The Radial Regency is a Radial Tonebone pedal that combines two independently footswitchable sections: a Pre-Drive overdrive circuit and a variable Class-A power booster, with an effects loop in between12. Radial positions it as both a power booster and an overdrive, aimed at players who want to drive the front end of an amp harder3. It grew out of guitarist Réjean Lachance's search for a pedal that could push his amp for extra sustain or grind, developed with engineer Denis Rozon4.
A Class-A power booster with a Pre-Drive and an effects loop
The Regency is built around two sections you can switch on their own or together2. The Pre-Drive section works like a standard overdrive pedal, with Level and Drive knobs plus tonal options2. Radial describes it as a high output, low distortion overdrive used to add extra saturation to the amp without muddying up the tone, adding natural sustain and harmonics when in play4.
The Boost section is a straight-up clean boost that can deliver up to 23dB extra2. MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found the Boost section on its own "has as much as you'll ever need to drive a valve amp harder", shifting into edgier realms with little Gain travel and producing natural overdrive at max2.
"The Boost section by itself has as much as you'll ever need to drive a valve amp harder."
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output volume level for the Pre-Drive5 |
| Drive | Sets the Pre-Drive distortion amount5 |
| Tone | Brightens or darkens the Pre-Drive circuit to suit your guitar and amp setup5 |
| Low-Mid | 3-position switch that tailors the bottom end of the circuit5 |
| Boost Gain | Variable Class-A power booster up to +23dB of clean gain5 |
| Drive footswitch | Activates the Pre-Drive circuit5 |
| Boost footswitch | Activates the power booster and the effects loop5 |
The Low-Mid switch changes the cut-off point where the mid frequencies are processed, moving the low-mid accent point up or down the scale to suit each guitar and amp setup3. Radial notes the effects loop is a separate circuit from the Pre-Drive and must be engaged separately3.
Power and connections
The Regency runs on a standard 9V DC center-pin-negative supply drawing 60mA, and Radial states it is compatible with pedalboard power supply bricks1. Connections are a standard 1/4" instrument input, a High-Z 1/4" output to your amplifier, and send and receive 1/4" jacks for the effects loop5.
The Regency is powered by a 9VDC center negative adapter only; the specifications list no battery option, so it needs a power supply or brick15.
The enclosure is 14-gauge steel with extra-durable switches and components and a military grade circuit board1. It measures 4¼ inches long by 4 wide by 2⅛ high and weighs 1.45lb (0.66kg)1. Radial covers it with a 3-year transferable warranty1.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Audio circuit type | Class A discrete1 |
| Gain | Overdrive up to +43dB, Boost up to +23dB1 |
| Input impedance | 220KΩ1 |
| Output impedance | 1kΩ1 |
| Maximum input | +10dBu1 |
| Clip level | +4dBu1 |
| Frequency response | Shaped for guitar use1 |
| Intermodulation distortion | >0.1% @15dBu out1 |
| Noise floor | -73dBu1 |
| Power | 60mA, 9VDC center pin negative1 |
| Conditions | Dry locations only, 5°C to 40°C1 |
Signal flow: overdrive, loop, then boost
Radial lays out the signal path as Overdrive, then Effects loop, then Boost3. That order means the Pre-Drive feeds whatever sits in the loop, and the Boost section then pushes the whole result into the amp. Because the loop engages with the Boost footswitch, switching the boost on also brings any connected pedals or rack gear into the chain5.
The loop's send and receive jacks let you connect pedals, and MusicRadar's reviewer points to a practical use: switching a larger unit such as a tape delay or rackmount processor that lives next to the amp, or pedals at the back of a pedalboard, so they only appear when the boost is on2. For more on this category generally, see boost pedals.
Where it came from
Radial announced the Regency in October 2016 as the latest Tonebone pedal, describing it as a pre-emphasis for mid and high gain amps4. The project began with guitarist Réjean Lachance, who wanted a pedal to drive the front end of his amp harder, either to add sustain or to produce extra grind. He worked with long-time engineer Denis Rozon on a prototype, and the result became the Regency4.
The Regency sits in a family of Radial drive and boost pedals that includes the Radial Tonebone Texas Pro and the Radial North-Star, both overdrive and boost combinations with effects loops.
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Questions
Is the Radial Regency true bypass?
Yes. Radial describes the Regency as true-bypass, so when the pedal is not active the guitar signal connects directly to the amp with the pedal out of the path. That suits players who want their clean tone untouched when the pedal is off.
How much gain does the Radial Regency boost add?
The Boost section is a variable Class-A power booster delivering up to +23dB of clean gain. The Pre-Drive overdrive section can reach up to +43dB on its own, so the two together offer a wide range of push.
Can I use the Regency drive and boost at the same time?
Yes. The Regency has two independently footswitchable sections, a Drive footswitch for the Pre-Drive circuit and a Boost footswitch for the power booster and effects loop. You can run either alone or both together.
What do I put in the Radial Regency effects loop?
The send and return 1/4 inch jacks connect other pedals or larger units. MusicRadar's reviewer noted it can switch a tape delay or rackmount processor that sits next to the amp, or pedals at the back of a pedalboard. The loop engages with the Boost footswitch.
Does the Radial Regency work with a pedalboard power supply?
Yes. It runs on a standard 9V DC center-pin-negative supply drawing 60mA, and Radial states it is compatible with pedalboard power supply bricks. There is no battery option in the specifications.
What does the Low-Mid switch on the Radial Regency do?
It is a 3-position switch that tailors the bottom end of the circuit. Radial says it changes the cut-off point where the mid frequencies are processed, moving the low-mid accent point up or down the scale to suit your guitar and amp setup.
Sources (5)
- Regency Specifications, Radial Engineering, 2018-04-20
- Radial Engineering Tonebone Regency review, MusicRadar, 2017-05-21
- Regency FAQ, Radial Engineering, 2018-06-11
- Radial Announce Latest Tonebone Pedal The Regency, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-10-20
- Regency Features, Radial Engineering, 2018-06-19
