blackstar pedals?

[ibanezjunkie]

those blackstar overdrive/dist pedals with what appears to be a valve in.

1. is it a valve

2. do they need retubing often?

 

[marnold]

If you mean the HTs, yes, it's a tube. I can't imagine it would need a tube that often because it can't be getting that much current. I think you'd be in more danger of breakage anything else. FWIW, the HT-5 series of amps are basically that pedal in amp form.

*Update*: I take that back. According to their site, they run it at 300V. Still, I'd think the lifespan would be pretty good-akin to the preamp tubes in a tube amp. By the by, here's Premier Guitar's review of the HT dual distortion with clips. Oh yeah, here's also their review of the rest of the HT line. They give them OK scores.

 

[markb]

The main drawback is that they need a dedicated power supply. No chaining them from your OneSpot. Other than that they're very well thought of.

 

[bigG]

From what I've heard, the tubes in those pedals cannot be replaced by the user. You need to send them back to the factory, FWIW.

 

[tunghaichuan]

You might be thinking of the Seymour Duncan pedals which use oddball industrial/military submini tubes. They have flexible pins and are soldered into the circuit. IIRC, they are long-life tubes so they don't need to be changed as often.

The Blackstar pedals use 12AX7/ECC83 tubes which take a nine-pin miniature socket. I'd be surprised if Blackstar soldered the pins into the circuit like the Seymour Duncan pedals.

tung

From what I've heard, the tubes in those pedals cannot be replaced by the user. You need to send them back to the factory, FWIW.