For release this summer – this beautiful pedal is a true two channel tube preamp in a pedal. The circuitry is based on a Fender Blackface preamp section with a whole bunch of enhancements including:
- Hot-rodded drive channel with four tube gain sections
- Dedicated interactive Bass, Mid, Treble tonestacks for each channel
- Adjustable tube biasing on the gain channel
- Tubes are swappable to allow you to alter the fundamental tone of the pedal
- On-board Jensen C12N speaker emulator. Based on an inductor/capacitor circuit that accurately replicates the response of this classic speaker
- Selectable classic or modern, creamy drive tones
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58 Responses to The Blackbird Vacuum Tube Preamp is landing!
Can’t wait for this, combined with the Delta-Trem this should be awesome!
Yes it should be an amazing setup with way more tone flexibility than a tube amp!
So. Frickin. Excited. I just dont want it to dissapear before I can get the money. This pedal is mine!
Don’t worry it won’t disappear
Have you tried the BlackBird in combo with the firebottle phil? I can’t wait to hear them together. I’m in love with your Effectrode Videos idea, no one can demo your pedals better than the man who designed them-you. I just purchased some NOS 1961 JAN Phillips 5751′s and can’t wait to pop’em in this Blackbird. I put one in the top position of my Tube Vibe and it sounds wicked. Have you already created the BlackBird’s Manual? I’m still not understanding what the Bias switch does, I’d like to read the manual. Keep on ruling the world of sound Phil…
I’ll try out the Blackbird with the Fire Bottle later this week. This week is audio testing week (I get to play some guitar!). Will start the manual later this week.
Looking forward to ‘Blackbird ROARING in the dead of night’
Cant wait for it ! Any idea of the expected price ?
Hi Simon, I’m still tallying up component costs, however I estimate the Blackbird will cost between $459 and $479.
Great , thanks Phil
Phil, is the Blackbird designed to be plugged into a power amp or to be used in front of an amp?
Hi Scott, The Blackbird has two outputs – one is for direct connection to a guitar amp. The other is for connection to a mixing desk, sound capture card or headphones. You could use either of these outputs to a power amp as they are both low impedence outputs with drive capability. Which you use would depend on the type of speakers you have connected to your power amp. If they are full range, then I recommend the DI out.
Hi Phil, how did the audio testing phase go?
Can this pedal be used straight into a power amp (or amps FX return) or is it for running into the front end of a clean amp?
Does the high gain side reach ‘modern’ levels of gain?
I am very interested in this unit…when do you think it’ll launch and how long will the lead/build time be? Do you have to pay up front or just deposit/expression of interest?
Thanks,
Alex
Hi Alex,
Testing on the Blackbird is going well. I’m just making a few final adjustments to the speaker emulator drive circuit. The Blackbird will be capable of modern hi-gain drive and connection to a power amp. Additionally for really immense grunge sounds you can ‘front-end’ it with the Fire Bottle boost – things start getting a little out of hand though!
We’ve started making them and will have stock in July.
Thanks Phil!
I will be getting one of these. Do we just wait ’til they launch and order one or put a deposit on them?
Cheers,
Alex
No need for a deposit Alex – just wait for the release date – it won;t be long now.
Phil, any more news on the release date?
Hi Brian, Still aiming to release the Blackbird in July.
Hi Phil,
Might the pedal include an effects loop for adding a reverb pedal?
Thanks,
Tim
Hi Tim, There’s simply no more space inside or out to add an effects loop as the Blackbird is already jam-packed with 3 tubes, 9 pots, 3 jack sockets and toggle switches. You could consider replacing reverb after the output of the pedal, just like in a real tube amp though.
So wait until the Effectrode Echo comes out and then put it in line after the preamp
Or reverb – I’d like to have a go at building a tube driven spring reverb pedal. That wat you can have a whole vintage tube amp on your pedal board
Hi Phil, please don’t forget to make one for use with bass guitar and an orange led for the drive channel.
Can’t wait for the bird to land! By the way, your compressor is the best one I ever played with!
Hi Frank, I’ve more options for you. I’m working on putting a dual color LED in there. The standard will be red/blue. Red for hot modern lead and blue for bluesy/rock modes. I’ve red/amber LEDs here which I can do for an option and will have a look for red/orange as well. The color options are limited but I’m sure we can come up with something.
You really make my day, Phil!
Hey can u include a headphone jack. This will really benefit for people who wanna use ear phones.
You can connect headphones to the DI output.
Hi, Phil.
Being immensely satisfied to my Tube-drive that you had modified me very friendly, it’s also possible to you to modify the frequencies of Tone Stack of this preamp to be able to use it with my passive bass ?
I think that this Fender’s preamp would be a perfect partner / 2nd channel of my Alessandro Basset Hound bass amp.
Best regards,
Hi Oliver,
Yes, we can do mods. I would increase the couple capacitor values to extend low frequency response. Also, you can specify what adjustments to the tone-stack you want and I can work out if it’s feasible to modify it..
Great!!! Thank you very much. I like very much all the stompox that I bought from you, and I like – also very much – working with you because you are very nice and very professional guy.
For the tone stack, I would want that the bass pots are fixed on 40Hz. Those of the middles 750Hz. And those of the treble on 4kHz. Well, say to me if i) is possible for you to make these modifications. So not, propose practicable frequencies for you to me. I have not yet managed to find on Web, that they are the frequencies of the tone stack of the new amps Fender Bassman (300 and 100T), but if you know them and what they are practicable on your Blackbird, then I shall prefer it those.
Thinks again.
Hi Oliver,
Okay, that’s great to have a specific spec to work to. I’ll create a model of this and see what we can do. You’ll have to give me a few weeks as I’m busy getting the next batch of compressors and final adjustments on the BLackbird before it goes into production. Do give me a reminder if I don’t get back to you on this. Best Phil
Finally, I found the tone stack’s frequencies of the Fender Super Bassman (vintage passive channel):
BASS (15dB range @ 40Hz with MID and TREBLE at 5), MID (15dB range @ 400Hz with BASS and TREBLE at 5), TREBLE (9dB range @ 4kHz with BASS and MID at 5).
Please, It would be possible to fix the middle pots of the drive channel on 800hz ?
Oliver, If Leo Fender can do it then Effectrode can!
Dear effectrodes!
As the other guys I´´m looking forward to the shippingdate of my blackbird.
When can I expect it ?
Kindest regards
Dirk
Hi Dirk,
We’re running a few weeks behind on schedule with the Blackbird. I estimate mid-August shipping. Apologies for the delay. Best regards Phil
Please notify me when Blackbird is available.
Hi David,
The Blackbird be going into production next week and will be available in 6 weeks time.
Hi Phil,
How has production gone on the Blackbird?
Is it now ready for release?
Any new clips into an amp’s front end or power section?
Cheers,
Alex
Hi Alex, We’re still in production. I’ll let you know as soon as begin shipping. I’m putting new samples demonstrating the Blackbird connected to an amp (which sounds awsome by the way!) up very soon. Best regards Phil
When can we expect these Blackbirds to be hitting the dealer’s showroom floors?
Hi Randy, Late October.
Hi, I have the effectrode tube drive and I can not wait this new pedal, please get him out fast. Thanks from Bogota Colombia.
Hi Phil, have you got a release date for the Blackbird now? Thanks Alex
Hi Alex,
Any day now. I’m just doing final checks and then we’ll be shipping them out to customers.
I’m starting to think the Blackbird is just a beautiful myth.
Hi, I can understand that. Please be assured we’re shipping them out as fast as I can make them.
Phil,
If I run the Blackbird direct out – would I place verb and delay after and then DI it to the board? Or would I run it like an amp that doesn’t have an effects loop – meaning, verb/delay/effects into Blackbird then direct out? I guess I’m simply wondering if the speaker emulation will be effective if I run a pedal between the Blackbird and the board.
Thanks for the help.
Anthony
Hi Anthony, Yes, I would try that. Running delay after the speaker emulation should be okay. I added reverb to my soundsamples post recording which is a similar thing.
Hi Phil,
sorry for my ignorance but what does it mean : ‘Adjustable tube biasing on the gain channel’
is it the possibility to choose between overdrive and distortion ?
(Please use simple words !lol!)
Thanks for your answer and for the quality of your effects.
Hi Michel,
Adjustable biasing means that the drive response of the Blackbird can be tailored to your tastes, that is the feel and clipping characteristic. The toggle switch on the back selects between overdrive and distortion. Also different tubes can be used in there for high and medium gain drives.
Thank You.
Have a good day.
Hi Phil,
How can I buy this pedal now? Because store in this website says it’s not in stock.
Can I buy it by custom order or do I have to wait until second production?
Additionally, can I get any information about tone stack of this pedal? Because I love fender twin reverb like sound and I hope this pedal is close to it or can be ordered like it…
Thanks
Hi Tony,
Yes, you can. Just send an email to Sam at our sales address and she’ll send you information on how to order. I had to take the pedal off our shop page as we couldn’t keep up with sales.
Thanks
Phil
spent all night looking and OD/Distortion pedals…saw this and literally wept. rediscovering electric guitar again after a 2 year stint playing just acoustic. got an orange 20 watt solid state practice amp & a decent modeler to tide me over, yet i yearn for over saturated tube goodness. i remember the Mesa V-twin. it was ok for its day. i personally like the tone of a single rectifier with 6L6′s pushed to the max:)You hit the jackpot with the “tube drive” tho my friend. sweet as candy…just wish i could get my hands on one! hooked to an AC30 or Orange 50 watt 2-12 combo loud as hell. sigh! what a sound that would be to behold!
Hi Jason, The Tube Drive pedal will be back in production later this year.
Phil you’re just amazing !
Your effects are awesome, they sing so good !
I have the BB and the TV (first generation) and it’s a great pleasure to play with them, each time and more in more.
Your BB is very awesome as you have thought it.
I’m waiting your delay with eagerness.
Have a great day.
michel
Thankyou Michel, I’ll be working on the delay soon. Got to get the Vibralux and Delta-Trem pedal designs finished first.