The Rockaway Archer is a signature overdrive from J. Rockett Audio Designs, the Steve Stevens Signature Rockaway Archer Overdrive, which pairs an overdrive circuit with a six-band post-gain EQ. It carried a list price of $229 USD, and its controls are Volume, Gain, and a six-band post-gain EQ with bands at 100Hz, 200Hz, 400Hz, 800Hz, 1.5kHz and 3.2kHz.1
At its core it is a Klone-style overdrive, meaning it follows the general format of the Klon, but it goes further: Guitar Pedal X describes it as a "Klone+" that pairs the drive circuit with a six-band post-gain EQ and greatly extended gain and output range.2
What it does
The pedal combines two jobs in one enclosure. The overdrive side follows the Klon-style Archer format, while the EQ side gives you six bands of post-gain tone shaping at 100Hz, 200Hz, 400Hz, 800Hz, 1.5kHz and 3.2kHz. Because the EQ sits after the gain stage, you can shape the character of the driven tone itself rather than just cleaning up the input.1
It grew out of the standard J Rockett Archer family. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson called it "very obviously Steve Stevens' advanced take of the J Rockett Archer," honed with the 6-band EQ and a greatly extended gain and output range.2
The controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Gain | Amount of overdrive |
| 100Hz | Post-gain EQ band |
| 200Hz | Post-gain EQ band |
| 400Hz | Post-gain EQ band |
| 800Hz | Post-gain EQ band |
| 1.5kHz | Post-gain EQ band |
| 3.2kHz | Post-gain EQ band |
The six EQ bands are fixed-frequency controls rather than a sweepable mid band, so each knob cuts or boosts one set frequency.1
What reviewers said
Reception has been strong. In a 2022 roundup of J. Rockett's EQ-equipped pedals, Guitar Pedal X wrote that "near enough everyone seems to love the Rockaway which really takes the Klone format through the gears."2
In a later 2025 look at Klon-style pedals, the same reviewer placed it at the top of his own list: "It's for sure the best of that trio - in fact an every way top tier Klon - with vastly extended range and precision!" He also ranked it the best of his three J. Rockett EQ pedals overall.1
Where it sits in the J. Rockett range
The Rockaway Archer is one of several overdrives in the J. Rockett line, alongside pedals like the The Dude, El Hombre and Tim Pierce signature models. Its distinguishing feature within that range is the combination of a Klone-style drive with a full six-band post-gain EQ, which no other pedal in the line shares in the same form.2
For a wider look at the category, see the site's guide to overdrive pedals.
Videos
J. Rockett Audio Designs
J. Rockett Audio Designs
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Questions
What is the Rockaway Archer?
It is a signature overdrive pedal from J. Rockett Audio Designs, developed for guitarist Steve Stevens as an all-in-one solution to his overdrive and EQ needs. It takes the company's Archer, a Klon-style circuit, and adds a six-band post-gain EQ along with greatly extended gain and output range, so one pedal can cover both drive and tone shaping.
How is the Rockaway Archer different from the J Rockett Archer?
The Rockaway Archer is Steve Stevens' advanced take on the J Rockett Archer. It keeps the Klone-style overdrive format but adds a six-band post-gain EQ at 100Hz, 200Hz, 400Hz, 800Hz, 1.5kHz and 3.2kHz, and extends the gain and output range well beyond the original, letting one pedal handle overdrive and EQ together.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-09-03
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2022-04-12
- Steve Stevens Rockaway Archer: New J. Rockett Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2017-02-22
Steve Stevens
