Rockett Pedals PXO

The Rockett Pedals PXO is an analog overdrive and boost pedal in one box, built as a signature model for Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X¹. Its defining trick is that the Boost and Drive sections are footswitched independently and can be stacked in either order, so you can push the overdrive with the boost in front of it, or slam your amp with a boosted, EQ'd overdrive after it². Rockett Pedals created it as a live or studio tool, and says it has "a lush, thick feel to the bottom end and a smooth top end that begs you to dig into the note"³.

An overdrive and boost in one pedal

The PXO is an overdrive/boost where you can select pre or post, giving you variety in how you want to boost, EQ and overdrive your signal³. Each side of the pedal can be used independently or in series mode¹, and Premier Guitar's reviewer called the ability to switch the order of boost and overdrive "a primary source of the PXO's flexibility"⁵.

For a player, that order switch is the practical difference between two sounds. With the boost placed before the overdrive, the boost drives the overdrive circuit harder, changing its character and saturation. With the boost after the overdrive, the overdrive's tone stays put and the boost adds level, shaped by its own EQ, on top. Guitar World's reviewers summed up the design: "This signature pedal for Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X features independently-footswitched Boost and Drive sections that can be stacked in any order"².

The controls

The two halves of the pedal have different control sets, and the contrast is part of the design: the overdrive side gets a full control layout, while the boost side is deliberately simple³⁴¹.

Rockett describes the split this way: "We have provided standard controls on the overdrive side such as Volume/Gain/Overdrive and EQ, but on the boost side you have a separate Tilt EQ that allows you to EQ with simplicity"³. A Tilt EQ is one knob that cuts one end of the spectrum while boosting the other, so turning it one way darkens and fattens the boost and turning it the other way brightens and thins it. Premier Guitar's reviewer specifically highlighted "the overdrive section's flexible bass and treble controls" as a strength⁵.

A Phil X signature pedal

The PXO is a signature pedal for Phil X, the Bon Jovi guitarist, unveiled by J. Rockett Audio Designs on September 30, 2024¹. The origin story comes from Rockett itself: "When we sent Phil the overdrive sample he found that it saved him in backline situations and provided him a drive that plays well with others"³. In other words, the overdrive was voiced to sit well with whatever amp a venue supplies, which is the reality of touring with house backline, and to stack cleanly with other pedals.

Premier Guitar's reviewer took a wider view of who the pedal is for: "The PXO Boost and Overdrive may be designed for Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X, but its capabilities transcend arena rock"⁵. Premier Guitar's editors also included it in their best-of-year gear coverage, calling it "Phil X's signature drive and boost" at $349 street⁶.

Power and price

The PXO runs on a 9V negative tip adapter with a 5.5mm x 2.1mm jack, the standard center-negative connector most pedalboard supplies use, and draws 28mA³. There is no battery option, so it needs a power supply. At 28mA it is a light load and will not strain a multi-output supply or rule out a daisy chain the way a high-current digital pedal can.

On price, Rockett Pedals lists the PXO at $349.00 as of November 2025³, and Guitar World's 2025 review likewise gave $349². At launch in September 2024, Guitar World reported it available for $349.99¹, while Premier Guitar's product page at the time listed $297.49⁴. The current maker price is $349.00³.

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