The JColoccia Id is a low to mid gain overdrive pedal from JColoccia Guitars, a green-clad pedal whose ancestry is the Tube Screamer. Premier Guitar's reviewer put it plainly: when you set the controls at neutral positions, it is a sonic dead ringer for a Tube Screamer, but the Id effectively expands on that formula with a fuller set of controls and a voice toggle1. Pedal of the Day's guest reviewer described it as a low to mid gain overdrive that takes you from a tasteful base drive to a slightly boosted, crunchy tone2.
The controls and connections
The Id carries three EQ controls, a simple set of treble, mid and bass knobs, which is a step beyond the two-knob tone arrangements of many pedals in this family1. A voice toggle helps shape the pedal toward a less or more aggressive character2. Connections are quality Switchcraft jacks2.
| Control or connection | What it does |
|---|---|
| Treble, mid, bass EQ | Simple three-band EQ set1 |
| Voice toggle | Helps with a less or more driven character2 |
| Switchcraft jacks | Quality input and output connections2 |
| DC input | Standard jack, accepts 9V to 18V2 |
| Battery compartment | Holds a 9V battery1 |
The Id runs on a standard DC input at 9V to 18V and also takes a 9V battery, so it can sit on a pedalboard power supply or run standalone12.
How it compares to a Tube Screamer
The Tube Screamer lineage is central to what the Id is. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that when you see an overdrive clad in green, you can be somewhat sure of its spiritual ancestry, and found the Id a sonic dead ringer for a Tube Screamer at neutral settings1. Where it differs is in the expanded control set and how it responds:
- It effectively expands on the TS formula1
- Great pick sensitivity for a TS-style pedal1
- An airy high end1
For readers weighing Tube Screamer-style pedals against each other, the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison covers two of the pedals this design descends from, and the Overdrive Pedals page places the Id among the wider field. JColoccia Guitars also makes the Big Cannoli, a medium to high gain overdrive that sits above the Id's low to mid gain range12.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer listed the pedal's strengths without cons: "Effectively expands on the TS formula. Great pick sensitivity for a TS-style pedal. Airy high end."1
"It's a low to mid gain overdrive with treble, bass, and mid controls as well as a voice toggle to help with a less or mo"
Videos
Pete Thorn
Premier Guitar
Jimmy Burkard
Questions
Does the JColoccia Id take a battery?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review notes the pedal includes a 9V battery compartment alongside its DC input, so it can run on a battery or an external power supply.
Is the JColoccia Id true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's guest review lists True Bypass switching among the pedal's features, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal straight through when it is off.
Can the JColoccia Id run at 18V?
Yes. The DC input accepts 9V to 18V, according to Pedal of the Day's review. It also has a 9V battery compartment, so it can run on battery power as well.
How is the Id different from a Tube Screamer?
Premier Guitar's reviewer found that with the controls set at neutral positions, the Id is a sonic dead ringer for a Tube Screamer, but it effectively expands on that formula. It adds full treble, mid and bass EQ controls and a voice toggle, and the reviewer noted great pick sensitivity for a TS-style pedal along with an airy high end.
Sources (2)
- Ringside at the OD Rodeo: 5 Dirt Pedal Reviews, Premier Guitar, 2016-05-31
- Guest Reviewer Fridays: JColoccia Id Custom Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2017-01-06
