The XT SK JR is an external footswitch accessory made by Crazy Tube Circuits for the company's Sidekick JR pedal. It is not an effect itself: it exists so a player can switch the Sidekick JR's modulation section on and off by foot, independently of the pedal's own operation. Crazy Tube Circuits describes the Sidekick JR itself as a "Studio grade buffer / booster"1, and the XT footswitch adds remote control of its modulation. It sits alongside other accessories in the buffer and utility space, though unlike a standalone buffer pedal such as the Empress Effects Buffer or the TC Electronic Bonafide Buffer, it does no buffering of its own.
What it does
The XT SK JR's single job is foot control of the Sidekick JR's modulation section. Crazy Tube Circuits describes it as a way to "use the XT footswitch to control the operation of the modulation section of the Sidekick JR independently"2. The footswitch engages or true bypasses the modulation effect on its own, and it bypasses the pedal's onboard modulation operation assign toggle switch, so the switching decision moves from the pedal's top panel to the floor2.
For a player, that means the Sidekick JR's buffer and booster can stay on all the time while the modulation is brought in and out with a tap of the foot, without reaching down to the pedal or rewiring anything2.
Connection and power
The XT SK JR is a passive accessory, which keeps hooking it up simple2:
- It connects to the XT jack input of the Sidekick JR pedal2.
- It uses standard TS instrument jacks and a standard TS instrument cable2.
- It needs no power: Crazy Tube Circuits states there is "no power needed for the XT footswitch to operate properly"2.
Because it is passive, the XT SK JR takes no slot on a power supply and never needs a battery. The only requirement is a Sidekick JR with its XT jack, since the footswitch has no function on its own or with other pedals2.
Price and availability
Crazy Tube Circuits lists the XT SK JR at €49.00 EUR on its product page3, with availability given as ships in 5 to 6 days1. The maker's store listing shows an original price of €49.003.
The XT SK JR is an accessory, not a standalone pedal. It only works connected to the XT jack input of a Crazy Tube Circuits Sidekick JR, using a standard TS instrument cable2.
Questions
Does the Crazy Tube Circuits XT SK JR need a power supply?
No. Crazy Tube Circuits states the XT footswitch runs passively, with no power needed for it to operate properly. It connects with a standard TS instrument cable, so it does not need a battery, a power adapter or a spot on a pedalboard power supply.
Which jack on the Sidekick JR does the XT SK JR plug into?
It connects to the XT jack input of the Sidekick JR pedal, according to Crazy Tube Circuits' product page. A standard TS instrument cable carries the connection between the footswitch and the pedal.
Can the XT SK JR turn the Sidekick JR's modulation on and off?
Yes. That is its whole job: the XT footswitch engages or true bypasses the modulation effect of the Sidekick JR independently, and it bypasses the pedal's onboard modulation operation assign toggle switch, so the modulation can be switched by foot without touching the pedal's own controls.
Is the XT SK JR a pedal on its own?
No. It is an external footswitch accessory for the Sidekick JR pedal, not a standalone effect. It is used to control the operation of the modulation section of the Sidekick JR independently, and it has no effect or sound of its own.
Sources (3)
- XT SK JR, Crazy Tube Circuits
- Xt-Sk-Jr, Crazy Tube Circuits
- XT SK JR (B-Stock), Crazy Tube Circuits
