Product Description

Blackheart Engineering? instruments are all tube, old-school amplifiers that are built like tanks and sound as good as amps costing multiple times the price. They look cool, they exude attitude and they don't EVER compromise tone

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63576 in Musical Instruments
• Brand: Crate
• Model: BH100H

Features

• 100 Watts, Class A or Class AB Operation
• Class AB 100 Watts RMS in (Full Power) Pentode Mode,
• 50 Watts RMS in (Half Power) Triode Mode
• Class A 60 Watts RMS in (Full Power) Pentode Mode,
• 30W RMS in (Half Power) Triode Mode

From the Manufacturer
Talk about corruptive power. The New Blackheart Eng Hothead takes the basic plug and play attitude of a world-class 100-watt workhorse head and puts just enough thoughtful features on it to be the most flexible amp in its class, not to mention several classes up. Two Power Modes (Class AB and Class A) divisible by Pentode (full power) and Triode (half power) operation put four unique, classic and powerful voices right at your fingertips and you won't need a Ph.D to get amazing tone; whether it's searing rock your face off at full volume riff work or plucky, responsive Class A blues when you're felling all deep and stuff.

Awesome Power, Awesome Flexibility Two simple switches open up an endless world of tonal possibilities.

• Class AB/Pentode: 100W of flesh searing power
• Class AB/Triode: 50W, tighter headroom, crisper gain, still hurts
• Class A/Pentode: 60W, lots of headroom before overdrive, nice and plucky
• Class A/Triode: 30W, less headroom, more responsive to your attack

All this before you dial in a brilliantly tuned EQ section and reign it all in through the Master Volume and Master Presence controls.

Two-Channels, Separate EQs: The Hothead has two channels (Loud and F'N Loud), each selectable by a mini toggle on the faceplate or remotely via the included footswitch and each voiced through its own, dedicated EQ section. No more switching from one sound to the same sound in the middle of your jam. Dial in two distinct voices and rock on.

1. The LOUD Channel (aka "One") is voiced to range from Crisp Cleans to Classic Rock and Heavy Blues tones. Controls: Drive, Level, Treble, Middle, Bass
2. The F'N LOUD Channel (aka "Two") is voiced to capture Classic Crunch to Sweet Overdriven Lead tones. Controls: Gain, Level, Treble, Middle, Bass

Tube Effects Loop/Boost Function with Level Control:
Both channels share a Tube Driven Effects Loop that can be run in series or parallel modes (selectable by mini toggle on the amp's rear panel) and then hard bypassed, doubling as a footswitch-activated boost. Send and Return controls act as expected when in Effects loop Mode but allow you to tweak your Boost Volume when your effects are hard bypassed. Admit it...that's cool.

Specifications

• 100 Watts, Class A or Class AB Operation
• Pentode/Triode Switch
• Power Output: Class AB – 100 Watts RMS in (Full Power) Pentode Mode, 50 Watts RMS in (Half Power) Triode Mode, Class A – 60 Watts RMS in (Full Power) Pentode Mode, 30W RMS in (Half Power) Triode Mode
• Two Channels: Channel 1 (LOUD) voiced for Crisp Cleans to Classic Rock and Heavy Blues tones (Drive, Level, Treble, Middle and Bass controls), Channel 2 (F'IN LOUD) voiced to capture Classic Crunch to Sweet Overdriven Lead tones (Gain, Level, Treble, Middle and Bass controls)
• Master Controls (shared by both channels): Master Presence, Master Volume
• Effects Loop: Tube Driven, shared by both channels, can be operated in Series or Parallel Mode
• Effects Loop Bypass, which can also be used as a boost
• Footswitch for Channel Selection and Effect Loop On/Off, with LEDs
• Solid State Rectifier
• DC Powered filaments (preamp) for solid, quiet operation
• 16 gauge, 1.5mm rugged chassis construction with folded and welded corners
• Outputs: 1 x 16 ohm jack, 2 x 8 ohm jacks, 2 x 4 ohm jacks
• ¼" Line Out
• Cabinet made of 15 ply, 18mm void-free plywood construction

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Customer Reviews

Big Bang and Versatility for your Buck!!!
After reading the review concerning this amp being made in China and being crappy because of that i decided to give this amphead a test run. Already the owner of a Blackheart "Handsome Devil" 15watt Head i was fairly certain i would not be let down as that amphead kicks @$$!!!!!

The amp is everything the company states...I'd take this over my Marshall JCM900 any day of the week. Versatile with great crunch and cleans it covers all the bases. This amp has everything you will ever need. I could go on and on but read the manufacturer's stats and rest assured you are getting all that and more!

As far as the previous reviewer stating "If you are in the U.S.A buy Peavey!!" Well in response...while i agree we need to purchase and support U.S.A built/produced products...sadly Peavey does not make any amp that comes close to the Hothead in it's price range. I've owned the original 5150 as well as a Valveking "both ends of the spectrum" and i only slightly preferred the 5150 although it costs twice as much keep in mind! Most of Peavey's other amps are pure crap. If they want to compete they need to come out with something decent!!! The Vypyr's and Valvekings/Windsors are smoked by the Blackheart line!
Maybe Peavey will take the Blackheart line as a kick in the ass to start producing a competitive amp. Until then i'll enjoy my Blackheart amps!

BTW The Blackheart line is distributed by Crate and undergoes a very specialized line process in it's China plant. Anyone who has played a Gretsch "Electromatic" knows what i'm talking about. The standards are very high. This amp is built like a tank!! I've been playing live actively with my BH Handsome Devil for over 2 years now "with it cranked!!" and not had a single issue yet! with the normal exception of some tube replacement. Go test drive any Blackheart, and tell me you did'nt crack a smile having fun with it!

MADE IN CHINA
Well now the Blackheart line is making a $[...] amp. They started with a nice $[...] 5 Watt amp. I bought one and thought it was great and in time thought I loved the Blackheart line.

This is basically a Wal-Mart type scam in our sacred world of tone. There are many great amps made in many great countries. Do yourself a favor and do your country a favor. Buy a Peavey if you live in the USA or something. If you live in England buy a Marshall, etc.

The whole idea of the Blackheart line was quality and affordability. Maybe the quality is there (questionable with anything made in China) but the affordability is gone. Note a bad price for the type and wattage this amp is, but you still getting a crappy Chinese amp.

What is the profit margin on this Blackheart compared to a similarly priced Peavey MADE IN USA. A lot I bet. While Peavey and other companies employ Americans (not for low end product though) to built amps and guitars, Crate is saying screw America. I guess our economy is so great we don't need jobs. We'll all just collect unemployment and buy Chinese.