1. It’s a pretty good little amp and great value for money but, out of the box, it doesn’t sound as good as it could because it’s made to a price and doesn’t always use the best quality components. By changing component quality and values the sound can be opened up and a wider range of tones can be achieved. Adding new components provides an even wider range of sounds.
2. 5 watts is just TOO LOUD for most people to be able to crank it up and get the true valve distortion sound that they are looking for - even a bluesy crunch will not be achieved until the amp is pretty loud.
   In a medium size room, which is where most people have to practice, a 1 watt valve amp can be so loud that you would have to shout really loud to be heard (about 100 decibels) - and around 1/10th of a watt is what is often referred to as “bedroom level” for late night noodling.

   By adding a Master Volume control and Power-Scaling™
   (see http://www.londonpower.com/pscaling.htm) you can achieve any level and combination of pre-amp and output stage distortion down to less than 1/10th watt.

About our modifications

Blackheart themselves suggest the BH5 is ripe for modding and the internet is full of modification ideas for Blackheart amplifiers. 

I have chosen what I believe to be a successful combination of changes and additions which allow the amp to reach it’s full potential and provide a wide range of tones from clean to insane distortion and all at volumes down to ‘bedroom level’.

I don't fit tube rectifiers as they do not, as is sometimes claimed, provide SAG or any other tonal difference in a single ended class A amp (see FAQ's).

I have also found that the examples I have seen have poor quality Chinese valves.  I am surprised that this is never mentioned elsewhere so maybe some examples have better valves.

*Please note that I am licensed to install Power Scaling™ and use genuine London Power components for the Power Scaling™ circuit.

Modification Options

We offer a range of mods to your own Blackheart as well as ready modified amplifiers.

1. Master Volume
2. Power Scaling™ 5 watts down to 0.1 watt of pure valve tone
   (see the Power Scaling page and FAQ's)
3. Combined Power and Standby Switch
4. Bigger power supply smoothing capacitors fitted and Internal wiring re-routed to further reduce hum.
5. Fitting top quality tone caps and other components for 'Marshall' Tone or 'Fender' Tone
6. Changing and adding components to improve tone and reliability
7. Upgrading the poor quality Chinese Valves