Tone King Royalist tube preamp pedal – Vintage British sound in a pedalboard format
The Tone King Royalist is a high-voltage tube preamp pedal that captures all the soul of the legendary Tone King Royalist MKIII amp. Inspired by the golden age of British tone, it authentically recreates iconic textures ranging from warm cleans to Plexi-style crunch, all the way to the powerful saturation of 70s hard rock.
Thanks to its three 12AX7 tubes powered at high voltage, this pedal offers the dynamics, harmonic richness, and touch sensitivity of a real tube amp—all in a compact format ideal for modern pedalboards.
Three eras of iconic British sound
Each independent channel features a 3-position voicing switch (1964 / 1967 / 1970), replicating the evolution of legendary British amplifiers:
🔹 1964 – Vintage blues warmth
Sweet highs, moderate gain, and a warm balance inspired by early British amps.
🔹 1967 – Classic rock crunch
Rich mids, biting highs, and a precise attack for iconic rock riffs.
🔹 1970 – Powerful hard rock
Increased gain, precision, and explosive energy for the massive crunch typical of stadium rock.
Each channel also includes a FAT switch, perfect for:
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Adding body to single-coil pickups
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Enhancing humbucker sustain
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Thickening your sound for solos
Two independent channels with era-correct EQs
The Royalist features two identical channels, each with distinct equalization inspired by vintage circuits:
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Top channel: voicing inspired by JTM45 / Super Bass-style amps
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Bottom channel: EQ typical of more recent British Lead amps
Result:
✔ A precise, articulate channel
✔ A richer, more aggressive mid-focused channel
Perfect for switching from a sparkling clean to a cutting lead in an instant.
Zero Watt Power Amp – Authentic phase inverter circuit
The Royalist incorporates Tone King's celebrated Zero Watt Power Amp circuit. This genuine tube-powered phase inverter stage recreates the dynamic interaction between the preamp and the power amp—a key element of the authentic British sound.
All the organic saturation of a Royalist amp
Without the deafening volume
Ideal for stage, studio, or home practice
Built-in IR simulation – Studio and stage ready
The pedal includes a power amp simulation and low-latency Impulse Response (IR) engine, allowing for direct connection to:
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Front of House (FOH) consoles
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Audio interfaces
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Headphones
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FRFR systems
Pre-loaded OwnHammer IRs:
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OH 412 PINSTRIPE H25 – Celestion G12H-25 (1967)
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OH 112 IMPERIAL TK1660 – Tone King 1x12 combo
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OH 412 M75BB – Celestion G12M-75 Black Back (1975)
Each channel has a 3-position IR selector to instantly change tonal character.
Tone King Editor V6 software included
The Tone King Editor V6 software (developed by Synergy) offers advanced control:
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Up to 128 MIDI presets
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Management and loading of 20 IRs
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High-pass / Low-pass filters
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Effects loop configuration
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Reverb adjustment
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Channel-specific IR assignment
Intuitive interface, modern flexibility, and total control.
Why choose the Tone King Royalist?
✔ Genuine high-voltage tube preamp (3x 12AX7)
✔ Two independent channels
✔ 3 vintage voicings per channel
✔ Built-in IR simulation
✔ Direct output for stage and studio
✔ Authentic British sound at any volume
Ideal for:
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Rock, blues, and hard rock guitarists
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Live musicians seeking a vintage British sound
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Direct studio recording
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Professional pedalboards