Crate Blackheart BH15H Handsome Devil Guitar Amp Head, 15W All Tube with Attitude

by Crate

Product Features

• 15 Watts, Push-Pull, Class A
• Outputs: 1 x 16 ohm jack, 2 x 8 ohm jacks, 2 x 4 ohm jacks
• Solid State Rectifier with tap for future mods
• Drive, Level, Treble, Mid, Bass and Presence controls
• Pentode (15 Watts)/Triode (7 Watts) Switch

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 25 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0013OBUQ0
• Item model number: BH15H
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,712 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #15 in Musical Instruments > Instrument Accessories > Guitar & Bass Accessories > Amplifiers > Electric Guitar Amplifiers > Heads

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Designed and prototyped in a one car garage in Austin, Texas, by none other than amp savant, Pyotr Belov, the Handsome Devil evokes classic tube tones more than reminiscent of the great American and British, plug and play workhorses that laid the foundation for Rock and Roll guitar tone starting in the '60s. Just like its predecessor and little brother, the Little Giant 5, the BHE Handsome Devil is overbuilt to last with features and components you'd expect on a hand built, much more expensive piece of gear. Both the head and combo feature dual power modes allowing the Gods of Rock to dial in responsiveness and headroom in either 15W or 7W output. Separate Master and Level controls put both awesome power and responsibility in the unwashed hands of mankind. 3 Bands of well-tuned EQ make for nearly infinite voicing. From big fat overdrive to plucky, just-about-to-squeal if you hit me a little harder grease, the Handsome Devil covers classic tube tone with as few knob turns as possible through a well thought out set of features in a tough as a tank package.

As expected, you get the simple elegance and robust component specs that mark BHE's designs. From 1W, carbon-film resistors in the signal path to beefy, double sided pcb with 2 oz traces, 16 gauge, precision folded and welded chassis and mutli-ply, classically joined cabinetry, Blackheart is as serious about quality as they are about tone.

Available in a surprisingly compact head or single (but looking) 12" combo (BH15-112) featuring the specially designed 1216B Eminence speaker developed by Blackheart Engineering and Eminence Speakers.

Specifications

• 15 Watts, Push-Pull, Class A
• Outputs: 1 x 16 ohm jack, 2 x 8 ohm jacks, 2 x 4 ohm jacks
• Solid State Rectifier with tap for future mods
• Drive, Level, Treble, Mid, Bass and Presence controls
• Outputs: 1 x 16 ohm jack, 2 x 8 ohm jacks, 2 x 4 ohm jacks
• Pentode (15 Watts)/Triode (7 Watts) Switch
• DC Power to filaments for super quiet operation
• 15 ply (18mm) thick-void free plywood construction
• 1W resistors in signal path, 2W & 5W resistors in power supply

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Amp, March 19, 2010

By 

Dennis A. Crenshaw - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crate Blackheart BH15H Handsome Devil Guitar Amp Head, 15W All Tube with Attitude (Electronics)

I bought this along with the matching 12" cab and I do not regret it one bit. You can get a sparkling clean that puts a lot of higher wattage amps to shame and the gain creeps up on old metal territory (Sabbath and Judas Priest.) If you want a modern metal shred machine, you'll need a pedal, but this amp out and out rocks with enough decibels to make the neighbors call the cops. Beautiful natural distortion with a TON (I got a lot of useful sounds) of variation in tone. It's a smidge boomy on the bottom, but I like that and it can easily be tamed by the EQ or an EQ pedal. Very nice for classic rock like Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Aerosmith. It also does a very convincing Cream (crank the gain all the way on roll back your guitar tone-- it has that thick, creamy, fuzzy distortion with plenty of sustain and clarity for days.) Great for blues too.

If you are looking for a smaller wattage amp that really has character, I would highly recommend the Handsome Devil head.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gear and Great Value, May 28, 2011

By 

M. Lehr (USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crate Blackheart BH15H Handsome Devil Guitar Amp Head, 15W All Tube with Attitude (Electronics)

I also bought the head and matching cab. I think they are great gear and an awesome value for the price. Good cleans are very important to me, and I was delighted that the Blackheart gear really does have the full, clear cleans I had heard in videos. The master volume design with presence and tone stack gives you a lot of options for dialing in your tone. The 7/15 watt option also creates more tone choices and lets you get to breakup a bit sooner or later.

You can dial in a drop of dirt or push the amp harder for more breakup and the transition is smooth. I do think that any significant distortion on this amp is better with a pedal. Pedal or not, you get heavy distortion at manageable volumes, but not exactly at 3:00 AM apartment levels. On the other hand, you definitely have enough power to gig with this rig, and the pieces are both sturdy and light enough to be portable.

The biggest downside to me is the lack of reverb and an effects loop. The lack of a second channel in also limiting, but very understandable considering the price and how much tone and value the rig delivers. But DIY-ers out there will be pleased to know that third party mod kits are available for the head (from BitMo) to add reverb and even more voicing options. IMO, the third party mods are a tribute to the basic design, and they demonstrate that the BH15 has a following worth selling mods to.

I would definitely recommend this head and cab to anyone shopping at this price point.

5.0 out of 5 stars Blackheart Handsome Devil, November 10, 2010

By 

Herb A. Genelly III "Herb Genelly (the G.A.S.... (Petaluma, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Crate Blackheart BH15H Handsome Devil Guitar Amp Head, 15W All Tube with Attitude (Electronics)

GP Editors pick, and for a good reason. For hundreds less than other amps in it's class, this amp delivers tone. With 7/15 watt settings, you can really use this amp from the bedroom to a small club. The clean tone is sweet, and when pushed with an OD pedal, breaks up wonderfully. This amp gets loud if you want. Solid construction, nicely built, and multiple speaker outputs provide one great little amp for a real bargain.