Withdrawn Surprise Sound Rock Block 1W Tube Amp / Distortion Pedal

jaymenon · March 2023

£280

I'm based in Bolton (Greater Manchester)

The Rock Block is a 1 watt vacuum tube guitar amplifier that can also be used as a distortion pedal.

Currently fitted with a German NOS 12AU7 (ECC82) and a Fender Groove Tubes 12AX7 (ECC83)

This pedal-size amp produces overdriven output tube distortion at a volume that is perfect for in-home use or recording. There is a SPEAKER jack that can drive a 4-16 ohm speaker cab and an OUTPUT TO AMP jack that can drive another guitar amp.

Using the Gain, Volume, Tone, Bass and Boost controls, the Rock Block can provide output tube distortion, preamp tube distortion, or a combination of both.

Even when used as a distortion pedal, the signal goes through the output tube and output transformer to an internal dummy speaker load.

- all-tube Class A single-ended triode signal path, which is the most desirable for that classic warm rock guitar sound.

- Gain, Volume and Tone knobs and a separate Volume knob for the output that drives another amp when the Rock Block is used as a distortion pedal.

- 3-way Boost and Bass switches, a Power switch, and a Bypass stompswitch

- 3 way voice switch on the left side (when used as a pedal)

Centre: Vintage Sound

Front: Modern sound

Back: Metal sound

External 12V DC is supplied to the Rock Block with a universal external regulated switched power supply. The internal supply is a proprietary design that converts the 12V DC to 320V DC. This supply is so efficient that very little heat is generated, and a noisy fan is not needed. The filaments of the tubes are driven directly with the regulated 12V DC supply.

- Tube-swapping, especially the output tube can provide different distortion sounds and volume levels. The recommended output tubes for the Rock Block are the ECC82/ECC802/12AU7, ECC99 or ECC81/12AT7.

- ECC99 / 12BH7 provides 0.7 watts of clean power and 1.5 watts maximum power.

- 12AU7 provides 0.4 watts clean power and 1 watt maximum power.

- 12AT7 provides 0.12 watts clean power and 0.8 watts maximum power.

The Rock Block is only 3 3/4" by 5 3/4", about the size of an effects pedal, and weighs about 2 pounds.

Brett Kingman Review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_2OAG7xwwg

Sound On Sound Magazine Review

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/surprise-sound-rock-block

Pictures

https://i.imgur.com/ptUtWag.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yVQ81At.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1dzYpzc.jpg