BlackstarDebut, 2 Guitar Combo Amplifier, Black (DEBUT50RBLK)

I bought this amp when looking for something that could do anything I throw at it. The 50w/5w power selection switch makes this amp capable of both quiet bedroom and loud full band practice/gig settings which is quite nice. To only need one amp to do both is unheard of in this price range. The Blackstar ISF tone knob is a very versatile tool and helps players dial in their amp's tonal characteristics beyond traditional amps. I personally love the ISF knob rolled all the way to the right on the clean channel as this produces a chimey British sound reminiscent of a Vox amp. Blackstar set out to release this amp as one that is very simple, yet uncompromising in the tone department and absolutely accomplished that! There are enough features to run the amp as-is and generate excellent sounds, but adding pedals unlocks many more possibilities too. It is an incredibly responsive pedal platform. My only complaint is that the optional footswitch is sold separately from the factory. That is no big deal though as this amp was a home-run purchase! There is excellent reason why this amp is on backorder through most retailers. See for yourself!

A brilliant amp, a back to basic great sounding amp. I'd had modelling amps that I ended up getting rid of because even with 999 settings I only ever used one or two. I wanted an amp that I could practice at home with and take to practice or play live, something I could carry. This amp more than meets my needs and although we don't play with a drummer if I ever did I have no worry that this would work for me. It might be light but the sound isn't.

Good product and it's exactly as advertised. Much louder then expected and a "fun" pedal platform. Is it a vintage tube amp? Absolutely not but it's not trying to be. Solid state, snappy, and the tone is mostly about the player anyway. I think it's great just manage your expectations.

Nice little amp with plenty of power. Nice clean and OD tones.

I bought on a whim as there wasn't many reviews online - the amp had only recently been released (purchased May 2023). The handful of reviews on YouTube seem to over praise the amp - so far there's no negative reviews online.I've been playing for 35+ years, so I know my way around gear pretty well and can probably give a reasonable review for those interested.I bought the amp as I wanted a reasonably portable amp for practice around the house jamming to some tracks, with or without headphones. Apart from my Katana, my other amps are all valve. They're just difficult to lug around, plus my Silver Jube is a head.I always find the Katana a pain to dial in tones wihtout the software, so when I read that Blackstar had released a transistor/solid-state amp I was interested stright away, especially as the amp was only 200 quid.ProsLight, easy to carry around.Loud enough for most people's needs5 Watt optionEffects LoopAUX in for connecting MP3/Phone for jammingHeadphone output2 ChannelsSounds quite good for a Solid-State amp, to a pointConsThe speaker doesn't sound great, it's very thin (The magnet on it is very small - I'm guessing that's why the amp is so light). On my Les Paul's I would normally crank the mids and treble to cut through a mix, but I had to actually reduce them down to 4-5 due to to thinness of the tone.The AUX in for jamming to tracks was one area that had to be reasonable decent, however it isn't great. The speaker just doesn't sound good at all playing regular audio (I know that this is pretty normal on amps, as they use guitar speakers, not Hi-fi ones) - but this just isn't up to others I've tried.Also in 5 watt mode there is very little volume outputed. My phone was cranked to the max and I even used a software pre-amp to boost the volume, but it was still very quiet. There's no way to adjust the input volume on the amp sadly.So instead I had to resort to the 50 watt mode which seemed to work better, but this was overkill for me. Especially as when the amp is next to you there is a lot of feedback if you intend to use an overdrive pedal to boost the gain it gets noisey!The gain isn't quite enough for hard rock, so you'll need something in front to give it an extra push.The cleans were pretty good, but I had to add a little overdrive to help the tone break up, otherwise it was a little too clean and sterile.The reverbs Plate and Hall were ok, but nothing special.Playing through headphones isn't great, although I've not yet found an amp that shines with them, no matter what headphones I've used. It sounded very fizzy and bass heavy through them.The sensitivy of playing with solid state amps is usually a little poor, the Mosfet technology though does seem to improve the feel and response, but it's still no comparison to a valve amp, or the Katana.I realise that it was a cheap amp, but for similar money you could buy a full valve amp such as Harely Benton Tube 15, which also has spring reverb, FX loop and is two channel with a pretty decent speaker.I've struggled to like any Blackstar gear over the years, from the valve amps to the ID-Core's. I'm mainly a Marshall guy it seems. Blackstar is just too modern sounding I find.The amp may be a good purchase for a beginner, but not someone who's used to better quality gear. It's ok, but nothing speacial. The Katana is much more versatile, if a little fiddely and not that much more expensive. Plus the Katana has way better rock tones and some fantastic cleans - so recommending the Blackstar is a little difficult.It would be nice to see if the amp improves with a change of speaker, but I'll let someone else do that.I'm returning the amp.

As a junior guitar player, finding an amplifier that can cater to different playing styles and genres can be quite the challenge. But with the Blackstar Debut 50r, it ticks all the boxes.The 50-watt amplifier can be reduced to 5 watts, making it perfect for both small gigs and bedroom practice sessions. The amp features two channels - Clean and Overdrive, with patented ISF Tone Control that lets me dial in my preferred sound with ease.The built-in reverb effects are impressive, with plate and hall options that can enhance the sound and add depth to my playing. The line-in option allows me to jam along to my favourite tracks, while the speaker-emulated line-out is perfect for silent practice or recording.Although the Blackstar Debut 50r is a solid and versatile amplifier, it does come with a few minor drawbacks. The size and weight of the amp make it difficult to carry around, especially for those who frequently gig. Additionally, the amp can be a bit noisy, particularly when cranked up to high volumes.Love to have this in my collection.