The Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier is an amplifier. Close alternatives include the Tone King Imperial Preamp and the Electronic Audio Experiments Model feT V3.8. It pairs well with the Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp and the Catalinbread Formula 5F6.
Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier
Unknown brand · amplifier
The Tone King Imperial MkI is a 20-watt 1x12 combo running a pair of 6V6s, with two independently voiced channels — a tweed-flavoured Rhythm side and a blackface-flavoured Lead side — plus spring reverb and tube tremolo. Its distinguishing feature is the built-in Ironman reactive attenuator, which lets the power section be driven hard at practice volume rather than requiring an external load.
What stands out
“The Tone King Imperial MkI is a 20-watt 1x12 combo running a pair of 6V6s, with two independently voiced channels — a tweed-flavoured Rhythm side and a blackface-flavoured Lead side — plus spring reverb and tube tremolo”
— from the listing
“hit the classic tones of a Fender Deluxe Reverb and then kick into the Tweed channel for extra crunch”
— from the reviews
“[Community Reviews] • best tube amp ever”
— from the reviews
“Its distinguishing feature is the built-in Ironman reactive attenuator, which lets the power section be driven hard at practice volume”
— from the listing
“hand wired”
— from the reviews
- reverb
- classic tones
- crunch
- spring reverb
- rhythm
- attenuator
- practice
- driven
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
Genres the Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier is commonly used in
- Blues
- Rock
Pedals that stack with the Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier
Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp
Beetronics
30% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (crunchy → clean boost)
Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost
Goes in front of the amp
Catalinbread Formula 5F6
Catalinbread
28% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (crunchy → mid-forward)
Stack Catalinbread Formula 5F6 on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Univox Super-Fuzz
Univox
28% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (crunchy → mid-forward)
Univox Super-Fuzz takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Goes in front of the amp
Boss TR-2 Tremolo
Boss
16% matchInto Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier, Boss TR-2 Tremolo is right at home: it's built around Fender-style amps
Goes in front of the amp
Origin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe
Origin Effects
14% matchOrigin Effects SlideRIG Compact Deluxe's own voicing points at Fender-style amps, and Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier delivers it
Goes in front of the amp
Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini
Dunlop
12% matchInto Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier, Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Catalinbread Epoch-Set in Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier's effects loop, clear of Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
J. Rockett The Dude V2
J Rockett
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Into Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier, J. Rockett The Dude V2 is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Alternatives
Tone King Imperial Preamp
Tone King
72% similarityTone King Imperial Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Electronic Audio Experiments Model feT V3.8
Electronic Audio Experiments
72% similarityElectronic Audio Experiments Model feT V3.8 recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Catalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box
Catalinbread
72% similarityCatalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Universal Audio Uafx Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier Preamp
Universal Audio
72% similarityUniversal Audio Uafx Woodrow '55 Instrument Amplifier Preamp recreates this amp's tone in pedal form
Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII Neo Combo
Orange
55% similarityShared character: reverb
Bartel Swingland 3W 1x12 Combo
Bartel
53% similarityShared character: hand wired construction, reverb
Headstrong Lil King Reverb
Headstrong
52% similarityShared character: hand wired construction, reverb, crunch
Fender Hot Rod Series Blues Junior 15W 1x12 Tube Guitar
amplifier
51% similarityShared character: reverb, tremolo
Fender Quad Reverb
Fender
51% similarityShared character: community reviews, reverb, tremolo
Carr Skylark
Carr
51% similarityShared character: reverb, crunch, lead
Fender '68 Custom Twin Reverb
amplifier
47% similarityShared character: reverb, tremolo
Amplified Nation Trem-Drive Deluxe Combo
Amplified Nation
46% similarityShared character: reverb, tremolo, lead
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier?+
The closest matches in character are the Tone King Imperial Preamp, the Electronic Audio Experiments Model feT V3.8, the Catalinbread Dreamcoat Skewer Special Edition Box.
What pairs well with the Tone King Imperial MKI 1x12 Combo Guitar Amplifier?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp, Catalinbread Formula 5F6, Univox Super-Fuzz — Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost.