The J Rockett Lenny, sold as the Lenny Color Boost, is a two-knob boost pedal from J Rockett Audio Designs, released in September 2016 as the sixth product in the company's Tour Series line12. Where a clean boost just makes your signal louder, the Lenny is built to change the sound as it pushes: MusicRadar's reviewer described it as "this simple two-knob boost and tone conditioner has roots in the sound of a Dumble Steel String Singer amp, as used by SRV, being pushed hard."3
The reference point is specific. The Dumble Steel String Singer is the amp behind Stevie Ray Vaughan's silky clean tones on his debut album Texas Flood, and the pedal is named after the instrumental track that closes that record4. Tracks said to have used a Steel String Singer include SRV's Testify, Eric Johnson's S.R.V. and John Mayer's Slow Dancing In A Burning Room5.
A boost that colors the tone
The Lenny is not a transparent volume lift. J Rockett's own description at launch, as reported by Premier Guitar, called it a very musical boost that colors your tone considerably, in an inspiring way, comparing the effect to a Neve console, with a definite mid character that cuts through a mix2.
That midrange character is the point of the design. MusicRadar's reviewer found the pedal "designed to colour your tone with a midrange character reminiscent of that amp, it will give your guitar real presence in a mix"3. For a player, that means the Lenny earns its place on a board as much for what it does at low settings as for its push: the same reviewer concluded that "even without too much in the way of boost, this pedal is a lovely tone improver that feels good to play through, but if you do want to drive your amp harder, there's plenty here to get it sweetly singing."3
A pushed Dumble Steel String Singer in the Tour Series
The circuit's lineage comes from a deliberate design decision. J Rockett explained the starting point at launch:
"We set out to design a recreation of the legendary Dumble Steel String Singer but thought, who needs a loud, clean amp sound in a pedal?"
The answer shaped the product: instead of a clean amp-in-a-box, the Lenny imitates a Steel String Singer being pushed hard, once SRV's amp of choice, producing color, texture and feel rather than loud and clean1. MusicRadar's review put the same idea in player terms, noting the pedal "has roots in the sound of a Dumble Steel String Singer amp, as used by SRV, being pushed hard"3.
The Steel String Singer's clean sound has a documented player history beyond Vaughan. Eric Johnson and, more recently, John Mayer are also associated with it7, and tracks said to feature the amp include Testify, S.R.V. and Slow Dancing In A Burning Room5. The Lenny arrived as the sixth release of the Tour Series line, a line MusicRadar described as long awaited2.
Controls and power
Two knobs do all the work, and the maker describes them as a pair rather than two independent settings.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Boost | Tons of push, which creates an interplay with the front end of any amp2 |
| Tone | Dials in your highs, simply put2 |
The two controls are interactive, and the maker says they "really need each other when slamming an amp"6. On the Tone side, MusicRadar's reviewer found that "the Tone knob's range works perfectly with your amp to focus the top-end where you need it and is capable of bringing out a plangent chime."3
Power is straightforward: 9V DC operation with standard negative tip and positive sleeve2, the same convention as most modern pedals, and the maker's product page also lists a 9 volt battery option6. Input and output jacks sit at the head of the pedal, and the enclosure measures approximately 4" x 2.30"2.
Price and availability
At launch in September 2016 the Lenny was available now at $179 in the US and £159 in the UK1, with Premier Guitar reporting a $179.00 street price2 and Guitar.com's review listing £1594. Rockett Pedals' own product page later listed the pedal at $122.856.
The $179 figure is the September 2016 launch price. Rockett Pedals' product page lists $122.85 as of March 2026, so the current price differs from what the pedal cost new26.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review, by Trevor Curwen, framed the pedal as a tone tool first and a boost second: a lovely tone improver that feels good to play through even without much boost, with plenty of push on tap for driving an amp harder3. The same review highlighted the midrange character and the presence it gives a guitar in a mix3, and found the Tone control's range works with your amp to focus the top-end3. Guitar.com's review, by Richard Purvis, described the pedal as an attempt to recreate the silky clean tones of the Steel String Singer used on Texas Flood4.
Videos
J. Rockett Audio Designs
J. Rockett Audio Designs
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Questions
What is the J Rockett Lenny Color Boost based on?
It is based on the Dumble Steel String Singer amp, specifically one being pushed hard. J Rockett set out to design a recreation of that amp, but instead of a loud, clean amp sound in a pedal, they built a boost that adds color, texture and feel. The amp is associated with Stevie Ray Vaughan, who used it on his debut album Texas Flood.
What voltage does the Lenny Color Boost run on?
It runs on 9V DC operation with standard negative tip and positive sleeve, and it also takes a 9 volt battery. That means it works with the common center-negative power supplies most pedalboards already use, and it can run without a supply at all if you fit a battery.
How much did the Lenny Color Boost cost at launch?
At launch in September 2016 it was available for $179 in the US, with Premier Guitar reporting a $179.00 street price and MusicRadar listing it at $179 in the US and £159 in the UK. Rockett Pedals' own product page later listed the pedal at $122.85.
Is the Lenny Color Boost a clean boost?
No. J Rockett describes it as a very musical boost that colors your tone considerably, comparing the effect to a Neve console. It has a definite mid character designed to help a guitar cut through a mix, so it works more as a tone conditioner than a transparent volume lift.
What does the Boost knob do on the Lenny Color Boost?
The Boost control provides what the maker calls tons of push, which creates an interplay with the front end of any amp. It is designed to drive your amp harder rather than simply add volume on its own, and it works together with the Tone control, the two being interactive when slamming an amp.
Sources (7)
- J Rockett Audio Designs channels SRV's Dumble tone for Lenny Color Boost pedal, MusicRadar, 2016-09-20
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Unveils the Lenny Color Boost, Premier Guitar, 2016-09-13
- J Rockett Lenny review, MusicRadar, 2016-11-15
- J Rockett Tour Series Tranquilizer, Blue Note, Lenny & Hooligan review, Guitar.com, 2016-08-30
- Can a $249 preamp/drive pedal and a few commonly found stompboxes nail the Dumble amp tones of classic SRV, Eric Johnson and John Mayer tracks?, MusicRadar, 2024-02-16
- Lenny - Dumble Style Steel String Singer Tones Like SRV, Rockett Pedals, 2026-03-31
- Vertex Effects Steel String Drive mk 2 Overdrive Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2020-03-14
