Blackstar ID:CORE Stereo 10 V3 10W Guitar Combo Amplifier

Blackstar ID:CORE Stereo 10 V3 10W Guitar Combo Amplifier

The Blackstar ID:CORE Stereo 10 V3 is a 10 watt modelling guitar combo built for practice, home playing, recording and streaming. Its output is delivered as 2 x 5 watts in Super Wide Stereo through two 3 inch Blackstar speakers, a format designed to make a small amplifier sound far larger than its cabinet. The V3 generation adds Blackstar’s Cab Rig Lite speaker simulation, a TRRS line in for streaming, and editing through the Blackstar Architect software, while keeping the simple front-panel layout that made the ID:CORE range a common first amplifier.

Key features

• 10 watt output in Super Wide Stereo, 2 x 5 watts
• Six amp voices from clean to high-gain overdrive
• Patented ISF control for American to British tone shaping
• Twelve built-in effects: four modulations, four delays, four reverbs
• Six patch locations to store your own sounds
• Cab Rig Lite cabinet simulation on the headphone and line output
• USB audio connection and TRRS line in for recording and streaming
• Built-in tuner and tap tempo for delay and modulation

Six voices, one control

A single Voice control selects between Clean Warm, a classic dynamic clean; Clean Bright, a boutique-style clean that breaks up when pushed; Crunch, a classic medium-gain overdrive; Super Crunch, with more gain and punch; OD 1, a hot-rodded master-volume overdrive; and OD 2, a mid-boosted overdrive. Gain and Volume controls work with the selected voice in the way they would on a conventional amplifier, so a beginner learns real amplifier behaviour while covering everything from clean practice to metal-style gain without pedals or a second amp.

ISF and Super Wide Stereo

Blackstar’s patented Infinite Shape Feature is the amplifier’s main tone-shaping tool. Turned fully counter-clockwise it gives a tighter low end and a more aggressive midrange with an American character; turned fully clockwise it becomes woodier and less aggressive, with a British character; positions between the two blend those responses. The Super Wide Stereo presentation then spreads effects and playback in a way that feels immersive at low, home-friendly volumes, which is where a practice amplifier spends most of its life.

Effects, patches and practice tools

The effects section provides four modulations (Phaser, Chorus/Flanger, Envelope and Tremolo), four delays (Linear, Analogue, Tape and Multi) and four reverbs (Room, Hall, Spring and Plate), and modulation, delay and reverb can be used simultaneously and stored with a sound. Six patch locations hold your own settings, tap tempo sets delay and modulation rates, and holding the reverb control activates the onboard tuner. A line input lets you play along with tracks from a phone or computer, and the same TRRS connection supports streaming your playing to an audience.

Recording, editing and portability

USB connects the amplifier to a computer for direct recording and for editing with Blackstar Architect software on Mac and PC, where patches can be created, stored and shared. Cab Rig Lite applies cabinet simulation to the headphone output, so silent practice and direct recording keep a realistic speaker character, with cabinet and microphone placement options available in the software. The amplifier measures 340 x 265 x 185 mm and weighs 3.7 kg, and it can also be run from the optional PB-1 PowerBank for playing away from a mains socket.

As a first amplifier or a compact home and recording amp for an experienced player, the ID:CORE Stereo 10 V3 concentrates voices, effects, stereo playback and computer connectivity into one small, straightforward combo.