Blackstar Debut 50R: The perfect pedal platform?
Utilising a discrete MOSFET preamp for tube-like amp tones
4,4 / 5,0 | 
These Blackstar Debut 50R combos are an all-analogue design with a simple layout and plenty of features. Designed as an alternative to entry-level digital modelling amplifiers.
Blackstar Debut 50R
The new Blackstar Debut 50R is a 50-watt 1 x 12 combo, available in a Cream/Oxblood or Black finish, and is described as the perfect pedal platform.
It has two foot-switchable channels: Clean and Overdrive along with a discrete MOSFET preamp design, which gives a tube-like response without the cost of tubes.
Cream/Oxblood · Source: Blackstar
Features
Key features include Blackstar’s patented ISF tone control, power reduction and a built-in reverb. These ‘studio quality’ Plate and Hall digital reverbs should cover most bases for general use.
What also makes these amps nice and versatile is the ability to knock the power down from 50 watts to a more home/studio friendly 5 watts.
Black · Source: Blackstar
Pedal Platform
The idea behind these combos is essentially to offer a well-priced analogue amp and one that offers good quality tube-like amp tones, just without breaking the bank.
As a pedal platform, these could be an ideal way for players to get great tones. Without going down the modelling amp route. Making them potentially a great option if you have a selection of effect pedals that you have built your signature sound around. They have a series effects loop to help you accommodate your effects.
The perfect pedal platform? · Source: Blackstar
Recording
Thankfully, Blackstar has also included a very useful speaker emulated Line Out for silent practice and recording. Plus, they can handle stereo playback of any Line In sources through headphones.
It is quite a simple amp in many ways. But all these handy features certainly make these Debut 50R combos versatile and a good alternative to digital amp options.
I can see these being a nice option for a lot of guitarists. Especially if they need to gig and record. Having that power reduction is a very nice useful feature for many players.
MSRP – EUR 229 * footswitch sold separately
More Information
Video
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
This might also interest you
3 responses to “Blackstar Debut 50R: The perfect pedal platform?”
This is the Gearnews home page quote about this Blackstar amp:
“The Blackstar Debut 50R is a 50 watt twin channel combo with a host of great features that could be the perfect bidet pedal platform.”
Nice amp, but if you get this amp and decide to get a bidet pedal to go with it, I caution against buying used.
Amazing! I do love it when autocorrect decides to mess with my text. Well spotted.
Hah hah! Lovely! Anyway, Blackstar are great amps. Only issue I had in the past was a high noise level when running it on volume and gain 0, something which my AC30 didnt have. Still regret selling that JJN stack though, they are really good!