The 29 Pedals JFET is a clean boost pedal and preamp from 29 Pedals, built around a JFET stage paired with a dual-stage IC output driver. Where many boost pedals trace their circuits back to vintage FET designs, 29 Pedals states that "as usual for 29 we don't copy or emulate any of those, but start from a ground-up design"1. The JFET stage is biased for a specific total harmonic distortion ratio, which the maker describes as "just enough hair to be tube-y but still very clean by most standards"1.
The pedal sits in the boost family, and Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio framed it as "a reimagining of the most humble of stompboxes, by a company that has proven uber-competent in tone-preservation and enhancement"2. Its circuit gives your tone what De Gregorio called "a mostly clean amp-like character," with three modes to tailor the sound2.
A ground-up JFET boost
The pedal's design is rooted in FET transistors, which De Gregorio describes as "very early solid-state devices that were designed to emulate vacuum tubes as closely as possible," and which appear in a sizeable number of classic pieces of gear3. Rather than cloning any of those circuits, 29 Pedals built the JFET from scratch1.
The signal path has two parts. The JFET stage is biased for a specific THD ratio, giving the slight tube-like character, while a dual-stage IC output driver keeps the output impedance constant12. That constant output impedance is what lets the pedal "happily drive cables," in the maker's words1.
De Gregorio's write-up adds context on how the pedal fits a board:
"The JFET's internal boost gain is fixed at approximately 19dB, ensuring optimal character, noise performance, and impedance."2
Delicious Audio, September 20232
Note that the maker's own page gives the gain as about 18dB1, while the Delicious Audio description says approximately 19dB2.
The N, F and X modes
The JFET's three modes, N, F and X, tailor the low end in a gentle way, for fine-tuning of the boost sound with your guitar2. The one mode documented in detail is N:
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| N (Normal) | Emulates a treble booster reminiscent of the classic vintage RangeMaster design, adding high-end sparkle2 |
| F | Tailors the low end2 |
| X | Tailors the low end2 |
The RangeMaster comparison applies to the N mode's voicing, not to the circuit itself. 29 Pedals is explicit that the pedal is not a copy or emulation of classic FET gear1.
Gain, stacking and placement
The JFET makes about 18dB of gain1. The maker positions it flexibly on a pedalboard:
- Sounds great after EUNA, or as an alternate front-end to your board1
- Loves to be stacked with FLWR and other drives1
- Will happily drive cables1
For players comparing it against other gain pedals, it is a boost rather than an overdrive or distortion: its character is described as mostly clean and amp-like2.
Power: about 150mA
The JFET features 29 Pedals' WHATEVER internal power supply and draws about 150mA1, a figure the Delicious Audio write-up repeats2.
At about 150mA1, the JFET draws far more current than a typical compact boost pedal, so plan for it on a powered supply rather than a battery, and check that an isolated output can cover it.
Versions and availability
The pedal has been offered in three versions: JFET Rev C, JFET Rev B, and JFET SE/R Rev C1. All three have been listed as sold out or unavailable on the maker's product page1.
As of October 2026 the JFET remains in production from 29 Pedals4.
Videos
Mark Johnston
ambienttrash
Sasha Ivantic
Questions
What are the N, F and X modes on the 29 Pedal JFET?
The JFET has three modes, N, F and X, that tailor the low end of the boost in a gentle way, letting you fine-tune the boost sound with your own guitar. In N mode (Normal) the pedal emulates a treble booster reminiscent of the classic vintage RangeMaster design, adding high-end sparkle. The modes are the pedal's main tonal shaping control.
Is the 29 Pedals JFET a copy of a RangeMaster?
No. While the N mode emulates a treble booster reminiscent of the classic vintage RangeMaster design, 29 Pedals states that, as usual for the company, it does not copy or emulate classic FET gear but starts from a ground-up design. The RangeMaster reference describes what one mode sounds like, not the circuit the pedal is built from.
How much gain does the 29 Pedals JFET add?
29 Pedals says the JFET makes about 18dB of gain. Delicious Audio's write-up describes the internal boost gain as fixed at approximately 19dB, chosen for optimal character, noise performance and impedance behavior. The two figures differ slightly between the maker's page and the press description.
What is the difference between the JFET Rev B and Rev C?
The JFET has been offered in several versions: JFET Rev C, JFET Rev B and JFET SE/R Rev C. All three have been listed as sold out or unavailable on the maker's product page. The maker's materials do not break down the circuit differences between the revisions.
Can the 29 Pedals JFET be powered from a battery?
The JFET features 29 Pedals' WHATEVER internal power supply and draws about 150mA. That current draw is well beyond what a typical 9V battery can sustain, so it is designed for powered pedalboard use rather than battery operation.
Sources (4)
- 29 Pedals JFET, 29 Pedals (29pedals.com)
- 29 Pedal JFET Boost, Delicious Audio, 2023-09-20
- JFET by 29 Pedals, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- OAMP Quickstart, 29 Pedals (Believable Audio)
