The Sonic Edge J&J Overdrive is a JFET-based overdrive pedal from Fargen, the Sacramento-based amp builder. Sonic Edge is the pedal brand of Fargen amps, and Vintage Guitar reported that Fargen began building effects pedals in 2013 with the J&J Overdrive as the first entry1. MusicRadar describes it as a no-frills overdrive with a wide gain range that goes from clean boost up to a decent Tube Screamer-style drive2. If you are weighing it against the more familiar drive circuits, our Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison covers that territory, and our Overdrive Pedals page sets it among the wider field.
Controls and circuit
The J&J keeps things simple: three knobs, a blue status LED and a true bypass in/out switch2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level2 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble content of the drive2 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive, from mild to medium1 |
Vintage Guitar's reviewer worked the Gain control and found:
"a nice variation in 'dirt,' from mild to medium"
Inside, the pedal uses a pair of JFET transistors on a small single-sided PCB, complemented with film capacitors and carbon comp resistors2. Vintage Guitar describes it as a JFET-based pedal with carbon-comp resistors and metal-film caps throughout its signal path1. JFET stands for junction field-effect transistor, a transistor type some designs use in place of the op-amp and diode clipping found in many overdrives.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's verdict was that:
"The J&J's transparent tone and excellent touch sensitivity make it a perfect partner for any non-master amp when a bit more drive is needed"
Vintage Guitar's reviewer found the Gain control gave a nice variation in dirt from mild to medium1.
One practical note from MusicRadar:
A non-slip rubber pad lies underneath the cast-alloy box, but the plastic battery cover sits a little proud, causing the pedal to skid on hard floors2.
Power
The J&J can be powered by a battery or a center-pin-negative 9-volt DC power supply, according to Vintage Guitar1. MusicRadar likewise notes power provided from a PP3 or a standard DC socket2. A PP3 is the standard 9-volt battery, so no special battery is needed, and center-pin-negative is the polarity most pedalboard supplies use.
Name and history
Both names on the box are the same company. Sonic Edge is the pedal brand of Sacramento-based Fargen amps2. Vintage Guitar reported in January 2013 that Fargen had begun building effects pedals earlier that year, with the JFET-based J&J Overdrive as the first entry1. The pedal appears in reviews under both the Fargen and Sonic Edge names.
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Questions
Is the Fargen Sonic Edge J&J Overdrive true bypass?
Yes. MusicRadar's review describes a true bypass in/out switch, and Vintage Guitar's review likewise notes the pedal has true-bypass switching. That means when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the circuit loading it, which players often look for on a drive pedal that sits on the board all the time.
Can the Sonic Edge J&J run on a battery?
Yes. MusicRadar notes power can come from a PP3 battery or a standard DC socket, and Vintage Guitar confirms the pedal can be powered by a battery or a center-pin-negative 9-volt DC power supply. A PP3 is the standard 9-volt battery, so no special battery type is needed.
What polarity does the Sonic Edge J&J power supply need?
Vintage Guitar's review gives the polarity as center-pin-negative, at 9 volts DC. That is the common pedal polarity, so it works with most standard pedalboard power supplies, but it is worth matching the polarity and voltage before plugging in any supply.
Is the Sonic Edge J&J a Fargen or a Sonic Edge pedal?
Both names refer to the same pedal. Sonic Edge is the pedal brand of Sacramento-based Fargen amps, according to MusicRadar. Vintage Guitar reported that Fargen began building effects pedals in 2013, with the J&J Overdrive as the first entry, so the pedal appears under both names.
What does JFET-based mean in an overdrive pedal?
JFET stands for junction field-effect transistor, a type of transistor used in some circuits instead of the op-amp and clipping-diode arrangement found in many overdrives. In the J&J, MusicRadar describes a pair of JFET transistors on a small single-sided PCB, complemented with film capacitors and carbon comp resistors.
Sources (2)
- Fargen Olde 800 MKII, Sonic Edge J&J Overdrive, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2016-05-09
- Sonic Edge J&J Overdrive review, MusicRadar, 2013-06-25
