IK Multimedia releases the Royal 45 Legends Signature Collection for TONEX, a premium collection of Tone Models and presets that capture the sound of three museum-grade mid-‘60s British 45-watt amplifiers that helped lay the foundation for classic rock guitar tone.
Created with TONEX V2 AI Machine Modeling™ technology, Royal 45 Legends delivers the unmistakable character of early British tube tone, from edge-of-breakup growl and warm vintage crunch to rich harmonic bloom and expressive touch sensitivity. More than vintage gear, this collection captures the feel, response, and musicality that made these amplifiers legendary.
For a limited time, all registered owners of IK’s TONEX ONE+ pedal, both existing and new, will receive the Royal 45 Legends Collection for free.
Three Legendary British 45-Watt Amplifiers
At the heart of Royal 45 Legends are three exceptionally rare vintage heads from IK’s private vault, each with its own sonic personality and historical significance.
The first is a 1964 White Tolex amplifier, one of fewer than eight ever produced, originally built for Brian Poole of Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. Exceptionally touch-sensitive and harmonically rich, it delivers an open, dynamic feel that responds beautifully to picking attack and changes in guitar volume.
Next is an early 1964 White Panel model featuring rare components and extraordinary dynamic sensitivity. Known for its articulate response and harmonic complexity, it captures the lively, expressive character that defined early British blues-rock recordings.
Completing the collection is a 1965 transition-era model equipped with KT66 tubes and RS transformers, delivering a warmer, smoother voice with thick harmonic depth and a more rounded overdrive character.
Captured from History
These amplifiers are more than rare; they mark a defining moment in electric guitar tone. Two come from the legendary Capitol Records collection in Los Angeles, while the third comes from one of Europe’s most respected vintage Marshall collections.
Together, they preserve the sounds that helped shape British blues rock and laid the groundwork for generations of classic rock recordings.
Authentic Speaker Pairings
Every Tone Model was captured using period-correct cabinets loaded with Celestion G12M25 Greenbacks and early-‘60s Celestion G12 Alnico speakers. Multiple configurations were used, including Greenbacks, Alnico, and mixed setups, allowing players to explore a wide range of vintage textures, from tighter punch to a softer, more open response.
Studio-Grade Capture Chain
Each amplifier was captured with a premium multi-microphone setup featuring SM57, MD421, U67, U87, and R121 microphones. This approach preserves the depth, warmth, and realism of the original amplifiers while delivering tones that sit naturally in a mix.
50 Tone Models, Complete Rigs Included
Royal 45 Legends includes 50 Tone Models designed for both studio and stage workflows, featuring amp-only captures, full amp-and-cab rigs, and selected models enhanced with classic stompboxes to expand the tonal range.
With Preset Sharing now integrated into the TONEX ecosystem, users can also experience these tones as complete presets with effects, routing, and settings working together as intended.
Signature Sound
Royal 45 Legends captures as much the feel as the tone of these early 45-style designs. Its lower-wattage architecture delivers natural sag, soft compression, and a touch-sensitive response that remains expressive and musical across a wide range of gain settings.
Lower-gain tones stay bright, open, and articulate, while driving the amps harder yields smooth harmonic saturation and warm vintage overdrive with unmistakable British character.
Pricing and Availability
The Royal 45 Legends Signature Collection is available via ToneNET and all versions of TONEX for Mac/PC for $/€99.99* ($/€79.99 introductory price), and from authorized IK dealers worldwide and the IK Multimedia online store.
For a limited time, Royal 45 Legends will also be included at no cost for all TONEX ONE+ users, the new ultra-compact TONEX pedal featuring full MIDI integration, wireless editing, and studio-quality effects, including both existing registered users and new purchasers.
*Pricing excluding taxes.
For complete details and to hear the tones, please visit:
www.ikmultimedia.com/tonex-royal45