Blackstar vs Yamaha:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Yamaha had more branded searches than Blackstar among guitar amp brands in New Zealand. Yamaha had about 290 branded searches, while Blackstar had 230. Yamaha made up 6.2% of all guitar amp brand searches we track, and Blackstar accounted for 4.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about guitar amp brands, Yamaha appeared in two of the four answers and Blackstar in one. Yamaha was mentioned before Blackstar in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Yamaha, about 26% more searches than Blackstar
Who does AI mention more?
Yamaha, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Blackstar in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Yamaha, named ahead of Blackstar in 2 of 2 answers
Follow Blackstar vs Yamaha and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top guitar amp brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Yamaha was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Blackstar was mentioned in one out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Yamaha was listed before Blackstar in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Orange4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Fender3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Boss3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Marshall3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers- Yamaha2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Vox2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Blackstar1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about guitar amp brands
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which guitar amp brand should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best guitar amp brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best guitar amp brand in New Zealand for a guitar rig?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best guitar amp”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“guitar amplifier nz”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Blackstar or Yamaha more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Blackstar and Yamaha by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven guitar amp brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Yamaha, Blackstar. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Fender | Boss | Marshall | Yamaha | Blackstar | Orange | Vox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 66.5% | 6.8% | 8.1% | 5.3% | 3.3% | 4.6% | 5.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 66.1% | 8.3% | 8.3% | 5.1% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 4.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 64.4% | 8.5% | 8% | 6.7% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 3.9% |
| Jan 2026 | 68.1% | 7.7% | 6.8% | 4.7% | 4.2% | 4.9% | 3.5% |
| Feb 2026 | 66.7% | 7.9% | 7.4% | 6.7% | 3.1% | 4.4% | 3.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 70% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 5.5% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 3.9% |
| Apr 2026 | 71.9% | 5.6% | 7% | 5.6% | 2.7% | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| May 2026 | 71.9% | 5.3% | 6.7% | 5.3% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 72.2% | 5.3% | 6.9% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 68.7% | 7.1% | 7.7% | 5.2% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 68.6% | 5.8% | 6.9% | 5.1% | 4% | 4.6% | 5.1% |
| Sep 2026 | 67.2% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 6.2% | 4.9% | 4.5% | 3.9% |
How has the Blackstar and Yamaha comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Yamaha was ahead of Blackstar in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Blackstar’s share of searches among guitar amp brands in New Zealand moved from 3.3% to 4.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 150 to 230.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Yamaha’s share of searches among guitar amp brands in New Zealand moved from 5.3% to 6.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 240 to 290.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand guitar amp brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Yamaha overtook Vox to rank 4th among guitar amp brands in New Zealand, with 6.2% of the searches.
In September 2026, Blackstar overtook Vox and Orange to rank 5th among guitar amp brands in New Zealand, with 4.9% of the searches.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Blackstar’s and Yamaha’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among guitar amp brands
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.