Tone King Imperial Preamp

The Tone King Imperial MKII—now on your pedalboard!

The Tone King Imperial Preamp delivers the rich, touch-sensitive tube tone of the Imperial MKII amplifier in a compact, pedalboard-friendly format.

With three high-voltage 12AX7 tubes, this preamp authentically captures the amp’s vintage American voicings, lush spring reverb, and smooth tremolo, while adding modern features like MIDI integration, impulse response cabinet simulation, and a built-in zero-watt poweramp for direct recording and performance.

At its core, the Imperial Preamp offers two distinct channels. The Rhythm Channel delivers pristine blackface-style cleans with a dynamic, edge-of-breakup response—perfect for players who love the feel of a vintage combo amp. The Lead Channel, inspired by classic tweed circuits, offers everything from warm, articulate cleans to a mid-forward British-style crunch, with a Mid-Bite control that shapes the low-end response while adding top-end presence.

Beyond its all-tube signal path, the Imperial Preamp features stereo convolution-based spring reverb and tremolo, assignable per channel, for added depth and movement. Its built-in phase inverter circuit accurately replicates the amp’s power section, ensuring harmonic richness and dynamic response—even without a speaker load.

For direct recording and silent stages, the onboard IR loader provides studio-quality cabinet simulation, featuring 15 OwnHammer impulse responses, selectable per channel. The Tone King Editor software enables deep parameter customization, while MIDI control allows instant recall of up to 128 presets.

The Imperial Preamp integrates seamlessly into any setup—use it as a standalone DI preamp, add its two channels to your existing amp via a series effects loop, or combine it with other preamp pedals for a modular, pedalboard-based rig. This is the ultimate fusion of vintage tube warmth and modern flexibility.

Tone King Imperial Preamp Features:

• Authentic high-voltage tube preamp with three 12AX7 tubes.

• Two channels: Blackface-style Rhythm Channel and Tweed/British-inspired Lead Channel.

• Built-in zero-watt poweramp phase inverter circuit for full amp-like response.

• Stereo spring reverb and tremolo, assignable per channel.

• Onboard impulse response (IR) loader with 15 OwnHammer cabinet IRs.

• MIDI programmable with up to 128 presets for instant recall.

• Stereo series effects loop, assignable per channel.

• Direct XLR outputs, headphone output, and USB-C connectivity.

• Expandable with external amps and preamps via 3-cable method.

• Power: 12V DC (adapter included).

• Dimensions: 7.2" x 5.7" x 2.75".