| Website | Source | *Rating Value |
| Do Re Mi Studios | Paulo | 100/100 |
| Guitar World | Nick Guppy | 100/100 |
| MusicRadar | Editor | 100/100 |
ID:Core 40 V3 Overview
Blackstar’s ID:Core series exemplifies what the company is all about, providing versatile modern tones while maintaining intuitive controls. This is accomplished via Blackstar’s Infinite Shape Feature (ISF), a one knob control that shapes tone to emulate the responses of different tube amps, from American (tight bottom end with emphasized mids) to British flavors (woodier with more highs) and everything in between.
The ID:Core 40 V3 has 6 amp voicings that go from clean to modern high-gain distortion, which together with the ISF knob, allow for a wide variety of tone flavors. More importantly, this versatility is provided without having to dive into complex menus and buttons.
As expected from Blackstar, high-gain tones sound full and tube like, and more importantly – the controls allow for quick tweaks that make it easy to personalize the resulting tone.
If that’s not enough, it also comes with 12 built-in effects that include different types of modulation, reverb and delay effects. These effects work great with its stereo speaker setup (two 6.5″ woofers). The amp is rated at 40W, which is more than enough for practice and recording, but not quite enough to cut through in a loud band setup.
It comes with modern connectivity options that include TRRS Line in / Streaming input and USB for direct recording, practical features for guitarists who produce content at home.
If you’re looking for an affordable, versatile and great sounding amp for use at home then this is for you.
Specifications
- Power: 40W (2 x 20W)
- Speaker: 2×6.5″
- Amp Modeling: 6 x Amp Models
- Effects: 12 Different Modulation, Delay, Reverb Effects
- Input: 1 x 1/4″, 1 x 1/8″ (Aux in)
- Outputs: 1 x 1/8″ (Line Out / Headphones)
- Weight: 13.6 lbs.
Cons
- Not loud enough for a full band setting
Pros
- Great sounding high-gain tones
- Versatile voicing
- Intuitive ISF control
- Outputs for streaming and direct recording
Demo
About Blackstar
Founded by former Marshall employees, Blackstar has grown to be a reputable amp manufacturer with its own identity. These days, it is able to go toe to toe with the biggest brands in the industry, thanks to the innovations they introduced into their designs. Their most popular innovation is called ISF or Infinite Shape Feature, a single knob that lets you shift the voicing of your amp from American to British amp flavor, and covering everything in between. Blackstar is well received for their amps’ high gain tone, which works well with modern rock and metal styles. Richie Sambora, Neil Schon, Jon Gomm, Sammy Haggar and Ozzy Osbourne are just a few of the many popular artists that use their amps.