PlexiTone
- Complete British gain platform with Crunch, High Gain, and independent clean Boost channels.
- Crunch channel delivers everything from edge-of-breakup to classic hard-rock drive with dynamic response.
- High Gain channel provides saturated lead tones with thick gain, smooth highs, and tight low end.
- Clean Boost offers up to 20 dB of headroom for lifting solos or pushing gain stages further.
- Designed to feel like a natural extension of your amp, preserving clarity, dynamics, and your guitar’s character.
All about Carl Martin PlexiTone
Our complete British gain platform – from edge-of-breakup to full meltdown
When we designed PlexiTone, we weren’t trying to create just another overdrive pedal. Our goal was to build a complete gain platform that behaves like a real British tube amp being pushed harder and harder – without losing clarity, low end or dynamics along the way.
At the heart of PlexiTone is a three-stage design: a Crunch channel, a High Gain channel and an independent clean Boost delivering up to 20 dB of headroom. Each section was designed to complement the others, not compete with them. We wanted every gain stage to feel natural, musical and responsive, whether used on its own or stacked together.
The Crunch channel takes us from subtle breakup to classic hard-rock drive. It’s open, punchy and dynamic, reacting directly to picking strength and guitar volume. Push it further and it delivers the familiar authority and midrange character we associate with late-70s and early-80s British amps.
Engaging the High Gain channel moves PlexiTone into saturated lead territory. Here, we focused on keeping the gain thick and powerful without sacrificing note separation. Even at extreme settings, the low end stays intact, the highs remain smooth, and the sound never collapses into unfocused distortion.
On top of that, the clean Boost allows us to lift solos, tighten the front end of an amp or push the gain stages even further. With up to 20 dB on tap, it gives PlexiTone the flexibility to adapt to different amps, guitars and playing situations.
What matters most to us is how PlexiTone holds together across all gain levels. We designed it to feel like an extension of your amp – not a layer placed on top of it. The character of your guitar remains intact, the response stays natural, and the tone always feels controlled and intentional.
To us, PlexiTone represents what Carl Martin Pro-Series pedals are all about: powerful analog circuits, real-world usability and a sound that stays inspiring long after the honeymoon period is over.
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FAQ
Quick answers about this pedal — shipping, power, use-cases and more.
What is the Carl Martin PlexiTone pedal?
The PlexiTone is Carl Martin’s flagship distortion/overdrive designed to emulate a vintage Marshall Plexi amp tone. It’s a high-gain, three-channel overdrive: it has a Crunch channel (medium gain), a High-Gain channel (lead levels of gain), and a 20dB Clean Boost channel. Essentially, it’s like putting a classic Marshall amp’s two drive channels plus a boost into one pedal. It’s known for delivering authentic “Marshall stack” tone, from AC/DC-esque crunch to 80’s hero lead sounds.
How do the three “channels” or switches work on the big PlexiTone?
The PlexiTone (original version) has three footswitches: one engages/bypasses the pedal, one toggles between Crunch and High Gain modes, and one activates the Boost. In practice, you’d kick the rightmost footswitch to turn the pedal on (that gives you Crunch channel by default), then you can hit the middle footswitch to go into High Gain mode (only works if the pedal is on). The leftmost footswitch is the Clean Boost, which can function independently – you can use that boost whether the drive is on or off. One important detail: the High Gain switch doesn’t do anything unless the Crunch channel (pedal) is active – effectively, Crunch and High Gain share the same Tone and Level knobs, and you “step up” to High Gain by engaging that middle switch. The Boost is post-drive and can be used by itself to boost your clean tone or stacked to boost the Crunch/High channels for solos.
What tones can I get from the PlexiTone?
The PlexiTone covers a wide range of classic rock and hard rock territory. The Crunch channel goes from a light, edgy overdrive up to a raunchy hard rock rhythm crunch – very much like a cranked non-master-volume Marshall at lower gain settings. The High Gain channel adds even more saturation and low-end for singing leads and heavier riffs (think 80’s “Brown sound” levels of gain). Despite the high gain on tap, the tone remains focused and Marshall-like – it’s got that warm yet biting quality with plenty of low-end thump. Stacking the Clean Boost can push it into even more sustain or simply make your lead lines louder. Reviews (and even Greg Howe) have noted it can do everything from subtle boost to tight crunch to massive, saturated gain, all while retaining clarity. So if you’re chasing classic Plexi/JCM800 tones in a pedal, the PlexiTone delivers in spades.
Does the PlexiTone have an internal power supply? How do I power it?
The older large PlexiTone was unique – the first versions had an internal mains power transformer (you’d plug it directly into AC). However, the current PlexiTone Version 2 uses an external 9V DC supply and an internal DC-DC converter. In either case, you cannot use a battery with the PlexiTone. On the updated V2, you feed it 9V DC (regulated) at ~80 mA min, and it internally generates ±12V rails for extra headroom. Always double-check your unit: if it has an AC mains plug, use that; if it has a DC jack, use a proper 9V adapter. The manual explicitly says not to try to run it on battery and to use only DC power supply if it’s the newer version.
How loud is the Clean Boost on the PlexiTone and can I use it alone?
The Clean Boost channel on the PlexiTone offers up to +20 dB of boost. It’s fairly substantial – enough to slam the front of any tube amp into natural overdrive or to make your solos stand out in the mix. And yes, it can absolutely be used by itself. One nice thing is that the Boost switch is independent: if the pedal is bypassed but you hit the Boost footswitch, it will activate just the boost (so the pedal basically becomes a clean booster). This is great for those who want to leave the PlexiTone on their board as both their overdrive/distortion and also as an occasional boost for other uses. The boost is transparent (doesn’t add grit on its own, just volume and a bit of sparkle), and you can use it with or without the drive channels engaged.
The PlexiTone is pretty large – is there a smaller alternative?
Carl Martin recognized that the big PlexiTone is a pedalboard space hog (though a worthy one!). They released the PlexiTone Single Channel and a Lo-Gain PlexiTone, which are in smaller enclosures. The Single PlexiTone captures the High Gain channel of the big PlexiTone in a compact pedal, and the PlexiTone Lo-Gain is a version tuned for lower gain range. Neither of those have the built-in boost or dual channels – but they are great if you want that core PlexiTone sound in a smaller footprint. So if space is a concern, look at those. Otherwise, many still swear by the big PlexiTone for its all-in-one functionality and slightly different voicing due to the higher internal voltage and big circuitry.
