Six modes, one circuit family
The six overdrive modes are Push, Blues, Royal, Imperial, Shred and Stack. gearnews.com describes them as RJM Music's take on some very well-known 1990s overdrive pedals from the Marshall lineup, each an analog circuit designed to capture that Marshall tone as an amp-in-a-box1. Premier Guitar's reviewer put it more colorfully, calling the pedal "dedicated to serving up as many British-flavored overdrive flavors as you would find on its famously over-the-top namesake"2.
| Mode | Character, as described |
|---|---|
| Push | One of six analog, Marshall-style overdrive modes1 |
| Blues | One of six analog, Marshall-style overdrive modes1 |
| Royal | One of six analog, Marshall-style overdrive modes1 |
| Imperial | One of six analog, Marshall-style overdrive modes1 |
| Shred | One of six analog, Marshall-style overdrive modes1 |
| Stack | One of six analog, Marshall-style overdrive modes1 |
Controls and presets
The front panel carries gain, tone, volume, bass, mid and treble knobs, which adjust the overdrive WYSIWYG-style: what you set is what you save. The bass, mid and treble knobs are configured as post-gain EQ, shaping the tone after the drive stage2.
The right footswitch is a standard on/off, while the left footswitch selects from four active presets. Stomping both together toggles between the red and green preset banks, giving eight slots on the pedal itself. Each preset saves the overdrive mode, knob settings and all2. A further 100 presets are accessible via MIDI1.
The eight onboard presets are split into red and green banks of four. Switching banks means pressing both footswitches at once, so the four presets you can reach with the left switch depend on which bank is active2.
MIDI, USB-C and editing software
The pedal has full-sized MIDI in and out ports along with a USB-C port1. The USB-C connection is for connecting to your computer, and it enables user editing of presets via Mac, PC and iOS software2. Because the pedal shows up as a MIDI device, Premier Guitar noted that "it will appear in any MIDI-enabled app" once connected2. That same connection is how the 100 additional MIDI-accessible preset slots are reached1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's review summed the pedal up this way:
"the RJM's core sounds were robust and wide-ranging, with all the dizzying performance versatility the feature set implies"
Full English and the Overture
For where a pedal like this sits on a board, see the site's guide to Overdrive Pedals, or compare single-mode classics such as the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer.
Videos
RJM Music Technology Inc
John Mayer Gear
Questions
Is the RJM Full English analog or digital?
The overdrive circuits and the signal chain are fully analog. The digital side handles control only: preset storage, MIDI and USB-C connectivity, and editing from a computer or iOS device. gearnews.com describes each overdrive mode as an analog circuit designed to capture the Marshall tone as an amp-in-a-box, and Premier Guitar's reviewer found the fully analog signal path served the sound well.
How many presets does the RJM Full English store?
Eight preset slots are available on the pedal itself, arranged in red and green banks of four, and each stores the overdrive mode, knob settings and all. A further 100 presets are accessible via MIDI, for 108 total according to gearnews.com.
What are the six modes on the RJM Full English?
Push, Blues, Royal, Imperial, Shred and Stack. gearnews.com describes them as RJM Music's take on some very well-known 1990s overdrive pedals from the Marshall lineup, each based on a British, Marshall-style drive tone.
Does the RJM Full English have MIDI?
Yes. It has full-sized MIDI in and out ports, and when connected to a computer over USB-C it appears in any MIDI-enabled app, according to Premier Guitar. MIDI is also the route to the 100 additional preset slots beyond the eight on the pedal.
What is the difference between the RJM Overture and the Full English?
The Full English follows on from the Overture, RJM Music Technology's first pedal, announced in 2021 at $399. Premier Guitar describes the Overture as combining classic overdrive types and original RJM circuits, while the Full English dedicates all six of its modes to British-flavored, Marshall-style overdrive. The Full English listed at $349 at its December 2023 release.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Gear Gems: RJM Music Full English, gearnews.com, 2023-12-19
- RJM Full English Programmable Overdrive Review, Premier Guitar, 2024-09-27
