The AMT SS-30 Bulava is an analog guitar preamp pedal from AMT Electronics, built as a non-tube JFET driven preamp aimed at modern high gain metal tones in a small portable enclosure1. JFET (junction field effect transistor) stages do the gain shaping in place of vacuum tubes, so the circuit runs as a solid state analog design1. AMT's media center lists it plainly as a guitar preamp2, and describes it as an analog preamp with Clean, Low gain, and High gain modes3.
Three channels for clean to lead
The SS-30 carries three switchable channels, Clean, Crunch, and Lead, each with its own master control for precise leveling of all channels1. A global Noise Gate setting is built in2, and each preset can carry a Delay or Reverb effect2. On the direct path, one IR (impulse response, a speaker simulation) covers both L/R channels per preset2.
Two footswitches handle channel switching on the floor1. Three tone contour buttons add shaping options: Clean boost, Drive tone shift, and Crunch bright1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Clean, Crunch, Lead channels | Three switchable channels, each with its own master control1 |
| Low, Mids, High EQ | Clean and Crunch/Lead have their own 3 band EQ for customization of each channel1 |
| Clean boost button | Clean boost for added tone options1 |
| Drive tone shift button | Drive tone shift for added tone options1 |
| Crunch bright button | Crunch bright for added tone options1 |
| Noise Gate | Global setting2 |
| Delay or Reverb | Selectable per preset2 |
Power and connections
Power comes from two 9V batteries or an optional 18V DC power adapter with negative center polarity (-) at 8mA1. The 8mA draw is light, but the 18V requirement means a standard 9V daisy chain output will not run it; the adapter or an 18V supply output is the way to power it on a board.
Connections cover both stage and recording use:
- Dual outputs: one for connection to a guitar amplifier, and one for direct connection to a computer, DAW, or mixing device1
- FX Loop send and return jacks1
- A 3.5 mm jack to control external MIDI devices1
The direct output is what makes the SS-30 work as a recording front end without an amp, and the FX Loop lets time-based effects sit after the preamp, as they would in an amplifier's loop. The MIDI jack allows the pedal to control external MIDI devices1.
Where it sits in AMT's range
The SS-30 is part of a wider line of AMT preamp pedals, from the single-channel AMT SS-10 and AMT SS-20 to the AMT SS-11A and AMT SS-11B, and the AMT Bricks preamps series. The SS-30's three channels and built-in gate, delay/reverb, and IR support put it at the fuller-featured end of that range as AMT describes it12.
Videos
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Questions
Does the AMT SS-30 use tubes?
No. AMT Electronics describes the SS-30 Bulava as a non-tube JFET driven preamp. JFET (junction field effect transistor) stages are used to shape the gain instead of vacuum tubes, and the circuit is analog throughout. The pedal is aimed at modern high gain metal tones in a small portable enclosure.
Can the AMT SS-30 run on batteries?
Yes. AMT says the SS-30 is powered by two 9V batteries, or by an optional 18V DC power adapter with negative center polarity. Current draw is 8mA, which is light enough that most pedalboard power supplies can handle it.
How many channels does the AMT SS-30 have?
Three switchable channels: Clean, Crunch, and Lead. Each channel has its own master control for precise leveling between them, and Clean and Crunch/Lead each have their own three band EQ of Low, Mids, and High.
Does the SS-30 have a cab simulator output?
The SS-30 has dual outputs: one for connection to a guitar amplifier, and one for direct connection to a computer, DAW, or mixing device. AMT's media center also notes one IR for both L/R channels per preset, which relates to speaker simulation on the direct path.
Does the AMT SS-30 have an effects loop?
Yes. The pedal has FX Loop send and return jacks, so time-based or modulation effects can be placed after the preamp stage, the way they would sit in the loop of a traditional amplifier.
Sources (3)
- AMT SS-30 (Studio Series preamp), AMT Electronics, 2026
- AMT SS-30, AMT Electronics (media center)
- AMT SS30 Bulava (RUS), Media center of AMT Electronics
