Blackstar Doug Aldrich DA5 Ruby Red Tube Guitar Combo

Doug Aldrich's Signature 5W Valve Combo — Big Rig Tone, Bedroom Volume

The Blackstar DA5 Ruby is Doug Aldrich's signature 5W all-valve guitar combo, built with the Whitesnake and Dead Daisies guitarist to bring his DA100 Ruby stage rig character into the home and studio. A push-pull 12BH7 power stage with an ECC83 preamp keeps the working voltages intact at any level, so the tonal character never collapses when the master volume comes down. Sharing the same Ruby finish and circuit DNA, this compact combo delivers the dynamics and touch sensitivity of a driven valve amplifier at volumes the neighbours can live with. The DA5 Ruby is the right choice for players who want stage-grade valve tone without stage-grade volume.

The Custom Aldrich 50 Loudspeaker and CabRig Speaker Simulation

The heart of this combo is the custom 12" Aldrich 50 loudspeaker, voiced with Doug himself — a 50W driver in a 5W combo gives more headroom, more authority, and more room-filling response than any typical low-wattage driver. Blackstar's CabRig IR-based DSP speaker simulation delivers hundreds of cabinet, microphone, and room combinations via the Blackstar Architect software, with three user presets accessible directly from the amp for zero-latency direct recording through XLR or USB-C.

Valve Power Stage and Power Management

The push-pull architecture is what separates this combo from typical single-ended practice amps, giving it the breathing dynamics of a much larger rig.

• Power Output: 5 W with Power Reduction to 0.5 W (10% of rated output) — full valve feel at any volume
• Preamp Valve: 1x ECC83 — classic tone-shaping valve for clean headroom and overdrive character
• Power Valve: 1x 12BH7 in genuine push-pull configuration — the same anatomy as the DA100 Ruby

Two Channels, Four Voices, and ISF Tone Shaping

Two footswitchable channels and four distinct voices cover a massive range of tones, from articulate American-style cleans to rich British overdrive and high-gain lead tones inspired by Doug's live rig.

• Channels: 2 (Clean / Overdrive) — footswitchable for live switching
• Voices: 4 (2 per channel) — American and British voices on the Clean channel, classic and modern voices on the Overdrive channel
• EQ Controls: Bass, Middle, Treble, ISF — patented ISF sweeps the entire character from American to British
• Reverb: Studio-quality built-in

Speaker, CabRig DSP, and Studio Connectivity

The custom-voiced 12" driver and Blackstar's CabRig DSP turn this combo into a complete recording and silent-practice solution straight out of the box.

• Speaker: 1x 12" Aldrich 50 (50 W power rating) — co-developed with Doug Aldrich
• CabRig: IR-based speaker simulator with 3 user presets onboard, configurable via Blackstar Architect
• Connectivity: USB-C audio output, XLR CabRig DI output, stereo headphone output — direct to DAW or monitors
• Effects Loop: Series effects loop for integrating outboard pedals and processors
• Footswitch: 2-way footswitch included for hands-free channel switching
• Dimensions: 443 x 405 x 252 mm · Weight: 14.4 kg

Who the DA5 Ruby Is Built For

The DA5 Ruby is the right choice for guitarists who want the feel, response, and unmistakable character of Doug Aldrich's live rig in a compact combo that fits a bedroom, home studio, or apartment. It suits players chasing authentic American cleans, British-style crunch, and high-gain lead tones without cranking a 100W head, and gives recording musicians a direct-to-DAW solution with CabRig IR-based speaker simulation, USB-C, and XLR DI. The 0.5W power reduction makes it ideal for late-night practice and silent stage use, while the included 2-way footswitch and dual-channel design make it gig-ready for small venues. Doug Aldrich fans, Whitesnake and Dead Daisies tone hunters, and any player who values touch response and valve dynamics over digital modelling will find a lot to love here.

Doug Aldrich and the Blackstar Ruby Series

Doug Aldrich is widely regarded as one of the most respected guitarists in the world, with an impressive career spanning Whitesnake, Dio, Burning Rain, Lion, Hurricane, House of Lords, Bad Moon Rising, Revolution Saints, and The Dead Daisies. The DA100 Ruby turned heads and won awards across the world, delivering a stage-ready tone that players everywhere wanted to get their hands on. The DA5 Ruby gives players exactly that same DNA, same Ruby finish, and same legendary Aldrich character in a compact valve amp that fits a home, a studio, and a life on the road. Each unit ships with Doug Aldrich's Dunlop plectrums and a hand-signed certificate of authenticity — Ruby is, after all, his daughter's name.