Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Thorpy's 'The J' Dual Channel Preamp take on the Lazy J 20 is his most exquisitely richly textured overdrive to date - indeed a Tweed Supreme!
When Thorpy first sent me the picture of ’The J’ - I briefly thought ’Do we really need another Tweed Preamp?’ Thorpy promised me it was special - and special it really is!
It has the most exquisite breakup texture I have ever heard for a Tweed type - it’s suffused with beautiful harmonics and exceptional balance - for a supremely high quality of warm and lively output.
The control topology is arranged so you can either smooth out or further accentuate the pedal’s output character. For me there are 4 key character components to the pedal - the Response (Presence), Supply (Voltage Attenuation), The Voicing / Gain Structure X / Y, and the Tone control. Wind and flip all those up for more edge, bite and harmonics - or else lower for a softer, creamier, and smoother tonality.
Controls - Output (Master Volume), Response (Presence), Supply (Voltage Attenuation), Normal Channel Gain, Voicing / Gain Structure : Hi - 12AX7 / Lo - 12AY7, Tone, Bright Channel Gain. On/Off Footswitch. Channel Selector Footswitch : Normal / Bright.
I'm all about full fat flavour and harmonics, and the output generated by The J - is the best Tweed type I have encountered to date - yes above all my previous 'Tweed Kings'!
It's already extraordinarily textured unaided - while when I add a subtle Treble Booster from the Strymon Sunset - just after - the texture gets incredibly even further elevated - to one of the most gorgeous tones I've every heard coming out of my rig. It's a better balanced, better engineered version of Tweed - with a much more complex texture - which is constantly warm and beguiling - and which you can smooth out or accentuate for maximum texture and impact.
The two Channels are exactly as expected - with the Bright - yes a little brighter and with a touch more gain and saturation.
The J is kind of the sister pedal to the Scarlet Selmer Preamp - which I also love - but The J is even more special for me. The fact that you have 2 channels gives you more range and versatility - that one is every way excellent for me.
It could even be the best Thorpy pedal to date. And if you don't have a Tweed type yet - then this is for sure the one to own. And if you have one or more of my previous champions - then you deserve the best too!
Of course this is only one man's opinion - but The J is instantly one of my most favourite overdrives to date - this is so Special Tier - Thorpy has really wrought some magic here - and he needs to bottle that formula - it's so good!
For my preferred settings it's mostly a case of the 3's : Output @ Noon, Response @ 3 o'c, Supply @ 4 o'c, Normal @ Noon, Voicing on 'X', Tone @ 3 o'c, and Bright @ 3 o'c!
You can further temper the output with your guitar volume - which I use quite a bit - especially when applying the treble booster too!
The J Dual Channel Preamp can be yours for just £329/ $399/ €399 and equivalent from the ThorpyFX Webstore! And should be imminently available at International Dealers too. Many of you will think that you don't need another Tweed Preamp - but you ain't heard nothing yet! The J is the Tweed Supreme - it is exquisite!
Demos
