So, you are now confused in choosing between Blackstar HT Clu 40 and Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III, aren’t you? Both of these two items are 40W combo amps for guitars, each of them paired with a 12” speaker. Despite the similar configurations, there are indeed significant differences between them, such as the exclusive ISF control on Blackstar HT Club 40 and the fantastic clean tone of Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III. So, which combo amp should you choose? Let’s see the comparison of the two products below!
Design and Features
Blackstar HT Club 40 is a 40W all-tube combo amp that features a 12” Celestion speaker. Compared to Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III, it is quite bigger and heavier. It is equipped with two 12AX7 (ECC83) and two EL34 tubes. Included in the bundle is a two-way footswitch, which is very handy for controlling the built-in effects. Blackstar HT Club 40 has two channels and four modes: Clean (Boutique, Modern) and Overdrive (Classic, Modern). There are also built-in Reverb, effects loop, three-band EQ, and Master Volume control. The Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) provides infinite tone-shaping control, enabling extremely versatile sound output.
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III is also a 40W combo amp, armed with a 12” Celestion G12P-80 speaker. It is more compact and more lightweight than Blackstar HT Club 40. However, it is armed with a 12AX7 tube and 6L6 tubes. It comes with the luscious Fender Reverb, clean and overdriven tones, and supports effects loop. In addition, there are also dedicated controls for bass, middle, treble, presence, master, volume, and drive. (Have a look : Blackstar HT Club 40 Vs Marshall DSL40C)
Performance
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III has the better Clean channel. The overdrive is also slightly better. Of course, Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III has that typical loud and bright Fender sound, and the model is able to deliver excellent mild overdrive. The Presence control is very handy for adjusting the presence of the guitar sound. On the other hand, Blackstar HT Club 40’s Clean channel is somewhat thin. But the Blackstar’s dirty channel is awesome. In addition, it is indeed very versatile, thanks to the exclusive ISF control, allowing you to achieve a variety of sounds – you can easily reproduce a Marshall tone all the way to a Boogie tone.
Blackstar HT Club 40 vs Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III
| Blackstar HT Club 40 | Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Blackstar | Fender |
| Key features | - 40 Watt, all-tube, 1 x 12-Inch Combo with Master Volume and Digital Reverb (with Dark/Bright switch) - Tube Complement: 2 x ECC83 (12AX7), 2 x EL34 Power Tubes; 12-Inch Celestion Speaker | - 40 watts of legendary Fender tone - Fantastic clean and overdriven tones plus lusciously Fender spring reverb |
| Price | ||
| Customer Ratings* | 4.9 out of 5 stars | 4.1 out of 5 stars |
| Best Deal* | Save Money Please click here | Save Money Please click here |
NOTE : Product prices, availability, ratings and save money information are accurate as of the date/time indicated on post time (as seen right bellow the tittle) and are subject to change. Any price, ratings, availability and save money information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Decision
Both are good combo amps, but, in the end, we recommend you to choose Blackstar HT Club 40. It is very flexible and versatile, allowing you to alter the sound to suit various genres easily. But, if you only need the clean and overdriven tones, then Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III can be your choice.