Kingsley Maiden-D V2

brentona · Wed Dec 30, 2020 7:12 am

I’m in trouble. Now I know these exist.

The extra trouble is the four year waiting period on a new one...I currently see some sporadically on Reverb and they’re typically V1. Realistically the V1 would be adequate, just a few slight changes in the newer version.

For those who do not know, the Maiden is a 12AX7 driven preamp designed to run straight into your effects loop return or to toss in front of a stand-alone power amp / power station. There are a couple variants, but I really would like to get the Maiden-D. There is a “BF” version that will closely resemble a vintage Black Face, but the “D” replicates the sound and feel of the clean channel on a Dumble ODS.

A quick search of the pedal will grant you glorious videos full of juicy tone. The used market runs almost double the price of the factory...I guess what does four years cost?

In any event, Kingsley is a really hip operation run by a guitar genius. I got turned into this pedal from That Pedal Show’s video going in depth on preamps. I recommend everyone give that a look on YouTube!

Cheers!

- Brent

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golem · Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:30 am

I'd looked into these at one point. I end up using the Origin Effects Revival Drive for this type of pre amp.

brentona · Wed Dec 30, 2020 11:12 am

golem wrote:I'd looked into these at one point. I end up using the Origin Effects Revival Drive for this type of pre amp.

Interesting!! Similar sound profile? More readily accessible? I’m going to deep dive in that today when I free up! Thank you!!

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brentona · Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:56 pm

golem wrote:I'd looked into these at one point. I end up using the Origin Effects Revival Drive for this type of pre amp.

Gosh darn! Now those make some cool sounds! That pedal does a dimed out sound really well.

For my purposes, I’m after huge headroom, big glassy tube punch. What I plan on doing is just running it effects return and using it as my “amp”. A great clean platform is what I’m after to boost and drive with other stomp boxes. I’m going to have to look into the V1’s as the V2’s aren’t likely to hit the used market to quick. I’ll pay the kings ransom in the secondhand market.

Here’s the game plan -

I lost all of my gear in 2011. As a result, I settled and used what little insurance money came of it to replace a small amount. Being young and dumb I said, hey, a Carvin V3M will compliment the CT6 I’m having them make for me. Fast forward to the here and now and I truly wish I went with a different amp. Not that I haven’t been able to squeeze some good sounds out of it.

So now that 2021 is coming along, I’m dedicating the year to get back on my instruments. I’m going to load a pair of greenbacks (16 ohm) into my cabinet, and scoop up that Maiden. The studying I’ve done the past couple weeks encourages me that this will be a tonal improvement to what I have now.

I popped in a nice V1 tube that now will go unused, so I may explore other power tube options as I’ll be bypassing the preamp portion of the head.

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golem · Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:20 pm

@brentona I think I didn't go with them because of the wait period and cost. Eventually someone offered me an OE Revival Drive in trade and I was wowed by that Pedal Show's demo but he was asking about 90% of what they go for new. When Prymaxe had a 25% of sale for Black Friday and I realized that was covered, I just decided to go for it. No regrets.

There are schematics for some Kingsley pedals out there, it's hard to tell how accurate they are. But I definitely know someone who could build a clone from the schematics.

The other thought I had is, while a bit bigger, I feel like rack mounted tube preamp gear is essentially this short of thing. I figure one might be able to find a used Rack preamp for the same sort of thing. It might be a bit bigger.

brentona · Thu Dec 31, 2020 9:48 am

golem wrote:[mention]brentona[/mention] I think I didn't go with them because of the wait period and cost. Eventually someone offered me an OE Revival Drive in trade and I was wowed by that Pedal Show's demo but he was asking about 90% of what they go for new. When Prymaxe had a 25% of sale for Black Friday and I realized that was covered, I just decided to go for it. No regrets.

There are schematics for some Kingsley pedals out there, it's hard to tell how accurate they are. But I definitely know someone who could build a clone from the schematics.

The other thought I had is, while a bit bigger, I feel like rack mounted tube preamp gear is essentially this short of thing. I figure one might be able to find a used Rack preamp for the same sort of thing. It might be a bit bigger.

Yeah you know it really is the rack mounted territory I’m stepping into.

That’s definitely a good avenue to consider. I’ll be honest. My knowledge of rack gear is a big fat Zero. But I have lots of time to read these next four days!

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