The Tone City Model S Distortion is a Tone City distortion pedal, currently around $72. Close alternatives include the Mooer MDS4 and the Vox TG1-V8DS V8 Distortion. It pairs well with the Roland Cube Street and the Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp.
Tone City Model S Distortion
Tone City · pedal
The Tone City Model S Distortion is a budget amp-model distortion from Tone City's Model series, delivering high-gain distortion character in a compact mini format at budget pricing.
What stands out
“The Tone City Model S Distortion is a budget amp-model distortion from Tone City's Model series, delivering high-gain distortion character in a compact mini format at budget pricing”
— from the listing
“Build quality is adequate for the price”
— from the community notes
“Tone City's budget Model S distortion at accessible pricing”
— from the community notes
- distortion
- high gain
- tone city
- compact mini
- accessible pricing
Good for
- Busking
- Live
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Tone City Model S Distortion is commonly used in
- Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Christian Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metalcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Tone City Model S Distortion
Roland Cube Street
Roland
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Feed a high gain signal into Roland Cube Street and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp
Laney
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Feed a high gain signal into Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo and it comes out closer to tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 and it comes out closer to tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Tone City Model S Distortion
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
16% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Suhr Shiba Drive takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Walrus Audio Fundamental Chrous
Walrus Audio
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Walrus Audio Fundamental Chrous after Tone City Model S Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Tone City Model S Distortion's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Ashdown Triple Shot
Ashdown
14% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Stack Ashdown Triple Shot on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Tone City Model S Distortion's high gain voice out front: Meris Mercury7 Reverb goes after Tone City Model S Distortion in the signal chain so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Fathom
Walrus Audio
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Keep Walrus Audio Fathom after Tone City Model S Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Tone City Model S Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Joyo JGE 01 Infinite Sustainer
Joyo
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Joyo JGE 01 Infinite Sustainer leans toward ambient, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah goes in front of Tone City Model S Distortion — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4
Jam Pedals
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Cheaper alternatives
Vox Bullet Distortion Switch
Vox
61% similarityShared character: distortion
Tone City Rock Magma Distortion Super Sustain
Tone City
61% similarityShared character: distortion
Tone City Black Tea
Tone City
58% similarityShared character: distortion
Jim Dunlop Mini Distortion
Dunlop
92% similaritysimilar tone character
NuX HG-6 High Gain
Nux
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Tone City Double Engine T40 Rectified High Energy
Tone City
83% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Third Man Store Third Man Hardware x Gamechanger Audio Plasma Coil
Third Man Store
73% similarityShared character: distortion
Walrus Audio Iron Horse V2
Walrus Audio
72% similarityShared character: distortion
T-Rex Tonebug Distortion
T Rex
63% similarityShared character: distortion
Suhr Eclipse Dual Channel Overdrive/Distortion
Suhr
63% similarityShared character: distortion
Wampler Pinnacle Standard V2
Wampler
62% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Mooer MDS4
Mooer
74% similarityShared character: distortion
Vox TG1-V8DS V8 Distortion
Vox
65% similarityShared character: distortion
Roland Core Distortion
Roland
64% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Mooer Ultra Drive MK II
Mooer
62% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
ISP Technologies Distortion
Isp Technologies
59% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Tone City Model M
Tone City
96% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Tone City Model S Distortion (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Tone City Model S Distortion?+
The closest matches in character are the Mooer MDS4, the Vox TG1-V8DS V8 Distortion, the Roland Core Distortion. Budget picks: Vox Bullet Distortion Switch, Tone City Rock Magma Distortion Super Sustain, Tone City Black Tea. Boutique upgrades: Tone City Double Engine T40 Rectified High Energy, Third Man Store Third Man Hardware x Gamechanger Audio Plasma Coil, Walrus Audio Iron Horse V2.
What pairs well with the Tone City Model S Distortion?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Roland Cube Street, Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp, Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited — Feed a high gain signal into Roland Cube Street and it comes out closer to mid-forward.
How much does the Tone City Model S Distortion cost?+
Around $72 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).