The Jackson Audio AMP MODE BOOST is a compact boost pedal built around a MOSFET transistor, a type of transistor Jackson Audio describes as very popular for boost circuits. The maker describes its output as "a crushingly loud and harmonically rich boost", and the pedal is designed to push an amp or drive a pedalboard harder without changing the character of your guitar. It sits in the boost pedals family, alongside Jackson Audio's larger multi-function pedals like the PRISM and the Broken Arrow V2 MIDI, which combine boost with overdrive and other functions.1
The BOOST control and unity gain buffer
The AMP MODE BOOST keeps its control set to a single knob:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| BOOST | Sets the overall boost for the AMP MODE; at its fully counter-clockwise minimum the pedal acts as a unity gain buffer instead of boosting1 |
Jackson Audio explains that "the single boost control sets the overall boost for the AMP MODE", so one knob covers the pedal's whole range of gain.1
The knob's lowest setting changes what the pedal does entirely. When the boost control is fully counter-clockwise, Jackson Audio says the pedal "doesn't boost your signal, it instead acts as a unity gain buffer". In that mode the pedal passes your guitar's signal at its original level while, in the maker's words, emboldening it to prevent tonal loss on long cable runs. That makes the pedal useful in two roles1:
- as a volume boost when the BOOST control is turned up
- as a clean buffer when the BOOST control is turned all the way down1
At its minimum setting the AMP MODE BOOST is not a clean boost, it is a unity gain buffer. If you want the pedal to add level, turn the BOOST control up from fully counter-clockwise.
Design and build
The pedal is built for tight pedalboards. Jackson Audio describes "a tiny footprint featuring top mounted jacks", with dimensions of 1.8" x 4". Top-mounted jacks keep cables from sticking out sideways, which helps the pedal fit close to its neighbors on a board.1
One detail Jackson Audio highlights is the knob itself. MOSFET boost circuits can crackle as the boost knob is rotated, and the maker says it fixed this in the AMP MODE1:
"We fixed this issue in the AMP MODE so it is perfectly silent when the boost knob is rotated"
Power and bypass
The AMP MODE BOOST runs from 9V to 18V DC, center negative, and Jackson Audio states it can safely run anywhere in that range. Its maximum current consumption is 10mA, a light draw that most standard power supply outputs can handle.1
For bypass, the pedal uses what Jackson Audio calls "a mechanical true bypass switch", so the boost circuit is taken out of the signal path entirely when the pedal is off.1
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Circuit | MOSFET transistor based1 |
| Bypass | Mechanical true bypass1 |
| Power | 9V to 18V DC, center negative1 |
| Maximum current consumption | 10mA1 |
| Input impedance | 1M1 |
| Output impedance | 100k1 |
| Dimensions | 1.8" x 4"1 |
Videos
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Questions
Is the Jackson Audio AMP MODE BOOST true bypass?
Yes. Jackson Audio states that the bypass switch is a mechanical true bypass switch, so when the pedal is off your guitar's signal passes through the switch directly, without going through the boost circuit or its buffer.
What voltage does the Jackson Audio AMP MODE BOOST take?
Jackson Audio says the AMP MODE can safely run from 9V to 18V DC, center negative. That gives players some flexibility with pedalboard power supplies, though the maker does not state a battery option on the product page.
What does the AMP MODE BOOST do at its lowest setting?
With the boost control fully counter-clockwise, the pedal stops boosting and instead acts as a unity gain buffer. Jackson Audio says this emboldens the guitar's signal to prevent tonal loss on long cable runs, so the pedal can serve as a clean buffer when you do not need extra volume.
How much current does the AMP MODE BOOST draw?
Jackson Audio lists the maximum current consumption at 10mA, which is a light draw by pedal standards and well within what most pedalboard power supplies can handle on a single output.
Sources (1)
- AMP MODE BOOST, Jackson Audio
