The Free The Tone RJ-1V Red Jasper is an analog low-gain overdrive pedal, and it was Free The Tone's first drive pedal of that type123. Released in December 20134, it was designed around a single idea: to capture in a pedal the qualities that, in the maker's words, "only superb vintage tube amps can usually produce"5. Free The Tone describes its target sound as smooth highs, punchy mids, a full but tight low end, and a delicate, responsive, natural and pleasing compression feel56.
The pedal is discontinued: Free The Tone ended production in 2018 because some of its component parts became difficult to obtain17.
An overdrive voiced after vintage tube amps
Free The Tone's own description of the Red Jasper is unusually specific about what it was chasing. The pedal was developed to give "a magical sound like a superb vintage tube amp," combining smooth highs, punchy mids, a full and tight low end, and a compression feel the maker calls delicate, responsive, natural and pleasant6. In other words, this is not a high-gain distortion box: it is a low-gain overdrive, billed as Free The Tone's first34, meant to push an amp the way a good vintage tube amp breaks up on its own.
The enclosure reflects the same priority. Free The Tone adopted a slightly larger die-cast case, with first priority placed on sound rather than on making the pedal as small as possible5.
MusicRadar's reviewer, Jamie Dickson, tested the pedal and found its character depended on the amp behind it3:
"It seems to work best plugged into smallish EL84-based amps, producing a detailed drive tone with an incisive edge but an open and airy bloom"3
His overall verdict was positive on tone, calling it "warm, natural overdrive tones. Ideal for classic rock and blues," while his one listed criticism was the price: "Pricey."3
The controls: Drive, Hi-Cut, Level
The control set is minimal. The maker lists three knobs: DRIVE, HI-CUT and LEVEL68. MusicRadar's reviewer described the layout the same way, noting that "control layout is simplicity itself with Level, Hi-Cut and Gain dials the only tweakables"3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive, from low-gain breakup upward68 |
| Hi-Cut | Rolls off the high end of the overdriven signal, taming brightness for a warmer, more vintage voicing68 |
| Level | Sets the output volume of the pedal68 |
For a player used to overdrives with separate tone, presence or clipping switches, the Hi-Cut knob is the one control that shapes the frequency balance. Rather than a full tone control that can boost or cut, it is a treble roll-off, which suits the pedal's vintage-amp brief: it lets you darken the drive into a bright amp without adding anything the circuit did not already have368.
Power: 9V DC, 15mA
The RJ-1V runs on 9V DC with a center negative connector, drawing approximately 15mA58. That is a low current draw by pedalboard standards, well within what a shared or daisy-chained supply can deliver.
The pedal also takes a battery: Free The Tone specifies a 9V type 006P battery, with a DC9V input jack for AC adapter connection8. When the pedal was sold new, the box included a warranty card, an owner's manual, a 9V type 006P battery and four rubber feet6.
The RJ-1V predates the era when battery-free operation was the norm. If you find one secondhand, check the battery compartment: an old 006P left in place for years can leak and corrode the contacts.
Why it was discontinued
Free The Tone ended production of the RJ-1V in 2018, stating that some parts became difficult to obtain7. Pedal of the Day reported the same reason, noting the pedal "was discontinued in 2018 because some of its component parts became difficult to obtain"1.
The pedal's reputation outlasted its production run. Both Pedal of the Day and Delicious Audio note that the RJ-1V Red Jasper "won popularity as Free The Tone's first low gain drive pedal"1, a standing that kept the name alive among players long after it left production.
Where to find the manual
Free The Tone hosts the English manual as a PDF at freethetone.com, under /upload/en/file/manual/effects/rj1v/RJ-1V_Manual.pdf, linked from the product page as the quick start guide5.
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Questions
Does the Free The Tone Red Jasper take a battery?
Yes. The RJ-1V runs on DC9V from either a 9V battery (the 006P type) or an AC adapter connected through its DC9V input jack. A battery was included in the box when the pedal was new, along with the owner's manual, warranty card and four rubber feet.
Is the Red Jasper RJ-1V still in production?
No. Free The Tone ended production in 2018 because some of the component parts became difficult to obtain. The pedal remains known as the company's first low-gain drive pedal, and a successor, the RED JASPER RJ-2V, followed it.
Is the RJ-1V analog?
Yes. The RJ-1V Red Jasper is an analog overdrive pedal. Free The Tone built it around the goal of producing the smooth highs, punchy mids, tight low end and natural compression feel associated with superb vintage tube amps.
What does the Hi-Cut knob do on the Red Jasper?
Hi-Cut is a treble roll-off control. It lets you trim the high end of the overdriven signal, which is useful for taming brightness into a clean or bright amp, or for dialing in a warmer, more vintage voicing. MusicRadar's reviewer noted the control layout is simple, with Level, Hi-Cut and Gain as the only tweakables.
What is the current draw of the RJ-1V?
The RJ-1V draws about 15mA, which is low enough to run comfortably on a shared pedalboard power supply. It runs on 9V DC with a center negative connector, and it also accepts a 9V battery.
Where is the RJ-1V manual?
Free The Tone hosts the manual as a PDF at freethetone.com, under the file path /upload/en/file/manual/effects/rj1v/RJ-1V_Manual.pdf. It is linked from the product's page as the English quick start guide.
Sources (8)
- Free The Tone RJ-2V Red Jasper Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2022-03-25
- Pedal Update: Free The Tone Red Jasper RJ-2V, Delicious Audio, 2022-04-04
- Free The Tone Red Jasper RJ-1V review, MusicRadar, 2014-05-06
- Red Jasper RJ-1V Overdrive pedal, MusicRadar, 2013-12-10
- RJ-1V Red Jasper Overdrive by Free The Tone, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- RED JASPER / RJ-1V｜Products 商品紹介｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone
- RED JASPER / RJ-2V｜Products 商品紹介｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone, 2018
- RED JASPER / RJ-1V｜Products 商品紹介｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone
