The LunaStone Three Stage Rocket MIDI Version is an overdrive pedal with a built-in boost and MIDI control, made by LunaStone. It packs two drive settings plus a +15dB boost into one box, and because it responds to MIDI program changes you can switch any of its stages from a MIDI controller instead of tapping foot switches on the pedal itself1.
LunaStone describes the drive as fat and punchy with a sparkly attack, an extremely wide gain range and long sustain1. The pedal came out of a collaboration with Danish guitarist and producer Soren Andersen, and LunaStone calls it a programmable all-in-one drive for any guitar FX setup12.
Two overdrive stages and a boost
The "three stages" of the name are two overdrive circuits plus a boost. Guitar World's launch coverage summed it up as a pedal that "features two stages of overdrive and a boost"3, and Guitar Interactive Magazine's Jonathan Graham called it "what is really a deluxe version of the original Three Stage Rocket"4.
The two drive stages have distinct voices:
| Stage | Character | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| OD1 | Slightly softer, lower gain than OD2 | Crunchy rhythm playing1 |
| OD2 | Higher gain than OD1 | Lead and heavier drive work1 |
Guitar.com's launch report described the first circuit as offering "a smooth and even overdrive with rich and thick distortion, great for power chords"5. The middle foot switch toggles between stage 1 and 2 while the drive is engaged, so you can move between rhythm and lead voices without stepping off the drive1.
The third stage is a separate +15dB clean boost circuit, engaged by the left foot switch1. LunaStone's own pitch for it: "A separate +15dB clean boost circuit takes you from guitar hero to guitar god in a single stomp."1
Boost order: pre or post
The boost can be routed either before or after the drive circuit, and the order is user-definable13. Each placement changes what the boost does:
- Pre mode: the boost feeds the drive circuit, pushing it harder for sustain and lead tones1
- Post mode: the boost acts as a clean level booster, raising volume whether the signal is clean or overdriven1
As LunaStone put it when describing the original pedal, "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."6 In practice, pre mode gives you more saturation from the same drive setting, while post mode gives you a louder solo without changing your tone.
MIDI control and how to set the channel
The MIDI functionality is what separates this version from the original. There is no menu system and no DIP switches: setup is done from the foot switches themselves. Gearnews noted that "The unit also uses Lunastone's 'soft touch' footswitches to set up the MIDI channel/MIDI program changes."7
To set the MIDI channel, press and hold two foot switches simultaneously to send a MIDI program change; this changes the pedal's MIDI channel to that of the incoming message1. Once the channel matches your controller, program changes handle the switching remotely.
Where it came from
The Three Stage Rocket itself is a collaboration between LunaStone and Soren Andersen12. The MIDI version has a specific origin story: LunaStone founder and head engineer Steen Grøntved built a custom MIDI-compatible version of the pedal for Søren to take on the road48. LunaStone later confirmed that "the customized Three Stage Rocket pedal made for Søren Andersen paved the way" for the production MIDI version9.
The pedal reached players in two steps. LunaStone announced it in late July 201834, and on 19 September 2018 reported it was out "and is now available in stores everywhere"9.
RockBoard's PedalPedia entry describes the MIDI version as "a luxury version of the original Three Stage Rocket"10.
How it differs from the original Three Stage Rocket
The original Three Stage Rocket shares the same core: two overdrive stages, a routable +15dB boost, user-definable boost order and Neutrik jack connectors26. The MIDI version adds remote programmability. When the MIDI version joined the lineup, LunaStone's Steen Grøntved stated plainly: "The original Three Stage Rocket will remain available in case you don't require MIDI functionality."8
So the choice between them comes down to how you switch. If you run a MIDI-controlled rig and want program changes, the MIDI version offers MIDI control. If you switch by foot and do not need program changes, the original remains available418.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Three Stage Rocket and the MIDI version?
The MIDI version is a deluxe version of the original Three Stage Rocket that adds MIDI control, so drive and boost switching can be triggered remotely by a MIDI controller. The circuit idea is the same: two overdrive stages plus a routable boost. LunaStone kept the original Three Stage Rocket in the lineup for players who do not need MIDI.
Can you change the order of the boost and overdrive on the Three Stage Rocket MIDI?
Yes. The boost order is user-definable. In pre mode the boost feeds the drive circuit, pushing it harder for sustain and lead tones. In post mode the boost sits after the drive and works as a clean level booster, raising volume whether the signal is clean or overdriven.
How do you set the MIDI channel on the Three Stage Rocket MIDI?
There is no menu system or DIP switches. You press and hold two foot switches simultaneously to send a MIDI program change, which sets the pedal's MIDI channel to that of the incoming message. LunaStone's soft touch footswitches handle the setup.
What is the difference between OD1 and OD2 on the Three Stage Rocket?
OD1 is slightly softer and lower gain than OD2, which LunaStone describes as suited to crunchy rhythm playing. The middle foot switch toggles between the two stages while the drive is engaged, so you can switch rhythm and lead voices on the fly.
Is the original Three Stage Rocket still available?
When the MIDI version launched in 2018, LunaStone stated that the original Three Stage Rocket would remain available for players who do not require MIDI functionality. The MIDI version was sold alongside it as the deluxe variant.
Who was the Three Stage Rocket customized for?
The Three Stage Rocket came out of a collaboration with Danish guitarist and producer Soren Andersen. LunaStone founder and head engineer Steen Grøntved built a custom MIDI-compatible version for Søren to take on the road, and that pedal led to the production MIDI version.
Sources (10)
- Three Stage Rocket MIDI, LunaStone
- Three Stage Rocket, LunaStone
- LunaStone Launches Three Stage Rocket MIDI, Guitar World, 2018-07-24
- Lunastone Pedals Launches Three Stage Rocket MIDI, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2018-07-24
- LunaStone launches the Three Stage Rocket MIDI, Guitar.com, 2018-07-25
- ProGuitarShop, LunaStone, 2016-08-09
- 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 MIDI Rocks Deep Purple Classics, LunaStone, 2018-09-19
- Three Stage Rocket MIDI by Lunastone, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
