Inspired by Jared’s Vision

Jared James Nichols has built a reputation as one of the most talented players in the world today; a true player’s player. Jared has been a Blackstar Artist for 14 years and we’ve been honoured to work with him on his second signature model with us, the JJN 50 & JJN 212 VOC. As Jared’s career has grown, so has the size of the stages he plays and it has come to a time where his amplifier is also in need of growth. We worked closely with Jared to develop his new signature model and we’re extremely proud to reveal the JJN 50. This amp has been road tested on tour around the UK and Europe and tweaked to perfection, to deliver Jared’s awesome BLUES POWER tones. Jared has been playing a St. James 50 EL34H live since their launch (alongside his JJN 20) and his new signature amp is based on that platform. Working closely with him we've opened up more of the top end of the amp to allow a wider spectrum of frequencies through. This is perfect for his finger-style playing, as it allows the notes to pop and snap off his fingers more percussively. We’ve also added a unique BLUES POWER circuit which really kicks the amp into overdrive with rich harmonics and overtones. When Jared visited Blackstar HQ in Northampton, UK we tested many different speaker types and combinations. Jared’s preferred choice was a Celestion G12T-75 in the top and a lightweight Celestion Zephyr speaker in the bottom position. This speaker blend kept the cabinet lightweight while suiting Jared's playing style. To finish things off, we kitted out this new signature in Jared's British Racing Green livery. Every amp comes with a certificate of authenticity hand signed by Jared and some cool JJN collectables.

"I first plugged in to a Blackstar amp in 2010. I remember the feeling it gave me, I LOVED IT. When I first chased my dream of forming my band and making original music, it started with a Les Paul and a Blackstar. Now 14 years later, that combination remains the same. Simply put, I have developed and found my entire sonic sound with Blackstar. In 2019, I was blessed to release my first signature model, the JJN 20. I couldn’t have been more happy. But as time went on and my career continued to grow, so did my needs in an amplifier. So here we are… the JJN 50, an absolute beast of an amp. Packing all of the power, tone, versatility, and inspiration I could ever ask for, this one can genuinely do it all. I proudly worked closely with the engineers on every single facet of this amp; we put our heart and soul into it. I am absolutely blown away by the final product and I think you will be too. I hope you harness the musical freedom and passion in this amplifier. Although it is a signature model, rest assured, it was designed with the intention to speak to you, empower you, and inspire YOU on your musical journey. Much love & BLUES POWER!” – Jared James Nichols

Key Features:

• Custom Voiced to Jared's specification We worked closely with Jared and road tested these amps to ensure that they sound incredible and perform night after night in the most testing environments.
• Unique speaker combination The pairing of the Blackstar exclusive Celestion Zephyr along with the Celestion G12T-75 creates an incredible sonic spectrum. Warmth and drive from the Zephyr with top end sparkle and pop from the G12T-75 makes this a killer combination.
• Built-in reactive load St. James amps have a built-in reactive load allowing you to drive the valves without a speaker connected. The reactive load mimics the electrical response of a loudspeaker to deliver the authentic valve power-amp tones in the studio or at home. 
• Power reduction Based on our patented Dynamic Power Reduction design you can easily switch from 50 Watts for the loudest clean headroom, down to 2 Watts for practicing, recording or smaller gigs, or a more overdriven power amp tone. The third option is Sag. This setting generates more power supply ‘sag’ to accentuate the all-important valve amp compression; the ‘feel’ is softer and more ‘vintage’.
• Universal power supply Our universal power supply, is lightweight and can be used anywhere in the world from 90V to 264V 50/60Hz.
• Lightweight cabinet Candlenut plywood is used for strength and lightness and its beneficial acoustic proprieties, creating a roadworthy cabinet that sounds great and won’t let you down.
• Custom British Racing Green livery Jared has become synonymous with his British Racing Green Blackstar amps and he decided his new St James signature amp had to be the same – we think it looks amazing!
• Signed certificate Each amp comes with a certificate of authenticity hand signed by Jared.