Collab with Switchfoot's Drew Shirley provides natural-sounding, amp-like overdrive when you need that kick.
The Jackson Audio Belle Starr Professional Overdrive effects pedal is the result of a several months-long collaboration with Drew Shirley from the band Switchfoot. For those familiar with Shirley’s guitar rig, he’s always run super small, low-wattage amps, and run them wide open to get his signature overdrive sound. The Belle Starr was designed to create these tones.
Not a high-gain overdrive, the Belle Starr is a low/mid gain overdrive circuit that has the smooth and natural breakup that is characteristic in smaller, non-negative feedback amps. To make the overdrive as natural-sounding and amp-like as possible, Jackson incorporated a unique clipping circuit and features Mosfet transistors rather than traditional silicon diodes. When used in a clipping circuit, the Mosfet transistors produce a very smooth and amp-like overdrive. The overdrive range on the Jackson Audio Belle Starr is so evenly spread out across the range of the gain control that it goes from absolutely clean to medium gain with no unusual jumps in the dynamic response.
Over the eight months that Jackson Audio spent dialing in the Belle Starr, they tried it with every variation of amp they could, including Fender, Marshall, VOX and Jackson. This was done to ensure that the Belle Starr would work on any amp you marry it to.
Not a high-gain overdrive, the Belle Starr is a low/mid gain overdrive circuit that has the smooth and natural breakup that is characteristic in smaller, non-negative feedback amps. To make the overdrive as natural-sounding and amp-like as possible, Jackson incorporated a unique clipping circuit and features Mosfet transistors rather than traditional silicon diodes. When used in a clipping circuit, the Mosfet transistors produce a very smooth and amp-like overdrive. The overdrive range on the Jackson Audio Belle Starr is so evenly spread out across the range of the gain control that it goes from absolutely clean to medium gain with no unusual jumps in the dynamic response.
Over the eight months that Jackson Audio spent dialing in the Belle Starr, they tried it with every variation of amp they could, including Fender, Marshall, VOX and Jackson. This was done to ensure that the Belle Starr would work on any amp you marry it to.
Specifications
- Input impedance: 1M
- Output impedance: 100k
- Max. current consumption: 20mA
- Dimensions: 2.2 x 4.875”
Features
- Volume Control, with low GAIN settings and high VOLUME settings for very powerful boost complete with tone control
- Body Control is an extremely powerful active EQ, adjusting low frequencies by giving a +/-15dB boost/cut, and features a center detent which makes it easier to get back to a neutral or flat response
- DC Input lets you safely run from 9V-18V DC (center negative), and if you run it at 18V, you get increased headroom and dynamic response
- Gain Control: Go low and all other controls at 12:00 will result in a transparent boost that is indistinguishable from your clean tone, but increasing it from there adds subtle overdrive, taking you from clean to a perfect emulation of a cranked small amp that is breaking up
- Tone Control adjusts the treble frequencies much like the CUT control on a VOX amp and also features a center detent which makes it easier to get back to a neutral or flat response
- BYPASS SWITCH is a mechanical true bypass switch