Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Jack White's 5th Third Man Records Signature Effects Pedal is the MXR Double Down 2-in-1 Microamp with dual outputs
Key Points
Jack White’s 5th Third Man Records Signature pedal is the MXR Double Down Microamp with dual outputs. A mono input splits into two +26dB Microamp boost circuits, each with its own Out 1 and Out 2.
Made for Jack White’s pedalboard: single footswitch, so the two circuits can’t be applied granularly or doubled through one output. Side switches add Phase Inversion (left) and Buffer (right). Two outputs allow pre/post insertion. Available Yellow Limited ($243) and Black Standard ($170).
Owned: Triplegraph, Plasma Coil, Mantic Flex, Bumble Buzz. May check Third Man on Marshall Street, Soho. Boost and Overdrive; Amps: PreAmp.
Jack White’s Signature Pedals are always interesting - while I reckon this is the most ’Signature’ of all of them yet as it is very specifically made for Jack White’s pedalboard arrangement - and properly only suitable for that specific usage scenario.
You essentially get 2 x MXR Microamps in 1 pedal - where a mono input is split into two separate +26dB Microamp Boost Circuits - each with their separate Out 1 + Out 2 output.
I say this is distinctly a ’signature’ pedal as you can’t double up the 2 circuits through 1 output or apply them properly granularly (one footswitch only).
You get 2 Boost Outputs that you can insert in different parts of the chain - pre and post for instance.
For me for the pedal to be properly useful for more general and granular needs - it really needs 2 footswiches - and the ability to Boost in Series (doubled up single output) as well as in Parallel.
The pedal has 2 additional switches - one on the left side (Phase Inversion) and one of the right (Buffer) - offering some degree of flexibility - but not really generally useful as far as I’m concerned - and not really living up to the full potential of that pedal.
As always it’s available in both Yellow Limited and Black Standard Colourway editions. I’m not sure the colour yellow is worth the extra $73 outlay - at $243 versus the standard at $170.
Before this one arrived I owned the full set of 4 (Triplegraph + Plasma Coil + Mantic Flex + Bumble Buzz) - I’m still undecided if I really need or actually have some use for this MXR Double Down.
I would be interested to hear your own opinions and reactions - and if you’re considering getting one of these - and for which particular purposes?
If I do decide to get one I will probably pop into Soho’s Third Man Records store on Marshall Street and see if they have one in stock - while right now that is a somewhat remote eventuality!
Demos
