The ThorpyFX Scarlet Tunic is an analog amp emulator pedal that puts a vintage Selmer Treble and Bass 50 on your pedalboard. ThorpyFX describes it as "a pedal I describe as an Analog amp emulator," built to recreate a rare British amp from the ground up rather than to clone another overdrive circuit1.
The story behind it is unusually specific. Adrian Thorpy was asked by guitarist Lee Harris of Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets to create a pedal that could deliver the vintage amp tones Syd Barrett used in early Pink Floyd music, and the amp in question was the Selmer Treble and Bass 501. MusicRadar called the result a "packaged vintage Selmer Treble 'N' Bass 50 for your pedalboard"2. Beyond the Selmer, ThorpyFX says the circuit was also designed so that "the DR103 and AC30 style tones could be captured successfully," which puts it in reach of Hiwatt and Vox territory as well1.
An analog Selmer amp emulator in a pedal
The Scarlet Tunic is fully analog. Delicious Audio describes it as "an analog pedal that emulates the sound of Barret's amp of choice," which matters if you prefer amp-in-a-box circuits that behave like a real amp's preamp rather than a digital model4. The design brief came directly from a working player: Lee Harris needed those Selmer tones on the Saucerful of Secrets world tour, where the pedal is used1.
The enclosure is unmistakably ThorpyFX. Guitar.com's reviewer found it "a forbidding chunk of heavy metal with the controls protected by perforated side-walls painted in a feature colour," which he notes is more crimson than scarlet5. Guitar World's review credits the build quality as solid3. The current version carries the same sound in a refreshed look1.
The controls
The control set follows the amp it emulates, with a couple of additions. Like the original Selmer, it has a two knob EQ, Treble and Bass, but it adds a Presence control that affects the upper mids and changes the tone's character4. Gearnews notes the same layout: Treble and Bass controls plus Presence working on the upper mid response6.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Master | Sets the overall output level3 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive3 |
| Treble | EQ, as on the original amp46 |
| Bass | EQ, as on the original amp46 |
| Presence | Affects the upper mids response, changing the tone's character46 |
| Bright switch | Changes the brightness of the pedal, like a master highs control4 |
| Deep switch | Voicing toggle, one of two switches that change the pedal's voicing7 |
| Sens switch | Input sensitivity setting3 |
| Bypass footswitch | Engages and bypasses the effect74 |
The Bright and Deep toggles are three way switches that reshape the pedal's voicing, with Bright acting as a master highs control47. ThorpyFX also offers a custom button option with a message and color of your choice when ordering1.
Power and connections
Connections are simple: a standard input and a standard output, so it drops into any pedalboard chain without special cabling3. Power comes from a 9V DC adaptor, which is not supplied, and the pedal draws 30mA13.
No adaptor is included, so plan on a spot on your 9V pedalboard supply. At 30mA it is an easy load for most isolated supplies13.
Internally, the pedal jumps its voltage to 18V and uses an internal transformer, which is how it gets headroom out of a 9V feed3. That internal voltage doubling is a common trick for amp emulator circuits that need to behave like a real amp at higher gain settings.
Where it sits among ThorpyFX pedals
The Scarlet Tunic is one of several amp-emulating drives in the ThorpyFX range. Players comparing it against the company's other circuits can look at the ThorpyFX Electric Lightning, the ThorpyFX Peacekeeper, the ThorpyFX Gunshot, the ThorpyFX Kudu and ThorpyFx THE J, each aimed at a different amp style. For a broader look at the category, see overdrive pedals.
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Questions
What amp is the ThorpyFX Scarlet Tunic based on?
It is based on the vintage Selmer Treble and Bass 50, a rare British amp. ThorpyFX was asked to build a pedal that emulated it, specifically to give a player the vintage amp tones Syd Barrett used in early Pink Floyd music. The circuit also captures DR103 and AC30 style tones.
Is the Scarlet Tunic true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World's review lists true bypass among its features, alongside an internal voltage jump to 18V and an internal transformer. The pedal is built in the UK in a heavy enclosure with controls protected by perforated side walls.
What does the Deep switch do on the Scarlet Tunic?
The Deep switch is one of the pedal's voicing toggles. Alongside the Bright switch, it changes the voicing of the pedal, while Bright on its own acts like a master highs control, changing the overall brightness of the pedal.
How much current does the ThorpyFX Scarlet Tunic draw?
It draws 30mA, according to ThorpyFX's own product page. It runs on a 9V DC adaptor, which is not supplied with the pedal, so you will need to power it from your pedalboard supply.
Sources (7)
- SCARLET TUNIC, thorpyfx.com
- “What I wanted to achieve was the J-20 sound without the reverb and the trem”: Thorpy FX teams up with boutique amp specialist Lazy J to give guitarists premium vintage Tweed tone in a pedal, MusicRadar, 2025-11-05
- ThorpyFX Scarlet Tunic review, Guitar World, 2022-09-22
- ThorpyFX Scarlet Tunic, Delicious Audio, 2022-10-18
- The Big Review: ThorpyFX Scarlet Tunic, Guitar.com, 2022-08-04
- ThorpyFX Scarlet Tunic: Syd Barrett early Pink Floyd tones in a pedal, gearnews.com, 2022-06-07
- ThorpyFX's new Scarlet Tunic is an analogue amp emulator with Syd Barrett's Selmer Treble 'N' Bass 50 up its sleeve, MusicRadar, 2022-06-07
Lee Harris
