The Rocktron Reaction Distortion II is a distortion pedal in Rocktron's Reaction Series of stompboxes. Rocktron describes it as taking distortion "to that higher level of heavy," and it sets itself apart from a straightforward gain-and-tone pedal with a Focus control that Guitar World's review describes as adjusting the symmetry of the distortion12.
Controls
The pedal keeps its control set small and covers the basics a distortion player expects, then adds the Focus knob on top12.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DRIVE | Controls the amount of distortion drive you desire1 |
| LEVEL | Controls the output volume of the Reaction Distortion II1 |
| BASS (outer control) | Provides low-end frequency sweep1 |
| TREBLE (inner control) | Handles the high-frequency sweep1 |
| Focus | Adjusts the symmetry of the distortion2 |
The bass and treble controls are stacked as a concentric pair, with the bass sweep on the outer knob and the treble sweep on the inner one, which keeps the pedal's footprint small while still giving separate low and high shaping1. The footswitch controls the on/off status, shown by an LED indicator1.
The Focus control is the pedal's distinguishing feature. Where Drive sets how much distortion you get, Focus works on the shape of that distortion: as Guitar World put it, "The focus control adjusts the symmetry of the distortion"2.
The footswitch controls the pedal's On/Off status, shown by the LED indicator, and Rocktron builds the Reaction Distortion II into what it calls a "rugged metal slim form factor chassis, taking up as little space as possible on your pedalboard"1. The pedal carries a list price of $1392.
Size and build
Like all Rocktron Reaction Series pedals, the Reaction Distortion II is built into a rugged metal slim form factor chassis that takes up as little space as possible on a pedalboard1. The measured dimensions and weight are:
Power and specifications
The pedal runs on a 9V alkaline battery, and can also be powered by Rocktron's DC OnTap Universal Power Supply adaptor, which is a negative-tip supply sold separately1. Current consumption is listed at 20mA1.
No power supply is included with the pedal. The DC OnTap adaptor is sold separately, and the supply must be negative tip1.
The rest of the published specifications:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | 1MΩ1 |
| Output impedance | 1kΩ1 |
| Maximum input | +8dBu1 |
| Current consumption | 20mA1 |
True bypass switching means that when the pedal is turned off, it is out of your signal path entirely, which Rocktron highlights as a feature of the pedal1. The pedal's role on a board is covered more broadly on the Distortion Pedals page.
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Questions
Is the Rocktron Reaction Distortion II true bypass?
Yes. Rocktron states that the Reaction Distortion II is a true bypass pedal, so when you turn it off it is out of your signal path entirely. That matters on a pedalboard where several effects sit in front of the amp, because the guitar's signal does not pass through the pedal's circuitry when the effect is switched out.
What does the Focus knob do?
According to Guitar World's review, the Focus control adjusts the symmetry of the distortion. In practical terms it shapes how the distortion clips, which changes the character of the distortion rather than just its amount, sitting alongside the Drive control that sets how much distortion you get.
Does the Reaction Distortion II take a battery?
Yes. Rocktron says Reaction stomp boxes run on a 9V alkaline battery. The pedal can also be powered with Rocktron's DC OnTap Universal Power Supply adaptor, which is sold separately, so no power supply comes in the box.
What polarity does the Reaction Distortion II power jack use?
Rocktron lists the pedal's external power option as the DC OnTap Universal Power Supply with a negative tip, so the power jack uses negative-tip polarity. Match that with your power supply before plugging in.
How much current does the Reaction Distortion II draw?
Rocktron lists current consumption at 20mA. That is a modest draw by pedal standards, so most standard pedalboard power supplies can handle it, but a battery or a dedicated supply output is still needed since none is included.
Is a power supply included with the Reaction Distortion II?
No. Rocktron's product page says the pedal may be powered by the Rocktron DC OnTap Universal Power Supply adaptor, and that adaptor is sold separately. The pedal runs on a 9V alkaline battery otherwise.
Sources (2)
- Reaction Distortion 2 Stomp Box, Rocktron, 2024-09-24
- Stomping Ground: 30 of the Coolest New Stomp Boxes and Tried-and-True Favorites, Guitar World, 2013-07-23
