Blackstar ID Core 20 V2 Review – A Stereo Combo Perfect for Practice and More

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With the new ID Core 20 V2, British company Blackstar builds on their reputation of delivering some of the best small amps around. This 20-watt solid-state stereo combo takes the impressively full sound Blackstar are known for and adds smooth effects and voicings to the mix. These combinations make it one of the most versatile little amps available. Let’s take a closer look and find out what makes this one of the best amps under $200.

Features

As hinted upon in the introduction, one of the highlights of the ID Core 20 V2 is the impressive selection of instant voicings and effects on offer, including six amp models (clean warm, clean bright, crunch, super crunch, OD1, and OD2) and 12 strong modulation and delay effects.

The amp design will be familiar to anybody who’s had experience with Blackstar combos before, with clean aesthetics and an all-black case, hiding a pair of 5” speakers that deliver 20 watts of power.

On top of all the physical controls we mention below, this amp also incorporates digital functionality. Plugging into a computer via the amp’s USB port allows you to create patches and new voices, as well as record the amp directly into the computer, with the digital GUI.

Purchasing the ID Core 20 V2 also gives you access to the Presonus Studio One Digital Audio Workstation. This allows players to record, edit, and mix new tracks online through their amp. Not a deal breaker, but a good addition if this is the route you are heading.

Controls

Though this Blackstar offers a ton of tonal options, the controls are pretty simple. Headphone and MP3 jacks are located next to the input. After that, there’s the voice knob, where you can select which of the six amp models you’d like to play through. Standard gain and volume knobs come next.

The EQ knob uses Blackstar’s patented ISF (Infinite Shape Feature) to control your tone – turning the knob one way will contour your sound more like traditional American amps, while the other direction delivers a more British sound. After that lies the effects section. There are 12 total effects, with four in each of the three categories (reverb, delay, and modulation). Simply hit the corresponding button then turn the dial to each of the four positions to access all the effects.

For time-dependent effects like delay and tremolo, a tap button below allows you to customize the rate. Tap the button twice and the time between taps will become the new effect time. It’s not the easiest system to use on the fly, but is intuitive enough.

Performance

This is an amp clearly built for gain. The clean warm voice is solid, with a good blend of smoothness and snappiness, but the clean bright model oscillates between chimey and shrill, with a tinny quality at times.

The crunch sounds are where this amp really performs. With the gain at low to medium levels, the crunch and super crunch voicings deliver delicious Hendrix-style tones – perfect for overdriven blues and classic rock.

As you open up the gain dial, you move into harder rock territory. The OD voicings work well for hard rock with the drive below noon, but cross firmly into metal territory with more overdrive applied.

The effects knob is also a pleasant surprise. The effects hold up well with a natural sound, and the tap button works surprisingly smoothly. Overall, this isn’t a loud amp – most likely too quiet to jam and certainly too quiet to gig with – but the stereo sound gives it a wide-open voice even at lower levels.

Conclusion

The ID Core 20 V2 is great for players looking for a budget-friendly, yet versatile practice combo. The stereo speakers, voicings and 12 effects allow for practically limitless customization of your sound. The crunch voicings are superb for this price range, and the effects are impressively high-quality. The digital functionality here is the cherry on top of a very sweet amp for the price.

For more info about the Blackstar ID Core 20 V2, click here.
For more guitar amplifiers under $200, click here.