High Voltage Tri-Tube Preamp Pedal – The Heart of the Imperial MKII, Now on Your Pedalboard
About the pedal.
The Imperial All-Tube Preamp pedal delivers Tone King’s legendary MKII amplifier's '50s tweed, '60s blackface, and vintage British rock tones in a compact, pedalboard-friendly format. It features the exact preamp section and phase inverter circuitry of the Imperial MKII amp, as well as Reverb, Tremolo and Attenuation, resulting in a pedal that sings with harmonic richness and blooming touch response. Powered by three 12AX7 preamp tubes running at high voltage, this preamp delivers the amp's sound, responsiveness, and exquisite interaction with your pickups and effects. The onboard, low-latency impulse response (IR) loader (per channel), Headphones, easy integration and expansion with your existing gear, and MIDI capabilities, takes these iconic tones into the new era of guitar playing.
Legendary Vintage Tube Amp Tones.
The Imperial Preamp Pedal features two distinct channels, each mirroring the ’50s and ’60s flavors of the Imperial MKII.
British-flavored rock.
The Lead Channel is inspired by the iconic tweed amps of the ’50s’ with the ability to glide between warm articulate cleans and aggressive midrange bark. This channel’s Mid-Bite control adds a further layer of tone shaping, focusing the low-end, while adding high-end presence and gain for a British-flavored rock crunch.
Classic ’60s.
The Rhythm Channel evokes the essence of a classic ’60s blackface combo’s pristine cleans with a touch-sensitive response that transitions smoothly into overdrive.
Built-In Zero Watt Poweramp – Phase Inverter.
The Imperial Pre-Amp Pedal includes the exact phase inverter circuitry of the actual Imperial MKII amp, utilizing one of its three 12AX7 tubes. This built-in “0 watt poweramp” authentically provides the harmonic and dynamic content of the Tone King poweramp section. This revolutionary design is the cornerstone that delivers the ENTIRE Imperial MKII experience right on your pedal board.
Stereo Convolution Spring Reverb & Stereo Tremolo.
Like its namesake amp, the Imperial Preamp boasts foot-switchable spring reverb and tremolo (digital on the preamp pedal) which are assignable to each channel. A signature of the Tone King Imperial MKII tube amplifier, these era-correct effects add dimension and movement while transporting you to a golden age of electric guitar tone.
Features:
Two Channel High-Voltage preamp – DI
3 x 12AX7 preamp tubes running at proper high voltages
Built-In zero watt poweramp – phase inverter circuit
Two channels with independent Volume and Attenuation controls
Rhythm Channel (top)
’60s-era American blackface combo tone
Bass and Treble controls
Lead Channel (Bottom)
’50s-era American tweed combo and British rock tones
Tone and Mid-Bite controls
Spring Reverb (convolution)
Reverb and Dwell controls
Independently assignable to each channel
Tremolo (digital)
Depth and Speed controls
Independently assignable to each channel
Stereo, Series FX loop (bypassable)
MIDI programmable
Save up to 128 presets for instant recall via an external MIDI switcher
Presets save:
Channel selection
Master bypass setting
IR selection
IR bypass setting
Effects loop bypass setting
Reverb bypass and tails settings
Tremolo bypass settings
Onboard Impulse Response (IR) Technology
Low-latency Impulse Response cabinet simulation (bypassable)
3-position CAB/IR select switch per channel (programmable via software)
Included OwnHammer IRs
Poweramp simulation with software editable HF Comp and Low-Pass filters (per channel)
Connections:
Dual stereo balanced XLR outputs with Ground Lift Switch
¼” Headphone output
Effects Send and Stereo Return Jacks
MIDI 5-pin standard connector
USB-C connector for use with the included Tone King Editor software editor
To Amp In, From Amp Send and From Amp Return Jacks – for adding Imperial channels to your amp or preamp
Included: 6’ USB Cable, Universal 12V Power Supply
Dimensions: 7.2” (W) x 5.7” (D) x 2.75” (H)
Weight: 1.9 lbs.
