The TC Electronic Plethora X1 is a compact digital pedal that loads any single effect from TC's TonePrint library, covering the entire range of TonePrint pedals in one standard-size stompbox1. Where the larger PLETHORA X3 and PLETHORA X5 run three and five TonePrint effects at once, the X1 runs one at a time, which makes it a single-effect version of those multi-effects units2. In exchange you get the whole palette in a box the size of a Flashback 2 or Hall of Fame 2, with the same four-knob control configuration as those pedals2.
The effect list spans TC's mainline pedals, including Hall of Fame 2 Reverb, and the Hall of Fame reverb TonePrints alone cover cathedral, hall, plate, room and shimmer34. A 1-inch LCD screen keeps track of what is loaded at any given time5.
What it does: one TonePrint effect at a time
The X1 is a dedicated TonePrint loader: you fill its preset slots with effects pulled from TC's TonePrint range and switch between them on the pedal1. Seven on-board slots hold your choices, and A/B mode pairs two slots per bank, turning the seven slots into as many as fourteen effects4. MusicRadar's reviewer described it plainly: "Fourteen preset slots can be filled with a spread of these effects"9.
The one-effect-at-a-time design is the trade-off against the bigger Plethoras. Guitar.com's reviewer put it directly: "with the X1, you can only use one effect at a time"4. If you need delay and reverb running together, the X3 or X5 is the format for that; the X1 is for players who want one changeable effect in one standard pedal-sized enclosure.
The controls: A/B/C knobs, footswitch modes and MASH
Three assignable parameter knobs, labeled A, B and C, allow adjustments on the fly, just like using a standard pedal2. Delicious Audio notes that editing the loaded algorithms through only three variable knobs is limiting, with deeper editing done in the app8.
The single footswitch works in several modes:
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Latching | Switches effects on and off in the classic way3 |
| Momentary | Effect is applied only while the switch is held down3 |
| A/B | Switches between two different effects and can control tempo with the foot3 |
| Tap Tempo | Sets tempo for time-based effects8 |
| MASH | Pressure-sensitive control of effect parameters1 |
MASH is TC's pressure-sensitive footswitch function, used here for effects manipulation such as frozen delays, Whammy-like pitch shifts and extreme modulation3. A dedicated MASH LED gives real-time visual feedback on how much you are mashing3. With Uni-Vibe tones, you can use a footswitch-hold to ramp between slow and fast settings, Leslie style4.
There is a catch, and MusicRadar's reviewer flagged it: if you need MASH functionality on a given bank, you forfeit the ability to toggle between that bank's A and B presets, a limitation of the enclosure's single switch9.
Power and connections
The rear panel houses a 9-volt, 250mA minimum power input jack, standard pedal size, 9V DC center negative2. That current draw rules out a battery and is worth noting if you daisy-chain pedals on a shared supply.
The X1 draws 250mA minimum at 9V DC center negative2. That is more than many analog drives, so check your power supply's per-output rating before sharing it with other pedals.
Connectivity centers on the TonePrint link: the pedal pairs with a mobile device for editing and loading effects, and the TonePrint app is the software side of that workflow29. Guitar Pedal X lists the OS requirements as iOS 9.0 or later for Mac6. Power comes through a 9 V center negative input with a 250 mA minimum draw, so the pedal needs a proper power supply rather than a battery2.
History and versions: the smallest Plethora
The X1 followed the PLETHORA X5 and PLETHORA X3 as the smallest of the trio3. It launched in December 2024 and was out immediately7. TC has since updated the concept with the PLETHORA X1 Neo, which carries the MASH function on its footswitch1.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's Chris Gill found the enclosure sturdy and roadworthy, with a high-quality no-click footswitch, and summed up the value2:
"If you're on a budget but want to explore a full variety of high-quality effects or if you have ever-changing needs for your pedal rig, it offers a great way to get maximum bang for your buck in the effects department."2
Guitar.com's Richard Purvis wrote that "Clarity remains TC's strongest suit" and that "Some of the Uni-Vibe tones are particularly good"4. On MASH reliability, he noted: "Certain parts of the internet are littered with complaints about Mash being unreliable, but all I can say is that I've only had good experiences"4. He did find the toggle switch "mighty cramped, but it works fine"4.
MusicRadar's Connor Flys reported one build niggle: on the review sample, the metal mini-switch for MASH settings was a little loose, not sitting in the chassis perfectly9. Delicious Audio called it "a quality wild card stereo pedal that can be useful in any rig, adapting to many changing circumstances"8.
Videos
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Questions
Is the TC Electronic Plethora X1 true bypass?
It offers switchable true or buffered bypass, but the setting is not on the pedal itself. You can only change it, along with the Kill-dry on/off setting, through the TonePrint Editor app on a computer or mobile device.
How many presets does the Plethora X1 hold?
It has seven on-board preset slots. In A/B mode, two slots pair up so the footswitch toggles between them, which turns the seven slots into as many as fourteen effects you can call up.
Can the Plethora X1 run more than one effect at once?
No. Unlike the larger Plethora X3 and X5, which combine three and five TonePrint effects simultaneously, the X1 loads one TonePrint effect at a time. It is a single-effect version of those multi-effects units.
Does the Plethora X1 work in stereo?
Yes. It has two 1/4-inch inputs and two 1/4-inch outputs on side-mounted stereo jacks, so it runs as a stereo pedal in a rig that supports it.
What app do you use to load TonePrints on the Plethora X1?
The TonePrint app. You connect to the pedal over Bluetooth using the recessed Connect switch, or use the USB-C jack for firmware updates and desktop editing. The app requires iOS 9.0 or later, or Android 6.0 or later.
Sources (9)
- PLETHORA X1 NEO, TC Electronic
- TC Electronic Plethora X1 TonePrint Loader review, Guitar World, 2025-02-04
- TC Electronic PLETHORA X1: TonePrint Stompbox With 14 Legendary Guitar Effects & MASH Footswitch, gearnews.com, 2024-12-10
- TC Electronic Plethora X1 review, Guitar.com, 2025-02-17
- TC Electronic's Plethora X1 takes on the Line 6 HX One, Guitar World, 2024-12-10
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-11
- “The one pedal that will stand by your side throughout your eternal pedalboard journey, adapting into exactly what you need”: TC Electronic launches the Plethora X1 “TonePrint loader”, MusicRadar, 2024-12-12
- TC Electronic Plethora X1 Stereo TonePrint Loader, Delicious Audio, 2025-02-17
- "Once set up to taste, its utility is astounding": TC Electronic Plethora X1 review, MusicRadar, 2025-03-27
Andy Summers
