Blackstar HT STAGE 100H MkIII 100w Valve Head

Doug Aldrich is widely regarded as one of the most respected guitarists in the world, boasting an impressive career with legendary bands such as Whitesnake, Dio, Burning Rain, Lion, Hurricane, House of Lords, Bad Moon Rising, and Revolution Saints. Since 2016, he’s also been a key member of the all-star rock supergroup, The Dead Daisies, all while releasing several solo albums. While Doug has numerous signature products to his name, he has never before ventured into the world of signature amplifiers—until now. We’re proud to be part of this milestone in his story and welcome him into the Blackstar family. Since February 2023, Doug has been performing with the HT Stage 100 MK III valve amp.Doug loves the amp, quoting “it can cover anything from buttery clean tones to the ballsiest sound you have ever heard!” and asked us to make some key tweaks, to make it his dream amplifier. Over the past 12 months, we’ve worked closely with Doug to develop the DA100. We’ve made a series of functional and sonic adjustments, resulting in an amp that is nothing short of extraordinary. Doug is known for his signature drive tones and our R&D team have worked with him to create a new OD Voice – when you engage the switch it delivers a vintage, hot-rodded Plexi-style punch instead. We also tweaked the midrange to give the amp a chest-thumping experience when striking a power chord. We upgraded the Effects Loop to be footswitchable via the included 5-way foot controller and added software customisation. This allows players to adjust the effect “tails” after the loop is disengaged. Using our free Architect software, you can set the tail length and store it in the amp for seamless transitions. As part of Doug’s signature setup, we’ve incorporated his long-standing preference for cabinets loaded with iconic Celestion Vintage 30s. The striking red looks are a tribute to Doug’s daughter, Ruby. The design is completed with colour-matched knobs, a sleek brushed aluminium panel and vintage black Artisan fret cloth, giving the DA100 a timeless yet bold look.