Anybody else not loving the Blackstar Fly 3?

[The Cooler King]

Hey all

Having heard so many wonderful things about the Blackstar FLY 3 mini amp, and given how cheap it is, I decided to order one. It arrived today and I have to say I'm unimpressed with the tones it puts out.

I don't know if it's the tiny speaker but I can't seem to find a tone that I find pleasing. I realise that sometimes you need a bit of time with a piece of gear before you unlock its full potential but surely there should be some kind of initial wow factor?

Am I the only one who feels this way? I know there's a lot of love out there for this little amp.

 

[dotpc]

I tried it out for a while at a local shop and was unimpressed. WAY too bright for my tastes.

I prefer the ZT Lunchbox Junior when I need something ultra small and battery powered.

 

[The Cooler King]

Yeah I have a battery-powered Pignose, which is great, albeit not terribly versatile. The Blackstar might offer more in terms of features but it falls way short in tone, to my ears at least.

 

[homesick345]

The Yamaha THR10C is a really pleasing tiny amp (works on batteries too)

it has two stereo speakers & has a tuned reverb that fills the room magically

Really nothing I don't like - CONSIDERING its size

It is surprising, sometimes you'd swear you're playing a full Deluxe or Princeton Reverb - but everything has limits

 

[The Cooler King]

I always thought the Yamaha THR range looked great!

There are definitely a few small, battery powered amps that sound great! And to be fair to the Blackstar many others have said the same of it.

Personally though, I'm just not hearing what they're hearing. I'll have another play with it but at the moment I feel like it's being sent back.

 

[grim83]

Are you using the isf knob? I've found that learning to use that is really the key to the fly amp. It's not gonna blow you away next to the bigger amps but it does amaze me because it is so small and light and yet has many good tones imho.

 

[The Cooler King]

Are you using the isf knob? I've found that learning to use that is really the key to the fly amp. It's not gonna blow you away next to the bigger amps but it does amaze me because it is so small and light and yet has many good tones imho.

I have used the ISF knob but I haven't had much joy with it. I've found that further left is very trebly and further right a bit dull.

I totally get your point about it compared to bigger amps and I've tried to take this into account.

I sometimes use a Vox Amplug AC30 headphone amp and I'm always surprised by how good that sounds.

 

[The Cooler King]

I did just give it another go. I didn't have a pick to hand so used my fingers. This dampened some of the treble and it definitely sounded better as a result. Still not what I'd call pleasing though.

I'm sure there must be great tones in this thing and I'll play with it more to see if I can find them. I just can't help feeling though that I shouldn't have to work this hard to love what should be a pretty straightforward bit of gear.

If anybody has any suggestions for settings they enjoy I'd be happy to hear them

 

[Eddie Bray]

I have a fly 3 with the extension speaker and it lives next to my chair in the front room, I use it pretty much every day and I am happy with the sounds I get from it. I don't use the built in echo, I use a Marshall RF-1 Reverb pedal, an Ammoon Analoge Delay Pedal and a Joyo AC Tone and they are in that order in the signal chain, sometimes I use combinations of the pedals to get the tone I want, but the amp does what I need.

It's a pity you don't seem to like yours and you might need to try other varieties of small Amp to get the tones you are looking for, good luck in your quest.

 

[The Cooler King]

It's a pity you don't seem to like yours and you might need to try other varieties of small Amp to get the tones you are looking for, good luck in your quest.

Thanks Eddie. To be fair, I already have a couple of small practice amps so I wasn't specifically looking for one, it's just that I'd heard so many great things about the Fly 3 that I wanted to check it out.

Interesting that you run pedals through yours. I hadn't even considered using it this way but it sounds like you're pleased with the results.

 

[grim83]

Thanks Eddie. To be fair, I already have a couple of small practice amps so I wasn't specifically looking for one, it's just that I'd heard so many great things about the Fly 3 that I wanted to check it out.

Interesting that you run pedals through yours. I hadn't even considered using it this way but it sounds like you're pleased with the results.

It's all about scale you know, for what it is a lot of people (myself included) think it's pretty sweet. It may also not be your cup of tea. I tend to not put the isf knob to any extreme setting and that helps quite a bit for me. Hope you find a use for it, if not feel free to send it on my way lol.

 

[The Cooler King]

It's all about scale you know, for what it is a lot of people (myself included) think it's pretty sweet. It may also not be your cup of tea. I tend to not put the isf knob to any extreme setting and that helps quite a bit for me. Hope you find a use for it, if not feel free to send it on my way lol.

hahaha If only I could afford to give away free gear!

You're right about the ISF knob though, it definitely sounded best between 9 & 3 o'clock.

And I certainly can't say it sounds bad at all. I'm just not getting that warm, mushy feeling that you're supposed to have during the courting period.

 

[grim83]

hahaha If only I could afford to give away free gear!

You're right about the ISF knob though, it definitely sounded best between 9 & 3 o'clock.

And I certainly can't say it sounds bad at all. I'm just not getting that warm, mushy feeling that you're supposed to have during the courting period.

You my friend need a few more drinks....It's like a warm mushy feeling in a can lol

 

[srvbluezz]

The Yamaha THR10C is a really pleasing tiny amp (works on batteries too)

it has two stereo speakers & has a tuned reverb that fills the room magically

Really nothing I don't like - CONSIDERING its size

It is surprising, sometimes you'd swear you're playing a full Deluxe or Princeton Reverb - but everything has limits

The thr10c is probably one of the best purchases ever, I have owned it since it came out. But I think it's in a different category than the fly 3. I completely agree, when you're in front of the amp with some reverb this tiny amp sounds huge.

 

[The Cooler King]

You my friend need a few more drinks....It's like a warm mushy feeling in a can lol

I dunno mate...a few more drinks and that little amp might end up winging its way to you [emoji1]

 

[Sandhill69]

I love my Blackstar, but the only similar I've used extensively is the Orange Micro Crush and there's no comparison there, the Blackstar is vastly superior. I use the headphone out quite a bit and so am not as dependent on the speaker. What DOES have wow factor is the Blackstar Fly 3 Bass. Same size and really leaves you wondering how the do it.

 

[The Cooler King]

What DOES have wow factor is the Blackstar Fly 3 Bass. Same size and really leaves you wondering how the do it.

Funny you say that cos I thought that seemed pretty good too and was considering picking it up if I liked the regular Fly 3. Although I'm not sure where I stand on that now.

 

[MatchlessMan]

For its size (smaller than a house brick) and low price, it does pretty well, and for kitchen table jams it is ideal. It's a million miles in tone from my proper amps though!

EDIT: I don't love it like I love my Matchless, but it's an inexpensive utility item when it comes down to it.

 

[grim83]

I dunno mate...a few more drinks and that little amp might end up winging its way to you [emoji1]

Well by all means bud have a few lol.

For its size (smaller than a house brick) and low price, it does pretty well, and for kitchen table jams it is ideal. It's a million miles in tone from my proper amps though!

EDIT: I don't love it like I love my Matchless, but it's an inexpensive utility item when it comes down to it.

That's the point though to these, they're not going to replace your proper amps. I keep mine in the living room so I can jam along to the tv or play and spend time with my wife. I keep the better stuff in my office for when I want to let loose. It's a niche product but it's certainly not a toy and miles better than the crap that comes in most of those starter packs. Compared to my first amp I'll take it any day of the week.

 

[tery]

How about a Rolland Micro Cube ?
3 watt , 5" speaker , and also runs on batteries .