The MXR x Analog Man Duke Of Tone is an overdrive pedal built by MXR in collaboration with Analog Man, designed in conjunction with Mike Piera of Analog Man himself. MXR confirmed the collaboration in September 2022, positioning it as a way for players to "add a touch of warmth and grit to their rig while allowing the natural tone and feel of their high-end gear to shine"1.
A King Of Tone descendant
The Duke Of Tone is a variant of Analog Man's King Of Tone overdrive pedal. Guitar.com's Scott Ng described it as "primed to represent a more affordable (and available) version of the acclaimed King Of Tone overdrive pedal," a point that matters to players because the original has long been hard to get1.
The pedal carries forward the simple controls of the original, volume, drive, and tone, but in a much smaller footprint than the King Of Tone, which makes it easier to fit on a crowded board1.
Controls and the 18V mode
Beyond the three knobs carried forward from the original, the Duke Of Tone adds two features of its own1:
- A Boost-OD-Distortion switch to alter the broad sonics of the pedal, covering boost, overdrive and distortion characters in one box1
- An 18V mode, which MXR says gives "even more headroom and clarity"1
MXR also says the Duke Of Tone Overdrive is great for gain stacking, so it can sit alongside other drives on a board and be pushed into different territory rather than working alone1. For players comparing it within the MXR range, it sits among the brand's many drives, from the MXR Timmy Overdrive Mini to the MXR Sugar Drive, and among overdrive pedals generally.
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Questions
Who designed the MXR x Analog Man Duke Of Tone?
The pedal was designed in conjunction with Mike Piera of Analog Man, in a collaboration confirmed by MXR in September 2022. MXR builds the pedal, and it carries forward the simple control set of Analog Man's King Of Tone overdrive, of which the Duke Of Tone is a variant, in a much smaller enclosure.
How does the Duke Of Tone differ from the Analog Man King Of Tone?
Guitar.com's Scott Ng described the Duke Of Tone as a more affordable and available version of the acclaimed King Of Tone overdrive pedal. It has a much smaller footprint than the original, carries forward the volume, drive and tone controls, and adds a Boost-OD-Distortion switch and an 18V mode for more headroom and clarity.
How much did the MXR Duke Of Tone cost at launch?
At launch the Duke Of Tone came at a pre-order price of $149.99, as reported by Guitar.com on 2 September 2022. The pedal was set to be out on 1 October 2022.
What does the Boost-OD-Distortion switch do?
The Boost-OD-Distortion switch alters the broad sonics of the pedal, letting the player choose between boost, overdrive and distortion characters from the same circuit. It sits alongside the volume, drive and tone controls carried forward from the King Of Tone.
Is the Duke Of Tone good for gain stacking?
MXR says the Duke Of Tone Overdrive is great for gain stacking, meaning it can be run alongside other drive pedals to build up levels of grit rather than working alone. The pedal is also described as allowing the natural tone and feel of high-end gear to shine.
Sources (1)
- Duke Of Tone: MXR and Analog Man’s collab overdrive just $149, guitar.com, 2022-09-02
