The J. Rockett PXO is a dual overdrive and boost pedal: two independently footswitched halves in one box, built as a signature pedal for Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X. Each side can run on its own, or the two can be stacked in series, and a Pre/Post switch lets you choose whether the boost hits the overdrive first or sits after it in the chain12.
Rockett Pedals, the maker, positions the PXO as a live or studio tool, and says that when the company sent Phil X the overdrive sample he found it saved him in backline situations and gave him a drive that plays well with others1. Premier Guitar's reviewer put the pedal's reach in broader terms:
"The PXO Boost and Overdrive may be designed for Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X, but its capabilities transcend arena rock."3
Boost and overdrive in one pedal
The core idea of the PXO is that its Boost and Drive sections are independent circuits with their own footswitches, so you get three usable configurations out of one box: boost alone, overdrive alone, or both stacked5. Guitar World's editors described it as a signature pedal for Phil X "featuring independently-footswitched Boost and Drive sections that can" be combined, and noted that each side can be used independently or in series mode25.
What sets it apart from a simple two-in-one is the order switch. As Premier Guitar's First Look page summarized it3:
"The PXO is an overdrive/boost where you can select pre or post giving you variety in how you want to boost, EQ and overdrive."4
Putting the boost before the drive pushes the overdrive circuit harder, changing its character and compression; putting it after leaves the drive sound alone and adds level on top. Premier Guitar's reviewer called this switching "a primary source of the PXO's flexibility"3.
Guitar World's Mike Hermans characterized the overall voice as "a dual boost/overdrive with a mid-forward voice, but one that is quite unique, featuring a tight bass and pre[sent high end]"6. At launch, Guitar World's news coverage quoted the maker's sound description: the PXO "has a lush, thick feel to the bottom end and a smooth top end that begs you to dig into the note"2.
The controls: overdrive side and boost side
The two sides are laid out differently on purpose. Rockett says it put standard controls on the overdrive side and a simpler, tilt-based EQ on the boost side1.
| Side | Controls | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Overdrive | Volume, Gain, Overdrive, EQ | Standard overdrive controls; Guitar World's review specifies Volume, Treble, Bass and Gain, a two-band EQ it found offers a practical range of tones to match pickups and amp125 |
| Boost | Level, Tilt EQ | A single Tilt control for simple EQ, plus a level control12 |
| Order | Pre/Post switch | Determines whether the boost pushes the Drive section or comes after it5 |
The Tilt control is the boost side's distinguishing feature. Guitar World's Mike Hermans explained how it works6:
"The Tilt control on the Boost side is perhaps its most interesting feature, as turned one way it boosts highs while reducing lows, and the other boosts lows while reducing highs."6
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the tilt EQ's extremes can sound excessive, but that the trebliest setting "can [add] presence and cut to a lead from a muddy amp"3. That is the practical use case: rather than carrying a separate EQ pedal, a player can lean the boost bright to pull a solo forward.
Phil X's signature pedal
The PXO was unveiled on September 30, 2024 as a signature overdrive/boost for Phil X, Bon Jovi's guitarist, and was available from launch2. Rockett frames it as a working player's tool rather than a collectible: "The PXO was created as a live or studio tool"1.
The origin story the maker tells is practical. When Rockett sent Phil X the overdrive sample, "he found that it saved him in backline situations and provided him a drive that p[lays well with others]"1. In other words, the design goal was a drive that behaves when the amp and backline are unfamiliar, which is the situation a touring player faces nightly.
The PXO sits in a J. Rockett signature line that includes pedals such as the Mark Lettieri Melody and the Steve Stevens Rockaway Archer, alongside the company's better-known drives like the Archer Select and The Dude4.
What reviewers made of it
Published reviewers focused on the PXO's flexibility. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the range within each effect, and the way the controls interact, to be the pedal's strength, comparing its precision to "a surgeon's scalpel" for overall flexibility3.
Guitar World's editors included the PXO in their roundup of the best new pedals of the 2020s, highlighting its two-band drive EQ, the boost section's tilt EQ, and the Pre/Post order switch as the features that earn it a place5. Premier Guitar's editors likewise listed it in their best-of-gear coverage as "Phil X's signature drive and boost" at $349 street7.
On price, the maker's own listing is $349.00 USD1. Guitar World's launch news reported $349.99 at introduction2, and its later roundup gave $3495; Premier Guitar's First Look page listed $297.49 in November 20244, so the figures vary slightly across sources, with the maker's current listing at $349.00.
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Questions
Can you change the order of the boost and overdrive on the PXO?
Yes. A Pre/Post switch determines whether the boost section pushes the overdrive section on its way in, or sits after it on the way out. Premier Guitar's reviewer called this order switching a primary source of the pedal's flexibility, since boosting before the drive changes its character while boosting after it mainly adds level.
What does the tilt EQ on the J. Rockett PXO do?
The boost side has a single Tilt control instead of separate bass and treble knobs. Turned one way it boosts highs while reducing lows; turned the other it boosts lows while reducing highs. Rockett describes it as a way to EQ with simplicity, and reviewers found its treble extreme useful for cutting through a muddy amp on a lead.
How much does the J. Rockett PXO cost?
Rockett Pedals lists the PXO at $349.00 USD. Guitar World's launch coverage in September 2024 reported $349.99, and a later Premier Guitar buyer's guide gave it as $349 street. It has been available since its September 2024 launch.
Can each side of the PXO be used on its own?
Yes. The Boost and Drive sections each have their own footswitch, so either can run independently, and they can also be stacked in series mode. That makes it usable as a clean boost alone, an overdrive alone, or both together.
Sources (7)
- Tour Series Blue Note Overdrive, Rockett Pedals, 2025-11-06
- Phil X debuts J. Rockett signature pedal, the PXO, Guitar World, 2024-09-30
- Discover the Ultimate Tone Tool: J. Rockett PXO Review, Premier Guitar, 2025-01-15
- J. Rockett Audio Designs PXO Pedal Demo, Premier Guitar, 2024-11-18
- Guitar World's 30 favorite guitar pedals from the past 5 years, Guitar World, 2025-06-02
- Mad Professor Little Green Wonder review, Guitar World, 2026-06-23
- The Year In Gear 2025, Premier Guitar, 2025-11-07
