The Three Stage Rocket is an overdrive pedal from Danish maker LunaStone, built in collaboration with the Danish guitarist and producer Søren Andersen1. It packs three gain stages into one box: two overdrive circuits, OD1 and OD2, plus a separate +15dB clean boost circuit1. LunaStone positions it as a three-in-one TrueOverDrive solution, part of a lineup the company describes as pedals that deliver super-transparent guitar tones without coloring the fundamental sound of your guitar, pickups and amp2.
The drive side is based on LunaStone's Big Fella overdrive. LunaStone says the Big Fella circuit gives the pedal an extremely transparent and musical tone that never over-saturates the guitar signal, not even at high gain settings1. The company also describes the Big Fella TrueOverDrive circuit as the core that the Three Stage Rocket and the TrueOverDrive 1 and 2 pedals build upon3.
Two overdrives and a clean boost in one pedal
The two overdrive circuits are voiced differently. OD1 gives a slightly softer and lower amount of gain than OD2, which LunaStone says makes it suited to crunchy rhythm playing; OD2 is the hotter of the two1. On top of the drive sits a separate +15dB clean boost circuit1.
The boost can be routed either before or after the drive circuit, and the order is user-definable24. LunaStone explains the difference in placement:
"If you place the boost in pre-mode, you can push the drive to the max, and if you use post-mode, you raise the overall output level."5
In pre mode the boost feeds the drive circuit, working as a sustain booster for lead tones; in post mode it acts as a clean level booster that raises volume whether your signal is clean or overdriven2.
The footswitches and boost placement
The pedal carries three dedicated foot switches that control the three drive stages on the fly1:
| Footswitch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Boost (left) | Engages the boost stage2 |
| Choose OD1 or OD2 (middle) | Toggles between stage 1 and stage 2 while drive is engaged2 |
| Add Drive (right) | Adds the drive and works as a bypass for the entire drive circuit2 |
The right-hand Drive switch is the master control: whether you are on OD1 or OD2, it switches the whole drive circuit in and out1. With the drive engaged, the middle switch moves you between the two overdrive voices without a gap in level2.
Power and connections
The Three Stage Rocket runs on a standard 9V DC center negative power adaptor, which is not included, and it is also 9V battery operable1. Audio connections use Neutrik jack connectors1. Both the original and the MIDI version use true bypass switching, so the pedal is out of the signal path entirely when switched off12.
History and the MIDI version
The Three Stage Rocket came out of LunaStone's collaboration with Søren Andersen1. In 2018 LunaStone launched a MIDI-equipped version, the Three Stage Rocket MIDI, which Guitar Interactive described as "what is really a deluxe version of the original Three Stage Rocket"6. The MIDI version grew out of a custom MIDI-compatible Three Stage Rocket that LunaStone built for Søren Andersen to take on the road, a pedal the company later offered to the public67. LunaStone reported that the customized pedal paved the way for the MIDI version, which reached stores in September 20187. Søren Andersen used the Three Stage Rocket TrueOverDrive on a Classic Deep Purple tour with Glenn Hughes7.
The Three Stage Rocket MIDI is described by LunaStone as a luxury version of the original Three Stage Rocket86, and reviewers have called it a deluxe version of the original pedal8. LunaStone announced it as a new enhanced version7, and the company says the Three Stage Rocket MIDI Version is now available in stores everywhere97.
The MIDI version grew out of a custom build: LunaStone created a version that was MIDI-compatible for Søren Andersen to bring on the road67. Beyond that MIDI capability, it is an enhanced take on the original Three Stage Rocket rather than a redesigned pedal986.
The Three Stage Rocket MIDI is a separate product from the original Three Stage Rocket. The original remained available after the MIDI version launched for players who do not need MIDI functionality10.
LunaStone published a demo of the original Three Stage Rocket by Martin Klaja, covering the pedal in a band mix first, then a knob-by-knob walkthrough of its features and functionality in isolation11.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
LunaStone Guitar Pedals
VintageandRare
Questions
Is the LunaStone Three Stage Rocket true bypass?
Yes. LunaStone lists True Bypass Switching as a feature on both the original Three Stage Rocket and the Three Stage Rocket MIDI, so the pedal passes your signal unaltered when it is switched off.
Can the Three Stage Rocket run on a battery?
Yes. The original Three Stage Rocket is listed as 9V battery operable, and the MIDI version can run from a 9V battery or an external power supply. The external adaptor is a standard 9V DC center negative type and is not included.
What does the Three Stage Rocket MIDI add?
The MIDI version adds programmable control: press and hold a footswitch to send a MIDI program change and store the switch settings at that program number. Its soft touch footswitches set up the MIDI channel and program changes without menus or DIP switches. It retailed for $399 when launched in 2018.
Which pedal is the Three Stage Rocket based on?
The drive circuit is based on LunaStone's Big Fella overdrive. LunaStone describes the Big Fella TrueOverDrive circuit as the core that the Three Stage Rocket and TrueOverDrive 1 and 2 build upon.
Sources (11)
- Three Stage Rocket, LunaStone
- Three Stage Rocket MIDI, LunaStone
- Guitarist on Big Fella: Beautiful Natural Sound, LunaStone, 2017-07-25
- LunaStone Launches Three Stage Rocket MIDI, Guitar World, 2018-07-24
- ProGuitarShop, LunaStone, 2016-08-09
- Lunastone Pedals Launches Three Stage Rocket MIDI, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2018-07-24
- Three Stage Rocket MIDI Rocks Deep Purple Classics, LunaStone, 2018-09-19
- Three Stage Rocket MIDI by Lunastone, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Lunastone Three Stage Rocket MIDI: Søren Andersen signature overdrive, gearnews.com, 2018-07-26
- We Add a MIDI Version of the Three Stage Rocket to the Lineup, LunaStone, 2018-08-31
- Three Stage Rocket, LunaStone, 2017-02-15
