Introduction from Carmen Vandenberg
I would like to share my most sincere appreciation as well as excitement, for each
of you, for adding the Blackstar CV30 to your sonic sphere. I first met the Blackstar
team in 2016 and I immediately dove in and have been using their amplifiers ever
since. From recording sessions with my band BONES UK to that of my solo project,
to working with Jeff Beck, and basically every tour I have been on in the last four
years, Blackstar has become home to me. As you may already know, I enjoy
playing a variety of different styles which means I need an amp capable of handling
everything from beautiful cleans to aggressive overdrives. One could only imagine
my excitement when the opportunity was presented for me to visit Blackstar's
headquarters in the UK to work closely with the engineers on voicing and creating
my perfect amp.
I am so proud of what the Blackstar team and I have achieved with the design of
the CV30. Each channel has the most amazing tone, allowing me to fully explore
and express myself by means of whatever style I am playing in that moment, and it
miraculously integrates so easily with any and all of the strange pedals I find myself
experimenting with on my pedalboard.
Fully honouring this surreal opportunity, I of course wanted the cosmetics of this
amp to look great too! The style we honed in on is inspired by classic art deco
theatres (and, it is my favourite colour). The focus was always to stay true to the
Blackstar amp that I've used live and on recordings for many years now, while
remaining accessible to anyone out there who's an aspiring guitarist.
I really hope playing through this amp inspires you to create amazing music and
most of all, allows you to explore and have fun.
xxx
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Features
Blackstar's Carmen Vandenberg CV30 signature amplifier is at the forefront of
classic tone, simplicity and flexibility.
At the heart of the CV30 lies a unique power amplifier design that harnesses the tonal
qualities of the revered 6L6 valve. By carefully optimising the key power amplifier
parameters of the CV30, the Blackstar design team has created an amplifier which
has the outstanding dynamics normally associated with a USA 6L6 design, whilst
adding the chime and shimmer of a classic British Class A amplifier.
The CV30's two channels offer a multitude of classic tones. With the emphasis on
simplicity and sonic purity, Carmen and our R&D team have refined every feature to
allow a musician total freedom in shaping their own sound.
Pro features such as footswitching, reverb, master volume and effects loop augment
the sonic experience, making the product completely equipped for today's exacting
performance requirements.
As with all Blackstar products reliability is paramount and the CV30 has been
subject to countless hours of endurance testing, both in the laboratory and in
live performance meaning you can rely on the CV30 night after night in the most
demanding gig environments.
This flexibility, tone and quality is delivered with a visual exuberance worthy of
the world's greatest stages and performers. Carmen's vision, influenced by the
elegance of classic art deco venues, results in the CV30 being a true masterpiece
to be admired.
Channel 1
Channel 1's stripped down channel design is simplicity itself. The Volume and
Tone controls offer just the right amount of adjustment on drive level and treble
frequencies to drive the power amplifier to the optimum level, depending on your
style and sound preference. Here the emphasis is on signal integrity and hence the
nuances of your guitar, pedal and playing style will cut through with brilliant clarity.
Channel 2
Channel 2 offers a new level of clean and crunch flexibility. Featuring Blackstar's
patented ISF, control the widest possible variation in tone is available. Set counter-
clockwise the ISF configures the tone stack to a US response, tightening the low
mids and emphasising the treble and presence frequencies. Moving the control
clockwise, continuously varies the tone towards a more British response, where
the low mids are emphasised for a warm, 'woody' clean or crunch reminiscent of
classic British amplifiers from years gone by. Most importantly, ISF allows you to
pinpoint your exact personal tonal preference allowing you to find the sound in your
head.
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