The Hudson Electronics BC-24V-LTD is a limited edition germanium preamp pedal, an overdrive and clean boost design that takes its inspiration from classic recording consoles of the 1960s. It is a variant of Hudson's regular Broadcast, built around the same transformer-coupled, discrete Class-A germanium circuit, but running internally at 24 volts from a standard 9 volt supply. Hudson says the increased voltage gives extra headroom and a tighter low end. Only 60 pieces were made worldwide, each finished in British Racing Green and loaded with a Valvo made NOS germanium black glass transistor1.
The BC-24V-LTD is discontinued. Hudson Electronics' own listing marks it as no longer available2. It was announced as a 60-piece worldwide limited edition at an RRP of GBP £160, available from February 201631.
What it does to your sound
Hudson describes the pedal as capable of biting clean boosts, subtly colored and thickened signals with a frayed-at-the-edge quality, or an individual sounding overdrive with a fuzzy, fried texture when pushed1. As a preamp-style design it sits alongside the preamp pedal family, though players also use it as a boost or as a low-gain overdrive.
The 24 volt internal rail is the headline difference from the regular Broadcast. Because the circuit has more voltage to work with, it has more headroom before clipping and, in Hudson's words, a tighter low end1.
The three gain modes
The BC-24V-LTD's main addition over the regular Broadcast is a three position gain switch offering MID, LOW and HIGH modes1. gearnews.com's announcement described it as a switch between low, medium and high3.
| Mode | What Hudson says it does |
|---|---|
| LOW | Most headroom, stays nearly clean across its range while retaining colouration from the germanium circuit and transformer. Suited to higher output pickups, baritone, bass or keyboards.1 |
| MID | Voiced to sound and behave as the regular Broadcast: still pretty clean but adding more grit and saturation.1 |
| HIGH | Heads into overdrive, distortion and fuzz, but with a slightly tighter low end.1 |
In HIGH mode the pedal reaches into distortion and fuzz territory, so the switch effectively makes it three pedals in one box, from a nearly clean console-style colouration to a saturated drive1.
Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| GAIN SWITCH | Selects low, medium or high gain mode.1 |
| GAIN TRIM | Controls the gain level. At higher settings the high-end of the signal is gently rolled off.1 |
| LOW CUT | Attenuates the low-end. Sits at the front end of the circuitry and is interactive with the gain controls.1 |
| LEVEL | Controls the overall volume of the pedal.1 |
| HIGH GAIN TRIM | Internal trimmer that adjusts the maximum gain available in high-gain mode.1 |
The LOW CUT control's position at the front of the circuit means it shapes what the germanium stage and transformer see, so it works with the gain controls rather than after them, in the way a console input filter would1.
Power and bypass
The BC-24V-LTD does not take a battery. Hudson states that the Broadcast requires a DC power supply unit, and asks players to ensure their PSU can supply 9V, a minimum current of 50mA, with a 2.1mm negative center barrel plug. Current draw is given as 50mA maximum1. That is within reach of most standard center-negative pedal supplies, though a daisy chain shared with several pedals is worth avoiding on any pedal with a charge pump raising the internal voltage. When bypassed, a heavy duty footswitch wired for true bypass takes the circuit out of the signal path entirely1.
Where it came from and what came after
Hudson released the BC-24V-LTD as a limited edition version of its Broadcast, a preamp and overdrive pedal taking its inspiration from classic recording consoles of the 1960s1. The pedal was limited worldwide to 60 pedals, with an RRP of GBP £1603, and finished in British Racing Green1. The Broadcast line continued afterwards with the current Hudson Electronics Broadcast AP-II, while the BC-24V-LTD itself is no longer available2.
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Questions
Is the BC-24V-LTD true bypass?
Yes. Hudson Electronics specifies a heavy duty footswitch wired for true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes straight through without loading or colouration from the circuit.
Does the BC-24V-LTD take a battery?
No. Hudson states that the Broadcast requires a DC power supply unit. You need a supply that delivers 9V, a minimum of 50mA, with a 2.1mm negative centre barrel plug, the standard centre-negative pedal supply.
How is the BC-24V-LTD different from the regular Broadcast?
It takes the regular Broadcast's transformer-coupled germanium circuit and runs it internally at 24 volts from a 9V supply, which Hudson says gives extra headroom and a tighter low end. It also adds a three position gain switch with Low, Mid and High modes, and it wears a different paint job, finished in British Racing Green.
What transistor does the BC-24V-LTD use?
Each pedal was loaded with a selected new old stock Valvo black glass germanium transistor, made by Valvo, the same type of germanium part that gives the Broadcast family its character.
Is the BC-24V-LTD still available?
No. It was a limited edition of 60 pieces worldwide, released in February 2016, and Hudson Electronics' own product listing now marks it as no longer available.
Sources (3)
- BC-24V-LTD, Hudson Electronics UK, 2026
- BROADCAST AP-II, Hudson Electronics UK
- Hudson Electronics BC-24V-LTD limited edition preamp pedal, gearnews.com, 2016-02-02
