The Mojo Hand FX Kensrue Rook is a signature overdrive pedal built for Dustin Kensrue, described by the maker as "Dustin Kensrue's Signature Overdrive!"1. Mojo Hand FX describes it as a classic overdrive paired with a powerful EQ section, and says that even with the gain dimed it maintains "astonishing note articulation and chord clarity," pointing to a highly tweakable Tube Screamer as the reference1.
The controls
The Rook's front panel is short and to the point: a Volume knob, a Treble knob, and a three-way clipping toggle1. What sets it apart from a conventional overdrive is the EQ section behind those knobs. The maker calls the "magic" a 2 band Baxandall EQ circuit, which it says offers a different approach to tone control1.
On a Baxandall EQ, both the Bass and Treble controls can be independently cut or boosted. Mojo Hand FX says this allows for an almost limitless tonal palette, and describes the two extremes: with both knobs down you get a mid range hump, and with both up you get a mid scoop1. That is a wider range of shaping than the single tone knob found on most overdrives.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
| Treble | Treble cut or boost, part of the Baxandall EQ1 |
| Bass | Bass cut or boost, part of the Baxandall EQ1 |
| Clipping toggle (3-way) | Selects silicon diode, no clipping, or LED clipping1 |
Three clipping modes: silicon, LED and none
The three-way clipping toggle is the Rook's other defining control, and each position changes the character of the drive1.
- Up: silicon diode clipping. Mojo Hand FX says toggle up for "classic overdrive" tones, filled with rich "harmonicy" goodness1.
- Center: no clipping. The middle position removes the clipping diodes for a louder, cleaner, less compressed sound. The maker adds that this position also causes the EQ controls to be more pronounced, making it usable as a tone shaping boost1.
- Down: LED clipping. Mojo Hand FX describes this as a raw and edgy, almost distortion type drive1.
The middle position is worth knowing about if you are comparing the Rook with other drives: with the diodes out of the circuit, the pedal behaves more like a boost with a powerful EQ than an overdrive, and the Baxandall Bass and Treble controls do more of the tonal work1.
Stacking and where it fits on a board
Mojo Hand FX describes the Rook as one of the most stack friendly drives on the market, whether stacked with various overdrives, fuzzes, or muffs1. If you are building a board around drive pedals, it sits in the same family as the maker's other overdrives such as the Mojo Hand FX Rook, the Sericon and the Rock City dual overdrive, and it can be compared against other silicon-clipped drives in the overdrive and distortion categories.
The Seafoam Pearl Kensrue Rook was a numbered limited edition run of 50 units finished in Seafoam Pearl, which Mojo Hand FX announced as just completed on its product page1.
Power and practical details
The Rook runs from a standard center negative 9V DC supply or a 9V battery, neither of which is included1. Its current draw is listed at approximately 6mA1, which is light enough for a battery to be a practical option and easy going on a shared supply. Bypass is true bypass, so the circuit is out of the signal path when the pedal is off1. The enclosure measures 4.8" L x 2.62" W x 1.55" H1, a standard compact footprint for a pedalboard row.
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Questions
Is the Mojo Hand Kensrue Rook true bypass?
Yes. Mojo Hand FX lists the Kensrue Rook as true bypass, so when the pedal is off your guitar's signal passes straight through to the output without going through the circuit. Combined with its low current draw of around 6mA, it is an easy fit on any pedalboard and can share a standard 9V DC supply with other pedals.
Can the Kensrue Rook be used as a clean boost?
Yes, in the middle position of the clipping toggle. Mojo Hand FX says that position removes the clipping diodes for a louder, cleaner, less compressed sound, with the EQ controls more pronounced. With the diodes out of the circuit the pedal shapes tone rather than saturating it, which is what makes it usable as a tone-shaping boost.
How much current does the Kensrue Rook draw?
Mojo Hand FX lists the current draw at approximately 6mA. That is low enough for the pedal to run from a 9V battery or a standard center negative 9V DC supply, neither of which is included with the pedal, and it puts little strain on a shared power supply or an isolated power brick.
What was the Seafoam Pearl Kensrue Rook?
The Seafoam Pearl Kensrue Rook was a numbered limited edition run of 50 units finished in Seafoam Pearl. Mojo Hand FX announced the run on its product page, and the pedals were otherwise the same Dustin Kensrue signature overdrive with the Baxandall EQ and three-way clipping toggle.
Sources (1)
- Kensrue Rook, Mojo Hand FX
Brad Whitford
