Blackstar Beam Solo Headphone Guitar Amplifier

Quick Product Summary

The Blackstar BEAM SOLO Headphone Guitar Amplifier puts a complete digital guitar rig into a pocket-sized unit weighing just 62.5g. Plug it directly into your guitar, connect a pair of wired headphones and you have access to Blackstar amp modelling, more than 35 effects, CabRig speaker simulation, Bluetooth backing-track playback and deep editing through the BEAM mobile app.

Designed for electric guitar, bass and acoustic guitar, BEAM SOLO goes considerably further than a basic headphone practice amp. Blackstar's SpeedDial and illuminated Light Beam interface allow quick adjustments directly from the hardware, while the app opens up additional amps, cabinets, microphones, effects, patches, practice tools and tone-sharing features.

With Neural Amp Modeler capture support through TONE3000, USB-C multichannel recording, headset microphone support and over five hours of rechargeable battery life, BEAM SOLO is equally useful for silent practice, travelling, songwriting, recording and mobile content creation.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Blackstar
Model	BEAM SOLO
Product Type	Headphone guitar amp & portable modeller
Instrument Support	Electric guitar, bass & acoustic guitar
Amp Models	8+ core models
Effects	35+
Cabinet Technology	IR-based CabRig
NAM Support	Neural Amp Modeler captures via TONE3000
Bluetooth	Audio streaming & app connectivity
Battery Life	5+ hours
Condition	New
Weight	62.5g
Main Appeal	Full modelling, effects and recording in a pocket-sized headphone amp
Best For	Silent practice, travel, recording and mobile guitar rigs

What's Included?

• Blackstar BEAM SOLO Headphone Amplifier

• USB-C to USB-C cable

• USB-A adaptor

• Quick Start Guide

• VIP Access card for product registration

✘ Headphones not included
✘ USB mains charger not included

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

As a new digital guitar product, the Blackstar BEAM SOLO is checked as part of Fair Deal Music's normal quality-control process before dispatch.

The folding instrument connector, controls, headphone connection, USB-C port, Bluetooth functionality and general operation are checked so the unit is ready to become part of your practice or recording setup.

Why Choose The Blackstar BEAM SOLO?

A Complete Guitar Rig In Your Pocket

At only 80 x 48 x 31mm and 62.5g, BEAM SOLO can stay in a gig bag or guitar case permanently. There is no separate amp, pedalboard or audio interface required for everyday headphone practice.

35+ Built-In Effects

More than 35 effects give you access to drive, modulation, delay, reverb and additional processing without carrying individual pedals. Sounds can be refined in greater depth through the BEAM app.

CabRig With In The Room Technology

Blackstar's IR-based CabRig speaker simulation recreates the cabinet and microphone stage of a complete guitar rig, while In The Room technology is designed to make headphone monitoring feel more like standing alongside a physical amplifier.

Bluetooth Backing-Track Playback

Stream music wirelessly from a compatible phone or tablet and practise along with songs, backing tracks and lesson material without connecting an additional audio cable.

Rechargeable 5+ Hour Battery

The internal rechargeable battery provides more than five hours of approximate playing time, making BEAM SOLO practical for travel, lessons and practice away from a conventional guitar amplifier.

Neural Amp Modeler & TONE3000 Support

One of the most significant developments for BEAM SOLO is support for Neural Amp Modeler – NAM – captures.

NAM technology allows highly detailed captures of real amplifiers and complete rigs to be loaded into compatible equipment. Through Blackstar's integration with TONE3000, BEAM SOLO can access a huge community-created collection of amplifier captures directly through the BEAM ecosystem.

For players who enjoy experimenting with different amplifiers, boutique designs and unusual rigs, this significantly expands the tonal potential beyond the factory amp selection.

It also means BEAM SOLO can continue evolving as new captures and sounds become available rather than remaining limited to the tones installed when you first buy it.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Blackstar BEAM SOLO vs Fender Mustang Micro Plus

The Fender Mustang Micro Plus provides 25 amp models, 25 effects, 100 preset locations, an onboard display, tuner, Bluetooth and USB recording. Fender's system gives you a particularly broad factory selection and straightforward preset management.

BEAM SOLO takes a different approach, combining Blackstar's CabRig and In The Room processing with 35+ effects, deeper app integration, headset-microphone capability and access to Neural Amp Modeler captures through TONE3000. Choose Fender if you favour the Mustang modelling ecosystem; choose Blackstar if expanding into NAM captures and more immersive CabRig monitoring appeals.

Blackstar BEAM SOLO vs BOSS KATANA:GO

The BOSS KATANA:GO brings Katana guitar and bass sounds into a headphone format, including 10 guitar amp types, three bass amp types, more than 60 effects and BOSS Stage Feel spatial processing.

Both are serious personal practice systems rather than simple headphone adaptors. The BOSS is the natural option for existing Katana users, while BEAM SOLO stands out through CabRig, Blackstar's ISF tone shaping, headset microphone recording and its growing NAM/TONE3000 integration.

Blackstar BEAM SOLO vs A Small Practice Combo

A conventional practice amp gives you a physical speaker and is easier when you want other people to hear you. BEAM SOLO is designed for a different purpose.

If you mainly practise through headphones, travel regularly or want to play without disturbing anyone else, BEAM SOLO occupies far less space while still providing multiple amps, cabinets and effects. It can also double as a USB recording interface when you want to capture ideas.

Who Is The Blackstar BEAM SOLO For?

BEAM SOLO is particularly well suited to:

• Guitarists who regularly practise through headphones

• Players living in flats, shared homes or student accommodation

• Travelling musicians

• Touring players maintaining their technique between shows

• Guitarists who want to practise late at night

• Players experimenting with Neural Amp Modeler captures

• Bassists needing a compact headphone solution

• Acoustic players using amplified or processed sounds

• Musicians who practise along with Bluetooth backing tracks

• Guitarists recording directly to phones or computers

• Content creators

• Players who want a complete backup rig in a gig bag

It is particularly useful for anyone who finds setting up a full amplifier and pedalboard too much effort for a short ten-minute practice session.

Suitable Genres & Uses

Because BEAM SOLO provides multiple amplifier models, effects, cabinet options and access to additional NAM captures, it can adapt to virtually any style of guitar music.

It works well for blues, rock, metal, pop, indie, funk, country, ambient guitar, worship, practice, songwriting, recording and technique development, while dedicated support for bass and acoustic instruments extends its usefulness beyond standard electric guitar.

How Does A Headphone Guitar Amp Work?

A headphone guitar amplifier connects directly to your instrument and creates the amplifier, effects and speaker-cabinet sound digitally before sending the finished result to your headphones.

This is important because simply connecting headphones to an electric guitar does not produce a useful amplified sound. BEAM SOLO recreates the complete signal chain — including amp, effects, speaker cabinet and microphone simulation — inside the compact unit.

The result is a complete guitar sound without needing a physical speaker in the room.

SpeedDial & Light Beam Controls

BEAM SOLO is designed so you do not need to reach for your phone every time you want to change something.

The SpeedDial works alongside the illuminated Light Beam display to provide quick adjustment of important parameters directly from the hardware.

Dedicated functions provide access to:

• Patches

• Gain

• EQ

• Effects

• Tap tempo

• Volume

This makes basic tone editing fast enough for everyday practice while leaving more detailed adjustments to the mobile app.

XpressFX

Blackstar's XpressFX system lets the SpeedDial adjust several related effect parameters in an intuitive way.

Rather than forcing you to individually configure several values every time you want more or less of an effect, XpressFX provides a quicker way to change the overall intensity and character.

For a portable practice device, that makes experimenting with effects considerably faster.

BEAM Mobile App

The BEAM app for iOS and Android expands the functionality of the hardware and provides deeper access to the sound engine.

Through the app you can explore:

• Amplifiers

• Effects pedals

• Cabinets

• Microphones

• Room environments

• Patch editing

• Patch storage

• Community sounds

• Artist patches

• Backing tracks

• Video lessons

• Built-in tuner

• Metronome

• Neural Amp Modeler captures

The combination of direct hardware controls and deeper app editing means BEAM SOLO can remain simple when you want a quick practice session but still provide significant depth when you want to build more detailed tones.

CabRig & In The Room

Blackstar's CabRig is responsible for recreating the speaker cabinet and microphone part of the guitar signal chain.

BEAM SOLO provides multiple cabinet, microphone and room combinations, allowing the character of the virtual speaker system to be adjusted separately from the amplifier itself.

In The Room technology takes a slightly different approach from a conventional studio-style cabinet IR. Its purpose is to make the headphone experience feel more like hearing an amplifier in the same space rather than simply monitoring a close-miked recorded cabinet.

For a headphone-only product, this can make long practice sessions feel considerably more natural and involving.

Bluetooth Practice

Bluetooth audio streaming allows you to play music from a compatible mobile device directly through your headphones alongside your guitar sound.

That makes it easy to:

• Learn songs

• Practise with backing tracks

• Play along with YouTube lessons

• Work with drum tracks

• Practise timing with recorded music

• Jam along with playlists

The BEAM app connection also uses wireless communication for tone editing and practice features.

USB-C Recording & Audio Interface

BEAM SOLO can also function as a multichannel USB audio interface.

Connect it via USB-C to a compatible device and you can record separate processed and unprocessed signal streams, providing considerably more flexibility than simply recording the headphone output.

Supported USB audio sample rates include:

• 44.1kHz

• 48kHz

A clean guitar DI can be captured alongside the processed sound, making it possible to record your finished BEAM tone while retaining an unprocessed signal for later editing or use with external amp plugins.

This makes BEAM SOLO useful not just for practice but also for songwriting, demo recording and mobile production.

Headset Microphone Support

The 3.5mm TRRS headphone connection supports compatible headset microphones.

This allows your voice and guitar to be used together, opening up applications including:

• Vocal practice

• Livestreaming

• Guitar lesson content

• Social media videos

• Demonstrations

• Commentary while playing

• Mobile content creation

The headset microphone can also be captured as part of the USB recording workflow.

Save & Share Patches

Custom sounds can be saved for quick recall rather than rebuilding an amp and effects chain every time you practise.

Through Blackstar's online community features, patches can also be shared with other BEAM users.

This gives you access to sounds created by other musicians as well as selected artist patches, creating a much larger tonal library than the factory presets alone.

Built-In Tuner & Practice Tools

A built-in tuner means you do not need a separate clip-on tuner for everyday headphone practice.

The BEAM app also incorporates useful learning features including:

• Metronome

• Backing tracks

• Video lessons

Together, these tools make BEAM SOLO particularly useful as a self-contained daily practice system rather than simply a way to make the guitar audible through headphones.

Story & Context

Compact plug-in headphone amplifiers have traditionally been designed around one simple purpose: allowing a guitarist to practise quietly without carrying an amplifier.

Blackstar's BEAM SOLO develops that idea into a much more complete digital platform. Instead of simply providing a handful of amp sounds, it combines Blackstar's modelling experience, CabRig speaker technology, mobile editing and USB recording in a unit small enough to plug directly into a guitar.

The later addition of Neural Amp Modeler support and TONE3000 integration expands the concept even further, allowing community-created captures of real amplifier rigs to become part of the BEAM ecosystem.

That makes BEAM SOLO less like a fixed headphone practice accessory and more like an evolving pocket-sized modelling platform.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Blackstar BEAM SOLO
Product Type	Digital headphone guitar amplifier
Instrument Compatibility	Electric guitar, bass & acoustic guitar
Core Amp Models	8+
Effects	35+
Cabinet Simulation	IR-based CabRig
In The Room Technology	Yes
Cabinet / Mic Combinations	9+
Room Environments	9+
Neural Amp Modeler Support	Yes
TONE3000 Integration	Yes
ISF Control	Yes
XpressFX	Yes
Hardware Editing	SpeedDial + Light Beam display
Patch Storage / Recall	Yes
Online Patch Sharing	Yes
Built-In Tuner	Yes
Bluetooth Audio Streaming	Yes
Mobile App	BEAM app for iOS & Android
USB Connection	USB-C
USB Recording	Multichannel
USB Sample Rates	44.1kHz / 48kHz
Headphone Connection	3.5mm
Headset Microphone Support	Yes, via compatible TRRS headset
Instrument Connection	Integrated folding ¼" jack
Battery	Internal rechargeable
Approximate Battery Life	5+ hours
Dimensions	80 x 48 x 31mm
Weight	62.5g

Power Requirements

The Blackstar BEAM SOLO uses an internal rechargeable battery.

Charging is via USB-C using the supplied cable and a suitable standard 5V USB power source.

The unit can also be used while charging.

A USB mains adaptor is not included.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Blackstar BEAM SOLO takes the headphone amp concept much further than simply giving you a few practice tones. CabRig, more than 35 effects, Bluetooth, app editing, USB recording and NAM support make it capable enough to become a genuine everyday practice and songwriting tool.

The biggest advantage is convenience. It weighs just 62.5g, plugs directly into the instrument and can stay in your gig bag, so there is virtually no setup between deciding to practise and actually playing.

Best suited for: Guitarists, bassists and acoustic players wanting high-quality silent practice with serious modelling and recording capabilities.

Customers usually upgrade from: Basic headphone amps, simple plug-in practice devices or practising through a large amplifier at inconveniently low volumes.

Most commonly paired with: Quality wired headphones, electric guitar, bass, USB-C recording devices and the BEAM mobile app.

Our tip: Spend some time exploring CabRig and In The Room rather than only changing amp models. The cabinet, microphone and room settings have a major influence on how realistic and comfortable a headphone guitar sound feels.

Showroom feedback: BEAM SOLO's biggest strength is how quickly it gets you playing. The deeper modelling and NAM functionality is there when you want it, but you can still plug in, choose a patch and practise without opening an app.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Our Birmingham showroom is backed by a knowledgeable, musician-led team who understand guitars, amplifiers, effects, modelling equipment and complete practice setups. Whether you need a silent practice solution, a compact travel rig or advice on choosing between a headphone amp and a conventional practice amplifier, we're here to help.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment

• Competitive prices on leading music brands

• Secure UK-wide delivery

• Flexible finance options available, subject to status

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• A trusted independent UK music retailer with decades of experience

• A large Birmingham showroom where you can speak directly with our team

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, amplifier, effects setup, keyboard, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next setup even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Blackstar BEAM SOLO without the app?

Yes. The SpeedDial, Light Beam display and hardware controls give you direct access to essential settings including patches, Gain, EQ, effects and Volume. The app is used when you want deeper editing and additional content.

Does BEAM SOLO work with bass guitar?

Yes. Blackstar designed BEAM SOLO for electric guitar, bass and acoustic guitar.

Can I use Bluetooth headphones with BEAM SOLO?

Bluetooth is provided for app connectivity and wireless music playback. Your playing audio should be monitored through the wired 3.5mm headphone connection to avoid the latency associated with Bluetooth headphone audio.

Can I play along with Spotify, YouTube or backing tracks?

Yes. Audio can be streamed wirelessly from a compatible Bluetooth device, allowing you to hear backing music alongside your guitar through the connected headphones.

Does BEAM SOLO work as an audio interface?

Yes. USB-C provides multichannel direct recording, including processed stereo guitar audio and a clean DI signal for compatible recording workflows.

Can I record a clean DI and my processed guitar sound?

Yes. The USB recording system can provide separate signal streams, making it possible to retain an unprocessed guitar recording alongside your processed BEAM tone.

What is Neural Amp Modeler support?

Neural Amp Modeler allows detailed captures of real amplifier and rig behaviour to be loaded into compatible hardware. BEAM SOLO can access NAM captures through its TONE3000 integration.

Does it have a tuner?

Yes. A tuner is built into the BEAM system, with additional visual information available through the mobile app.

Can I save my own sounds?

Yes. Custom patches can be created, saved and recalled. Sounds can also be shared through the BEAM online community.

Can I record vocals and guitar together?

A compatible headset microphone can connect through the TRRS headphone connection, allowing voice and guitar to be used together for compatible recording and streaming applications.

How long does the battery last?

Blackstar specifies an approximate rechargeable battery life of more than five hours.

Can I use BEAM SOLO while it is charging?

Yes. It can continue operating while connected to a suitable USB-C power source.

Does it have a built-in speaker?

No. BEAM SOLO is designed primarily as a headphone amplifier and direct-recording device rather than a conventional speaker-equipped guitar amp.

Is BEAM SOLO suitable for beginners?

Yes. Factory patches and direct hardware controls make it easy to start playing, while the app, lessons, backing tracks and deeper modelling features provide plenty of scope as a player's knowledge develops.

BEAM SOLO or a small practice amplifier?

Choose BEAM SOLO when silent practice, portability and headphone sound are the priorities. Choose a conventional practice combo when you regularly want to hear the guitar through a physical speaker or play for other people in the room.

The Blackstar BEAM SOLO Headphone Guitar Amplifier is an excellent option for players who want serious guitar tones without setting up a serious amount of equipment. Small enough to live permanently in a gig bag but powerful enough to handle modelling, effects, Bluetooth practice and direct recording, it makes grabbing the guitar for a quick session easier almost anywhere.

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