The J Rockett IQ is a compressor pedal from J Rockett that combines a six-band graphic EQ with compression in one enclosure. Instead of compressing the whole signal evenly, it lets you target compression per frequency band across 100Hz, 200Hz, 400Hz, 800Hz, 1.5kHz and 3.2kHz, so you can tame, say, low-end boom without flattening your pick attack up top1. MusicRadar reported 18dB of cut or boost per band when the pedal was announced in May 20172.
The IQ is discontinued. Guitar Pedal X, reviewing it in October 2026, called it "A very unique Compressor, alas discontinued now" and noted it was short-lived1.
What it does
The idea behind the IQ is that compression and EQ interact. The six-band EQ sits before the compression stage, so boosting or cutting a band changes how hard that part of your signal gets compressed. Guitar Pedal X describes the pedal as a "6-Band Pre Comp EQ" across those six frequencies, and believes the EQ placement on the compressor is pre-comp3.
That per-band approach is what sets the IQ apart from a standard compressor pedal. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer found it "a really smart and pretty unique take on the Compressor genre which I would no doubt properly deploy i", particularly appealing for funk players, though he added "It's pity this never fully caught on"13.
Delicious Audio's buying guide sums up the concept plainly: "Combines a 6 Band Graphic EQ and compression into one pedal."4
Controls
The face of the pedal is dominated by six sliding boost/cut frequency controls. Premier Guitar's review notes: "The heart of the J. Rockett's flexibility is the six sliding boost/cut frequency controls. Each is illuminated when the effect is on."5
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Six EQ sliders | Boost or cut each of the six frequency bands, illuminated when the effect is on5 |
| Volume | Sets the output level of the compression section4 |
| Mix | Blends the compressed signal with your dry tone6 |
The Mix control is central to how the pedal behaves. gearnews.com's writer liked what it does to the attack: "What I really like is that the Mix control blends in the compressed signal with your dry guitar tone", keeping transients and attack intact6. Roll the Mix knob right back and, as Guitar Pedal X points out, the pedal functions as just a six-band EQ3.
How it sounds
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the IQ relatively quiet and relatively transparent at flat settings, and summed up its range this way: "with its 6-band EQ, wet/dry mix control, relative transparency at flat levels, and relative quietness, J. Rockett's I.Q."5 In other words, it can be super subtle or powerfully transformative in transparency and noise, depending on how far you push the sliders and the mix5.
Where it came from
The IQ is a short-lived pedal that J Rockett has since discontinued1. J Rockett has built several other compressors, including the Squeegee and the Airchild 660 and Airchild Six Sixty studio-style units, but the IQ remains the one that puts a six-band graphic EQ, covering 100Hz to 3.2 kHz, in front of the compression stage431.
Videos
Glenn Wallace
American Musical Supply
Questions
Is the J Rockett IQ still in production?
No. Guitar Pedal X lists the IQ as a discontinued pedal, describing it as a very unique compressor that never fully caught on. It was a short-lived release from J Rockett, so players looking for one today are generally hunting the secondhand market rather than a store shelf.
Can the J Rockett IQ be used as just an EQ?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X notes that if you dial the Mix knob right back, the pedal functions as just a six-band EQ, with no compression blended in. That makes it a two-in-one tool: a per-band compressor at full mix, or a graphic EQ on its own with the mix rolled off.
How many bands does the IQ's EQ have and what frequencies do they cover?
The IQ has a six-band graphic EQ covering 100Hz, 200Hz, 400Hz, 800Hz, 1.5kHz and 3.2kHz, with 18dB of cut or boost per band according to MusicRadar. Because the EQ sits before the compressor, each band you boost or cut also shapes what the compression acts on.
Sources (6)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X
- Raise your IQ with J Rockett's new EQ-equipped compressor pedal, MusicRadar, 2017-05-15
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-04-12
- 2023 UPDATE! Best EQ Pedals For Guitar: Graphic & Parametric, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-13
- J. Rockett I.Q. Compressor Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-08-11
- J Rockett Pedals' I.Q. Compressor pedal: Cut, boost and compress, gearnews.com, 2017-05-15
