The J. Rockett Audio Designs Archer Select is a premium boost and overdrive pedal built on the Klon Centaur circuit, released in March 2023. It is the latest version of the company's Archer line, and its distinguishing feature is a set of seven selectable clipping options: the stock diodes plus six alternatives chosen by a rotary knob and engaged with a second footswitch12. It also adds a speaker-simulated DI output, a first for the Archer series3.
MusicRadar described it at launch as "a deluxe K-style boost and overdrive with 7 selectable clipping options"1. Gearnews framed the appeal for anyone who likes Klon-style "transparent" overdrives, noting that the range of clipping choices "could be great for studio work"3.
A Klon-style overdrive with seven clipping options
The Archer Select belongs to the family of pedals based on the Klon Centaur, the 1990s overdrive whose NOS germanium clipping diodes became part of its lore. Guitar World notes the Archer Select among Klon-derived pedals that "allows users to switch between seven diodes"8. Delicious Audio describes J. Rockett as "a company that makes some of the best-selling Klon Centaur clones"9, and Pedal of the Day says the Archer, in all its iterations, "has steadily been one of the go-to clone units since its release"2.
What makes the Select different is that it puts several diode flavors in one box. Delicious Audio reports that it features "the diodes of the Archer, iKon, Jeff Mod Archer and 4 additional diodes including LED," for a total of 7 voices from 6 different diodes, five of them new old stock germanium, plus an LED option for maximum clean boost6. Gearnews makes the same point: the Select combines the diode setups of the previous Archer, Ikon and Jeff Mod Archer plus four more3.
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson called it a "Superb ultimate Klone with all the mojo Germanium Diodes selectable in the one device" in his 2023 round-up of the year's boost and overdrive pedals10.
The controls
The pedal carries three knobs, two footswitches and a toggle:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Sets the overall level |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive |
| Treble | Sets the high end, allowing you to dial in more high-end than the standard Archer voicing1 |
| Clipping rotary | Selects one of six alternate clipping diodes: 1N270, 1N695, 1N34A, D9B, D9E or Red LEDs11 |
| Clipping footswitch | Engages the selected alternate diode; a red LED illuminates above it when active. With it off, the pedal defaults to the stock OA10 diodes72 |
| On/Off footswitch | Standard bypass for the effect3 |
| Ground switch | Ground lift, solely for the DI output in case of grounding issues2 |
In Sweetwater's demo, Don Carr explained that the six rotary options are "ranged from lowest forward voltage to highest forward voltage which changes the feel, gain structure and output level," so the knob position changes not just the character of the drive but how much gain and level you get5. Guitar.com's reviewer, Josh Gardner, noted the design "differs from the norm by incorporating a second footswitch to engage one of six different clipping diodes"7.
"The J rocket Archer series of pedals are some of the best sounding k-style overdrive pedals out there."
In the demo, the seven clipping options and the DI output are walked through on a range of guitar and amp settings81.
The speaker-simulated DI output
The Select is the first Archer version with a dedicated DI output, a 1/4" jack on the side of the enclosure while the instrument jacks stay on top37. The DI includes a speaker simulator based on a British 4x12 cabinet, intended for monitoring your overdrive sound direct or for direct recording16. Guitar.com's review describes it as a "DI out with emulated 4×12 speaker cab for monitoring/direct recording"7. A ground lift toggle on the pedal exists solely for this output, for cases where a direct connection produces a ground loop2.
Versions: gold and KTR Red
The Archer Select is built on the K-style pedal circuit, the design descended from the Klon overdrive, and J. Rockett Audio Designs describes it as a Boost/Overdrive pedal that delivers "all the classic Archer tone you're used to, along with some new options to really let you dial in the perfect" sound2. Like other K-style pedals, it uses clipping diodes to shape the overdrive character, and the maker notes that players "have sworn by the influence of the proper NOS germanium clipping diodes" in these circuits2.
What reviewers said
Reviewers have praised the Archer series as "some of the best sounding k-style overdrive pedals out there"5. A key point reviewers highlight is the clipping flexibility: with the clipping diode foot switch off, the pedal defaults to its stock diodes (OA10's), while a rotary knob selects six alternate clipping diode options, ranged from lowest forward voltage to highest forward voltage, which changes the feel, gain structure and output level511. That gives the player seven clipping configurations in total: the stock OA10 setting plus the six rotary positions11.
Videos
Reverb
R.J. Ronquillo
Questions
What diodes are in the J. Rockett Archer Select?
The stock clipping diodes are Mullard OA10s, active when the clipping footswitch is off. Engaging the clipping footswitch brings in six more options selected by a rotary knob: 1N270, 1N695, 1N34A, D9B, D9E and Red LEDs. Five of these are new old stock germanium diodes, and the LED option gives the maximum clean boost.
How is the Archer Select different from the original Archer?
The original Archer is a straightforward Klon-style overdrive with one clipping setup. The Select keeps that stock sound but adds a rotary knob and second footswitch for six additional clipping diodes, plus a DI output with speaker simulation on the side of the enclosure, which earlier Archer versions did not have.
Can I record directly from the Archer Select?
Yes. It has a 1/4 inch DI output on the side with a built-in speaker simulator based on a British 4x12 cabinet, intended for monitoring your overdrive sound direct or for direct recordings. A ground lift switch on the pedal is there solely for the DI in case of grounding issues.
What is the Archer Select KTR Red edition?
A limited edition made in partnership with Reverb, finished in KTR Red rather than the standard gold. It was limited to 250 units and sold exclusively through Reverb, priced at £281.45 at launch. MusicRadar suggested it had the potential to become a collector's item.
Is the Archer Select a Klon clone?
Yes, it is a Klon Centaur-style circuit. Delicious Audio describes J. Rockett as a company that makes some of the best-selling Klon Centaur clones, and the Archer range has been one of the go-to clone units since its release. The Select adds switchable diodes on top of that basic circuit.
Sources (11)
- J Rockett Audio Designs launches the Archer Select, a deluxe K-style boost and overdrive with 7 selectable clipping options, MusicRadar, 2023-03-28
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Archer Select, Pedal of the Day, 2023-03-28
- J Rockett Audio Archer Select overdrive offers 7 clipping diodes, gearnews.com, 2023-03-28
- J Rockett launches the Archer Select pedal with limited edition finish on Reverb, Guitar.com, 2023-03-28
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Archer Select Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2023-03-30
- J. Rockett Archer Select Klon-style Drive, Delicious Audio, 2023-05-09
- J. Rockett Archer Select, Guitar.com, 2023-06-12
- What makes the Klon Centaur a holy grail guitar pedal?, Guitar World, 2025-05-04
- Best New Pedals 2023, Delicious Audio, 2023-04-04
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-12-16
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-09-03
