Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 Ultra-Lightweight Valve Amp Head – Fawn

Quick Product Summary

The Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 Head in Fawn is a premium 50-watt valve guitar amplifier designed for players who want genuine EL34 tone and professional stage performance without the traditional weight of a powerful valve head.

At just 6.7 kg, the St. James 50 EL34 combines 2 x ECC83 preamp valves and 2 x EL34 power valves with two carefully voiced channels. Channel I delivers clear, dynamic clean tones inspired by classic American amplifiers, while Channel II moves into responsive early-'60s British-style clean, chime and crunch. A switchable 10dB Boost drives Channel II further into creamy valve overdrive.

Three power settings – 50W, Sag and 2W – are joined by a built-in reactive load, Blackstar CabRig speaker simulation, USB audio, balanced XLR output, stereo headphone connectivity, digital reverb and a series effects loop. The result is a genuine valve head that works equally well on stage, in a home studio or as part of a modern direct-recording rig.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Blackstar
Series	St. James
Model	St. James 50 EL34 Head
Finish	Fawn
Condition	New
Power	50W / Sag / 2W
Valves	2 x ECC83, 2 x EL34
Channels	2
Main Appeal	Full 50W EL34 valve performance at only 6.7 kg
Best For	Gigging, recording, pedalboards, studio work and professional guitar rigs

What's Included?

• Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 Valve Amp Head – Fawn

• Blackstar FS-19 2-way footswitch

• ✘ Speaker cabinet not included

Why Choose The Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 Head?

Genuine 50-Watt EL34 Valve Performance

The St. James EL34 uses a genuine valve signal path with two ECC83 preamp valves feeding a pair of EL34 power valves. It delivers the touch sensitivity, harmonic character and dynamic response guitarists expect from a serious valve amplifier while remaining unusually portable for a 50-watt head.

Two Channels With Distinct Personalities

Channel I is voiced around bright, controlled mid-'60s American-style cleans with a firm low end, making it particularly useful as a pedal platform. Channel II changes the character significantly, using an early-'60s British-inspired valve topology for warm cleans, chime and responsive crunch.

Push Channel II Further With The 10dB Boost

Engaging Boost adds 10dB at the input stage, driving the valve preamp harder without replacing the fundamental character of Channel II. This gives you an easy progression from dynamic rhythm sounds into richer overdrive and lead tones.

50W, Sag And 2W Power Options

Full-power operation provides the headroom and authority expected from a 50-watt valve amp, while the dedicated 2W mode makes the St. James substantially easier to use for lower-volume practice and studio work. The additional Sag setting gives you a third power-stage operating option between the two.

Exceptionally Lightweight For A Full Valve Head

At 6.7 kg, the St. James 50 EL34 is exceptionally easy to transport compared with many traditional 50-watt valve heads. For gigging players regularly moving their own equipment, that reduction in carrying weight can make a meaningful difference without requiring a move to digital amplification.

Modern Connectivity Without Losing The Valve Amp Experience

USB audio, balanced XLR output, headphones, CabRig and the internal reactive load give the St. James far more flexibility than a conventional valve head. You can still connect it to a traditional guitar cabinet, but recording and direct live applications no longer depend entirely on placing a microphone in front of a speaker.

Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 vs Popular Alternatives

Blackstar St. James 50 6L6 Head

The St. James 50 6L6 Head shares the same lightweight 6.7 kg format, 50W/Sag/2W power system, reactive load and CabRig technology. The main difference is tonal direction: the EL34 model focuses on classic British-inspired chime and crunch, while the 6L6 version is better suited to players wanting a more aggressive modern overdrive circuit and tighter high-gain performance.

Blackstar St. James 100 Head

The St. James 100 Head is the step up for players who need considerably greater flexibility and output. It combines EL34 and 6L6 power valves, four channels and 100W operation, with continuously variable power reduction down to 5%. The 50 EL34 remains the stronger choice if you value simplicity, classic clean/crunch tones and the lowest possible carrying weight.

Marshall Origin50 Head

The Marshall Origin50H is another 50-watt EL34 head aimed at players who enjoy traditional British valve tones. It offers 50W, 10W and 5W power settings in a simpler single-channel design. The St. James provides a broader two-channel platform plus its reactive load, CabRig, USB audio and balanced direct output for players who need more integrated recording functionality.

Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 Combo

The St. James 50 EL34 Combo delivers the same core EL34 platform in an all-in-one format with a Celestion Zephyr 12-inch speaker. Choose the combo if simplicity and a built-in speaker are priorities; choose the separate head when you want freedom to select your own cabinet, easier component-by-component transport or a more flexible stage setup.

Who Is The Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 Head For?

The St. James 50 EL34 is particularly well suited to:

• Gigging guitarists who want to reduce the weight of their valve rig

• Blues, classic rock, indie and alternative players

• Guitarists who favour EL34 power-valve character

• Pedalboard users looking for a responsive clean valve foundation

• Players who need both clean and classic crunch tones

• Home-studio musicians who want to record a real valve power stage

• Guitarists working with direct-to-PA or silent-stage setups

• Professional players who regularly transport their own equipment

• Musicians who prefer a separate amplifier head and speaker cabinet

• Players wanting one amplifier for stage, studio and lower-volume home use

Looking for advice on choosing the right valve amp head, guitar speaker cabinet or complete professional guitar rig? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Suitable Genres & Playing Styles

The St. James EL34 is particularly strong for blues, classic rock, indie, alternative, roots, pop, country and traditional British-inspired guitar tones.

Channel I works especially well for clean rhythm playing and pedal-based rigs, while Channel II moves naturally from chime and mild breakup into richer valve crunch. Players who primarily need extreme modern high gain should also consider the St. James 6L6 version, while the EL34 model is particularly rewarding for guitarists who value touch sensitivity, dynamic drive and interaction with pedals.

What Do CabRig And The Built-In Reactive Load Actually Do?

A conventional valve head normally needs to interact with a suitable speaker load, and getting a finished recorded guitar tone generally involves a cabinet, microphone and suitable room. Blackstar developed the St. James with an internal reactive load that allows the genuine valve output stage to form part of the direct signal path.

That post-power-valve signal can then pass through CabRig, Blackstar's DSP speaker simulation system, which models cabinet, microphone and room characteristics. This gives you a practical route to recording, headphone practice and direct live sound while keeping the real EL34 power stage at the centre of the amplifier's response.

Story & Context

Blackstar developed the St. James series with two main objectives: reduce the weight traditionally associated with powerful valve amplification and give modern guitarists professional direct-recording facilities without removing the real valve signal path.

The amplifiers were designed by Blackstar's team in Northampton, England, with weight savings found throughout areas such as the power supply, transformers, chassis and cabinet construction. The St. James 50 EL34 Head consequently weighs only 6.7 kg despite retaining a genuine 50-watt twin-EL34 output stage.

The name St. James also has a local connection. St. James is one of the oldest areas of Blackstar's home town of Northampton, giving the range a direct link to the company's roots.

For the EL34 version, Blackstar concentrated Channel II around an early-'60s British-style circuit concept rather than the higher-gain direction of the 6L6 model. That gives this particular St. James its distinctive place in the range: a lightweight modern amplifier built around classic clean, chime and crunch sounds.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Valve guitar amplifier head
Output Power	50W RMS
Power Modes	50W / Sag / 2W
Preamp Valves	2 x ECC83
Power Amp Valves	2 x EL34
Channels	2
Channel I Character	American-inspired clean
Channel II Character	British-inspired clean / crunch
Boost	10dB input-stage boost on Channel II
EQ	Bass, Middle, Treble
Reverb	Digital reverb
Reactive Load	Built in
Speaker Simulation	Blackstar CabRig
USB Audio	Yes
Balanced Direct Output	XLR CabRig output
Stereo Headphone / Line Output	Yes
Effects Loop	Series
Effects Loop Level	+4dBu / -10dBV selectable
Footswitchable Functions	Channel / Boost
Finish	Fawn
Voltage	90–264V, 50/60Hz
Dimensions	402 x 222 x 214 mm
Weight	6.7 kg

Speaker Cabinet Compatibility

As a separate amplifier head, the St. James 50 EL34 gives you the flexibility to choose a cabinet around the sound, size and stage format you prefer.

The St. James 212VOC Fawn is the natural visual match within Blackstar's range, combining the Fawn styling with two lightweight Celestion Zephyr speakers. Other suitable guitar speaker cabinets can also be used when the amplifier and cabinet impedance requirements are correctly matched.

Always use a proper speaker cable, rather than a standard screened guitar cable, when connecting an amplifier head to a passive speaker cabinet.

Power Requirements

The Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 Head is mains powered and supports 90–264V AC, 50/60Hz, making it suitable for universal-voltage operation.

It does not use batteries.

When connecting the physical speaker outputs to a guitar cabinet, always follow the impedance information on the amplifier and cabinet and use a dedicated speaker cable.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The Blackstar St. James 50 EL34 Head is a standout choice for players who love genuine valve amplification but are tired of the weight that normally accompanies a professional 50-watt rig.

The EL34 model is especially appealing to players who prefer dynamic cleans, chime and responsive classic crunch rather than making maximum gain the priority. Add the 2W setting, reactive load and CabRig and it becomes a genuine stage valve amplifier that also makes a great deal of sense in a modern home or project studio.

Best suited for: Gigging guitarists, pedalboard users and players who favour classic EL34 clean and crunch tones
Customers usually upgrade from: Mid-powered valve combos, heavier traditional heads and performance-focused modelling amplifiers
Most commonly paired with: Blackstar St. James 212VOC cabinets, overdrive/boost pedals, delay/modulation pedals and recording equipment
Our tip: Treat Channel I as your clean pedal platform and use Channel II for your core valve crunch, then bring in the Boost when you need a richer lead or higher-drive sound.
Showroom feedback: The 6.7 kg weight is immediately noticeable, but the bigger reason to choose this amp is that the portability comes without moving away from a genuine 50-watt EL34 power stage.

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 professional guitar equipment and complete amplifier rigs. Whether you're moving from a combo to a separate head and cabinet, building a pedalboard around a new valve platform or deciding between EL34 and 6L6 amplifiers, we're here to help you make the right choice.

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

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Decades of experience with new and pre-owned musical equipment

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

• Practical advice on amplifier heads, cabinets, pedals and complete live rigs

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, keyboard, amplifier, 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 instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tonal difference between the EL34 and 6L6 St. James heads?

The EL34 version is focused more heavily on classic clean, chime and British-inspired low-to-medium-gain crunch. The 6L6 version takes Channel II in a more modern, higher-gain direction, making it better suited to players who need tighter and more saturated overdrive.

Is 50 watts too powerful for home use?

Not necessarily. The St. James includes a dedicated 2W setting, making it much easier to use at home than a conventional fixed-output 50-watt head.

Can I record the St. James directly into my computer?

Yes. The built-in USB audio system lets the amplifier feed a direct recording setup, with CabRig providing cabinet and microphone-style processing.

Can I connect the amplifier directly to a PA?

Yes. The balanced XLR CabRig output provides a practical direct signal for compatible mixers and PA systems.

Is the St. James EL34 good as a pedal platform?

Yes. Channel I was specifically designed around a clean, controlled response that works particularly well as a foundation for overdrive, distortion, modulation and other guitar effects.

Does the St. James have an effects loop?

Yes. It has a series effects loop with switchable +4dBu and -10dBV operating levels, helping it work with both conventional guitar pedals and suitable professional-level effects equipment.

What speaker cabinet would you recommend?

For a visually and technically matched setup, the Blackstar St. James 212VOC Fawn is a particularly strong choice. Players wanting a smaller setup can also consider a suitable 1x12 cabinet, provided the impedance and power-handling requirements are correct.

Why is the St. James Head so much lighter than many valve amps?

Blackstar designed the St. James range specifically around reducing unnecessary weight while retaining a genuine valve signal path. Weight savings were engineered into multiple parts of the amplifier rather than relying on a single lightweight component.