NGD - 1st Pre Amp. :)

[Libitina]

Theres no way that I would purchas the original Tone King Imperial MkII , So, I’ve been watching for this over the last few weeks when I came across the Namm vids.

Very surprised that I managed to get so soon , It hit the stores just yesterday. I intend to have a lot of fun with this piece.

Some pics for everyone.

I am honstly pleased as punch at the quality and the power supply was a nice surprise. Such a novel idea, having a power supply unit that works no matter which country you are in !

Apparently I need to do a few things, Download some software and update the firmware too. I will try and do some recording very soon and post an update to a piece I played last year.

I’ve decided that I will use the Synergy Amp with interchangable modules to come later this year. This being a pre amp will simply play through the synergy but, for now I will use the Katana.

[roger_holland]

Hi Rachel,

Happy PAD

I wish you many beautiful sounds

@Libitina

Such a novel idea, having a power supply unit that works no matter which country you are in !

millions of pieces of unused plastic and metal every year … I recently took a whole bunch (really a lot so over the years ) to the thrift store… they asked me if I wanted to take it back and throw it away at home

Greetings

[HappyCat]

@Libitina

Very surprised that I managed to get so sson , It hit the stores just yesterday. I intend to have a lot of fun with this piece.

I hear ya. Very new gear for sure and no doubt you’ll have a great time with that. Congratulations on your new gear.

fwiw, 1st I was gonna get a california tweed 4:40. The wife said no more amps.
2nd she said ‘whatever’ when I said I was gonna get another amp (whatever is closer to yes than no more amps).
3rd. I decided I wanted a Imperial MkII. So I went and tried one.
4th, I got a '65 princeton reverb reissue.

Price was part of it and as Imperial MkII was near 2 times the prri (2 years ago).
However, I really liked the MkII.
I have found I like tremolo and my biggest disappointment in the MkII was the tremolo. Even when dialed down to nothing, it went tick, tick, tick. Also, fwiw, the deluxe reverb reissue also went tick tick tick.
I landed on the prri due to this tick + both the MkII and deluxe reverb were both 20w +. The princetons 12w seemed like it might be more useful for my home playing.

Anywyas, I’ll be looking real forward to hearing what ya think about this. I sure looks like a good idea. Especially looking fwd. to hear your review of the tremolo and as to whether it goes tick tick.

Also, instead of me going and looking up how it works, can you explain how you plug that in and to what you plug it into? Them back connections at this time baffle me. Stereo sounds like a real win. Do ya need something special to have it be stereo? I’m not even sure what qualifies as to stereo in a guitar amp. I kinda think I’m playing stereo when I plug into 2 amps using a a/b/y switch. But am I. Both ‘channels’ are the same input, just different tones via two different amps. So I’m not sure even that is stereo.

Anyways. Looks great! Hoping you have a great time with that.

I can’t wait till I hear what ya think about it and give us a sound demo.

Another question. It don’t look like it’s got tubes in it. Does it? Or is it Tone King emulating their own MkII amp like fender does with computing power to emulate it’s own amps. ie tone master priceton reverb, bassmen, deluxe reverb etc.

So what are you going to be plugging that into? I only assume ya gotta plug it into something else to make it work. Perhaps I’m wrong?

Turn it up loud and Jam On! Tell us all about it after ya’ve tried it out for a bit. And mostly.
Have too much fun!
Congratulation on your new tools.

[Libitina]

Quick reply, just check bottom right of first pic, tells you what tubes are in it.

I’ll get to the rest later ok, great questions by the way.

R

[CT]

This rig looks like it would be at its best plugged into a PA or the FX loop of an amp.

Not so sure how good it would be plugged into the front end of an amp, no matter how clean, unless you could bypass the amp’s pre-amp (which I can do with my little Fender Mustang 1 v2).

[DeltaTyne]

Mmmmm that looks good man cheers Hec

[HappyCat]

@Libitina

just check bottom right of first pic, tells you what tubes are in it.

That’s impressive!
A tube driven preamp as stated.

Thanks for helping me with my reading… all I had to do was read the box…

Still looking fwd to hearing it and how it works out for you.

[LievenDV]

oh nice!

I played a combo Toneking back in the day and it was awesome.

All the Imperial character in a handy box; great concept!

[Libitina]

So I have to ask, is this type of design common on power supplies for this type of gear. This being my fist, I really don’t know lol. You had so much , Enough in fact to warrent a thrift store trip. !

R

[Libitina]

I remember you saying, I’ve been told over and over that the Tone King Combo is something pretty good to have. This is about the best I can do.

There is only one thing that will give me any cause for concern , that being , no power switch. !
Which means some sort of individual power switches.

R

[CT]

@Libitina

There is only one thing that will give me any cause for concern , that being , no power switch. !
Which means some sort of individual power switches.

I’m unclear on this comment. It’s a pedal with a power supply and a bypass switch.

[Libitina]

@HappyCat

2nd she said ‘whatever’ when I said I was gonna get another amp (whatever is closer to yes than no more amps).

Whatever lol…

I’ve never heard of a problem with the Tremelo or Reverb on the tone King having issues like a Tick,tick,tick. I will let you know though when I get to try it ok.

@HappyCat

Also, instead of me going and looking up how it works, can you explain how you plug that in and to what you plug it into? Them back connections at this time baffle me. Stereo sounds like a real win. Do ya need something special to have it be stereo? I’m not even sure what qualifies as to stereo in a guitar amp. I kinda think I’m playing stereo when I plug into 2 amps using a a/b/y switch. But am I. Both ‘channels’ are the same input, just different tones via two different amps. So I’m not sure even that is stereo.

Lot of questions in here lol…I will have to supply you with a couple of links that explain some of this. Hopr thats ok lol, I’m worse than useless with power routing myself too. That said though I know I don’t have to plug it into anything. It can be used as a stand alone item for the home. Which is very appealing, it comes with a headphone socket on the back. Guitar in, headphone out also, more than that, It can be plugged directly into my Focusrite AI.

2 links for you to have a listen : FYI, one of these 2 has a partial comparison of the Tone King Head.

Tone King "Imperial" Tri Tube Preamp Pedal Demo: Hear it Direct, A/B W/ Head, and more....

The Tone King Imperial Preamp - IR Loader is FINALLY HERE!

As @CT said earlier, yes, direct into a PA will work really well too.

@HappyCat

So what are you going to be plugging that into? I only assume ya gotta plug it into something else to make it work. Perhaps I’m wrong?

Later in the year I will plug it into a Synergy 20w also just launched this year.
Don’t have this yet but, I plan on getting this later in the year and partner getting a module , either a Z Wreck or Morgan.

And sitting under my bed is a 1x12 Celestion creamback waiting to be unpacked. At which point I will say goodby to the Katana 50Mk2 as I have the Katana Waza Air, which I use daily.

Thanks for such a good post.

Rachel

[Libitina]

I know these things with tubes like to be on most of the time, the constant on/off switch not being good for tubes. I would have still liked a power switch. The only way to cut power draw is pull the cable so to speak. I dont think the bypass switch stops the pedal from actually drawing any electricity , whatever it may be, Least thats how I see it.

A bit like a TV on standby, off but still using power.

R.

[roger_holland]

Hi ,I think almost all my gear that runs on electricity comes with multiple plugs… luckily there are quite a lot of them also from the Dutch Baxshop (or well …luckily , no not… well …you know what I mean…I like gear … )

Greetings

[mathsjunky]

@Libitina

So I have to ask, is this type of design common on power supplies for this type of gear.

I spent a fair time working with electronics supply chain. Manufactures and resellers love this idea as it keeps the supply chain really simple. I can have one SKU (part number) for every country and don’t have to manufacture and store separate boxes for different countries. It also means that I can easily move stock from one location to another to meet demands easily. I have had to arrange for our Taiwanese supplier to open 100s of boxes, swap power supplies and change the stickers on the boxes before!

@Libitina

I know these things with tubes like to be on most of the time, the constant on/off switch not being good for tubes.

I spoke about this recently to the owner of a well respected boutique valve amp builder near me. He said not to worry about it, valves had stood the test of time in some pretty harsh environments - just use it as you would normally do and don’t over think it

[LievenDV]

Oh I missed the IR options
This unit is great. This isn’t just a pre-amp anymore this is a whole rig in a box.
It’s kind of a hybrid portable setup similar to mine, aimed at gigging.
(mine is full digital though)

This is very cool.
just an output to give to a sound guy on a gig.
A guitar, some cables and this unit and you are ready tot gig.
Attach it to your own PA speaker for om rehearsal on every imaginable volume.

nice!

[HappyCat]

Thanks for the follow up Rachel. Real good videos on it.

This looks like a very versatile preamp.
A really nice score.

@Libitina

I’ve never heard of a problem with the Tremelo or Reverb on the tone King having issues like a Tick,tick,tick.

Me either.
It was just something I noted when I was playing it. Like I said, the deluxe reverb reissue I thought was the same way. tick tick. Perhaps just the way it is. Or maybe the difference between optical tremolo and bias tremolo? I’m pretty sure the tremolo is driven different between the prri and the drri. I don’t know which way it is on the MkII.

@Libitina

The only way to cut power draw is pull the cable so to speak.

fwiw, if turning it on and off is of no concern. Plug your preamp into a power strip. Use the on/off switch on the power strip to turn the preamp on and off.
I do this with my regular ol pedals. I agree. I’m not hip to no on/off switch on pedals in general. I wish they had a on/off switch too. Plugging in and unplugging the guitar cable is a drag for power up.
And I also concern myself with turning tube amps on and off. Perhaps with short use between on and off.
My basic answer has been if I’m gonna play for a half hour + I may turn on a tube amp. That way I can at least let it warm up prior to turning it off. If I’m gonna play a short time, 5-15 min. I turn on a solid state amp.
That’s just how I keep my mind at peace for not powering up and powering down tubes for a short time of use.

[Libitina]

Hidden on back of box

Rachel

[Libitina]

Now here’s a question, You say a PA system, wich is obviously a powered system.

Is this pre amp able to go directly to my 12" speaker cab or, must it have a amp between it and the speaker. ?

Rachel

[sequences]

last bullet on that “hidden box back” - says “To Amp In”, so it needs to go into an amp, not unpowered speakers.