IK Multimedia TONEX ONE Brown Sound Limited Edition Yellow Pedal

The TONEX ONE Brown Sound Yellow is a limited edition version of IK Multimedia’s tiny amp modelling pedal, finished in yellow and set up from the box for one job: the classic Brown Sound, the thick, singing high-gain rock tone first recorded at Sunset Sound Studios in 1978. It is aimed at guitarists who want that era of hard rock tone without hunting for vintage amps, and at TONEX fans who want a standout colour on the pedalboard.

Three colours, the same Brown Sound

IK released the Brown Sound edition in three limited colours: yellow, white and red. All three run the same hardware and come with the same tone content, so the choice is about how the pedal looks on your board. Like every TONEX ONE, it is made in Italy.

Inside the Brown Sound collections

The tones come from three Brown Sound Signature Collections that IK built with Jim Gaustad, a specialist in recreating this sound. Each collection holds 50 Tone Models and follows the tone through a different stretch of a six-album run: 78/79, 80/81 and 82/84.

• On the pedal: 20 ready-to-play presets that draw on all three collections, some already paired with built-in effects.
• After registration: the complete 78/79 collection, plus your pick of 80/81 or 82/84.
• Beyond the Brown Sound: any preset can be swapped for other Tone Models from the TONEX software or the ToneNET sharing library.

How it plays

TONEX AI Machine Modeling recreates the response of real amps, cabinets and pedals, so the presets react to your pick attack and guitar volume knob the way a cranked amp does. Three micro knobs handle bass, mid and treble, and also set the noise gate, compressor and reverb through the ALT button. A larger VOL/GAIN knob sits in the centre. Delay and modulation, a built-in tuner and a cabinet section with IK’s VIR cabinets and an IR loader round out the sound.

The single footswitch works two ways. Stomp mode switches one preset on and off. Dual mode flips between two presets, which suits a crunch rhythm tone and a lead boost. The pedal stores 20 presets with three playable slots, and the knob LEDs can be set to different colours.

Practice, gigs and recording

The 1/4″ input takes your guitar, and the 1/4″ TRS output feeds an amp, a PA, an FRFR speaker or headphones, in mono or stereo. Over USB-C the pedal becomes a 24-bit/44.1 kHz audio interface, so you can track guitar parts straight into your DAW. See our audio interfaces if you need more inputs. On a pedalboard it takes a standard 9 V DC centre-negative supply, which is sold separately; from a computer it can run on USB-C power.

• Silent practice: plug headphones into the output and play the full Brown Sound at any hour.
• Front of an amp: turn the cab section off so your amp’s speaker does that job.
• Straight to the desk: keep the cab on when going into a PA or recording.

Who should buy the yellow edition?

It suits rock players chasing late-70s and early-80s high-gain tone, collectors of limited TONEX editions, and anyone who wants a small pedal that covers amp, cabinet, effects and recording at once. If you need Bluetooth editing from a phone or MIDI control, look at the TONEX ONE+ instead. If you want several footswitches for hands-free changes, a larger floor unit will suit you better. Browse our guitar effects pedals and guitar amplification ranges for other options.

Key Features

• Limited edition yellow finish, made in Italy
• 20 presets from all three Brown Sound collections
• Unlocks Brown Sound 78/79 plus 80/81 or 82/84 (50 Tone Models each)
• TONEX AI Machine Modeling of amps, cabinets and pedals
• Noise gate, compressor, 3-band EQ, reverb, delay, modulation and tuner
• VIR cabinets, IR loader and cab bypass
• Stomp and Dual footswitch modes
• Customisable LED colours
• 1/4″ TRS stereo/mono output, headphone ready
• USB-C audio interface, 24-bit/44.1 kHz
• TONEX SE and AmpliTube 5 SE software included

Questions about the TONEX ONE Brown Sound Yellow

Does the yellow pedal sound different from the white or red ones?

No. All three colours use the same hardware and come with the same 20 Brown Sound presets and collection unlocks. Only the finish changes.

How many Brown Sound Tone Models do I get?

You get the full 78/79 collection and one more collection of your choice, 80/81 or 82/84. Each holds 50 Tone Models, so 100 in total, plus the 20 presets already on the pedal.

Am I limited to the Brown Sound tones?

No. It is a standard TONEX ONE underneath, so you can load any TONEX Tone Model in place of the Brown Sound presets.

Can I use it for bass?

Yes. TONEX ONE pedals work with bass as well as guitar.

What do I need to power it?

A 9 V DC centre-negative pedal supply, which is not included, or USB-C power from a computer.

Can I record with it?

Yes. Connect it to your computer over USB-C and it works as an audio interface for recording guitar directly.