MusicRadar Verdict
If you’re looking for the most ‘amp-like’ FRFR out there, one that can enhance your digital modeler experience and bring back some of that good ol’ fashioned analog feel, then this is probably for you. The Artist FR Standard feels like having an amp behind you, and as someone who’s never taken to the whole FRFR thing, I am very impressed.
Pros
- +
Great amp-like operation and practicality.
- +
Superb FRFR performance.
- +
Top-mounted controls, like a real combo, are appreciated.
- +
Frills-free FRFR experience that's well-sized for home use.
Cons
- -
Might not be enough for those wanting a cab sim out.
- -
Would have preferred a two-stand design.
MusicRadar's got your back Our team of expert musicians and producers spends hours testing products to help you choose the best music-making gear for you. Find out more about how we test.
What is it?
With the proliferation of amp modellers that have flooded the market in recent years, many companies are starting to get ahead of the curve with what they believe to be the next Big Thing in the world of digital tone – FRFR cabs.
Full range, flat response speakers, in their simplest form, are designed to work alongside your modeler and project your meticulously dialed-in tones without coloring them in any way. Instead, they hope to provide a valuable monitoring solution for gigging guitarists, and recreate the ‘pushing air’ phenomenon that amp modelers lack.
In other words if you prefer the portability and convenience of amp modelers, but want some stage volume with an amp-like feel, a powered FRFR is for you.
Fender, Laney, Line 6, IK Multimedia… these are just some of the names that have made new strides in their FRFR departments in recent months. Blackstar can now be added to the bunch, having recently dropped the Artist FR Standard. Joined by the larger and more powerful Artist FR Special, the FR Standard is a 50W 1x12” cab, pitched primarily for home and studio use.
The trick with FRFR cabs is, because of their relatively simple design objective, how do you make yours stand out from the crowd? Onboard IRs? Speaker simulations? Specially designed speakers? There’s not a lot to play with.
Blackstar’s Artist FR, like the Fender Tone Master range, has gone down the ‘amp-inspired’ route, with an FRFR that looks and operates like a regular amp. Laney and Positive Grid, by comparison, have gone down the ‘PA’ route, with more rugged wedge-like FRFR solutions.
This here is designed by the same team that designed Blackstar’s amp range, and promises the dynamics and character you expect from an analog setup. It does this, among other ways, by leveraging a speaker set that promises extended highs, zero harshness, full and defined lows, and the full dynamic character of a tube amp.
In all, it is marked to be the most ‘amp-like’ non-amp out there. Is that the case when paired with a variety of modelers?
Specs
- Launch price: $399 | £289 | €309
- Type: Full range, flat response guitar speaker cab
- Origin: China
- Output: 50 Watts
- Speaker: 1 x 12"
- Channels: N/A
- Controls: Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble, Presence
- Connectivity: 1/4" / XLR combi input, XLR out
- Weight: 23.6 Lbs/10.72 kgs
- Dimensions: 461 x 387 x 230 mm
- Contact: Blackstar
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★½
In typical Blackstar fashion, the Artist FR is a really rugged speaker, with a reassuring rubber handle on the top – just like you’d find on an actual amp – to help carry it around the house and beyond. To that end, it’s delightfully lightweight, and while some may think an FRFR defeats the purpose of going digital (in other words, eliminating the need to lug an amp around) it really doesn’t feel like it’d be cumbersome to port about.
In fact, at 10.72kg, it undercuts the competition. Laney’s smallest FRFR (the LFR-110) is 13.1kg. Fender’s Tone Master FR-12 is 12.5kg. At just shy of 11kg, the Blackstar is especially back-friendly. Likewise, with its 461 x 387 x 230mm size, it doesn’t take up much space in a bedroom or on a stage. No more so than my Blues Junior.
The black tolex feels pretty premium (although our review model had a weird ‘sticky’ patch, perhaps from the packaging) and the rear stand doesn’t feel like it’s going to fly loose, which is reassuring. The pop-button mechanism can be a bit fiddly to reach around and undo, but it’s there if you want it.
Overall, it’s sleek, looks like an amp, feels robust and lightweight, and looks classy as hell thanks to the Blackstar styling. What more could you ask for?
Usability
Usability rating: ★★★★★
Having the active 3-band EQ immediately accessible is a fantastic idea
Contrary to some other brands, Blackstar has opted to go down a more amp-inspired route with its FRFR cab. That means, unlike some alternatives that feature awkward rear-mounted controls that look more akin to a PA speaker or wedge monitor than a guitar amp, the Artist FR offers top-mounted panel controls much like your regular Blackstar combo.
It’s a great design choice, and one I think all FRFR cabs should use. Having the active 3-band EQ immediately accessible is a fantastic idea. Not only does it make it feel more amp-like, but purely from a usability perspective, it’s a vastly superior design choice.
What’s even better is that the EQ controls are all notched at the 12 o’clock position. That means you can quickly and easily lock into neutral and reset your FRFR ‘tones’ with zero fuss. It’s a nice way to go back to square one, especially when you’re testing different modelers and patches, and easy for those who are completely content with a flat setting.
The addition of a presence control is a nice touch, too, and further adds to Blackstar’s claim of this being an especially amp-like FRFR. I love a presence control. I think they’re a valuable tool on tube amps, and having one in the context of digital amp modelers helps tailor some of the more pronounced digital-y-ness, or bump some of the lacking higher frequencies. Having the input jack on the top panel would have been the icing on the cake.
As it is, though, the input jack is on the back, which is blissfully sparse in the best way possible. There are no cab sim outs and IR connections here. Instead, you get the input, an XLR out – with a ground-lift – and the IEC power port. It’s very ‘analog’ and just the thing those coming from a conventional amp world would appreciate.
There’s a rear-mounted single stand leg, which is held in place by a pop-button mechanism. I don’t see why side-mounted stands wouldn’t have worked, and would argue they’d have been even easier to operate, but at least there is a stand – a lot of the rival FRFRs don’t offer this practical option to angle the cab towards the player's ears. Rather than their legs!
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★★½
As luck would have it, the Artist FR arrived at my house for testing at the same time I had something of a stockpile of review gear. That meant I was able to test it through a range of different modelers – including the Neural DSP Nano Cortex, Neural DSP Quad Cortex mini, and Line 6 Helix Stadium XL. Oh, and I also had the Blackstar ID:X Floor One. Fortunate timing, eh?
The ‘too long, didn’t read’ of it is, the Blackstar Artist FR Standard is a very versatile and convincing speaker that did really well in projecting the nuance of each individual digital modeling patch that was thrown its way.
Furthermore, the onboard EQ section is really helpful in fine-tuning those patches. As someone who plays entirely through headphones – apart from when I rehearse or gig – it’s sometimes hard to get an accurate reading of what my tone will sound like ‘in the room’. In other words, how it will behave when fed through a speaker or PA at higher volumes.
It retains the clarity of my patches with considerable ease, and, in some instances, also helps highlight what was lacking
I find the Blackstar to be really valuable in really honing in on my modeling tones, and the controls really did level up the experience. All the controls were impressively responsive, and the treble was especially good at introducing some high-end that never gets uncontrollable or fizzy. Likewise, the Artist FR Standard packs a hefty bass punch without ever sounding muddy or washy.
It retains the clarity of my patches with considerable ease, and, in some instances, also helps highlight what was lacking. Too much reverb on my clean patch, for example, or some unruly gain on my drive settings. In other words, I’d say it makes my giggable modeler tone better.
To that point, I’ve tried so many combinations and patches to try and get a really genuine-sounding, authentic-feeling edge-of-breakup tone from my modelers, usually coming from any number of overdrive, compressor, amp and IR combinations. Having finally landed on something that feels bouncy and responsive under my fingers, I live in fear of that not translating to a wider room at amplified levels.
Well, my fears were unfounded with the Blackstar Artist FR. My tone is exactly as I'd dialed in, just louder and more usable. I didn't quite do a strict blind A/B running my Blues Junior combo next to the Artist FR while running a capture of the amp on the QC mini (that would've been logistically challenging for a sole reviewer) but I was really impressed at how lively the digital companion speaker felt.
As a minor point, I find the speaker to be somewhat noisy, especially at mid-high volume levels, especially when using the tilt-back stand. In smaller rooms, when sat close to the Artist FR at an angle, there is some audible noise leakage. Of course, the bigger the room and the further away you’re positioned, the less of a trouble this would be.
By comparison, when I wasn’t using the tiltback speaker, the FRFR was angled away, so that leakage wasn’t as apparent. There is a helpful input clip on the top panel, too, to make sure you aren't cooking on too high a heat.
Verdict
At the end of the day, whether you go for the Blackstar Artist FR or not will depend entirely on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for something with cutting edge IR tech, an expanded feature set, and a more industrial, PA-like vibe, this isn’t for you.
However, if you’re looking for the most ‘amp-like’ FRFR out there, one that can enhance your digital modeler experience and bring back some of that good ol’ fashioned analog feel, then this definitely is.
What I like most about the Artist FR is how intuitive and fun it feels
What I like most about the Artist FR is how intuitive and fun it feels. It’s like having an amp behind you, and as someone who’s pretty skeptical about the whole FRFR thing – purely because I switched to a modeler so I didn’t have to have any physical speakers to worry about – I am very impressed.
It does feel like I am actually playing through an amp, both physically and sonically, and Blackstar’s amp engineering expertise does really shine through.
The overall design and layout feels really familiar and a natural extension of the digital modeler experience, and I see this appealing particularly to two camps of players: those looking for something amp-inspired to bolster their digital rig and bring back the ‘pushing air’ feel; and those skeptical about making the switch to digital, who might need something tangible to help ease the transition.
As for the size, the 50-watt Standard here may be fine for the home, studio and jamming with another player sans drummer, but as Blackstar has designed it, the 100-watt Artist FR Special would be the one to go for when it comes to gigging.
MusicRadar verdict: If you’re looking for the most ‘amp-like’ FRFR out there, one that can enhance your digital modeller experience and bring back some of that good ol’ fashioned analog feel, then this is probably for you. The Artist FR Standard feels like having an amp behind you, and as someone who’s never taken to the whole FRFR thing, I am very impressed.
Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
Build quality | Excellent amp-like build that looks and feels familiar | ★★★★½ |
Usability | Top-mounted controls, 3-band EQ, Presence control... I wouldn't change anything (well, apart from the stand). | ★★★★★ |
Sounds | Excellent FRFR experience that stays true to your modeler's tone – and helps tailor it if needed. | ★★★★½ |
Overall | A superb FRFR option that will particularly appeal to those who want amp-like feel and performance. | ★★★★½ |
Also try
Hands-on videos
Blackstar
Noisegate
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.