PS-100 – HomeToneBlog.com

22nd July 202619th July 2026

First Impressions: Blackstar TV-10A Amp Head

I recently bought a Blackstar TV-10A amp head.

This is a photo of three guitar amplifier heads, stacked on top of each other.

On top is the Blackstar TV-10A amp. In the middle of the stack is the Blackstar Debut 100RH amp. And on the bottom of the stack is the Marshall JTM Studio amp.

It's quite striking how much smaller the Blackstar TV-10A amp is. It's maybe 80% of the width of the other two amps, making it very compact.

The TV-10A also features a very white tolex, which is quite a contrast to Blackstar's more usual cream tolex used on the Debut 100RH and many of their older amps. — Blackstar TV-10A, with Blackstar’s Debut 100RH and Marshall’s JTM Studio amp heads for size comparison.

What do I think of it? Read on for my First Impressions.

14th July 202613th July 2026

#TweedTone: Dialling In Two 5e3 Tweed Deluxe Reference Tones For 2026

It’s that time of year again, where I have another go at building a signal chain to capture a reference tone for my beloved 5e3 Tweed Deluxe amp.

This time though – as the post’s title suggests – things are a bit different. Instead of one reference tone, I’ve built a couple of them. Let me explain why …

7th October 20256th October 2025

#TweedTone: Is A 5e3 Tweed Deluxe Valve Amp Right For You In 2025?

Last week, I published an updated Tweed Amp Rig price comparison, looking at how much it would cost (here in the UK) to build a Tweed Deluxe rig for home use in 2025.

There was one answer that was too long to fit in that blog post: is it worth you spending that amount of money on a Tweed Deluxe rig for home use?

Today, I’m going to try and answer that question.

30th September 202529th September 2025

#TweedTone: The Cost Of A Tweed Deluxe Amp In September 2025

Back in September 2023, in a blog post called “You’ve Got To Be A Huge Fan Of Tweed Tone To Get A Real Fender Tweed Deluxe Amp In 2023“, I looked at the costs of buying a real 5e3 Tweed Deluxe amp here in the UK.

Two years later, I’m wondering: what has changed? How has the price changed … and how have my feelings on the price changed?

4th February 20252nd February 2025

#TweedTone: Dialling In A 5e3 Tweed Deluxe Reference Tone For 2025

New year, new (and hopefully improved!) reference tone from my Fender 57 Custom Deluxe amp.

All made possible thanks to a late 2024 freebie from Origin Effects … and me figuring out how I’d been using my Fryette Power Station PS-100 wrong …

26th December 202424th December 2024

2024 Review: Pedal Platforms & Other Amps

Rather than do a ‘best of’ style post, every year I’m going to do a rundown of what amps I’m using for pedal platforms, and why. And, this year, I’m expanding it to talk more about using amps for more than just pedals.

Previous years: [2019] [2020] [2021][2022][2023]

5th September 202324th October 2023

#TweedTone: You’ve Got To Be A Huge Fan Of Tweed Tone To Get A Real Fender Tweed Deluxe Amp In 2023

Regular readers will know that I’m quite the fan of “tweed tone”: the sound of classic amps from the fifties. So much so that, back in 2021, I went out and bought Fender’s modern reissue of the holy grail of tweed amps: the 5e3 Tweed Deluxe.

I’m glad that I got mine when I did, because I’m not sure that I could afford – or justify – buying the same amp in late 2023.

Read on if you’re interested in my thoughts and experiences on this topic.

29th October 202228th October 2022

Studio Diary #36: Why Does My Fryette Power Station Squeal?

For the last couple of months, I’ve been dealing with a problem with my Fryette PS-100 Power Station: it emits an awful squeal.

I’ve figured out why: it was caused by a ground loop. Read on if you want to know the whole story.

14th June 202211th June 2022

TweedTalk #3: Mad Professor’s Little Tweedy Drive

Over on Twitter, my friend Alessandro asked for opinions about Mad Professor’s Little Tweedy Drive.

https://twitter.com/archeteer/status/1514520614270287873?s=20&t=BNtqZblmqcteuFbi4NBsVg

Yes, I have opinions about this particular pedal. I wasn’t a fan when I first got this pedal. Will that change, when I take a second look at the Little Tweedy Drive? Read on to find out.

18th April 202216th April 2022

Short-Term Review: The Fryette Power Station PS-100

Last summer, I bought a Fryette Power Station PS-100 as an emergency purchase, so that I could use my Tweed Deluxe at home volume levels.

Nine months later, how am I getting on with it? Would I buy it again if anything happened to it? And would I recommend it to you? Read on to find out.