Blackstar Dept. 10 Amped 1

Dept. 10: The Blackstar "amp" spirit, pedalboard version

With the Dept. 10 series, Blackstar condenses its amplification expertise into modern formats designed for today's rigs. The AMPED 1 is not just a simple "preamp pedal": it's a true 100W power amp platform in pedal format, designed to deliver the dynamics of a guitar amp, including with 16 ohm cabinets. The three voicings cover a broad amp culture: USA for clear and tight tones, UK for more organic and edgy textures, and Flat to let your external preamp, modeler, or pedal chain impose its signature.

Who is the AMPED 1 for and how to integrate it into your rig?

The AMPED 1 targets guitarists who want a lightweight, reliable, and consistent rig across studio, rehearsal, and live settings. In Flat mode, it becomes an excellent "end of chain" for a multi-effects, modeler, or preamp pedal: you keep your presets and gain usable amplification for a cabinet, direct PA output, or USB recording.

The USA and UK voicings suit blues, rock, pop, funk as well as heavier styles with overdrive or distortion upstream. Thanks to the power reduction options of 100W / 20W / 1W, you can adjust the level for stage, rehearsal space, or home studio without changing your playing style. For touring musicians, this is a real convenience: a single "amp pedal" that can drive a cabinet on site or output directly via XLR.

Key features: control, routing, recording, and operation

On the feel side, the Response selector is the core of the concept: it offers several behaviors inspired by power tubes (KT88, 6L6, EL34, 6V6, EL84) as well as a more neutral Linear mode. Add a 3-band EQ (Bass, Mid, Treble ) and you have a solid foundation to quickly shape your tone depending on guitar, cabinet, and room.

For modern playing, the connectivity is a real asset: CabRig allows you to work with speaker, mic, and ambiance simulations, with XLR and stereo line outputs. The 4-channel USB audio simplifies recording into a DAW and speeds up production both at home and on tour. The effects loop can operate in series or parallel (selectable via Architect), handy for optimizing delays and reverbs or preserving a dry signal intact according to your preferences. Finally, the AMPED 1 supports MIDI control and offers a footswitchable preset, making live configuration changes easier.

The sound

The AMPED 1's sonic signature is first and foremost an "amp" feel: clear attack, headroom reserve, and dynamics that respond well to guitar volume and touch. In USA mode, you get a solid and defined clean tone, excellent as a pedal platform for compressors, overdrives, and modulation. In UK mode, the grain becomes edgier and more expressive, perfect for crunches and breathing rock sounds. The Flat mode focuses on transparency to let an external preamp or modeler shine while benefiting from the punch of a real power section.

Directly, CabRig provides a very practical "studio" finish: you gain consistent sound capture from gig to gig and can send a clean balanced XLR signal to the front of house. Note: Blackstar counts guitarists like Bob Mould among its associated artists, who notably uses the Dept. 10 AMPED 1.

Technical specifications

Category	electric preamp	EQ	3 channels
Technology	Modeling	Headphone output	No
Format	Pedal	Color	White
Effects loop	Yes	Power output	100 W

Power	100W	CabRig XLR output	yes
Type	digital with Class D power amplifier	USB audio	yes (4 channels)
Power reduction	100W, 20W, 1W	MIDI control	yes
Speaker outputs	8 ohm, 16 ohm	9V DC outputs	2 (combined max current 500mA)
Voices	USA, UK, Flat	Voltage	100V to 240V ~ 50/60Hz
Response	KT88, 6L6, EL34, 6V6, EL84, Linear	Dimensions	200 x 81 x 149 mm
Reverb	yes (more parameters via Architect)	Weight	1.57kg
Reverb freeze	yes	Required power supply	100V to 240V ~ 50/60Hz (mains)
Footswitchable preset	yes	Pedal power outputs	2 x 9V DC outputs, combined max current 500mA