CONTROLS
The J-Drive MK3 is a combination of two pedals in one - a clean boost and an overdrive -
that can be independently true-bypass switched. The clean boost is first in the chain (in-
put comes in from the right), and can also be used to ‘overdrive the overdrive’. Controls
are grouped using lines on the MK3 case to show which control belongs to which effect -
DRIVE
,
WARMTH
and
VOLUME
affect only the overdrive, while
GAIN
affects only the
clean boost.
DRIVE
This controls the basic overdrive level. Backing it off gives a mild and controlled over-
drive sound, while opening it up gives more of a straight ahead distortion. Pickup output
levels will also impact the drive level – humbuckers generally will more easily push the
drive and your amp into distortion.
WARMTH
The tone control in the J-Drive MK3 overdrive section is not a typical fixed frequency
cut/boost circuit. The warmth circuit acts as a low-pass filter coupled with gain boost as
the cut off frequency drops. This certainly adds a different flavor to the feel of the over-
drive than traditional overdrive tone circuits. Moving the dial clockwise moves the filter
cutoff point lower, darkening the signal, but at the same time increasing gain, potentially
adding more harmonics depending on the signal and level.
VOLUME
This adjusts the overall output level of the overdrive section.
GAIN
This sets the output level of the clean boost circuit. As the boost circuit precedes the
overdrive circuit, the boost can be set to further overdrive the overdrive. Gain ranges
from about -6 dB (about half the input signal level) in the counterclockwise position to
approximately 13 dB of gain (about 4.5 times the input signal level) in the fully clock-
wise position. At the noon position on the dial, the clean boost provides about 8 dB of
gain (about 2.5 times the input signal level).
There are many different interesting combinations of drive, clean boost gain and warmth
settings – take time to experiment with the many tonal possibilities of the MK3.
SWITCHES
DRIVE
This switches the overdrive circuit between bypass and in-circuit operation, with a red
LED indicating that the overdrive is on.
BOOST
This switches the clean boost circuit between bypass and in-circuit operation, with a
green LED indicating that the boost is on.
!
J-Drive MK3 user manual v1.02
!
3
