The JPTR FX Deluxe Jive is a limited-edition reel saturator overdrive from the German maker JPTR FX, released as a 10th anniversary edition of the Jive Reel Saturator. Only 20 pedals were made, each finished in Analog Magenta, and the maker's page now lists the run as sold out1. Like the standard Jive, it is a tape-inspired saturation and drive circuit: Pedal of the Day described the original as "a reel saturator, lo-fi boost and overdrive all in one"2.
The Deluxe Jive began as a bass-oriented circuit: JPTR FX says it was originally conceived as the Bass Jive, designed to give bassists saturation and drive1. The maker's product page lists it at £129.00, dated 26 October 202641.
Where it came from
According to the maker, the Deluxe Jive circuit was "Originally conceived as the Bass Jive", designed to give bassists saturation and drive, and it expands the original with "multiple voicing options, precise EQ sculpting, and a fully adjustable drive section"1. The maker describes the sound as "tuned to deliver warmth, grit, and harmonics across the entire frequency spectrum", from gentle tape-style compression to full-bodied, vintage-inspired overdrive1.
The controls and switches
The Deluxe Jive adds switching that the standard Jive does not have. Its controls, as listed by the maker4:
| Control | Settings | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Clean Boost / Classic Jive / Classic + Parallel Drive | Selects between a clean boost, the classic Jive drive, and the classic drive with a parallel path |
| Voicing | Vintage / Neutral / Modern | Three tonal voicing options |
| Lowcut | 60Hz / 30Hz / 80Hz | Three lowcut settings for shaping the low end |
| Bypass Mode Switch (internal) | Always On MODE / Regular Bypass MODE | Sets how the footswitch behaves |
The three-position Mode switch covers a lot of ground for one pedal: Clean Boost puts it in boost territory, Classic Jive is the original circuit's drive voice, and Classic + Parallel Drive blends the two. The Lowcut switch reflects the circuit's bass origins, letting players choose how much low end the drive section sees4.
Always On mode
The internal Bypass Mode switch is the Deluxe Jive's most unusual feature. In Always On MODE, the maker says the pedal "Keeps the EQ settings engaged with no additional gain", and the bypass switch then engages and disengages the drive circuit while the EQ stays active4. In Regular Bypass MODE, it "Functions like a standard bypass switch found on other pedals"4. For a player, that means the pedal can sit on a board as a permanent tone-shaping EQ, with the drive brought in and out on top of it, something the standard Jive does not offer.
Related pedals
- JPTR FX Jive Reel Saturator: the standard version of the circuit, with Gain and Volume controls, diode clipping, and three switches that add different types of gain for extra age32
- Overdrive Pedals: where the Jive sits among drive pedals generally
- Bass Pedals: the circuit's original home, as the Bass Jive1
Videos
JPTR FX
Eirik Stordrange
BassTheWorld.com
Questions
How many Deluxe Jive pedals were made?
The Deluxe Jive was a 10th anniversary edition limited to 20 pedals, each finished in Analog Magenta. JPTR FX described it on its product page as super limited, and the run has since sold out, so the standard Jive Reel Saturator is the version players will encounter on the used and new market.
What does Always On mode do on the Deluxe Jive?
Always On mode keeps the pedal's EQ settings engaged with no additional gain. In this mode the bypass switch engages and disengages the drive circuit while the EQ stays active. The alternative, Regular Bypass mode, functions like a standard bypass switch found on other pedals.
Is the JPTR FX Deluxe Jive still available?
No. JPTR FX's product page for the Deluxe Jive 10YRS edition lists it as sold out. The pedal was a limited edition of 20 units, so it is unlikely to reappear. The standard Jive Reel Saturator, on which it is based, remains the maker's core version of the circuit.
Can the Deluxe Jive be used on bass?
The circuit was originally conceived as the Bass Jive, designed to give bassists saturation and drive, and the Deluxe Jive carries a Lowcut switch with 60Hz, 30Hz and 80Hz settings for shaping low end. The maker describes it as delivering warmth, grit and harmonics across the entire frequency spectrum.
Sources (4)
- JPTR FX DELUXE Jive, jptrfx.com
- JPTR FX Jive Reel Saturator Lo-Fi Overdrive Boost, Pedal of the Day, 2019-01-03
- JPTR FX Jive Reel Saturator, Delicious Audio, 2022-02-01
- JPTR FX Deluxe Jive, JPTR FX
