The One Control Purple Plexifier 4K Japonism Edition is an "Amp In A Box" style distortion pedal that One Control says is designed to capture the tone of classic British plexi amplifiers, with rich, harmonic distortion and dynamic response1. It is an overdrive/distortion pedal built to replicate a vintage plexi amplifier, and it is the same circuit as the Purple Plexifier 4K, finished instead with ukiyo-e artwork, a traditional Japanese art form, on the case1.
The edition is a limited run: One Control states it will be produced for a limited time only, and the maker's page lists it as sold out1. The standard Purple Plexifier 4K is also listed as sold out2.
A plexi-style distortion with ukiyo-e artwork
One Control describes the Purple Plexifier 4K as a British AIAB (amp in a box), a pedal that aims to reproduce the sound and feel of a vintage plexi amplifier rather than simply adding grit2. The maker says the pedal is designed to capture the legendary tone of classic British plexi amplifiers, with rich, harmonic distortion and dynamic response1.
What sets the Japonism Edition apart is the finish. One Control's page reads1:
"our new Japonism Edition features Ukiyo-e, a world-renowned symbol of Japanese culture painted on the beautiful One Control case."1
The pedal sits in a high-quality mini-size case made of aluminum, the same modern machined enclosure used for the Purple Plexifier 4K12. The Purple Plexifier line has history behind it: Delicious Audio calls the original Purple Plexifier the first Amp-In-A-Box design by One Control, and the V2 moved all four controls to the top of the case where V1 had the mids knob as a side trim pot3. The 4K is described by Bjorn Juhl as a new 4-knob version that evolved into a more modern and balanced sound2.
Bjorn Juhl, the designer behind the line, describes his own use of the pedal13:
"I use PP4Kn as a distortion box in combination with SROD4Kn and LYC4Kn."1
The controls
The Japonism Edition carries the same four knobs as the Purple Plexifier 4K, all on top of the case12.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| VOL | Adjusts the volume1 |
| DIST | Adjusts the strength of the distortion1 |
| MID | Adjusts the way out of the middle range1 |
| TREBLE | Adjusts the tone from the middle to high range2 |
The DIST knob sets how hard the pedal pushes into distortion, while MID and TREBLE shape the frequency balance around the plexi voicing. With true bypass switching, the pedal leaves the signal chain untouched when disengaged1.
Power and practical details
The pedal runs at a 9V driving voltage and draws only 3mA, which makes it easy to place on a shared pedalboard power supply1. Built-in battery use is also possible, though batteries are not included1. At approximately 160 grams, or 200 grams with a battery inserted, it occupies minimal board space1.
One Control lists both the Japonism Edition and the standard Purple Plexifier 4K as sold out, and the Japonism Edition was produced for a limited time only12. Players looking for the circuit may need to find remaining stock at retailers or on the used market.
For the earlier Purple Plexifier V2, Delicious Audio recommended a balanced power supply to maximize the life and quality of the effect3.
Manual and related pedals
One Control publishes an English-language PDF manual for the Purple Plexifier 4K, covering the pedal's controls and operation, linked from the product page1. Players interested in other One Control distortion designs in the same family can compare the Dyna Red Distortion 4K, the Anodized Brown Distortion 4K and the Rebel Red Distortion 4K, or browse distortion pedals more broadly.
Questions
What is different about the Purple Plexifier 4K Japonism Edition?
It is the same Purple Plexifier 4K circuit, a four-knob British amp-in-a-box distortion, in a mini aluminum case finished with ukiyo-e artwork, a traditional Japanese art form. One Control describes it as a Japonism Edition produced for a limited time only. The controls, power requirements and specifications match the standard Purple Plexifier 4K.
Is the Japonism Edition a limited run?
Yes. One Control states the model will be produced for a limited time only, and the maker's product page lists it as sold out. The standard Purple Plexifier 4K is also listed as sold out on the maker's page as of October 2026.
Does the Japonism Edition use a battery?
Yes. Built-in battery use is possible, though batteries are not included. The pedal also runs on a 9V power supply and draws only 3mA. For the earlier Purple Plexifier V2, Delicious Audio recommended a balanced power supply to maximize the life and quality of the effect.
Is there a manual for the Purple Plexifier 4K?
Yes. One Control publishes an English-language PDF manual for the Purple Plexifier 4K, linked from the product page. It covers the pedal's controls and operation.
Who is Bjorn Juhl?
Bjorn Juhl is the designer associated with the Purple Plexifier line; the Delicious Audio page on the Purple Plexifier V2 carries his description of the pedal. He describes using the PP4Kn as a distortion box in combination with the SROD4Kn and LYC4Kn pedals.
Sources (3)
- PURPLE PLEXIFIER 4K Japonism Edition (OC-PP4Kn-JE), One Control USA
- PURPLE PLEXIFIER 4K (OC-PP4Kn), One Control USA
- One Control Purple Plexifier V2, Delicious Audio, 2024-06-11
