Supreme Team

Blackstar’s latest Amped product adds built-in effects to its 100-watt head – which is small enough to sit on a pedalboard or studio desktop. And it’s set to be another game-changer

- Nick Guppy

Blackstar’s ongoing quest for great guitar tone at affordable prices has resulted in many innovative products that either click with current trends or set their own – the awardwinning St James range being a perfect example. But with the stompbox’s renewed popularity at an all-time high, amplified pedalboards are another popular movement. We’ve previously looked at Blackstar’s Amped 1 pedalboardsized amplifier, which is an ideal partner for players who already have an arsenal of pedals. There’s now a version with built-in effects to tempt those of us looking for more of an all-in-one solution: the all-new Amped 2.

Like its predecessor, the Amped 2 has a smart, modern look with clean, uncluttered cosmetics. The electronics are contained inside a tough black steel chassis that’s about 70mm wider than Amped 1, with a candy apple red anodised aluminium faceplate. There’s very little space inside yet everything is neatly laid out, with mostly SMD components on high-quality printed circuit boards.

The Amped 2 is basically a two-channel design, with a footswitchable drive section feeding into a preamp and effects, before being sent to a choice of outputs, including a clever 100-watt Class D power amp that uses current feedback to accurately mimic classic valve output stage responses.