Tone King Imperial MKll: Hot New Synergy 12AX7 Preamp
Tone King Imperial MKll Preamp powered by two 12AX7 tubes
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The Tone King Imperial MKll Preamp is the latest addition to the ever-expanding Synergy range of plug’n’play tube-powered preamps for their amps series.
Synergy has just announced the new Tone King Imperial MKll preamp. For almost 20 years, Tone King has been the gold standard for premium American tube amplification, and their Imperial MKII amp is a highly revered model in their lineup.
Tweed Tones & Beyond
The Imperial delivers everything from the pristine, “glassy spank” of vintage Blackface cleans to the raw, gritty breakup of classic Tweed tones.
The new Imperial module faithfully replicates the flagship amplifier’s two-channel design, providing independent Rhythm and Lead channels.
Each channel features intuitive controls, offering the feel and responsiveness of a hand-wired American classic. Inspired by some much-loved vintage Fender-style tube amplifiers.
Channel Controls
The Rhythm channel features a classic Volume, Bass, and Treble control layout, complemented by a dedicated Attenuation (Master Volume) knob. The Lead channel provides Volume, Tone, Mid-Bite, and Attenuation controls for precise drive tone sculpting.
Mid-Bite Control
A cool feature on the Imperial module’s Lead channel is the unique Mid-Bite control. This isn’t just another EQ knob; it changes how your amp’s overdrive behaves.
As you turn up the Mid-Bite, it does a few things: it makes the low end tighter, boosts the upper-mid presence, and even adds more gain. This transforms your tone from warm, clear sounds to a more aggressive, British-style rock crunch.
The Mid-Bite control lets you seamlessly go from that classic vintage Tweed grit to a modern, punchy overdrive, all within one channel.
Tremolo
One of the most beloved features of the original Imperial MKII amplifier has been perfectly replicated in this module: a vintage-style, true analog bias tremolo. This tremolo creates a wonderfully pulsing, organic movement that truly brings your playing to life.
You can use this effect on either channel, or even both, and it’s been meticulously tuned to sound consistently musical no matter how you set it.
Zero Watt Poweramp
The Imperial Preamp module features Synergy’s clever “Zero Watt Poweramp” technology. This isn’t just a fancy name; it includes the same phase inverter circuit found in the original Imperial MKII amplifier. By using one of its 12AX7 tubes, the module recreates the harmonics and dynamic feel of the full amp’s power section.
This means that no matter how you’re playing—whether through a recording interface, a live sound system, or even into your existing amp setup—the “Zero Watt Poweramp” ensures you get the authentic, blooming harmonics and dynamic response of a real vintage tube amp.
All this makes this preamp a great choice for any guitarist or studio/live engineer who needs versatility when capturing or amplifying these vintage-style amp tones. A neat modern solution, which will hopefully capture some desirable amp tones without the hassle of playing an old amplifier.
Attenuation and HF Comp
The Attenuation controls act like master volume knobs for each channel. They let you change how loud you want each channel to be. The HF Comp switch cuts down harsh treble (high notes) to make the sound softer.
There is also a Cathode Select function, and a switch on the circuit board lets you adjust the bass sound and feel of the amplifier. It comes set with the best option from Tone King.
Price & Availability
The Synergy Tone King Imperial MKll Preamp is available now from Thomann, priced at $408/£366/€429.
The new Synergy SYN-20IR 20-watt head, announced earlier this year, would also make a nice pairing for this latest module.
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