The Empty Head Effects King Alex II is an analog high-gain distortion pedal from Empty Head Effects, designed for heavy drive and textured signal. Its circuit is built around a modified Electra distortion core using silicon transistors, paired with a selectable op-amp pre-gain stage placed ahead of the primary circuit to heavily push and overload the transistor drive1. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described it as a heavily modified single-stage transistor Electra Distortion with cascaded op-amps2.
Where it came from
The King Alex II is an iteration of a pedal that Nic originally made for a friend's birthday, a "Birthday Pedal Nic" that started off closer to one of his production models before evolving into this version2. Guitar Pedal X reviewed the pedal, describing it as "A fantastic obliteration distortion which chokes out with the OpAmp stage selected"3, and later placed it among its new distortion pedals of the year3.
The enclosure is textured like igneous rock, through a process of loading up excess powder during the powder coating, with laser-burned black legends and a text panel2.
The controls
The pedal keeps its top-side controls to two knobs and two switches, with names drawn from a single theme12:
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| BOW | Volume2 |
| MORE | Gain Level2 |
| BEG | Gain Structure: up Lo / down Hi, giving two gain ranges2 |
| PRAY | OpAmp Pre-Gain Stage: up Bypassed / down On2 |
| ADORE | Engage footswitch2 |
| Internal dipper 2 | Adjusts Input Cap B2 |
The BEG switch selects between a Lo-Gain range (up) and a Hi-Gain range (down), so the pedal covers two distinct gain structures from one set of knobs2. PRAY is the pedal's defining switch: with it down, the op-amp pre-gain stage is engaged ahead of the main circuit. Guitar Pedal X described what it adds as "mangled Obliteration Distortion, reminiscent of Fairfield Circuitry's Roger That and an LM308 Expandora's Forbidden Fuzz Mode"2.
Clipping and circuit
Signal clipping is handled via an asymmetrical arrangement including 2N4124 silicon transistors and a yellow LED1. Asymmetrical clipping shapes the two halves of the waveform differently, which is a common way designers add character to a distortion stage. The core of the pedal is a modified Electra distortion circuit, a single-stage transistor design, with the op-amp stage available in front of it when PRAY is engaged12.
Power and bypass
The King Alex II runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 9mA1. True bypass switching ensures total signal transparency when the pedal is disengaged, according to RockBoard's PedalPedia1.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's verdict, in its roundup of the year's new distortion pedals: "A fantastic obliteration distortion which chokes out with the OpAmp stage selected."3
Videos
Empty Head Effects
Empty Head Effects
Signal Destroyer
Questions
Is the Empty Head Effects King Alex II true bypass?
Yes. The maker states the pedal uses true bypass switching, which it says ensures total signal transparency when the effect is disengaged. That means the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when it is off, so it will not load down or color your clean tone.
What voltage does the King Alex II need?
The King Alex II runs on 9V DC, center negative, the same standard supply used by most compact pedals. Its current draw is listed at 9mA, which is low enough that a standard isolated supply output or a daisy-chained connection with other low-draw pedals will handle it comfortably.
Is the King Alex II analog or digital?
It is an analog pedal. The maker lists the circuit type as analog, and the design is built around a modified Electra distortion core using silicon transistors, with clipping handled by silicon transistors and a yellow LED rather than any digital processing.
What does the PRAY switch do on the King Alex II?
PRAY is a two-position switch that controls the op-amp pre-gain stage: up bypasses it, down turns it on. When engaged, that stage sits ahead of the main circuit and heavily pushes and overloads the transistor drive. Guitar Pedal X described what it adds as mangled obliteration distortion.
What clipping does the King Alex II use?
Signal clipping is handled by an asymmetrical arrangement that includes 2N4124 silicon transistors and a yellow LED. Asymmetrical clipping clips the signal differently on its positive and negative halves, which is one reason the pedal's distortion has a textured, uneven character.
Sources (3)
- King Alex II by Empty Head Effects, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-11-04
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-12-05