Pigtronix Philosopher King Envelope Generator Sustainer Guitar Pedal

Pigtronix Philosopher King Envelope Generator Sustainer Guitar Pedal

The Philosopher King delivers responsive sustain that tracks your playing dynamics with intuitive musicality, rewarding exploratory playing with lush, organic results. This envelope generator preserves your guitar's inherent voice while adding harmonic richness and compression that feels effortless under your fingers, excelling in ambient, experimental, progressive rock, and psychedelic contexts where sustain and tonal character drive the music.

Design & Build Quality

The pedal features a compact yet substantial chassis measuring 7.4" × 4.6" × 1.5", designed by circuit architect Howard Davis with sound design by David Koltai. It ships with a dedicated Pigtronix 18VDC power adapter, ensuring stable operation and optimal headroom for dynamic envelope tracking.

Controls & Signal Path

The control layout centers on a full ADSR envelope with dedicated knobs for Swell, Fade, Hold Level, and Speed Range, plus independent Compression, Volume, Treble, Sustain, and Grit controls for shaping tone. Expression pedal inputs for Swell and Fade times enable real-time modulation, while One Shot Mode and Auto Reset functionality give flexibility in sustain triggering.

Key Features

• ADSR envelope controls: Swell, Fade, Hold Level, Speed Range
• One Shot Mode and Auto Reset functionality
• Compression control for dynamic response
• Volume, Treble, Sustain, and Grit controls
• Expression pedal inputs for Swell and Fade times
• Trigger input jack for external envelope control
• CV input/output connectivity
• True Bypass switching
• Chassis dimensions: 7.4" × 4.6" × 1.5"
• Includes Pigtronix 18VDC power adapter
• Circuit design by Howard Davis; Sound design by David Koltai

The Philosopher King is an essential tool for texture-focused players seeking endless sustain and versatile musicians expanding their sonic palette.