IK Multimedia Z-TONE Buffer Boost Preamp & DI Pedal

Retailing in the region of £113.00

On the menu for January 2026 are the IK Multimedia Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the IK Multimedia Guitar Pedals today.


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Description

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On the menu for January 2026 are the IK Multimedia Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the IK Multimedia Guitar Pedals today.

For expanding the capabilities of your pedalboard, take a look at the IK Multimedia Z-Tone pedal, featuring buffer, boost, preamp, and DI functionality. Shape your tone with the preamp, hit the front of your amp/pedals harder with the boost, use the buffer to keep your signal strong on long signal chains, and play straight into a mixer or PA using the additional outputs.

Preamp

The preamp functionality on the Z-Tone pedal provides options for shaping and colouring your tone – controllable via the two mini switches and central control knob. The left switch features "Active" and "Passive" options to use depending on which type of pickups are in your guitar. The Passive option is designed to accommodate all passive pickups from low-output single-coils, to high-output modern humbuckers. The Active option is for active pickups, bypassing unnecessary gain stages for a more direct and transparent signal path. The right switch changes the tonal characteristics of the preamp – "Pure" is a transparent and accurate preamp that won't colour the tone, and "JFET" is a Class A JFET input buffer that provides a warmer tone with more midrange focus and subtle harmonic enhancement.

The central control knob is a variable impedance control – by increasing the impedance you get a sharper, tighter tone, but when you increase the load you get a thicker, bolder sound. You can make noticeable differences to the tone and characteristics of your rig with just a simple turn of the impedance control.

Boost

Sometimes you just need to give your sound a little more oomph, and you can do so with the Boost switch on the Z-Tone pedal. Boost is a useful thing to have in your signal chain, whether you want to push the front of your amp into natural overdrive or need a volume to boost to cut through the mix and launch into a solo, boosts can come in handy. The Z-Tone pedal has adjustable Gain and Boost controls so you choose just how loud and how dirty you want your sound to be when you stomp on that Boost switch.

Buffer

If you're a bit of a pedal enthusiast you might have a large pedalboard with quite a long signal chain. The downside to this is that the impedance of the pedals weaken your signal – and that becomes especially noticeable in a long signal chain. The transparent output buffer in the Z-Tone pedal helps counteract this by keeping your signal strong. And the Z-Tone pedal has true bypass so when you're not using it it won't affect your tone.

Direct Input

The Z-Tone pedal can of course be used as a normal pedal in the chain, but it also has a balanced output for connecting straight to a mixer or PA system. Using the preamp controls and balanced output together means you can forego an amp completely and still get great tone. When you're going straight into the mixer you have the option of powering the pedal via +48v phantom power, otherwise the Z-Tone pedal runs on a standard 9V battery or a 9V power supply (not included).

Specifications

Audio specs

  • I/O Gain: Unitary, from 1/4” input JACK to both 1/4” and XLR outputs when GAIN is at 0dB and Z-TONE at the SHARP position.
  • Gain Range: From -8dB to +8dB
  • Boost range: From 0dB to +10dB
  • Input impedance – Z-TONE set on PASSIVE mode: Variable from 1MΩ down to 2.2kΩ
  • Input impedance – Z-TONE set on ACTIVE mode: Approx 20kΩ
  • Output impedance, unbalanced out: 56Ω
  • Output impedance, balanced out: 600Ω
  • Max input level before clipping: +13dBm when powered by 48V phantom,+9dBm when powered by 9V battery
  • Dynamic Range: better than 114dB(A) for both outputs, input gain at 0dB
  • Total Harmonic Distortion, balanced output, 1kHz, +4dBm input: 0.0033% (PURE), 0.2% (JFET)
  • Total Harmonic Distortion, unbalanced output, 1kHz, +4dBm input: 0.00055% (PURE), 0.2% (JFET)
  • Frequency response: from 5Hz to 30kHz -1dB
  • Phase deviation: 0° +/-10° from 20Hz to 20kHz

Power

  • Phantom power: +48V phantom on Balanced output.
  • Battery power: 9V
  • External DC power: 9VDC, positive outside – not included
  • Current consumption from P48 phantom power source: 6.5mA

Dimensions

  • Size: 10.8cm/4.25" x 12cm/4.72" x 5.8cm/2.28"
  • Weight: 600g

Additional information

Weight 1 kg

Brand

IK Multimedia

IK Multimedia is a leading manufacturer of music production software, hardware, and accessories, catering to musicians, producers, and audio professionals worldwide. Founded in 1996, IK Multimedia has earned a reputation for its innovative products and commitment to providing musicians with accessible tools for creating music.

The company’s product lineup includes a diverse range of software instruments, effects plug-ins, and virtual studio tools, such as AmpliTube, SampleTank, and T-RackS, which offer realistic emulations of iconic guitar amps, instruments, and studio processors. Additionally, IK Multimedia produces a variety of hardware controllers, audio interfaces, and mobile accessories designed to complement their software offerings and enhance the music-making experience.

With a focus on affordability, versatility, and ease of use, IK Multimedia has become a go-to choice for musicians of all levels, from hobbyists to professionals, seeking high-quality tools for music production, recording, and performance. Their commitment to innovation and their dedication to meeting the evolving needs of modern musicians have solidified IK Multimedia’s position as a leading player in the music technology industry.

Category

Guitar Pedals

Tags

Boost

Buffer

DI

Distortion

Distortion pedals take your clean guitar signal and transform it into something bigger, bolder, and full of attitude. By clipping the waveform, they add sustain, bite, and aggression, creating that thick, compressed tone that’s powered rock music for decades. From the growling crunch of classic hard rock to the tight, saturated roar of modern metal, distortion is all about energy and presence. It gives every note weight and authority, pushing your amp to its limits and beyond.

There are countless flavours of distortion, each with its own texture and edge. Some sound smooth and creamy, others raw and gnarly like tearing fabric. It’s the sonic equivalent of turning up the heat until the sound cooks — rich, sizzling, and perfectly seasoned to taste. Whether used for rhythm muscle or soaring leads, a good distortion pedal doesn’t just add volume; it adds personality, grit, and that unmistakable sense of power under your fingers.

New

This is brand new, fresh in, and a UK warranty is included. New Gear always comes from trusted UK music retailers.

Overdrive

Like a golden layer of melted cheese — warm, gooey, and just put it all over. It adds just the right amount of richness and grit, turning a clean signal into something smooth and savoury. Designed to mimic the natural breakup of a tube amp pushed to its sweet spot, overdrive delivers the flavour of classic rock and blues in every bite. From creamy mid-gain warmth to crisp edge-of-breakup sparkle, it’s the comfort food of guitar tone — simple, satisfying, and endlessly versatile. Whether it’s a mild crunch or a full-bodied roar, overdrive is where good taste begins.

Preamp

A preamp pedal shapes and boosts your guitar’s signal before it reaches your amp or recording interface, giving you control over tone, gain, and headroom. It acts as the first stage of amplification, adding warmth, clarity, and character while preparing your signal for the next part of the chain. Some preamps emulate the response of classic valve circuits, while others offer clean, transparent tone shaping ideal for acoustic instruments or direct recording setups.

Used on its own, a preamp pedal can serve as the foundation of your tone, providing a consistent core sound wherever you play. When combined with other effects, it enhances dynamics and helps each pedal sound more defined and natural. Whether you’re looking to push your amp harder, bring life to a dull signal, or refine your sound for the studio, a good preamp pedal adds presence, punch, and musicality to any rig.

used

Volume

Volume pedals control the output level of a guitar signal using a foot-operated treadle. They allow smooth volume swells, dynamic control during playing, and easy muting between songs. Volume pedals can be placed at different points in the signal chain to either control overall loudness or adjust gain and drive behaviour when positioned before distortion or overdrive pedals.

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