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Blackheart Little Giant BH5H Guitar Amplifier Head (5 Watts)
Get true tonal range from just 5 watts of power with this amp head. It's powered by an EL84 tube, voiced through a 12AX7 preamp tube.
Overall User Ratings (based on 17 ratings)
Submitted November 15, 2007 by a customer from indyguitarist.com
"The best tube amp available for under $300"
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Sound
A "10" for the value - with the head and cabinet you get a great approximation of plexi tones in a 5w package.
Features
More than normal on an amp in this price range - one volume, and 3 band eq
Ease of Use
It's a single channel amp - easy.
Quality
VERY well made, especially for a couple of hundred dollars.
Manufacturer Support
Very good
The Wow Factor
I love it!
Musical Background:
pro musician
Musical Style:
country/rock/blues
24 of 25 people (96%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
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Submitted December 3, 2007 by a customer from cfl.rr.com
"A little amp worth its weight (and price)"
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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Having owned and played many other low power/low cost amps and never being truly satisfied I was skeptical of the BH5H being anything more than another little amp. Don't let the physical resemblance to the Valve Jr fool you, this amp shares none of the Epi's shortcomings. This isn't boutique tone but it is solid Class A tone, responsive and dynamic.
Sound
There are a lot of companies making low power low cost Class A's these days. This is hands down the best sounding of the lot. It's not going to stack up to the little Z or Bad Cat but it really isn't supposed to is it. This is a hell of an amp for the price and fun to play. It's very responsive and opens up at 5W.
Features
Most amps in this category don't have much for features in fact you're lucky to get more than a level knob. The Little Giant has a full EQ stack which is actually functional. There's no reverb or effects loop on the BH5H which is fine by me, I'm not looking for those features on a small amp, but a functional EQ section is a must.
Ease of Use
There's not much too it and dialing in a decent tone is as easy as it gets. It takes a little fine tuning to really get it though. Or you can dime the whole thing and it screams surprisingly well.
Quality
Initial impression is good. Construction looks solid and the visable components are all quality and seem well assembled. The pots are solid and move smoothly.
Value
It's $150 dollars and comes with zero buyers remorse so I'm giving it a 10.
Manufacturer Support
No experience here yet.
The Wow Factor
Can you have a more rock n roll name than Blackheart? It looks the part. Rock n roll.
Musical Background:
Active musician
Musical Style:
rock, country
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Submitted July 28, 2008 by a customer from hotmail.com
""Welcome to your new house, BH5H""
Between this amp, and my modded Valve Junior, and also a Zvex nano head, I am pretty set for tone! I will always keep this amp, and when the amp starts to sound a little rough, I will take it to my amp tech, and get some mods done on it. That is the beauty of these small and simple class A amps--they are easily modded and for a pretty small price, they can end up sounding like $1500 boutique amps!
Sound
This amp is able to produce pretty clear and clean jazz tones on the 5 watt mode with the volume at a lower level, which gives a bit more headroom. Turn it up and it produces some great class a overdrive for a nice rock or blues crunch. Push this little beast with a boost pedal or OD pedal, and you've got some serious volume and saturation. The amp sounds good with the matching speaker cabinet, and of course looks supreme with it, but it sounds much larger with a warmer tone when I use my custom build large oak cabinet (semi open back) with a Celestion V30. For my guitar setup, I use this stack, and a modded Valve Junior head with my custom cab, and I run the two in stereo from my stereo delay pedal. The tone I am getting with this setup is actually breath-taking. Sometime I will just strum a chord for long periods of time admiring the tone, stuck in a trance. (I love tone).
Features
Less is more...this amp has everything you need to dial in good tone without spending lots of time making adjustments. The 3/5 watt switch alone get an 8 for features! Also, all of the various speaker outs on the back allow this beast to mingle with many of cabs!
Ease of Use
Pick you're power, 3 or 5 watt, then turn it on and play. Super easy to dial in great tone.
Quality
Seems like it is very solid--the head and the cab. Nothing rattle around and it is sturdy enough to sit on the stack while playing, so saves you from having to buy a chair--haha, you are already saving money by purchasing this amp!
Value
This product is definately worth the selling price. There are many other small amps around this price, but you can't beat class A tube tone for this price.
Manufacturer Support
Never had to deal with them, and haven't heard anything, good or bad. But they are made under Crate, so I am sure the service is very professional.
The Wow Factor
This stack is a beauty--just a real Lass!! Simple and elegant, yet so solid and smooth sounding. Everything a growing boy is looking for....in an amp.
Musical Background:
Music student, Project Studio Engineer, Guitar player
Musical Style:
Jazz, Funk, Rock,
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Submitted January 20, 2008 by a customer from att.net
"BIG little giant !!"
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I'm always looking for that next great product , but so far I can't see myself replacing it for awhile.
Sound
Has a great tone in both 3 and 5 watt modes . More overdrive in the 3 watt mode . Like it better than the Epi valve jr. and the Fender Champ 600 .
Features
The 3 band EQ makes this little guy so versitile . Can dial in your tone when changing from single coils to dual coils.
Ease of Use
Takes a little experimenting with the EQ , but that's no big deal considering the great tones you can dial in.
Quality
Seems very well made . solid cabinet .
Value
Worth every penny , truly a great value
Manufacturer Support
Have had no problems so can't really comment .
The Wow Factor
Looks a lot like the Epi , looks okay .
Musical Background:
Active musician
Musical Style:
rock / country
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Submitted February 22, 2008 by a customer from wellsstjohn.com
"None more bang for the buck!"
To my knowledge, there's nothing out there that compares. BH is coming out with a 15W, a 1W and a 100W amp, and I will be taking a look at these as well!
Sound
As you probably already know, there are two settings, a 3 watt and a 5 watt setting. The 5 watt seems a little brighter and more over-driven when the volume is on 10. I really like the sound when it is cranked, but it isn't quite loud enough for practice (we have a LOUD drummer) and frankly it is too loud for my apartment... but the clean tones are very nice in my opinion.
Features
pretty good features (3 band EQ, 3/5 watt setting, 5 plugs for cabinets of different Ohm ratings). It could have a master volume to get a perfect score, but this thing is loaded for what it is.
Ease of Use
As easy as they come.
Quality
Looks great all around... you wouldn't know it is made in China by looking at it.
Value
Where else can you get this much bang for the buck? No where, that where... It's none more black...heart.
Manufacturer Support
no idea
The Wow Factor
It's totally cool, small and loud with a great natural OD.
Musical Background:
active musician
Musical Style:
hard rock
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Submitted April 29, 2009 by a customer from aol.com
Blackheart BH5H Amp Customer Review
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This BlackHeart Little giant Rocks. I purchased this head "B-stock" from ZZounds..I cant believe they call this B stock.. Mine looks and plays like new, it certainly looked like it was new to me...Zzounds and B stock ROCKS!
Sound
Sounds great to me, quality true tube sound..And pedal friendly..My pocket pod sounded just ok, but the pedals do sound better.
Ease of Use
Easy to use
Quality
Built like a tank
Manufacturer Support
No need for me to deal with support, the Little Gaint works perfectly.
The Wow Factor
Guarenteed to get you laid LOL
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
still learning
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Submitted March 30, 2008
"A sheep in wolfs clothing - in a good way..."
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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Don't let all the "heavy metal" marketing fool you; this is one terrific sounding amp for all kinds of music. I use mine only in the studio and I can get all the jazz and "West Coast" I need without the need for fiddling with some silly preset. The fact that this amp is somehow connected to the company that makes Crate scared the crap out of me at first but I'm soooooo happy I gave it shot!
Sound
I originally purchased a Fender Vibro Champ XD and was very disappointed with the sound and build quality of that amp. I'm using the BH5H with a 10-inch cabinet and I can dial in virtually any sound I want. So, what sounds am I after? Mostly Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, West Coast rock, Blues, and Alt. country and jazz players from all different eras. The BH5H can get a lot of really sweet tones without a whole lot of coaxing.
Features
The only feature I might add to this amp is a nice full reverb tank but that would probably double the price. Perhaps Blackheart would consider manufacturing an old-school stand-alone reverb unit and completely corner the market on affordable guitar amplification!
Ease of Use
It doesn't get much easier than this. If you can flip a toggle switch and turn a knob then you'll master this amp quickly.
Quality
For the price you've paid you will simply not find a more sturdy and well-constructed amp - I don't care where it's made! The Fender Vibro Champ XD I returned felt like it was made from old shoe boxes and soup cans. The Blackheart even smells like a real amp as it burns in. If I was still playing in clubs every weekend I wouldn't be afraid to bring the BH5H along. For now it keeps me happy in the studio.
Value
If you're in the market for a new amp you're not going to beat this deal.
Manufacturer Support
Dunno. Don't wanna know, if you know what I'm saying.
The Wow Factor
OK, so I'm not a huge fan of the marketing for this amp. In a more upscale market this amp might resemble a Dr. Z or a Tophat but that isn't important to me. Beneath the skin and bones of this amp is a real soul and that's where its at. OK, the tatoo looking logo is kinda cool.
Musical Background:
Song writer
Musical Style:
West Coast rock, jazz, blues, pop, alt. country, etc.
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