The VS Audio Royal Flush+ is a dual overdrive pedal that puts two classic drive voicings in one box: a low-gain TS808-style side and a mid-gain Bluesbreaker-style side. Each side carries its own Volume, Gain, Tone and Edge switch, plus a footswitch, so the two can be used on their own or stacked into a single pushed-amp sound1. Guitar Pedal X classifies it as a Dual-Drive Overdrive1.
The original Royal Flush came out in 2016, and Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it as a very well-received device that gives players "two separate sonic palettes that can be used separately or together to achieve a wide spectrum of overdriven, amp-like tones"2. The + edition arrived in March 2025 as an update to that design1.
The two sides: a TS808 and a Bluesbreaker
The Royal Flush+ is built around two of the most familiar overdrive circuits in pedal history. Guitar Pedal X describes the layout as "the low gain TS808 side and mid gain BB side," each providing Volume, Gain, Tone, an Edge switch for more gain or overdrive, and a footswitch1.
The TS808 side draws on the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer, a pedal Maxon describes as known for its incredible warmth and organic, tube-like quality, which became the go-to amp-pushing pedal for countless guitarists3. The Bluesbreaker side references the other half of the pairing, a mid-gain overdrive voicing that sits above the Tube Screamer's low-gain character1.
| Side | Gain character | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| TS808 side | Low gain | Volume, Gain, Tone, Edge switch, footswitch1 |
| Bluesbreaker side | Mid gain | Volume, Gain, Tone, Edge switch, footswitch1 |
Stacking the two is part of the design. On the original Royal Flush, De Gregorio wrote: "When both channels are on, you can get the more aggressive sound of a cranked tube amp with extra sustain."2
Power, switching and the Plus edition upgrades
The pedal runs on a 9 to 18V DC supply and draws 100mA. Guitar Pedal X notes the 9 to 18V operation is there "for maximum headroom," so players who want more clean headroom can run it above the lowest setting1. At 100mA it needs its own supply slot rather than a low-current shared output.
The Royal Flush+ draws 100mA and accepts up to 18V DC. A power supply output rated well below that current is not a suitable source.
The Plus edition's changes over the 2016 original are practical ones: separate 1/4-inch inputs and outputs for each channel, the Edge switches, the JFET-input audio opamp, and upgraded components, all in a compact stainless steel enclosure with true bypass and silent relay switching1. Separate ins and outs mean each side can be placed differently in a chain or used with other gear, not only run through a shared jack.
VS Audio has built out this formula with an updated version. The Royal Flush+ is a variant of the Royal Flush that keeps the dual-drive layout, pairing a low gain TS808-style side with a mid gain Blues Breaker-style side, each with its own Volume, Gain, Tone and Edge switch plus a footswitch2. It runs full analog audio on a high-performance, low-noise JFET-input audio opamp, in a compact stainless steel enclosure with true bypass and silent relay switching, and it lists at $249 USD (€249 EUR)1.
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Questions
Can the two channels of the Royal Flush+ be stacked?
Yes. The two sides can be used separately or together. On the original Royal Flush, Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio wrote that both channels engaged emulate a more aggressive cranked tube amp sound with tons of sustain, and the + edition keeps that two-channel design while adding separate inputs and outputs for each side.
What is the difference between the Royal Flush and the Royal Flush+?
The Royal Flush+ updates the original 2016 Royal Flush dual overdrive. Guitar Pedal X reports the Plus edition adds separate 1/4-inch inputs and outputs for the two channels, Edge switches for more gain or overdrive on each side, a high-performance low-noise JFET-input audio opamp, and upgraded components, in a compact stainless steel enclosure.
Where is VS Audio based?
VS Audio pedals are designed and hand-built in Athens, Greece, according to Guitar Pedal X's report on the Royal Flush+ launch in March 2025.
Is the VS Audio Royal Flush+ true bypass?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X lists the Royal Flush+ as true bypass with silent relay switching, in a compact stainless steel enclosure.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-03-31
- VS Audio Royal Flush Dual Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2024-02-02
- TAMURA-MOD TS808 Tube Screamer (TS808TM), Godlyke, Inc. (maxonfx.com)
