The Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier is a Hudson Electronics preamp pedal. Close alternatives include the Hudson Electronics Dual Broadcast and the Spaceman Mercury IV Germanium Harmonic Boost. It pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix M76 Studio Compressor and the Z.Vex Super Hard On.
Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier
Hudson Electronics · pedal
The Hudson Electronics Broadcast is a discrete Class-A germanium preamplifier from UK boutique manufacturer Hudson Electronics, delivering transparent-to-saturated germanium preamp tones that transition from clean boost through organic germanium distortion with a touch-sensitive, dynamic quality. The Broadcast uses germanium transistors in a Class-A circuit for the warm, harmonically rich preamp character of vintage germanium electronics. Controls include Input, Output, and a germanium saturation control.
What stands out
“The Hudson Electronics Broadcast is a discrete Class-A germanium preamplifier from UK boutique manufacturer Hudson Electronics, delivering transparent-to-saturated germanium preamp tones that transition from clean boost through organic germ…”
— from the listing
“The Broadcast uses germanium transistors in a Class-A circuit for the warm, harmonically rich preamp character of vintage germanium electronics”
— from the listing
“Germanium saturation character is a specific vintage tone”
— from the reviews
“Strengths: Discrete Class-A germanium circuit delivers touch-sensitive, harmonically rich preamp tone from clean boost through organic germanium saturation”
— from the reviews
“delivering transparent-to-saturated germanium preamp tones that transition from clean boost through organic germanium distortion with a touch-sensitive”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“Limitations: Hudson boutique pricing reflects UK small-batch production”
— from the reviews
- germanium
- clean boost
- vintage
- organic
- saturation
- class a
- touch
Genres the Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier is commonly used in
- Electronic
- Rock
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier
Electro-Harmonix M76 Studio Compressor
Electro-Harmonix
32% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Electro-Harmonix M76 Studio Compressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
27% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → clean boost)
The Super Hard On's clean JFET boost pushes the Broadcast's own germanium clean-boost preamp louder without recoloring it.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Xotic RC Booster
Xotic
26% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (saturated → clean boost)
Stack Xotic RC Booster on top and a saturated tone tightens toward clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Wampler Velvet Fuzz
Wampler
22% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier stacks clean boost on top of the fuzzy already here
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dunlop BFGO7 Billy Gibbons Octavio
Dunlop
20% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Run fuzzy into Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier for more clean boost on top
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
18% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Run fuzzy into Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier for more clean boost on top
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fuzzrocious Demon King
Fuzzrocious
17% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (fuzzy → clean boost)
Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier layers clean boost onto an already fuzzy signal
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Death By Audio Echo Dream II
Death By Audio
17% matchHudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier leans toward germanium, and that's a real, usable character to pair with — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Hudson Electronics Dual Broadcast
Hudson Electronics
80% similarityShared character: classic tone machine, signal chain, boost
Spaceman Mercury IV Germanium Harmonic Boost
Spaceman
63% similarityShared character: boost, vintage charm
Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost)
Benson Amps
62% similarityShared character: boost, transparent
Greer Moonshot Germanium preamp
Greer
62% similarityShared character: boost, vintage charm
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
59% similarityShared character: rich, boost, vintage charm
TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive
TC Electronic
59% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, vintage charm
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2.1 Preamp/Drive
Caroline Guitar Company
58% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, vintage charm
Wren and Cuff Phat Phuk B v2 Germanium Boost
Wren And Cuff
58% similarityShared character: rich, boost, classic rock
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus V2
Caroline Guitar Company
56% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, vintage charm
Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive
pedal
55% similarityShared character: rich, signal chain, boost
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
55% similarityShared character: rich, boost, touch
Benson Amps Germanium Boost
Benson Amps
55% similarityShared character: signal chain, boost, vintage charm
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier?+
The closest matches in character are the Hudson Electronics Dual Broadcast, the Spaceman Mercury IV Germanium Harmonic Boost, the Benson Amps Germanium Preamp (Boost).
What pairs well with the Hudson Electronics Broadcast Discrete Class-A Germanium Preamplifier?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Electro-Harmonix M76 Studio Compressor, Z.Vex Super Hard On, Xotic RC Booster — Electro-Harmonix M76 Studio Compressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying.