The Big Joe R-404 Vintage II is an overdrive pedal from the Big Joe Stomp Box Company. Its core idea is a set of four tube amp profiles, each with what the maker describes as different combinations of "warmth, bark, bite and attack," selected by a rotary switch rather than stacked gain knobs1.
Big Joe positions it as a pick-attack and vintage-tone pedal in the lineage of the R-403 Vintage. In the maker's words1:
"You can move from buttery smooth to razor sharp, but like the B-403, this box is still all about pick attack and vintage tone."1
Controls
The control set is deliberately small: two knobs and one switch.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Presence | Shapes the high-frequency content and edge of the overdriven tone |
| Output | Sets the overall level leaving the pedal |
| 4-position amp contour rotary switch | Selects one of the four tube amp profiles, each with a different balance of warmth, bark, bite and attack |
| Status LED | Shows whether the pedal is engaged |
Because the amp profiles live on a rotary switch rather than a gain knob, switching between them is a discrete jump between voicings rather than a continuous sweep. The Presence and Output controls then fine-tune the selected profile1.
Power
The R-404 Vintage II runs on a 9V battery or a 9VDC power supply, and it also accepts 12V and 18V supplies, which gives you headroom options beyond the standard pedalboard voltage. The connector is a 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm barrel with the negative pin inside, the common center-negative arrangement1.
The power supply is not included with the pedal, so you need your own 9VDC (or 12V/18V) adapter with a 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm center-negative barrel connector1.
Questions
Is the Big Joe R-404 Vintage II true bypass?
Yes. Big Joe lists the R-404 Vintage II as true bypass, so with the pedal disengaged your signal passes through without the circuit coloring it.
Can the R-404 Vintage II run on a 9V battery?
Yes. The pedal runs on a 9V battery or a 9VDC power supply through a 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm barrel connector with center negative polarity. It also supports 12V and 18V supplies.
Does the R-404 come with a power supply?
No. Big Joe states that the power supply is not included, so you need to supply your own 9VDC adapter with a 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm barrel connector, center negative.
How heavy is the Big Joe R-404 Vintage II?
Big Joe lists the R-404 Vintage II at 22oz, and its dimensions are 5.5 inches long by 4 inches wide by 2.5 inches high.
Sources (1)
- R-404 VINTAGE II (9V-18V), Big Joe Stomp Box Company
