The Revolver is a stereo splitter/boost/vibe pedal from J. Rockett Audio Designs, announced in September 2013 as a collaboration with designer Mark Sampson. It re-creates a classic pitch shifting vibe similar to that of a Magnatone amp, and it stands apart from other vibe pedals because the effect is available in mono or stereo1. If you are comparing vibe-style pedals, it sits closer to the pitch shifting end of the family than to chorus or phaser designs, and it can also serve as a boost on a board built around Boost Pedals.
What it does to your sound
J. Rockett Audio Designs was explicit that the Revolver is not a Uni-Vibe copy. In the announcement, the company said: "we were not trying to recreate the Univibe effect". Instead, the maker points to the subtleties of the pedal: you can hear pitch shifting, a slight wah effect, and interplay between the left and right outputs that creates a sound unique to the vibe world1.
The circuit is described as a re-creation of a classic pitch shifting vibe similar to that of a Magnatone amp, the amplifier family known for its pitch shifting vibrato1. For players, that means the Revolver leans toward the swirling, detuned character of a Magnatone rather than the throb of a Uni-Vibe style circuit.
Odd and Even modes in stereo
The stereo behavior is the pedal's defining feature, and a mode switch sets how the two sides behave1:
| Mode | What happens |
|---|---|
| Odd | Stereo mode recreates classic rotating speaker sounds, alternating left/right and pitch shifting |
| Even | Both sides pulse and pitch simultaneously |
In Odd mode the sound moves between the left and right outputs the way a rotating speaker does, with the pitch shifting following the alternation. Even mode keeps both outputs moving together, which reads more like a single pulsing, pitch shifting effect spread across a stereo rig1.
The pedal is footswitchable for the vibe effect, so you can bring the vibe in and out while leaving the boost path intact1.
Controls
The Revolver carries six controls1:
- Volume
- Depth
- Tone
- Speed
- Mono/stereo (also described as standard/pitch)
- Odd/even
Volume, Depth, Tone and Speed cover the usual vibe territory: overall level, intensity of the effect, voicing and rate. The two mode controls are what set the Revolver apart, choosing between mono and stereo operation and between the alternating Odd and simultaneous Even behaviors1.
The left LED does more than show the pedal is on: it pulses in time with the vibe speed and indicates vibe intensity, illuminating brighter for high intensity and dimmer for low intensity1. That gives you a quick visual read of both rate and depth at a glance on stage.
Power and practical details
The Revolver runs on 9V DC with a standard 9V input sleeve, so it takes the same center negative supply as most pedals1. Its footprint is approximately 5" x 3"1, which keeps it compact on a board.
The Revolver was announced in September 2013 as a collaboration with Mark Sampson, described by Premier Guitar as one of the creators of Matchless Amps and one of the most acclaimed amp designers in history1. Sampson's Matchless background lines up with the Magnatone-style pitch shifting character the pedal pursues.
Where it sits in the J. Rockett range
The Revolver is an unusual entry in the J. Rockett Audio Designs catalog, which is otherwise weighted toward drive and boost designs such as the Dude, the Lenny Color Boost and the Hightop Boost/EQ. Players looking for the company's take on boost and overdrive will find those on the Overdrive Pedals and Boost Pedals pages, while the Revolver's pitch shifting character sits closer to the territory covered by Vibrato Pedals and Chorus Pedals1.
Videos
J. Rockett Audio Designs
J. Rockett Audio Designs
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Questions
Is the J. Rockett Revolver a Uni-Vibe clone?
No. J. Rockett Audio Designs says the Revolver is a re-creation of a classic pitch shifting vibe similar to that of a Magnatone amp, and that the company was not trying to recreate the Univibe effect. Players hear pitch shifting, a slight wah effect, and interplay between the left and right outputs that creates a sound the maker describes as unique to the vibe world.
Does the J. Rockett Revolver work in mono and stereo?
Yes. The effect is available in mono or stereo, and one of the pedal's six controls switches between mono/stereo, also described as standard/pitch. In stereo, Odd mode alternates left and right with pitch shifting to re-create classic rotating speaker sounds, while Even mode makes both sides pulse and pitch simultaneously.
Is the J. Rockett Revolver true bypass?
Yes. The Revolver uses true bypass switching, so the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path when the effect is off.
What power does the J. Rockett Revolver need?
The Revolver runs on 9V DC with a standard 9V input sleeve. No current draw figure or battery option is published for the pedal.
What does the left LED on the Revolver show?
The left LED pulses in time with the vibe speed and also indicates vibe intensity, illuminating brighter for high intensity and dimmer for low intensity. It works as a visual guide to both the speed and the depth of the effect.
Who designed the J. Rockett Revolver?
The Revolver is a collaboration between J. Rockett Audio Designs and Mark Sampson, described by Premier Guitar as one of the creators of Matchless Amps and one of the most acclaimed amp designers in history.
Sources (1)
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Releases The Revolver, Premier Guitar, 2013-09-02
