Well guys, I finally took my amp to the tech last weekend, he will work on it within 4 days and let me know whats wrong. While I was there, I was given this deal....

1-Trade in my HT-60 for 80% of what I paid in Nov 2010, provided that there is nothing internally wrong.

2-Trade in a 2008 Epi slash signature model with COA,Case and case candy in 8/10 condition with upgraded bridge and nut for $550, I bought it in Jul 2010 for $680

3-Get a S1-104 6L6 and Blackstar S1-212 cabinet in return for 42% of the price. (-58% is the trade in value of my stuff plus discount)

I don't want to give numbers because this is Dubai, prices do not fall within international standards, but considering the shipping charges, import duty and local warranty it is a better off deal than buying from EU/US and shipping.

SO.....Do i need a 100 watt head designed for professional rather than hobbyists especially if I am going to be using the amp for more than 1 hour a day (best case) and only during weekends (worst case)?

My argument with my self is....
-Musical equipments are a scarcity here, good amps are available with this dealer only and he deals Blackstar, Orange and Marshall. I can't get any other amps in town apart from VOX. So I ever have a chance to own a real great amp, these are my options.
-Having a 100W at home is fine, I have a dedicated room just for guitar and music on the roof, so my ears are the limit to how loud I can go. not to mention the DPR.
-80% of what I paid for the HT-60 is the best I can wish for, music market is dead, I have had a GT-10 which I want to sell since I got the Stage 60, not a single inquiry.....Same goes for the Epi Slash.

I haven't tried the amp, cause the only unit he had was sold, so I will wait until 20/7 drive a cross with my guitar and try the amp, if I liked it it is a deal. I am also thinking about 212 or 412 (of course i have to pay the difference)?

So, your opinions are well appreciated, let me know guys. I am open for suggestions and ideas.

Thanks,

KKND

wow! - all i can say is if it were me i would trade up in a second

this would be a definite upgrade - lets face the HT amps are budget amps - the S1 is loaded with more features
trading an epi in and losing a little $$$ wouldnt concern me too much - good guitars are a dime a dozen
with no issues about how loud you can play the 100 watt issue is moot plus that amp has DPR anyway
i dont see how you can wrong - even as a hobby a better rig is a better rig
the 2x12 is probably all you would need for your application and upgrade the speakers

so that my opinion - it would be a no brainer for me - upgrades are always good especially if its not expensive and where you live i'd
say thats a pretty fair deal considering your choices

only down side is you'll be hanging out in the S1 forum and we'll miss you over here

i forgot to mention - ive never played a S1 and i'm guessing they have plenty of clean headroom - that would important to me - maybe not you
though - and do they come stock with TAD's also - i would have the dealer change those before i ever left the shop with it

i hate those damn tubes

Mike....Thanks

I will be an effective member don't you worry, I went through so much and I got all the help I ever wanted from here, I am not leaving this place, alot of dues to pay!

I didn't like the EPI anyways, I bought it thinking it was a unique limited run guitars with better pickups. My 2010 Epi smokes the hell out of it.

Can I confess......I always WANTED a head with 4x12

Anyways, thanks for the support. Fingers crossed the amp is not seriously damaged and the deal will go through........But the amp will not be deafening right? even at 100 W i can play as loud as I use to play the 60 and will sound as good?

Thanks mate

with the DPR feature being able to control power down to 10 watts i would think you would have the ability to play at whatever volumes
you want and still sound great -

I wouldn't feel comfortable giving advice, per se. I've never played an S1 either. Watt-wise, personally, I got the HT20 specifically for something less wattage (100w Carvin X100Bs, running at 50% through a 2x12 are my "normal" gigging amps and I never turn up much at all. I can't remember going much past 3 at big places or outdoors).

A friend tried out the HTs, S1s and the Artisan. He knows amps as well as anyone and has several boutique types, has had about everything you can imagine. Thought the Venues were really nice, but was looking for something along the lines of the other two. He didn't think the S1s sounded all that different and couldn't see spending the extra on them. I'm sure they have "better" components, or the production method, etc. may be better/different. But, I dunno. If I were going to "move up" it'd be to the Venues. Am considering an Artisan 15 head, actually.

A 60w tube head has some serious volume behind it so don't know if I'd do it for more. But, if the deal seems fair to you, who knows. Might end up working out great for ya.

Hey Vent, are you talking about the Artisan series?

Then yes, those are a different class by them selves and a "Boutique" choice. I played the Artisan 15 combo, on of the best clean tones I have ever heard and it had a smooth bluesy overdrive....That's it. The S1 are a modern hi gain amps, they will always lack that butter smooth tones of point-to-point hand wired boutique amp, just not my cup of tea.

Thanks

that was my understanding too - the S1's were basically an upgrade from the venue series with the high gain features,better components,transformers- the art's were more boutique in nature and had a different tone altogether

Hey mike, you said that I should change the speakers in the cabinet? Any idea about those Custom Neo 12"" celestions? And what difference does a 16ohm speaker have compared to a 8ohm?

Thanks

i'm not a speaker guru by any stretch - but through the years i have tried 16 ohm set ups a few times and never had any issues
other than personally i found them to be a bit heavy on the bass side - at least to my ears - i think it has to do with the voice coils
and i generally prefer a brighter speaker - i believe blackstars transformers are multi tap so it shouldnt work any harder to drive them

the only thing i know about the neos is they are very light weight and get good reviews especially the Jensens
i have heard a couple of marshall cabinets running them but honestly i couldnt hear a lot of tonal differences
between them and ceramic mags - maybe i would need to hear them side by side or something

i have never used them so my knowledge is limited - but i dont remember hearing anyone saying how great they were
for playing metal and i thought that's what you were mostly gunning for

My point exactly..the s1 212 is designed to compliment the s1 45, which isn't a metal amp to begin with. hmmm can't go with vintage 30. Maybe i can use my wgs vet 30 in the cab........
Anyways i will try them out.

Thanks

If i was looking for one word to describe the artisan it would be....orgasmic.

More is better....

Too true.

If I was you id do it in a heart beat. Based off of me experience with the 45 I loved it. Simular to venue but more rich/better sounding all the way around as one would guess. Extra valve gain in my opinion showes up my ht40. Better components , birch ply, better speakers.

I forgot what blackstar said when I asked em what voice they were based on . Was it a V30?

The dpr works. Power tube distortion at a little quieter vol. But it dose sound a lilttle thiner/less ballsy sounding like all power scales ive heard do. Im sure the the speaker not being drived as hard has something to do with it.

It still be pretty bad ass man having one for the house and youd still find the dpr very useable. Your 60 is probable still practically the same vol as the series one so go for it man!! Then youll be able to keep reminding me to trade up.. Im trying but things keep coming up

Thanks man, appreciate your input. I am going to go for it, just waiting to hear back. I think I will trade in my BOSS GT-10 and two pedals and add a little more and get the 4x12

What do you guys think?