The Blackstar Carry-On ST is a travel-sized electric guitar with a full-size feeling neck, a 20.7 inch (527mm) scale and a mini humbucker pickup, from around £169.99 in the UK. It is the standard, lower-cost version of Blackstar’s Carry-On line, built in Jet Black and Vintage White.
Blackstar is a UK amp maker, and the Carry-On range was developed with input from Gordon Smith Guitars. It is one of a small number of travel electrics built around a genuinely playable, full-width neck rather than a shrunk-down one.
What you actually get
The ST has a one-piece poplar body with a full gloss finish, a bolt-on maple neck and a laurel fingerboard with 19 frets. The bridge is a TOM-style unit strung through the body, and the single mini humbucker runs through simple volume and tone controls. It does not include a built-in amp or speaker. Both colourways are identical apart from finish and price.
| Colourway | Body finish | From around |
|---|---|---|
| Jet Black | Full gloss black | £169.99 |
| Vintage White | Full gloss white | £174.99 |
Good for: a proper-feeling electric neck in a genuinely compact body, for quiet practice and travel on a tight budget. Not for: anyone who wants an amp included, or players who want a set-neck or higher-spec build.
- Jet Black: see it at Andertons
- Vintage White: see it at Andertons
How the ST differs from the original Carry-On
Guitar World reviewed the original Carry-On Deluxe Pack, which bundles the guitar with Blackstar’s Fly 3 amp, and called it "a fun little guitar that’s dead serious when it comes to practice." The reviewer praised the full-width neck and regular string spacing, found the tone more than respectable for practice though lacking a little bite, and measured the guitar at 1.79kg with the same 20.7 inch scale used on the ST reviewed here.
Andertons describes the ST as a standard version of that same design, with a bolt-on neck and a full gloss body finish bringing the price down from the original. The two share their core design and scale length, but the ST is a different build, so treat the Deluxe Pack review as a guide to the family rather than to this specific model.
Is it a good travel guitar?
With no built-in amp, you will need a separate headphone amp, clip-on speaker or small combo to play it anywhere but silently. Our travel guitar amps buying guide covers the options. Cabin rules for instruments vary by airline, so check yours before you fly, and our guide to taking a guitar on a plane in the UK covers what to expect. A short scale changes the feel and tension of the strings more than it changes the tone on a solid-body electric, which we cover in whether travel guitars sound worse than full-size ones.
Check the Carry-On ST Jet Black price at Andertons
How it compares
Our best travel electric guitars guide covers six fuller-featured picks. The Donner HUSH-X and Donner HUSH X Live both include a built-in headphone amp or clip-on speaker, which the Carry-On ST does not. The Squier Mini Stratocaster is a genuinely smaller-bodied guitar rather than a travel-specific design. If a full-scale neck matters more to you than a compact body, the Anygig AGE TE keeps a 25.5 inch scale in a frame-style design. For how all of these fit together, the complete UK buyer’s guide compares every option by budget.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Blackstar Carry-On ST and the original Carry-On?
The ST has a bolt-on neck and a full gloss body finish, which Blackstar uses to bring the price down from the original Carry-On design. Both share the same 20.7 inch (527mm) scale.
Does the Blackstar Carry-On ST have a built-in amp?
No. It is a passive electric guitar with a single mini humbucker. You need a separate headphone amp, clip-on speaker or small combo to hear it properly.
What scale length is the Blackstar Carry-On ST?
20.7 inches, or 527mm.
What colours does the Blackstar Carry-On ST come in?
Jet Black and Vintage White. Both share the same specification and differ only in finish and price.
How much does the Blackstar Carry-On ST cost in the UK?
From around £169.99 for Jet Black and £174.99 for Vintage White.
