Effectrode Blackbird Owner’s Manual

Specifications

www.effectrode.com

SR-71

• Input impedance: Greater than 1MOhm

• Output impedance: Less than 1KOhm +10dBu

• Controls: Dedicated Bass, Mid, Treble, Volume
controls for each channel (Gain on drive channel)

• Features: Separate clean and overdrive channels

• All tube: Hot-rodded overdrive channel based on 4
class A tube stages. ‘Blackfaced’ clean channel

• Direct out: 600W balanced transformer isolated
+16dBu output via ¼” TRS (stereo) jack socket

• True bypass: With ‘anti-pop’ foot-switching circuitry

• Power requirements: 12VDC @ 1A centre positive

• Dimensions: width 7.5"; depth 4.8"; height 1.3”

• Weight: 2lb (on Earth); 2 ´ 109lb (a neutron star)

• Construction: Solid die-cast aluminum alloy case

• Finish: Tough graphite black powder coat

Owner’s Manual

Serial #

12 Broughton Crescent, Barlaston,

Staffs, UK. ST12 9DB

Copyright © 2012 Effectrodeâ Audiophile Pedals

Introduction

Tubes

The SR-71 Blackbird vacuum tube preamp takes it’s
name from the fastest and coolest plane ever built
– the SR-71 which could fly at Mach3+, fast enough
to outrun missiles! Like it’s counterpart the Blackbird
preamp puts you way ahead and in full control of
your core drive sound. The drive channel is 100%
analogue, class A and is based on exactly the same
4-stage circuitry found in top of the range boutique
tube amps. These amps are in a class of their own
when it comes to tone, being exceptionally
expressive and touch sensitive giving artists access
to a huge tonal palette from mild bluesy breakup to
complex, harmonically rich, saturated drive sounds
– an incredibly responsive and musical tone.

Additionally, the fundamental tone of the Blackbird
can be tailored by adjusting tube bias points and
swapping out tubes. As with all our pedals,
audiophile grade components are used throughout
the circuit with low-noise, precision resistors and
polyester coupling capacitors mounted on a circuit
board with 22-carat gold-plated tracks.

Thank you for supporting Effectrode pedals! I wish
you many years of musical enjoyment from this very
special hand-built, all-tube pedal.

Phil Taylor – Designer

The 12AX7 tubes in the Blackbird can be swapped
with equivalent miniature 9-pin double triode tubes
from other manufacturers - Mil-Spec NOS tubes are
recommended! The tube in the top right hand corner
is the first gain stage and replacing this with types
12AV7, 12AT7 or 12AY7 will yield lower gain and
shift the bias point to create different breakup
characteristic, tonal differences and widen the sweet
spot for mild bluesy tones on the overdrive channel.

Pots

This pedal is fitted with custom manufactured Omeg
sealed for life potentiometers. These sealed pots
prevent dust and dirt from getting inside them and
they do not require periodic cleaning or lubricating.