The Blue Note is an overdrive pedal from J. Rockett Audio Designs, a maker known for its range of drive pedals. It sits in the low-gain end of the overdrive world, shaping the sound of an amp that is already breaking up rather than delivering heavy distortion on its own. Like other overdrives, it is built to respond to how hard you pick, cleaning up when you back off and pushing forward when you dig in123.
The pedal has appeared in several forms over the years: the original Pro Series version with its Hot switch, a compact Tour Series version without it, and the current Blue Note Select, which combines features of both. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio notes the Blue Note is "considered by many as the company's take on the Blues Breaker circuit, although the company has been challenging that"4.
The controls
Across its versions, the Blue Note keeps a simple four-knob layout. Guitar.com's review of the Tour Series lists the controls as volume, gain, tone and fat, plus a bypass footswitch6, and MusicRadar confirms the same four knobs7.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level |
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive |
| Tone | Shapes the treble; Pedal of the Day's reviewer called it "super usable and focused," not just a shift from bright to ultra-bright1 |
| Fat | Adds a low mid character when turned clockwise, useful for single coils or humbuckers1 |
The Fat knob is the control that sets the Blue Note apart from a basic three-knob overdrive. Delicious Audio describes it as tailoring the low end trim, which makes it useful for matching the pedal to different pickup and amp combinations4. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Cameron D, found that turned clockwise "it adds a low mid characteristic that can really provide a smooth and beefy tone for single coils"1.
The Hot switch and how much gain you get
The Pro Series Blue Note added a Hot switch, a toggle in the middle of the pedal. Engaging it adds gain and a volume boost1, and Tone Island's Adam Connell describes it as giving "more level, gain, and mids"9. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it "allows for a great singing lead tone that is perfect for blues"1.
With the Hot switch off, the pedal stays firmly in low-gain territory. As Cameron D put it, "Without the hot switch engaged, there is not a ton of gain on tap"1. He used it as a boost and tone enhancer, first in his chain, with everything except gain at 12:30 and gain at about 9 o'clock1. On the Blue Note Select, Guitar World's Trevor Curwen found Hot mode "doubles your options with a touch of extra gain and a perceived slight increase in presence"8.
Is it a Tube Screamer-style pedal?
Not exactly. Pedal of the Day's reviewer referenced Tube Screamer-style circuits when explaining the pedal1, but the Blue Note is generally placed in a different family. Delicious Audio reports that the Blue Note Select is widely considered J. Rockett's take on the Blues Breaker circuit, though the company itself has pushed back on that label4. Guitar World's review of the Select identifies it simply as a low-to-medium gain overdrive with toggle-switched Standard and Fat modes8.
Blue Note Select and Tour Series versions
The Blue Note line has evolved through three main versions:
| Version | Key features |
|---|---|
| Pro Series Blue Note | The original, with the Hot switch9 |
| Blue Note Tour Series | A small, compact version of the Pro Series, minus the Hot switch; rugged steel enclosure and the Speed Switch system, with I/O jacks at the head of the pedal73 |
| Blue Note Select | A V2 combining the Pro Series Hot switch with the Tour Series compact format, plus the Fat knob4 |
The Tour Series arrived in November 2016 as a compact take on the Pro Series pedal, aimed at touring players with its steel enclosure and Speed Switch switching system3. Guitar.com's Richard Purvis noted it is made in the USA6.
The Blue Note Select, announced in August 2024, is the current version. Delicious Audio describes it as a V2 of the circuit that reinstates the Hot switch "in another nicely compact offering that's had a complete makeover" in both looks and circuitry, with custom knobs and a custom-mixed electric blue finish48. The maker says the two gain structures give a wide array of drive5, and reports that the biggest improvement over earlier versions is the low end, both in and out of hot mode4.
"This could be our best overall low gain drive."
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Questions
What does the Hot switch do on the Blue Note?
The Hot switch, found on the Pro Series and Blue Note Select versions, adds gain, a volume boost and extra mids. Reviewers describe it as giving a touch of extra gain and a slight perceived increase in presence, useful for pushing the pedal into a singing lead tone. The Tour Series version does not have the Hot switch918.
What does the Fat knob do on the J. Rockett Blue Note?
The Fat knob tailors the low end trim, which makes it useful for matching the pedal to different pickup and amp combinations. Turned clockwise it adds a low mid characteristic that can give single coils or humbuckers a smoother, beefier tone41.
Is the Blue Note a Tube Screamer-style pedal?
Pedal of the Day's reviewer grouped it with Tube Screamer-style circuits when describing how it responds, but the Blue Note Select is widely considered J. Rockett's take on the Blues Breaker circuit instead, although the company has challenged that assumption. It is best understood as its own low-gain overdrive design145.
How much gain does the Blue Note have without the Hot switch?
Not much. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that without the Hot switch engaged there is not a ton of gain on tap, which suits the pedal's edge-of-breakup character. The maker calls the Blue Note Select a low-gain overdrive, and one reviewer used it as a boost and tone enhancer with gain around 9 o'clock175.
What is the difference between the Blue Note and the Blue Note Select?
The Blue Note Select is a V2 that combines features of the Pro Series, which had the Hot switch, and the Tour Series, which did not. It keeps the Hot switch, adds the Fat knob, and brings improvements to looks, sound and feel in a very small package, with the biggest improvement in the low end both in and out of hot mode497.
Sources (9)
- J.Rockett Audio Designs Blue Note Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-02-14
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Blue Note Overdrive - Pedal of the Day, Pedal of the Day
- J. Rockett Launches Tour Series Blue Note Overdrive, Premier Guitar, 2016-11-02
- New Pedal: J. Rockett Blue Note Select Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2024-08-26
- Tour Series Blue Note Overdrive, rockettpedals.com, 2026-09-19
- J Rockett Tour Series Tranquilizer, Blue Note, Lenny & Hooligan review, Guitar.com, 2016-08-30
- J Rockett Audio Designs hits a Blue Note with "one of the warmest, most musical overdrives on the market", MusicRadar, 2016-11-02
- J Rockett Blue Note Select review, Guitar World, 2025-04-20
- 9 Best Blues Breaker Style Overdrive Pedals & Clones (2026 Edition), Tone Island (toneisland.com), 2026
