itself... well, my opinion can't be the only right one :rolleyes: so it's your choice.

but i've found "THE" perfect amp for me (or anyone on a budget).
 
elenore19 said:
I really want tube sound. I've had the opportunity to try it out, and it's just amazing. So I'm looking into the blackheart head.

If I hooked it up to a 2x10 with Vintage 30's, would it be enough power to over power a drumset with a drummer who plays loud?


Thanks!

-Elliot


If you have any other cheap suggestions for the same type of deal, let me know.

EDIT:
Should I buy this head, and then trade my line 6 spider two for the speaker cab? Giving up the power of my line 6? Is it worth it? The line 6 sounds like absolute crap.
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In a word...No
however you can Mic the Cab.
 
The bigger cabinet will definitely help. A five watt amp with a 2x10 cab will work great with a relatively quiet drummer. A 15 watt amp with the same speakers might get drowned out by a loud drumber (in my experience, there's an inverse relationship between volume and IQ with drummers. Or guitarists, for that matter).

I've been playing a 15 watt 1x10 combo (2xEL84) for years, and it's just right with rational drummers.
 
I changed out the tubes in my VJ - went with JJ Tubes and the Volume is not as strong - good tone though...
 
Just my experience, but I would say 5 watts with a power drummer will not cut it at all. If you are doing leads I would say at least 30 watts of tube power and 50 watts solid state power. A power booster like a tube screamer or a blues driver would help with the solos, I like the blues driver since it will give a clean toned boost as well as dirty.
 
I'll edit the main post with this same information.


I'm thinking about going with the Fender Super Champ XD. It seems perfect. I will also get the 2x12 cabinet to go along with it for gigs.

That should be loud enough, right?

15 watts through two vintage 30's?

I've heard the amp is pretty loud on it's own.

It'll also work as a more portable practice amp, which will be really nice. And also has an awesome tone. Have only found one bad review on it.


Thanks for all the info guys.
 
elenore19 said:
I'll edit the main post with this same information.


I'm thinking about going with the Fender Super Champ XD. It seems perfect. I will also get the 2x12 cabinet to go along with it for gigs.

That should be loud enough, right?

15 watts through two vintage 30's?

I've heard the amp is pretty loud on it's own.

It'll also work as a more portable practice amp, which will be really nice. And also has an awesome tone. Have only found one bad review on it.


Thanks for all the info guys.
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I think that's gonna be a WAY better choice than the BlackHeart for playing with a drumber. Not to disparage the Blackheart but 15 watts is gonna get you up quite a bit and more important, you'll have a little bit of headroom ..... you won't have to have that amp running wide open all the time trying to be heard.
Let us know how it works out.
 
Lt. Bob said:
I think that's gonna be a WAY better choice than the BlackHeart for playing with a drumber. Not to disparage the Blackheart but 15 watts is gonna get you up quite a bit and more important, you'll have a little bit of headroom ..... you won't have to have that amp running wide open all the time trying to be heard.
Let us know how it works out.
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Thanks. It's always nice to hear good news about what I'm thinking of buying. Ha.
Yeah, it does seem like a much better choice. I didn't know about this amp until someone on here suggested it. So yeah. I've read through tons of reviews and out of like 60 or so reviews, I only found one bad review.


I'll definitely update on how it works out.
 
ever hear of a P.A.? A Blackheart Mic'ed through a good P.A. would work great... Back in "the day" we all played through our Amps but nowadays with P.A.'s almost any amp would sound loud and "fat"
 
Anfontan said:
If you are doing leads I would say at least 30 watts of tube power and 50 watts solid state power.
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Au contraire. I use a BF Deluxe Reverb (22 watts) in my band and get asked to turn it down if I raise the input over about 3 1/2. Our drummer is very dynamic and at times he is just plain LOUD.
 
elenore19 said:
Will black heart be enough?
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No my son, you must also have an evil and blackened soul, more vile than a thousand pedophile rapist madmens rotting gallon of jizz ..:mad:























Sorry...what was the question again?
 
Epi Valve jr

For what its worth, I got an EV jr when they first came out, and was pretty disappointed-very vanilla sounding. So it sat for a few months, and one day on a whim I bought the hot rod kit from Mercury Magnetics, and had my amp tech install it. Wow! Night and day! I love that little bugger now!!

The downside is that I've now got about 500.00 invested in my 99.00 amp, but the Mercury Kit is the only thing that kept it from going up on Ebay. Pat Selfridge at Mercury says that the kit for the Blackheart will be available any day now, so I'm guessing that it will be just as good.

Bottom line-with gear,as with life,you get what you pay for.
 
dirtybob said:
For what its worth, I got an EV jr when they first came out, and was pretty disappointed-very vanilla sounding. So it sat for a few months, and one day on a whim I bought the hot rod kit from Mercury Magnetics, and had my amp tech install it. Wow! Night and day! I love that little bugger now!!

The downside is that I've now got about 500.00 invested in my 99.00 amp, but the Mercury Kit is the only thing that kept it from going up on Ebay. Pat Selfridge at Mercury says that the kit for the Blackheart will be available any day now, so I'm guessing that it will be just as good.

Bottom line-with gear,as with life,you get what you pay for.
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i really dont know if i agree with that last line anymore...its about what sound you want...and ive gotten sounded out of cheaper amps that ive loved compared to more expensive. Things are changing..and yeah, people that use expensive amps..will still keep using them..but for the rest of us..idk..a lot of people are already devoted to these blackhearts...im just waiting for the 15W head to come out..i heard some clean samples on that thing..and fell in love.
 
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