A Legendary Overdrive Updated for the Modern Player
Forget your run-of-the-mill "klone": Jackson Audio's Optimist Classic takes the tone and transparency of a certain mythical overdrive pedal to unprecedented new sonic territory! Designed in collaboration with Grammy-nominated guitarist Cory Wong, the Optimist retains the volume, tone, and gain controls of the original, with Jackson Audio putting their own spin on the design with several welcome features. Two unique EQ modes arm you with natural-sounding (OD 1) and flat-response (OD 2) overdrives, with your choice of independent or joint operation. A standard 3-band EQ fine-tunes everything to taste, with all functions controllable via MIDI for endless tonal exploration. Best of all, you don't need to dish out thousands of hard-earned dollars to make it yours — add the Jackson Audio Optimist Classic Overdrive Pedal to your arsenal and capture the sound of a legendary pedal!
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Two EQ modes for experimentation
Rather than stick with solely the standard "klone" settings, Jackson Audio gave the Optimist its own flavor, headlined by a pair of EQ modes not found in comparable pedals. The first mode, dubbed OD 1, channels the sound of this pedal's inspiration, complete with that one-of-a-kind midrange bump and unmatched transparency. Flip on over to OD 2, and you'll instantly jack into a flat-range overdrive. Though each mode can be used independently, Sweetwater guitarists find that using them together boosts your signal without any of the squeals and shrieks that would otherwise mar your stellar tone.
Highly responsive 3-band EQ for single-coil action
Though an undeniable ode to one of music history's most famous (or even infamous) pieces of gear, the Optimist's offerings extend far beyond its 3-knob counterpart. Jackson Audio and Cory Wong decided on a simple 3-band EQ with +/-12dB boost and cut for tone shaping. Based on the coveted Baxandall EQ, this seemingly simple equalizer accents frequencies commonly associated with single-coil pickups rather than humbuckers, bringing out more of that sparkle and shine. And since this EQ is tailor-made for guitarists, you can easily tackle shrill highs and muddy lows while dialing in that perfect clean sound.
The definition of versatility
"The Optimist is the most versatile overdrive pedal I've ever used. My goal was to design a pedal that could give me the full range of drive levels for punchy rhythm to soaring lead guitar lines. I knew that Jackson Audio was the place to land for this pedal." — Cory Wong
Jackson Audio Optimist Classic Overdrive Pedal Features:
- Modern-day take on a legendary overdrive pedal
- Designed in collaboration with Grammy-nominated guitarist Cory Wong
- Standard controls for volume, tone, and gain controls make it easy to find your sound
- 2 unique EQ modes: OD 1 (natural, transparent tone with midrange bump) and OD 2 (flat-frequency overdrive)
- EQ modes can be used independently or together
- Features germanium diodes just like its inspiration
- Active bypassable 3-band Baxandall-inspired EQ with +/-12dB boost and cut targets and accentuates single-coil frequencies
- Optional MIDI control over all functions
