Flattley Release New Product “The Joker” Valve Tone Drive for 2026

 

Flattley Boutique Effects Pedals

Contact: Paul Flattley

paul@fgpuk.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Flattley Pedals Introduces The Joke Valve Tone Drive

January 19, 2026 – Sleaford, England – Flattley Pedals has introduced The Joker, the company’s new valve tone pedal, which offers a variety of valve saturation tones.

The Joker came from the idea, “what happens if you add controlled distortion to a normally clean booster?”. Well, to achieve this we added an FET based 12AX7 valve simulation with the aim of sounding similar to an overdriven single valve combo.

However, on building a prototype it was found that the pedal had more uses than first envisaged.

Firstly, it can do the “small amp tone” as expected. So in “dirt” mode anything from a “warm boost” to a “flat out tweed”. So jazz to blues covered.

A second range,“filth” mode was added to allow additional gain / distortion for rock fans.

Third (unexpected) way of using it is as a boost for a conventional amp but with the added bonus of adding additional harmonic content / tone shaping before hitting the front end of the amp. This gives heavy rock fans the tones they are always looking for.

See the demo video here: https://youtu.be/PHyovfY7MEA

The pedal’s green halo light rings installed diffuse the light when playing live, so you can avoid being blinded by standard LEDs, and an aluminium foot topper gives you more real estate for contact when switching the pedal on and off during quick changes when playing live.

All Flattley “Platinum Range” pedals are hand processed in our Flattley paint shop, with a strikingly unique finish.

The Joker includes this control set:

Volume: Controls the volume level of the effect allowing you to cut or push the gain of your amplifier.

Gain: Controls the amount of distortion depending on the position of the toggle switch. In dirt mode it goes from clean to crunch and filth mode allows you to go from crunch to heavily distorted.

Tone: Controls the amount of treble/bass. Fully anti clockwise is max bass boost, mid position gives you a nice lift in the mid ranges and fully clockwise is full treble boost.

Toggle Switch: Selects between “Dirt” and “Filth” settings

Other features include:

• 9-volt external power operation (no internal battery option)
• 20mm black anodised aluminium custom etched control knobs
• Green halo light ring installed
• The Joker comes with a green custom etched aluminium foot topper

All Flattley pedals are handmade and hand wired in the UK using the highest quality components.

The Flattley Joker carries a street price of $319/£259.00. For more information visit flattleyguitarpedals.com.