The Mr. Black JDS-50 is a compact overdrive pedal from Mr. Black, a maker known for pedals like the OD-503 and BB-74x. Mr. Black describes it as covering a wide range in one box, "Effortlessly delivering tones ranging from meticulously tuned, touch-responsive crunch, to thick harmonic-laden overdrive and even to near-full distortion," so it sits somewhere between a standard overdrive and a light distortion pedal1. If you are weighing it against more familiar circuits, it lives in the same territory as the pedals in our Overdrive Pedals guide and our Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison.
The JDS-50 is no longer in production. Mr. Black marked it "--PRODUCTION DISCONTINUED-- SOLD OUT 01.31.2026 6:35AM" on its product page, so new units are gone from the maker and the pedal now circulates secondhand1.
Power: 9V or 18V
Out of the box the JDS-50 runs on 9V, which is what most pedalboard power supplies deliver. The 2019 and later models add a second option: "Optional 18V operation (9V standard, 18V capable via external power-supply)"1. Mr. Black ties that higher voltage to "increased headroom, clarity and dynamic response," which in practice means the pedal has more clean room before it compresses and clips when driven at 18V1.
- 9V standard: the default operating voltage for the pedal1
- 18V capable (2019+ models): requires an external power supply that can deliver 18V1
- What 18V buys you: increased headroom, clarity and dynamic response, per Mr. Black1
The 18V option applies to the 2019 and later models. Mr. Black flags it under "New for 2019+ Models:", so earlier JDS-50 units are not part of that specification1.
What reviewers said
The JDS-50 got a notable endorsement from Josh Scott of JHS Pedals, who named it among his picks of cheap overdrive pedals2. Scott calls the JDS-50 "one of the most versatile, usable, and unique in the sense of it's not just some clone overdrive/distortions out there"2. That last point matters if you have played the usual Tube Screamer-style circuits: Scott's framing is that the JDS-50 is not another clone of those designs2.
Manual and documentation
Mr. Black's product page points to the JDS-50 manual at http://www.mrblack.jackdeville.com/manuals/jds50-manual.pdf1. That is the maker's own reference for the pedal's documentation.
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Questions
Can the Mr. Black JDS-50 run on 18V?
Yes, but only on 2019 and later models. Mr. Black describes the JDS-50 as 9V standard, with optional 18V operation available through an external power supply. The maker says running at 18V gives increased headroom, clarity and dynamic response. Earlier versions of the pedal are not listed as 18V capable, so check which version you have before feeding it more than 9V.
Is the Mr. Black JDS-50 discontinued?
Yes. Mr. Black listed the JDS-50 as production discontinued and sold out as of January 31, 2026 at 6:35AM. The pedal is no longer in production, so it now turns up on the used market rather than from the maker.
How much did the JDS-50 cost?
The JDS-50 carried a regular price of $199.95, and Mr. Black's product page also showed a sale price of $129.95. Both figures come from the maker's own listing.
Where can I find the JDS-50 manual?
Mr. Black's product page points to the manual at http://www.mrblack.jackdeville.com/manuals/jds50-manual.pdf. That link is the maker's own reference for the pedal's documentation.
What changed on the 2019 and later JDS-50 models?
The 2019 and later models added optional 18V operation. The pedal runs at 9V as standard, and 2019 and later units can also be powered at 18V through an external power supply, which Mr. Black says brings increased headroom, clarity and dynamic response.
Sources (2)
- JDS-50 - Mr. Black, Mr. Black, 2026-01-31
- Josh Scott of JHS Pedals recommends four cheap overdrive pedals so you don't have to freak out about the Bad Monkey anymore, MusicRadar, 2023-04-25
