The Tone City King of Blues is a Tone City overdrive pedal, currently around $79.80. Close alternatives include the One Control Purple Humper Overdrive and the Pigtronix gamma drive. It pairs well with the Traynor SB106 and the Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar.
Tone City King of Blues
Tone City · pedal
The Tone City King of Blues is a mini-format overdrive aimed, as the name suggests, at blues-oriented drive sounds — the lower-gain, amp-pushing end of the spectrum rather than heavy saturation. Tone City build compact pedals at accessible prices, and this model has been revised into a V2 version sold alongside it. Independent coverage of the original is limited, so this description does not assert control layout or circuit specifics.
- blues
- overdrive
- warm
- drive
- spectrum
- tone city
- blues overdrive suits
Good for
- Busking
- Live
Price updated Aug 24, 2026
Genres the Tone City King of Blues is commonly used in
- Blues
- Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Tone City King of Blues
Traynor SB106
Traynor
28% matchTraynor SB106's bright balances out the warm tone
Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar
amplifier
28% matchTone City King of Blues leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar wants
Boss Waza-Air
Boss
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Boss Waza-Air answers back bright
Egnater VN-412A
Egnater
tonal matchRun Egnater VN-412A after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Laney Richter answers back bright
PRS HX 50 Head
PRS
tonal matchRun PRS HX 50 Head after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple)
Soldano
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Soldano 4x12 Straight Classic Cabinet (Purple) answers back bright
Winfield Typhoon Combo
Winfield
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Winfield Typhoon Combo answers back bright
Pedals that stack with the Tone City King of Blues
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea
EarthQuaker Devices
17% matchWhere this leans warm, EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea answers back bright
Catalinbread Formula 55
Catalinbread
16% matchCatalinbread Formula 55's bright balances out the warm tone
IdiotBox Effects End of Line
Idiotbox Effects
12% matchKeep IdiotBox Effects End of Line after Tone City King of Blues in the signal chain, clear of Tone City King of Blues's own gain stage
Behringer BLE400
Behringer
11% matchBehringer BLE400's own transparent character is the real reason this is worth trying
Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2
Alexander Pedals
7% matchKeep Tone City King of Blues's warm voice out front: Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2 goes after Tone City King of Blues in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
7% matchPut Strymon El Capistan after Tone City King of Blues in the signal chain, clear of Tone City King of Blues's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Boss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer
Boss
tonal matchBoss EQ 200 Graphic Equalizer leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchCALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition's bright balances out the warm tone
Cheaper alternatives
Tone City Blues Man
Tone City
68% similarityShared character: blues_players, s_build_quality, warm
NUX Steel Singer
Nux
90% similaritysimilar tone character
NuX String Singer Overdrive
Nux
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Tone City TC-T6 Kaffir Lime Overdrive
Tone City
89% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
One Control Stone Bramble Overdrive
One Control
75% similarityShared character: blues_players, s_build_quality, warm
Providence RED Rock OD ROD-1
Providence
70% similarityShared character: blues_players, s_build_quality, warm
Providence SOV-2 Stampede OverDrive
Providence
70% similarityShared character: blues_players, s_build_quality, warm
Walrus Audio Warhorn
Walrus Audio
67% similarityShared character: blues_players, s_build_quality, warm
JHS Violet Lari Basilio Signature Distortion
JHS Pedals
67% similarityShared character: blues_players, warm, overdrive
One Control Golden Acorn Overdrive Special
One Control
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
One Control Purple Humper Overdrive
One Control
72% similarityShared character: blues_players, s_build_quality, warm
Pigtronix gamma drive
Pigtronix
69% similarityShared character: blues_players, s_build_quality, warm
One Control Cranberry Over Drive
One Control
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Breakup Drive
Fender
89% similaritysimilar tone character
REVV G2 Overdrive V2
Revv
89% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Tone City King of Blues (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Tone City King of Blues?+
The closest matches in character are the One Control Purple Humper Overdrive, the Pigtronix gamma drive, the One Control Cranberry Over Drive. Budget picks: Tone City Blues Man, NUX Steel Singer, NuX String Singer Overdrive. Boutique upgrades: One Control Stone Bramble Overdrive, Providence RED Rock OD ROD-1, Providence SOV-2 Stampede OverDrive.
What pairs well with the Tone City King of Blues?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Traynor SB106, Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar, Boss Waza-Air — Traynor SB106's bright balances out the warm tone.
How much does the Tone City King of Blues cost?+
Around $79.80 (live listing price, updated Aug 24, 2026).