Tone King Imperial Preamp TUBE PEDAL with THREE 12AX7 Tubes!

Tone King introduces the Tone King Imperial Tri Tube Preamp, their first preamp pedal. Based on their Imperial Amp, the Tone King Tri Tube Imperial Preamp features three 12AX7 tubes, IR switch and the tremolo and reverb circuit from the Tone King Imperial amp, attenuator on each channel & USBC.
Today's Equipment:
Mogami Gold 10' Cable: amzn.to/4bKjwZ7
WBC Patch Cables: amzn.to/3W7JsZa
Pedaltrain Classic 2 + Soft Case: amzn.to/4f9ByH7
Affiliate links help the channel, and cost you no extra.
If you enjoy my content and want to help support what I do, please donate:
PayPal: bit.ly/2VfmSiJ
Venmo @Pyriscent
My Music -
KZbin: • Alternative Acoustic G...
Pyriscent
Follow Gear Sounds to see content that doesn't make it on the channel!
Gearsounds

[@GearSounds]

$599 and available in May 🦅 Some others here have correctly pointed that it is not stereo in, which makes sense since it really wouldn't need to be anyways. Stereo effects would go into the stereo effects loop (which this DOES) and drive pedals that would go before this would not be stereo anyways. A small correction and still 'technically' correct but I wanted to let you know.

[@jasonthompson5140]

@@GearSounds I would use it the way you described. But there are a lot of guys where stereo in does matter. They want wet effects to be saturated by the preamp section. It does matter. Just not to me.

[@workingnights84]

Wow! thank for this. Have been scanning the we everyday since I saw the first videos

[@GearSounds]

Yes, I really wish I would have got more footage of this pedal. I was so busy at the show I'm just happy I got the footage that I did. I'm definitely getting one.

[@workingnights84]

@ You did great 💪🏼🎸

[@GearSounds]

Thanks, are you getting this little box of rock? 🎁 🪨

[@workingnights84]

@ I was about to buy the Victory duchess poweramp pedal but who knows. Sure sounds promising!

[@GearSounds]

Did you see the toneking pedal? I did a demo of it on my channel and it's one of my recent videos. That thing is my new recording tone as I loved the sound.

[@orryfishburne5326]

I am so excited for this to be available! I am buying one in a heartbeat!

[@GearSounds]

If it's under $700, so am I. This thing is epic.

[@orryfishburne5326]

@ $599. I cant wait!

[@wolvesandguitars]

yup

[@GearSounds]

Where do you see it at $599?

[@GearSounds]

If it's really $599 yes

[@masterofreality230]

I really hope this trend continues, its a good way to have the best of both worlds.

[@GearSounds]

My prediction? After this you are about to see a lot of other companies take notice of what boutique amp distribution is doing. They have a large number of pedal manufacturers in amp manufacturers under their wing. This combination of talent has created a unique situation.

[@masterofreality230]

@@GearSounds I hope so, would love to see a Soldano SLO pre amp with like 6 12ax7s! It just puts these tones within reach of most people who dont want to pay over $3k for an amp.

[@GearSounds]

Tubes plus amp simulation or even just an IR seems to be a great combo. I can't wait to see more pedals like this.

[@Itsjonasnord]

Wow! This sounds really nice. And that reverb and trem…✨

[@GearSounds]

I know right? They didn't skimp on the reverb and trim low sounds but that is tube reverb and tube tremolo right there. I think we are about to see a resurgence of tube pedals.

[@olegdzyadovich950]

Looking forward buying it

[@GearSounds]

So am I, This is a bargain for 600 bucks in my opinion.

[@itsrob2321]

That sounds really tasty, my friend. $600 would go a long way to buying a full combo amp…😢. But it does sound really nice…

[@GearSounds]

What combo amp can you buy that sounds this good? Sure I'd love a speaker but this seems to be intended for FRFR cabs, direct recording or front of house.

[@pyropedals5553]

Do you have any idea if you can have the tremolo in mono when running through the headphones, i don't like that ledt to right stereo effect, pretty intense!

[@GearSounds]

Yeah, You can force this pedal into mono by simply plugging into one jack. That being said I don't believe you can independently turn off the stereo effect for the tremolo.

[@pyropedals5553]

@@GearSounds thanks

[@GearSounds]

You're very welcome, that's actually a great question and I wish there was more control for the tremolo.

[@colorgrade]

in fact now we don't need any hardware, my UAD guitar plugins sounds 100% natural, just plug guitar in audio-interface and ready

[@GearSounds]

I have said this in my comments section before many times and I will say it again. You cannot compare a small portable computer that you can take to a gig, to a large computer. For all of human history, in the past, in the present and the future, a larger computer will always beat a smaller computer. That doesn't change the relevance or function of a portable computer. Look at laptops or phones or tablets, computers of all sizes are useful. Look at the tone X, the neural DSP or the headrest flex prime. All different sizes are useful. This is for the gigging musician, not the studio musician.

[@kingdozerr]

Can you use it in front of an amp like a pedal?

[@GearSounds]

Yes, you can bypass the IR and use the pedal to push an amp. Though I'd reccomend a very clean amp.

[@florisvanlingen]

@@kingdozerr You'd be better of putting it into the FX return of your amp if it has one.

[@GearSounds]

Yes that's correct, however he specifically asked if he could run it in "front" of the amp, not the effects loop. I'm assuming he already knows that the FX loop would be the best place for it. Then again you can still get great tones at the front of the amp, provided it's clean enough.

[@_nstone5317]

thanks for the great demo(best so far)., really shows some great sounds. look forward to the unit. but think for a moment, there is no stereo in, it can‘t be as you would need exactly two analog tube preamps, one for the left and one for the right side. if you look at the backside there is only one mono guitar in, one mono send out and then you can go to a stereo generating fx and stereo back in to the stereo fx return (yes this ca be considered also as a stereo in somehow and if you have two of those preamp units you could combine into one ). then it has stereo tremolo and stereo reverb and, stereo xlr balanced out to FOH. Strymon Iridium has Stereo In via TRS cable and also UAFX Dream with 2 Ins but those are is digital and handled via DSP. For analog stereo two preamp would be needed.

[@GearSounds]

You're correct, I've added this to a pinned comment. Someone else mentioned this as well so I'm happy to have it corrected.

[@ivanbebic6688]

Hi :) did you manage to make a comparison with Friedman X-D-J

[@GearSounds]

Unfortunately no, I was more focused on this unit. I also had a TON of demos to film, my most ever. 📸🫡. That being said I hope you still enjoy the demo. I heard it wasn't finished yet so I didn't find a comparison demo to be appropriate.

[@jasonthompson5140]

Did they specifically say that single input was stereo? I guess it’s TRS?

[@GearSounds]

No, only one of the two output jacks is stereo TRS for headphones, typically for input you use two separate input cables unless the pedal is too small and requires a breakout cable like the strymon cloudburst. Luckily this has two separate inputs for stereo in and two separate outputs for stereo out. It also has a stereo input and output for an effects loop, as well as stereo output in XLR for front of house.

[@jasonthompson5140]

@@GearSounds There was another video that showed the back panel. Only shows 1 input. 1/4”. If it’s stereo it has to be TRS capable input jack. Also looks like a mono send next to it and a stereo return and stereo outputs.

[@GearSounds]

No, there are actually eight total input jacks. Stereo input and stereo output and a stereo effects loop. Also one of the stereo output jacks Is itself a TRS stereo output jack for headphones.

[@jasonthompson5140]

@@GearSounds ok. I see there are a total of 8 1/4” jacks on the pedal. But only 1 of them is the actual input (like where you plug the guitar in). I’m asking if that particular one is mono or stereo?

[@GearSounds]

No, incorrect there are two input jacks. If you only plug into the left input jack that is mono if you plug into both the left and the right input jack that is stereo. If you look carefully you can see that the cable is actually covering the secondary input jack diagonally. I know the video you were talking about is that's the video I watched to get this information.

[@Paul-lj3qw]

Endemic

[@GearSounds]

Huh?

[@julirichmond3]

Meh.

[@GearSounds]

This thing sounds amazing to me. 🧐

[@midnightwind8067]

lol. I have had an Effectrode Blackbird pedal for years. 3 tube front end of a fender blackface. Nothing new or revolutionary here.

[@GearSounds]

Oh but how wrong you are sir. This contains an impulse response, USB C, tremolo, reverb, stereo input and output, stereo FX loop, TRS headphone out and much more. This unit is FAR more than a tube preamp. It's an entire recording studio for guitar in a box, minus a mixer.

[@midnightwind8067]

@ I guess if you find that important. I’m from the 70s. We did not have any of that. But man, people chase our sound with all kinds of stuff. Some think solos on records were played on Marshall stacks. In reality, it was a Princeton or a Deluxe. Folks don’t know. But go crazy if it makes you happy.

[@markw9512]

@@midnightwind8067 you said “nothing new or revolutionary here”… If your BF-based pedal doesn’t have this, then by definition it is new, right? It’s a nice pedal and sounds good, if you don’t like it don’t get it. 👋

[@midnightwind8067]

@ It’s not about liking it. It’s about needing it. It just looks like the next pedal off the boat. In my experience, there will be another in a minute. There are many tube driven pedals. I suspect they are not that different. The IR component is cute but at this price why not go for a Kemper Player? That would be a more flexible pedal and a better value at this price.

[@GearSounds]

I think most modern guitar players find that important. Tube tube tone does not belong to the '70s, it belongs to any good studio. Any educated musician knows that the best tone comes from smaller tube amps.

[@jaymax3201]

$500？

[@GearSounds]

I'm unsure on price or release date right now but we can hope!

[@voujouhihi728]

Andertons (UK): 549GBP (inclVAT)

[@GearSounds]

I'm curious as to US pricing. Edit: $599

[@dans5529]

@@GearSounds They said $599 in one of the NAMM videos I saw.

[@GearSounds]

Yes, I e updated that with a pinned comment