Some basic info, please...

[mmrxcsr01]

Replacing a tad2030 in a Vox Pathfinder. First solid state effort; looking for hints as to the technique to remove the old chip. Do I need to heat sink the 5 leads during the de-soldering/ soldering? Suggestions as to if I need to be aware of static electricity when handling the chip? And the heat sink paste, for lack of a better term- can I reuse the existing, do I have the right term for it if I need to go and get some? Thanks in advance, all...

[sluckey]

You don't need to heat sink anything during remove and replace.

No worries about static electricity.

I recommend getting some heatsink compound or grease, whichever is used on your amp. My Pathfinder used the white compound. There probably wont be enough of the old stuff left for a proper heat transfer.

Here's a tip if you don't have proper desoldering equipment or a solder sucker...

*** BE CAREFUL *** Cut all 5 leads close to the body of the tad2030. A dremel tool makes this part easy, but I have actually crushed the plastic body with wire cutters too. Now simply unsolder each individual lead. Next clean the solder from the 5 holes using a solder sucker, desoldering braid (flux on the braid really helps), or even just a cotton swab.

*** DON'T BURN UP THE BOARD TRACES! ***

Now put some heat sink compound on the back of the 2030, set the leads in the clean holes on the board, bolt the 2030 to the heatsink, and finally cleanly solder the 5 leads to the board. That's all.

*** KEEP YOUR IRON TIP CLEAN! ***

[mmrxcsr01]

Sluckey, as always, many thanks. Appreciate your time....and I'm STILL getting folks asking me nightly what I'm playing through, it's your AB763 Lite, 6l6's, and a Celestion 100 watt 12" in a blond Deluxe Reverb cab....

[smackoj]

I'm not taking issue with SL's info so don't anyone take offense. I just wanted to share this brief Wikipedia article on static charges and the precautions that can be taken to avoid damaging an IC chip. 

Many semiconductor devices used in electronics are particularly sensitive to static discharge. Conductive antistatic bags are commonly used to protect such components. People who work on circuits that contain these devices often ground themselves with a conductive antistatic strap.^[4][5]
In the industrial settings such as paint or flour plants as well as in hospitals, antistatic safety boots are sometimes used to prevent a buildup of static charge due to contact with the floor. These shoes have soles with good conductivity. Anti-static shoes should not be confused with insulating shoes, which provide exactly the opposite benefit  –  some protection against serious electric shocks from the mains voltage.^[6]
 

A network card inside an antistatic bag.

An antistatic wrist strap with crocodile clip.

[sluckey]

There are plenty of devices that are very sensitive to static electricity. Fortunately they are not used on that Pathfinder.

[pompeiisneaks]

One of the things I also remember seeing is that either Digikey or Mouser, can't recall which, ships static sensitive stuff in bags that aren't static proof.  :P

~Phil

[shooter]

ships static sensitive stuff in bags that aren't static proof. 

they probably used scotch tape to seal them also
you also gotta watch out for  Neutrinos