The Tubesteader Sunstead is a dual-channel tube preamp pedal from Montreal builder Tubesteader, launched in September 2026 as the fifth of the company's larger Double Twin Triode Dual-Channel Preamps. It was developed with Torsten Kinsella of God Is An Astronaut, and the stated purpose of the project was to let Kinsella carry a fly-rig capable of producing his key signature sounds1. It sits in a family of preamp pedals that also includes the compact single twin triode models Eggnog, Lightkeeper and Roy.
What it does
The Sunstead carries two channels, each with its own set of Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass and Gain controls. Guitar Pedal X describes Channel I, marked blue, as spanning a broad, low-to-medium gain landscape that moves fluidly from transparent, moody cleans to articulate, touch-responsive overdrive, tailored heavily for lighter arpeggio tones. Channel II, marked red, steps up the aggression with a heightened upper-mid presence and significantly higher gain, pushing from crunchy rhythm textures into a dense, fully driven, Orange-style saturated distortion1.
The circuit draws on Kinsella's own amplifiers: his 1969 Marshall Super Bass, 1973 Marshall Super Tremolo, Vox AC30 and Orange AD30HTC1.
Controls and connections
| Control or jack | Detail |
|---|---|
| Channel I (Blue) | Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Gain1 |
| Channel II (Red) | Volume, Treble, Middle, Bass, Gain1 |
| Footswitches | Channel Footswitch: Channel I Blue / Channel II Red, plus Bypass Footswitch1 |
| Input | 1/4" TS In1 |
| Output | 1/4" TS Out1 |
| Remote | 1/8" TRS Mini Remote with Left/Right Option Switch1 |
| Power | 12V DC center negative, 500mA1 |
Power requirements
The Sunstead needs 12V DC center negative at 500mA1. That is a heavier draw than most standard pedal power supplies provide on one output, and Guitar Pedal X notes that only a Cioks supply can satisfy it, alongside the new Node power supplies from Jackson Audio1.
A 500mA draw at 12V rules out most daisy-chain setups and lower-output isolated supplies. Check what your power supply delivers per output before adding the Sunstead to a board.
Where it sits in the Tubesteader range
The Sunstead is the fifth of the larger Double Twin Triode Dual-Channel Preamps, following the Beekeeper, Sunkeeper, Magnezium and Gainlord1. Alongside those five, Tubesteader makes three compact Single Twin Triode Preamps, the Eggnog, Lightkeeper and Roy, for eight models in total1. The Tubesteader Magnezium is one of the earlier dual-channel models in the same larger format.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's review by Stefan Karlsson, published at the pedal's launch, describes the Sunstead as a solid proposition, very well priced at $349 and equivalent in overall value, in line with the rest of the Tubesteader preamp range1.
"Like all Tubesteader Preamps, the Sunstead is a solid proposition - very well priced at $349 and equivalent"
The same review notes that, like the Gainlord, it is a large pedal with quite a significant pedalboard footprint1.
Videos
Philip Czarnecki
CarstenStepanowicz
Questions
What power supply does the Tubesteader Sunstead need?
The Sunstead runs on 12V DC center negative at 500mA. That current draw is beyond what most pedal power supplies deliver on a single output, so Guitar Pedal X notes that only a Cioks supply can satisfy it, alongside the new Node power supplies from Jackson Audio. Plan your pedalboard power around that requirement before adding it to a board.
How much does the Tubesteader Sunstead cost?
The Sunstead lists at $349 and equivalent. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer called it very well priced at that figure and described it as a solid proposition in overall value, in line with the rest of the Tubesteader preamp range.
Does the Tubesteader Sunstead have a channel footswitch?
Yes. The Sunstead includes a channel footswitch that selects Channel I, marked blue, or Channel II, marked red, plus a separate bypass footswitch. Both are part of the pedal's standard control layout.
Where can I buy the Tubesteader Sunstead?
The Sunstead is available for orders direct from the Tubesteader webstore, on the product page for the Sunstead at tubesteader.com.
Does the Sunstead have an expression pedal input?
The Sunstead has a 1/8-inch TRS Mini Remote jack with a Left/Right option switch. Guitar Pedal X lists it among the pedal's ports alongside the 1/4-inch TS input and output and the 12V DC power jack.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-09-29
- Tubesteader Roy Review, Premier Guitar, 2025-04-08
