I will be buying the MXR when it's out, been waiting a while for it. It's so close (to my ears) and for my unprofessional playing, it'll be more than enough goodness!
Something to remember is that no matter the brand/quality, there is a good amount of variance between potentiometers. So, just setting two of them to the same place visually in no way means that their impact on the circuit is the same. They always have to be adjusted by ear. That would apply to the volume, gain, and tone knobs and the treble pot inside. For what it's worth, in Analog Mike's own video, he gets his dialed in to sound basically exactly like his KoT. Cheers!
It killed me in the video when he talked about opening up the pedal and setting the trims to the exact same position and he made a comment that not making the settings identical ruins the point of the shootout. Lol, setting them visually the same ruins the point of a shootout.
Me too! Slightly low mids without getting muddy. That said, I think if one were to adjust the setting with their ears and not their eyes, both pedals could achieve the exact same result.
The Duke of Tone is based on the Prince of Tone, not the King of Tone. I always thought the magic of the King of Tone was in using both sides and stacking them.
I love that Analogman was willing to collaborate with MXR to make these. I would love a King of Tone but can't justify spending the money for it and suffering the current 4+ year wait. 75% of the original's tone and a couple of weeks of waiting is pretty great.
I'd love to see these videos done as blind comparisons, I guarantee most commenting that the MXR pedal is "missing something" would have a difficult time telling them apart or possibly prefer the MXR in some situations.
The differences are really small and way more relevant to the player (if it's a picky one like me) than to the listener. 😅 Equally great pedals these two with a slightly different feel.
Good points made here. That's snob appeal of the cork sniffers. 99.9% of the people in the world would never be able to tell the difference, and even less with a full band together.
Lol even 2 same pedals under the same maker and same components would still sound technically different because of parts tolerances. Helllooo we can recreate mobile phones relatively consistently. I don't see how that isn't possible with effects pedals that have 50's technology.
I agree. People "Hear with their Eyes" thats Why: I prefer the Blind Sound Comparisons so you get a True assessment and make an Unbiased choice . . . " Facts "
Wooo did you double track the intro? Let me guess, it's the double track feature of the captor!? Sounds amazing. Oh and I decided to sell my KoT. After all the myth, hype, waiting and tears. The hype is suddenly gone and I like other BB style pedals more. Especially the JHS MG, the Snouse BB and the Timmy (from MXR). My go to sound will always be Klone into one of those. That's my conclusion after 10 years playing guitar.
Hey man, I double tracked the intro song. One take (the one I filmed) on the left side and another one for the right side of the mix. Yeah, you know how it is, the King of Tone is an amazing pedal but it's not perfect for everyone. Same as every other overdrive, it has to click with the player. Those other pedals are super cool too so I get it. Such luck we all have different tastes. Imagine everyone liking the exact same gear and sounding the same. That'd be boring af. 😆
Even 2 same pedals under the same maker and same components would still sound technically different because of parts tolerances. Do not copy the same knob position EVEN if they technically have the same circuitry.
Great point about how the pedals will sound in a mix. Most guitarists either no longer play in bands or never have and never will, and that's ok (guitar is fun!). The minor details that guitarists like to argue over are completely irrelevant when playing live. In my experience of playing live (from the mid 90s to last year) the sound guy and the venue's acoustics have much more influence on our tone than anything on our boards, and a lot of the frequencies we love at home have to be dialed out in order to properly sit in a mix anyway. Plus, the audience will never ever know or care about our gear, they just want the band to sound good. :)
My experience, also. In the context of a loud band in a bar, the subtleties go right out the window; a crowd of drunks neither hears nor cares. I had the most amazing technology, the Line6 Variax, able to swap guitars, dobros, banjos, six and twelve string, electric sitar and even alternate tunings at the twirl of a knob and nobody even noticed. They care even less about a pedal they can't even see, and don't know it's there.
Totally agree. Not to annoy bedroom people too much, but a performing musician - you aren't looking for some mystical sense of legendary tone. As stated above, need to have your instrument eq-ed to a spot in the mix where it won't get lost among a loud drum kit and some other loud instruments, and then you need something that helps you cut through for solos or single line work. No one can tell a price of tone or a duke of tone or a king of clone, etc. There's no way. Also the thing about the pots everyone is going to say.
Both tones are great! Every pedal can fit the sound of a song that it's supposed to fit. I use my POT in like every wrong "typical way" for a couple songs during my bands sets. I use it for that nice standard over drive sound for like one song. But where I found it sounds best for MY BAND is funny enough in the distortion setting. Volume and gain at like 3 o'clock. I have my Union over drive now that I use for my always on warm over drive. But yea so, you don't need to listen to trends to use a pedal for your tone lol
I think its crazy (not surprising though) that according to my Sweetwater sales rep that the preorders are just about sold out and they wont see a next wave until sometime 2023. Idk how it is with other stores that offer a preorder around the world, but its just crazy to me that there is so much demand for the KoT, PoT, DoT that even the intended mass produced version is still getting back ordered and it hasnt even released yet.
Your video's are some of the best I've watched on RU-vid! Your methods are well thought out making comparisons realistic. Very well done. Yes, the King of Tone has something extra that makes it superior. But the Mxr surprised me how capable it is.
I've been on the waiting list for a KOT for almost 3.5 years. I will continue to hold out. However, it is very cool that MXR is doing a prince version.
Great shootout! I already have the PoT, and I am on the list for the KoT (still a few years to wait for it though), so I think I'll skip the DoT. Although having the DoT next to the PoT on my board could be a bit like already having the KoT? Would it? I do have to remember your gold version KoT. When it's my turn finally, I might get it with that finish as well. Would be nice on my board next to the Keeley Super Phat Mod and the Wampler Tumnus to form a golden gain triumvirate...
Ohh dude, a golden pedal trio that is. 🙌 Yeah go for it! I’d skip the DoT in your place if you don’t want to stack the sides. But if you’re into that, the DoT PoT combo would be a really cool „kinda KoT“.
Screw it all. KoT and PoT have their mojo. Period. Grab the MXR, feel it and go ahead spend more money if the sound is really what you want and you have the greens to make it. Great video as always!
I could be wrong here....but....whenever you'd play the Duke you seemed to dig into the notes a little bit more. They both sound fantastic and of course your playing is superb. For impatient tone seekers the MXR would probably be way more available, but, is it as desirable? Hmmm.... Well once again thanks brother for sharing your talents with us all. Laundry time....!
Kris - You also need a pretty good amp + guitar + cables + all high end you enjoy at your place (including yourself) to qualify for the difference YOU hear... Nice demo.
The KOT and the DOT sound just like so many other OD pedals. No guitarist would spot any difference in a blind test. Buy the cheapest OD pedal you can find (a piece of advice no gear shop will tell you of course!).
I would like to see a comparison of the Duke of Tone to the Prince of Tone. I’ve always thought that the KOT and POT had some differences in sound and response. Curious to see how the DOT and POT compare side by side
Hey, yeah sure, I started testing them different treble knob (internal) and tone knob settings to find the closest one. Then I turned on the camera and started playing the comparisons. Cheers!
It's funny how this pedal (KOT) is so coveted but what it's designed to do is just make you sound exactly the same but with more gain in environments where you can't turn the amp up to achieve the same... It's like you have to pay $1000 or wait ten years just to get rid of the mid hump in a tube screamer. Just put an eq after it and cut the mids a bit 😂 or get a variant with a mid control. It's a great pedal but geez the hype is irrational.
No-brainer. $150 now, vs a many-year wait and God-knows what mega-price? For 99% identical tone? You'd have to be crazy, or a millionaire (that also expects to live forever and can afford to wait years) to not make the obvious choice...
I traded a friend for one and a used Tanabe Custom Twin pedal. The Tanabe is glorious, the Duke is not, I sold it and bought a GupTech Angel Choui instead.
If I was really pressed to choose based on these samples, the KOT is the winner for it's slightly clearer attack in a few of the samples. I think the Duke of Tone is going to be very popular because it's still a very versatile Bluesbreaker-style pedal with 3 clipping options. Now we just need the Earl of Tone by Tone City pedals. 😀 Thanks for the demo.
There's also a company called DemonFX that makes a pretty accurate replica, with the graphics and everything for WAY less money. Will have to look into that as well.
I just reserved my spot for one of these at Zzounds. I’m very excited to finally be able to have a pedal that Analogman made or had something to do with. I’m sure me and my telecaster or going to love it. Can’t wait to get one. Obviously the KOT is the Grandfather of them all and is the King for a reason but I’m so happy they have finally catered to the poor man guitarist. Making this circuit available to the average bedroom player at an affordable price is a godsend. Kudos to MXR and Analogman.
The major difference I see is that you can't run the distortion side and overdrive side at the same time on the Duke. Not sure if anybody would want to do that... However, you could just have two with one on distortion and one on overdrive. rofl.
It sounds good to me! I have a prince of tone and just recently had my king of tone arrive after 4.6 years of waiting. I’m kind of curious to pick on of these up for the hat trick of all three, 😂
I watched a demo of it on REVV's Gear & Beer; they demoed about a dozen pedals, and the Duke of Tone was the worst. It didn't hold up to a Blues Breaker reissue or the REVV Chat Breaker. REVV's AI-designed pedal has a bit of Klon & Blues-Breaker, making it the best choice for us small pedal board users, but the Blues Breaker is better than the King & Duke of Tone...
Haha, I’ve seen that video too. There’s one important factor to keep in mind. Your taste, playing style, rig and the way you set up your rig decides what works best for you. I love the Revv guys, I have a 2-3 hour long call with Derek every other month to talk about life, guitars, family and everything, I consider him and Dan friends. But that doesn’t stop me from disagreeing in this, haha! I just bought myself a Blues Breaker reissue and I love it. That being said, I don’t know if I will use it much because every time I shoot it out against my KoT or the Toxic Twins, those two „win“. Every single time. As told, it all comes down to how you play, what rig you play and how you set that rig up. My top 3 BB style pedals are Toxic Twins, KoT and the Chat Breaker. I’ll just keep the BB reissue around because it’s a legend. 💛🤷♂️
Really good comparison demo! The Duke sounds extremely close. I currently have the Prince and King (borrowed) on my board. The Prince in Boost mode with the gain all the way up imparts a rounder OD with some clarity. I haven’t gotten the King to do that.
When I compare these replacement pedals, my settings are always 1:1…I make sure the settings match to see if “it’s” the thing it’s supposed to be. Your first example were two completely different settings…like you were trying to match a “sound” from one pedal to another completely different pedal. That ain’t 1:1. You should actually try 1:1, because your examples show an obvious difference in the pedals…a non-selling point…but it’s because didn’t set them the same to give a 1:1 perspective.
Far be it from me to suggest comparisons are a waste of time. One little thing which requires a tiny bit of reading, impedance in and out. It boggles the mind that guitarists after all this time do not seem to understand impedance, bandwidth and headroom. A simple check of specs makes the KoT pedals having 1M ohm input and a lower output depending on bypass or buffered option circuit. One would have be completely stupid to imagine something like an MXR 450k in and 10k out would be similar to an original Kot no matter Prince or King. MXR stuff has terrible headroom and impedance, w the exception of the EVH Phaser. I would imagine the MXR Timmy suffers the same fate. They cannot compare unless of course ones ears are as bad as the brain they are wired to. lol This is why you are hearing a difference Chris, the MXR versions are no where near the level of the KoT stuff.
Not all MXR pedals have junk input and output impedance. My MXR M300 Reverb is perfect at 1M input and 100 ohm’s output. Great end of chain pedal to drive a good strong signal back to the amplifier. Even though I hated the buffer in the MXR analog chorus, that was years ago and they’ve improved since then no doubt. The enclosures are tough and they are road worthy pedals to boot so I guess we have to agree to disagree on this one. Glad we both get to have an opinion and we’re both right in our own minds. Take care ✌🏻
MXR pedals are extremely low quality with a classic brand name just slapped on the enclosure. I don’t know where they are getting their stuff made now but the QC is out the window.
I have to disagree with you. The MXR M300 series pedals are very good. The M300 Reverb the M305 Tremolo and the M306 Poly Blue Octave are excellent pedals for the money. But one man’s treasure is another man’s garbage. It’s great that we all get to have an opinion, would be a boring world otherwise. Enjoy the music 🎼 ✌🏻
Great comparison, thank you for doing it. I agree with your findings as the demo points out. I'm on the list and waiting for delivery of the Duke. I hope there won't be a list for that one.
For me personally, the small size is an issue. Same with the Timmy. I would like both and I do like how both of them sound, but I don't like these tiny pedals with tiny knobs. Somehow they never seem to sit on my pedalboard very sturdy. If they would make them in their normal MXR size, I would get both of them though. Thanks for the nice demo!
I compared the Prince Of Tone to the Roadrunner from Echoline and I found more usable sounds for me in the Roadrunner..... which is great because I have one and don't need to buy one of these and can get the MXR Timmy instead 😀
I think u shud try dialing it more, try to make the duke sound like the king. Because the pot value must be not the same. Ive been try it on 2 greer amps light speed vintage vs new. And the difference is big. The pot value and the sound were different too. Only the characteristic were the same.
90% of the this video and others is just comparing the pedal to another pedal but never thinking about whether the tone is good in a mix or creates a texture you'd want in a song. If you do a VS comparison and want one pedal to win over the other just turn it ip a couple of Db louder and instantly it's "more 3D".
Let Guthrie Govan play thru a Duke, and have "Anyone Else" play thru the King - and tell me which one sounds better? - too many people "Drinking the Kool-Aid" - Listen with your Ears . . . Not your Eyes !!! " Facts "
I disagree that your visual pot setting on both pedals ensures that you have the *same* effect on both pedals. Pots have tolerances, just like all the other parts in a pedal. You should do it by ear, not by sight.
I found the biggest issue on the new MXR Duke of Tone is the internal treble trim pot. It should be labeled as presence not treble and it appears to work as a hi-cut so when turned all the way up the presence is not adding too much brightness. It should ship that way! I love the boost and dist modes but not the OD. Sounds like clean and dirty tone are separated
I find it totally mind blowing how a buck fifty pedal isn't 100% the exact same 500 dollar Version. Boo Hoo & get over it. Definitely buying a couple of these & the MXR CS Timmy. I use a 30 dollar Klon Clone also. Yep-A-Roo I've got 1 of those too. My G.A.S. Pedal has no Limitations!!!😎
3:16 : cant agree more. Pedalmakers stop using that claim. Its dumb. Like „NEW FORMULA!“ every year on the same ol detergent. It makes me not want to buy your pedal. I can tell the differences and characteristics of my LP, Strat, 335 and tele even through my junky old Dano FRenchtoast octave fuzz!!! It even reacts differently to various pickup types preserving their idiosynchracies. Imagine that. Does it qualify now as atransparent overdrive? Given, in extreme settings past 12 everything is fart on that pedal.
...from your demo...the distortion setting on the MXR seems noticeably thinner than the KOT. The OD on the MXR sounds good but slightly lower in clarity than the KOT -- in the end, the MXR is impressive at $149 and for many gigging players it could work well...IMHO... BTW - great demo, examples and explanation.. well done:)
Over RU-vid, playing back through my M-AUDIO BX5 monitors (nothing special, but pretty good), I mostly couldn't hear a difference between the KOT and the MXR DOT. The lasy few playing examples might have shown the DOT to be a little bit brighter. But to your point, in the mix, noone would hear the differences. The MXR seems like a no-brainer if you are in the market for a Blues Breaker / Prince of Tone / King of Tone - tiny, the designer gets a cut (ie: an authorized copy), and it sounds great.
Duke sounds a HAIR brighter than the KOT, but then again, I used to have a POT and recall the same thing about the POT vs. KOT. But for the price and size, it's so darn close that I couldn't every see paying for a KOT when you can get the Duke. Nice job on the demo!
Yes, unfortunately since the DoT is based on the PoT, and the PoT sounds different than the KoT, this video isn't really relative. They both sound good though and your video quality is great.
great comparison and i liked stuff on one pedal and other things on the other and i can't remember which ones at this point lol but i must say the thing i like the most is your subliminal sign on the left!
can i say the mxr, to me, sounds a touch brighter, more open, clearer, and more dynamic in most examples i've heard here and other videos. giving a good cut in a mix. just a touch though, the king sounds great. however, i would buy the MXR, and may do for myself.
It’s my understanding that the Duke of Tone was made in collaboration with Analog Mike, so it’s his circuit backed by a large distribution network. I don’t see a problem with that at all especially if it can be affordably made.
Analog Mike in the official video is careful to say the pedals are "pretty much the same". Not surprising that theres a slight tonal difference when you are sourcing parts in order to make thousands, not dozens of devices.
GREAT Duke of Tone shootout Kris. Thanks a lot. Did you ever do a ´King of Blues´ V2 Overdrive (Tone City) shootout? Would be great if you could share your highly skilled listening experience. In case you tested against KOT or DOT would be great to hear about the outcome of that. Concerning your perception of the ´clearness´or ´clarity´ of the KOT sound I just want to subscribe: it´s not been reached by any other device (to my opinion). The way Mike Piera tests and chooses his diodes and components to be used in KOT is really unique. I do think you can hear it anytime unless you do have a live-equip that kills that ´clarity´. To be fair, a skilled ear (listening capability) is what helps a lot in immediately getting the width and feel of that clarity. THANKS for SHARING the KING OF BLUES shootout (in case you did it).
just saw you already did the comparison ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qZcA7jb-eCY.html Thanks Kris. I feel we are talking the same language in terms of perceiving sounds. Great shootout.
@@elchelch11 I just finished searching for that same link for you but you were faster, haha! Yeah I did that comparison too and it was really interesting. Glad you enjoyed the videos. Cheers!
I just got on the waiting list recently and was wondering if I'd bother paying the price for a KoT. To put the price in perspective, I just bought a Marshall origin 20 head for not much more than the KoT, but I did get a really good deal on the Marshall, and I've got 5 years before I'll need to bother with buying it. ✌️🇦🇺
I really enjoyed this video. At one point during one of your leads you turned on a pedal that did harmony or a doubling effect. Can you tell me what that pedal is? That Revv amp is awesome also. Thanks
It's worth mentioning that the Duke and Prince of tone are based on one side of the KOT with the high gain mod. Analog Mike mentioned that in an interview in another video
I have a KoT but ordered the MXR version anyway - with this long of a waitlist I prefer taking the DoT out gigging (then I don’t need to worry about the KoT)
I’m on the list. In the meantime I have a Prince and a Duke side by side on my board. Once I get the King, I might keep the other two, so the King doesn’t get stolen at a bar gig.
Great comparison, I think the King has a bit of extra magic but it should to keep that allure and legendary status. The Duke is a killer option at $150.
Does it though? In a non-blind comparison like this video, I am also tempted to think the KoT has some "extra magic." However I've watched a few blind A/B comparisons and in both cases, I preferred the DoT when I didn't know what was what!
There's no "allure" or "legendary" status. It's the same 50's technology. We live in an era where we can replicate more complex tech like computers consistently. What you hear is the parts tolerances, where, even the same manufacturer, with the same components can produce 10 pedals in a row, and will find minor differences between them.
For 150 bucks I’d have ordered already. Alas here in Europe it’s €220! The mxr Timmy is just €159 here, so maybe it’ll come down, but I’m not holding my breath. I got my KOT exactly a year ago and with shipping, VAT and duties it was still only about €315, expensive but not that much more than this mxr, certainly far less than the price of two mxr dukes
