Chase Bliss discontinues five pedals over UK and EU compliance

August 23, 2024 · 3 sources

Chase Bliss is discontinuing five of its pedals, the company announced on August 23, 2024, citing parts that are not compliant with market access requirements in the UK and the European Union¹. The remaining stock of the Condor, Warped Vinyl HiFi, Thermae, Dark World and Preamp MkII will be sold in the US only via a new storefront, and once that stock is gone the pedals will be unavailable to purchase new worldwide¹.

The five pedals are being discontinued because of a specific analog component, an LDR, also known as a vactrol, which changes its resistance based on how much light is hitting it¹. LDRs often rely on cadmium sulphide (CdS), a material regulated in the EU and the UK; the UK and EU materials regulations (RoHS) once offered an exemption for cadmium sulphide in audio applications, and that exemption appears to have expired¹. Guitar.com reported that it was unclear at the time whether Chase Bliss plans to replace the pedals with modified, compliant circuits, and that the latest version of the Condor was only six months old¹.

Chase Bliss shared the news in an Instagram post and gave customers more detail in an email¹. The email said the company is extending the warranty of the affected pedals to a full lifetime warranty and will pay postage both ways if a repair is needed¹. On the substance inside the pedals, the email said the photoresistors containing CdS are enclosed in an airtight plastic or epoxy container inside the pedal enclosure, and that in the company's opinion the risk of CdS exposure is incredibly low¹.

Later reporting tied the discontinuation to a new release. MusicRadar and Guitar World, both publishing on August 28, 2024, reported that the Billy Strings Wombtone, a limited run of 3,000 units priced at $399, is a US exclusive for the same reasons the five pedals are being discontinued²³. Guitar World reported that Chase Bliss said it is now looking for alternative components moving forward, and that the Wombtone contains an LDR that is not compliant with UK and EU market access requirements³.