J Rockett launches Airchild Six Sixty compressor pedal

March 19, 2024 · 3 sources

J Rockett Audio Designs has launched the Airchild Six Sixty Compressor, a compact compressor pedal modeled on the Fairchild 660 studio compressor, MusicRadar reported on March 19, 2024¹. The pedal was available to pre-order at $229¹.

The Airchild has four controls: Output and Tone on oversized dials, with smaller dials for Threshold and Blend, plus a footswitch, top-mounted jacks and a 9V DC input¹. The Tone knob acts as a tilt EQ, the Threshold sets the amount of compression and the Blend control mixes compressed and uncompressed signal¹². Gearnews describes the Tone control as boosting highs and cutting lows when turned clockwise, and the reverse when turned counterclockwise². Guitar Pedal X lists the controls as Output (Level), Tone (Tilt EQ), Blend (Parallel Dry Blend) and Threshold (Compression Ratio / Degree)³.

MusicRadar reports the pedal was designed and built in California¹; Gearnews says it is built in the USA with a rugged case and Fairchild-style knobs². Guitar Pedal X notes that no figures are quoted for gain range or how closely the compression and limiting ranges match the original³. The original 660 used 12 RCA 6386 tubes and multiple hand-wound transformers, and about 1,000 units were made, according to Guitar Pedal X, which puts original units at more than $20,000 each³.

MusicRadar reports that J Rockett's R&D team used the guitar tones of Mark Knopfler and Lowell George, specifically George's slide playing, as a reference¹.

Pricing was reported differently. MusicRadar gave $229¹; Gearnews listed an MSRP of GBP 239 / EUR 269 and a retailer price of $239.00². Guitar Pedal X reported $229 and said the pedal was available widely, including at Sweetwater³.