Great Value for Money! Blackstar FLY3 Amplifier

Reason for Purchase

I have been using the VOX amPlug2 headphone amp for many years when practicing guitar along with CD sound sources. However, the plug broke every time after about a year and a half, which was stressful. Then I found out that I could buy the Blackstar FLY3 for the price of two amPlug2s, so I decided to buy it.

BLACKSTAR / FLY3

There are many types of small battery-powered amplifiers, but the reasons I chose this were

• ① Prices are definitely cheap.
• ② I got advice from my guitarist friends that the sound was good!
• ③ I was interested in Blackstar's patented ISF (Infinity Shape Feature) function.
• ④ The most important thing for me was that, like amPlag2, it would be possible to perform with my favorite artists.

So, I bought it with that in mind.

Appearance

It is about 15 cm wide, about the same size as a postcard. It is less than 10 cm deep, and a little over 10 cm high. It doesn't take up much space, but when you hold it in your hand, you feel that it is a little thick. From the front, it has a simple design that is appropriate for its price. However, the design of the controls on the top has a high-class feel that is not the specification of an amplifier that costs less than 10,000 yen. It's stylish, and the design of the knobs is on a par with that of large vacuum tube amplifiers. You can make detailed adjustments.

The battery case on the back is also simple and easy to make. It has two rubber feet on the bottom, so it is stable despite its small size.

The main unit is a small amplifier that takes up less space than a monitor headphone.

This size is slightly wider than a postcard.

Compared to a cassette tape, it is slightly thicker. Is this a design to improve the sound quality?

In Terms of Sound

When I played the sound directly through the amp, it had a transparent sound. I feel that it is an amp that produces a clean sound from the mid-range to the high-range without any peculiarities. Unlike an amp like the Pignose amp that focuses on the mid-range, it can be said to have a clear sound.

Let's take a look at each of the control knobs.

[GAIN] does not distort much. Even when you press the overdrive button, it is a natural distortion that does not sound harsh. By connecting your favorite distortion effect pedal, I think you can get a variety of sound variations.

[VOLUME] control does not rise as suddenly as the Pignose amp, so it is easy to use.

And then there's the [ISF], which I was looking forward to. To put it simply, the American knob emphasizes the high range, and the British knob emphasizes the low range. It's like having the three knobs for bass, middle and treble all in one. The good thing is that you can instantly adjust the tone with a single knob, which is handy if you want to change the equalizer settings during a performance.

The [DELAY] is incredibly good for the price. If you adjust the level well, it has a good reverb effect, and I think the sound quality is one of the best in this class of amps.
If you turn up the volume a little and turn the knobs, you can hear the sound and have fun. The DELAY level is a small knob, but it is easy to operate and you can set it comfortably.
On the far right are the LINE terminals for inputting sound sources such as computers and MP3 players, and the output terminals for connecting headphones and speakers.

One thing that bothered me was that when I connected my Sony monitor headphones (see photo), the terminals were a little loose. When I pulled on them a little, the headphone terminals came out easily, and there were several times when I had trouble with the headphones making a loud noise.

When I asked the person at the music store about this, they said that there was a slight difference in the size of the terminals between different companies, so I tried it with the headphones from the music store and it was fixed securely. It would be better to be careful about that point.

Control panel. The excellent design belies the cheapness of the battery-powered amplifier. You can also set the knob to a fine degree, giving it a high-class feel.

About the Battery

As is the fate of battery-powered amplifiers, I'm always wondering how long the amp's sound will last, but this amp is amazing. It's been over a month since I bought it, and even though I use it for over an hour several times a week, and it's less stressful than the battery-powered amplifiers I've used up until now.

The rear panel holds six AA batteries. The batteries last a very long time.

AC power adapters are also available, but they are a little expensive. Even if you use it with batteries only, if you often take it out for mini-live performances or outside, I think it's fine without an adapter.

However, I recommend that people who use it for long periods of practice at home mainly purchase an adapter. A more stable power supply will also result in more stable sound quality. Of course, it will also be good value for money in the long run.

AC battery plug. It's a little more expensive, but it should maintain a more stable sound quality than batteries.

Summary

Having tried out the Blackstar FLY3, it is an excellent amp as it is reputed to be. It does not have functions such as a rhythm machine, but it has performance and sound that are better than its price.

The warmth of the mid-range is a little lacking compared to other amps, but this can be compensated for by using effect pedals such as overdrive. I connected the BSM RPA Major to my guitar and played a mini-live, and when I played with the Strat's front pickup, it had a very sweet, glossy sound.

• ◎ People who want to get good sound even if they can't make loud noises at home
• ◎ People who want to put on live performances in small places
• ◎ People who want to buy a good practice amp at a low price

This amp is perfect for people like this.

There are almost no flaws. As it is made of plastic, it should not get damaged if you keep it in a thick cloth bag.

There are also limited-edition color versions, so you could choose a color that suits your fashionable tastes, rather than just black. You can also get powerful stereo sound by connecting the separately sold cabinet.

Even players with a long history of playing guitar will be satisfied with this amp.
I hope you will all pick one up and give it a try.