Main advantage
In case you want to know why the Fly 3 Amplifier is the tool you should go for, the answer is the fact that we’re talking about a highly versatile piece of gear. This product comes with reduced dimensions, but it covers a wide range of needs for any musician who is either looking to enhance his or her sound and overall music style or for experienced users who are getting ready for the next gig.
This cutting edge amp combines tape delay, two channels, as well as the brand’s well-known and patented IFS (Infinite Shape Feature), to offer a complete and portable solution. The result is that your guitar will sound just like you want it to, and the amp itself is very easy to carry around, so it’s not going to become a burden.
Even at very low volumes, you’ll notice that it offers enough tone to make the sound exactly right for a certain song. Of course, the fact that it includes the brand’s IFS means that you can also change and adapt the sound, which translates into endless possibilities when it comes to the tone of the amp. Therefore, you don’t want to miss out on this versatile unit.
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Main disadvantage
Even though this little piece of gear can work wonders for your music, there are, of course, still some aspects that can be improved. One of these is the fact that it demands six AA batteries in order to work and that it’s not a rechargeable unit.
The result is that you will need to make sure you have enough batteries all the time, especially when you are getting ready to play for an audience, to make sure you can rely on the amp. A power plug won’t do the trick since it’s not rechargeable, so keep this in mind as you place your order.
Main features explained
Portability & Versatility
As we’ve already mentioned, this amp is one that you can carry around without any trouble. If you already have an amplifier that you think it’s quite small and portable, you might not have tried the Fly 3. It’s compact and lightweight construction makes it extremely easy to place in a bag, so you will have no problem taking it with you anywhere you go.
Moreover, if you are often on the road going from gig to gig, then this amp is the one that’s going to make your life a lot easier, thanks to its tiny design but powerful performance. Since we’ve mentioned performance, it’s a good moment to emphasize that this is a versatile tool that can be easily and accurately described as a full-range one.
The auxiliary input is specially designed to provide superior performance and an overall great playing experience, so if you think that it’s suitable for some small jams, you should think again.
In fact, the product is specially designed for musicians and guitarists who usually spend a lot of time playing along with various records, but who also dedicate equal efforts to playing in solo strumming mode.
Along the same lines, you should know that the Fly 3 includes tape delay effects as well, so you can make the amp resonate just as you want it to as you play. This tiny piece of gear will definitely impress you in terms of how much you can achieve with one single item that’s also so compact.
If you are not sure whether you should give this a try, then maybe the fact that plenty of experienced users praise its performance can help you make this decision. There’s little chance that you will be let down by the results, and you will definitely enjoy using its versatile features.
Connectivity
Just as is the case with any other amp, the connectivity part is very important, especially for a unit that is made to answer a wide range of needs. Thanks to the two mini-jack stereo sockets that the Fly 3 comes with, you will have no problem connecting various devices to the unit. From laptops to smartphones and tablets, all the alternatives can be used with the Fly 3.
If you are somewhat the old-school type, you can also connect it to an MP3 player. We know, it seems like yesterday when MP3 players were brand-new and cool, and now they fall into the old-school category. However, the important part is that the Fly 3 can accommodate all of the above, no matter what your preferences are.
Plus, the headphone output is specially made to place the guitar’s signal right in the center of the stereo field so that you can accurately follow your own performance. If you want to invest a bit more, you can also get the Fly 3 Stereo Pack offered by the manufacturer, which can prove to be quite helpful. This pack includes a second speaker, as well as a power adapter.
Of course, the decision depends on your needs, but it’s good to know that this option is available as well. However, no matter what you choose, the conclusion is still that the Fly 3 can help you obtain the results you want with a handy and well-designed amp that shouldn’t be missing from your gear.
The sound you obtain is very clear, which makes it suitable for pretty much any kind of music that you want to play on your guitar using a high-quality amplifier. Together with the versatile features, this makes the Fly 3 an alternative that you should definitely try out.
Controls
When it comes to controls, the Fly 3 includes everything necessary, even if we’re talking about a tiny device. The first thing that you are going to see is the separate controls for master Volume and preamp Gain. Of course, these engage that overdrive circuit, which translates into the Fly 3 becoming a handy two-channel machine for your rock music.
There’s another control that says IFS, and this is the brand’s extremely popular Infinite Shape Feature. What you get is both the clarity of the American-style sound at one end, as well as the darker British voice as you go toward the other. You will be able to pick the right spot between the two, which is different but somewhat more versatile than what the standard treble-filtering has to offer.
The result is that your music is going to sound exactly as you want it to with little effort. Next, in terms of controls, you will see that mini-knob for the Delay level, as well as a full-size one for Delay Time. If you turn the level all the way to zero, the effect is off.
The manufacturer also came up with a creative way to get rid of the need for separate feedback buttons and controls by simply creating a link between the delay time and the number of repeats. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you get the same level of versatility as you would by using a delay pedal, but in this price range, the Fly 3 definitely offers great results.
Since we’ve already mentioned the batteries, it’s a good time to point out that they offer very different levels of performance, depending on the volume. You can rely on up to 50 hours of playing time if you go for low volumes, but at full blast, this time frame drops to only four hours.
Performance
Since the Fly 3 is a 3W unit, you shouldn’t expect it to be able to make a dent in someone’s eardrum. However, for some regular playing in an average room, it’s loud enough to ensure a great performance. Moreover, you will notice that the sound is very clear, just as you would expect from a Blackstar device.
Along the same lines, you will see that even turning up the special Gain control is going to render very nice thickness and crunch to the music, but no buzzes or rattles that can ruin the entire experience. This applies even when the volume is high, so you won’t need to worry about it.
The OD control works to render a dirtier version of the sound, but one that is not fizzy or extreme, just overdriven for great effects. You may think that this is not enough for a true rock sound, but if you take into consideration the tiny dimensions of this amp, the performance is actually quite impressive.
Moreover, Blackstar was right in using its iconic IFS rather than include an EQ control, as most other amplifiers have. The result is that the sound can range from a clear top-end bite to a midrange bark, so you can easily choose the right position for your music.
The delay functionality is going to come in handy as well, especially if you are playing your favorite song, and you want to see where the guitar sits best in the mix. The overall performance is one that you are likely to appreciate, especially when it comes from a device as little as this one.
All in all, if you want an amp that’s going to make your music sound great and that’s also available in a portable well-priced product, the Fly 3 is the one you want to try out.
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