Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 4 stores. Prices updated .

Reverb
5.0 (35)
$139.27 New
$49.00 Used

Average Price: $151

Standard/Professional

$50

$201+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Unlock the potential of your guitar sound with the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone, a pedal that redefines what a compressor can do. Designed for musicians who seek crystal-clear compression without sacrificing the natural dynamics of their playing, this pedal offers a unique blend of control and expression. Whether you're looking to enhance your clean tones or add sustain to your solos, the Philosopher's Tone delivers with precision.

The pedal features a blend control that allows for seamless integration of your dry signal with the compressed signal, ensuring your tone remains vibrant and full. The sustain knob offers extensive sustain capabilities, perfect for those epic, soaring leads. Meanwhile, the treble control adds a touch of sparkle to your high frequencies without introducing harshness.

Built with rugged components and an intuitive layout, the Philosopher's Tone is perfect for both stage and studio use. Whether you're a professional guitarist or an aspiring artist, this pedal offers the versatility and reliability you need to inspire your creativity and elevate your sound.

Key Features:

  • Crystal-clear compression with endless sustain
  • Blend control for mixing compressed and dry signals
  • Sustain knob for extended note duration
  • Treble control for added high-frequency sparkle
  • Durable construction, ideal for live and studio settings
  • Used by renowned artists like Andy Summers and Weezer

Product specs

Brand Pigtronix
Model Philosopher's Tone
Finish Black
Year 2012
Made In United States
Categories Compressor Pedals, Distortion Pedals

FAQs

What type of compression can I expect from the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone?

The Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone offers a smooth, transparent compression that enhances sustain without altering your guitar's natural tone, making it ideal for both clean and overdriven settings.

Does the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone include a distortion feature?

Yes, the Philosopher's Tone includes a blendable grit control that adds a layer of distortion to your compressed signal, allowing for greater tonal versatility.

Is the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone suitable for bass guitars?

The Philosopher's Tone works well with bass guitars, providing enhanced sustain and clarity while maintaining the low-end frequencies crucial for bass performance.

What power supply does the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone require?

The Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone requires a 9V DC power supply, which is standard for most pedalboards, ensuring easy integration into your setup.

How does the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone compare to other compressor pedals?

The Philosopher's Tone is renowned for its blendable grit and extended sustain, setting it apart from typical compressors by offering a unique combination of compression and distortion.

ProGuitarShopDemos

ProGuitarShopDemos

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Video thumbnail for Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone by ProGuitarShopDemos

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

ProGuitarShopDemos

ProGuitarShopDemos

Video thumbnail for Philosopher's Tone | Optical Compressor + Sustainer | Official Demo by Pigtronix

Philosopher's Tone | Optical Compressor + Sustainer | Official Demo

Pigtronix

Pigtronix

Video thumbnail for Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone | Reverb Demo Video by Reverb

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Reverb

Reviews

PROS

  • Adds unique Germanium grit to the sound

  • Preserves low end, suitable for bass and low tunings

  • Offers endless sustain, enhancing playing experience

  • Blend controls allow for tone customization without compromise

  • Compatible with other pedals, like a tube screamer

  • Provides good value compared to more expensive pedals

CONS

  • Requires time to find the right settings for clean sound

  • Can produce line noise if not adjusted correctly

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone.

Features and functionality

  • The 'grit' knob is often considered ineffective, described as producing an undesirable static-like sound.

    Source
  • The Philosopher's Tone requires an 18V power supply, though it's suggested it might operate on 9V, which could complicate setup for some users.

    Source
  • The treble knob on the Philosopher's Tone significantly enhances usability, particularly for the pure compressor model, allowing for easier sound sculpting.

    Source
  • The Philosopher's Tone is praised for its blend knob, which allows users to achieve a highly compressed sound akin to Velvet Underground's "Venus in Furs."

    Source
  • The Philosopher's Tone Micro is criticized for sounding thin and flimsy compared to the original and Philosopher King models.

    Source

User experience

  • The pedal reportedly takes time to dial in, but once adjusted, the 'blend' knob can reveal subtle sonic nuances.

    Source
  • An owner of multiple compressors describes the Philosopher's Tone as one of the truest sounding and most versatile pedals, particularly valuing its small form factor and treble/blend knobs.

    Source
  • Owners suggest using the Philosopher's Gold version at the end of a pedal board as an enhancer and master volume control.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Owners often compare it unfavorably to the Xotic SP and Barber Tone Press, especially concerning the pedal's noise level and natural sound.

    Source
  • A user who has tried various compressors, including the Ego Comp mini, notes that while the Ego is great for set-and-forget usage, the Philosopher's Tone provides more organic and sensitive compression.

    Source
  • The Philosopher's Gold version is preferred by some for its built-in distortion, especially when paired with a high amp EQ or a boost on higher frequencies.

    Source

Build quality

  • The pedal's design with jacks on one side is criticized for being inconvenient and impractical in many setups.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • It's noted that the pedal is noisy with single-coil pickups, like those on a Strat, but performs better with humbuckers.

    Source
  • The Philosopher's Tone is effective when used with an EQ for versatile tonal adjustments, providing crunchy saturation on a bridge pickup and a thick lead tone on a neck pickup.

    Source
  • The Philosopher's Tone is favored by some users for adding fuzzy grit to reverb and delay when placed at the end of the signal chain.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

ovnilab.com

The Pigtronix "Germanium Gold" Philosopher's Tone impresses with its creamy vintage tone, thanks to its germanium diode. The pedal excels in delivering a smooth Grit stage, though care is needed with its intense squash. A redefined treble control and blend knob enhance versatility, while the modded threshold elevates its usability. Not for those seeking transparency, but a dynamic tone machine when used with finesse. A solid addition to any gear collection.

positive

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Review | A Must Have in 2025?

songproductionpros.com

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 14 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
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1 star
dailydoze

Really good, enjoy using this.

I started using this because I needed to get that extra sustain that you can't really get from any other pedal. I usually have this on all the time because, even when you're playing rhythms you need as much sustain as you can get.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Jon Schaffer uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Jon Schaffer

Guitarist

Iced Earth

...
Verified via Pigtronix

According to the artists section on Pigtronix's website, Jon uses their Philosopher's Tone pedal.

See how Frank Marino uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Frank Marino

Guitarist

Mahogany Rush

...
Verified via YouTube

:26 seconds into the video Frank Marino talks about this pedal.

See how Brendan Ekstrom uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Brendan Ekstrom

Guitarist

Circa Survive

...
Verified via Photo

In this collection of pedals photo posted by Ekstrom on his Instagram profile, the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone comp pedal can be seen.

See how Greg Hetson uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Greg Hetson

Guitarist

Bad Religion

...
Verified via Photo

Greg Hetson uses a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone, according to Pigtronix's website.

See how Jim Matheos uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Jim Matheos

Guitarist, Music Producer

Fates Warning

...
Verified via Jimmatheos

Jim Matheos lists his gear on his website.

See how Rory Friers uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Rory Friers

Guitarist

And so I watch you from afar

...
Verified via MusicRadar

“I found that for my clean stuff, I was digging into the strings and breaking a lot of strings, because my guitar wasn’t thick or loud enough.

“I wanted to work on my clean tone, so I bought this, and it’s solved all my problems. I have it on for 50 per cent of my show.”

See how John Konesky uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

John Konesky

Guitarist

Tenacious D

...
Verified via Pigtronix

According to the artists section on Pigtronix's website, John uses their Philosopher's Tone pedal.

See how Pete Lesperance uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Pete Lesperance

Guitarist

Harem Scarem

...
Verified via Museonmuse

Muse On Muse : Please tell us about your gear. What guitars, amps, effectors, foot pedals did you use for this recording?

Pete Lesparance : I used a Koch Powertone 2 for the amp through a 2×12 Mesa-boogie cabinet.

My pedal board consists of:

-Pigtronix-Philosopher’s Tone compressor -Love Pedal Kanji overdrive -Keeler Push overdrive -SubDecay Prometheus filter pedal -Whetstone Phaser -Electro-Harmonix-POG 2 -Empress Temolo -Malekko spring chicken reverb -Boss Giga-Delay -ernie ball volume pedal

See how Tommy Kessler uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Tommy Kessler

Guitarist

Blondie

...
Verified via Premier Guitar

Kessler’s pedalboard for Blondie has been virtually the same for three years. He uses a Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone.

See how Federico Miranda uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Federico Miranda

Guitarist

...
Verified via Photo

Federico Miranda showcases the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone on his pedalboard, as seen on his official Instagram page.

See how Jer Coons uses Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

Jer Coons

Singer, Guitarist

Madaila

...
Verified via Facebook

Jer Coons mentions the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone on his Facebook page, highlighting its role in his gear collection as spring approaches.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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1 alternative for Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone, curated by the Equipboard community.

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone 2

$159.00 - $199.00

newer

The Philosopher's Tone 2 is an updated version of this pedal from Pigtronix.

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Gear Guides

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    Gear IQ 37552