Rocktron Blackjack

its a stompbox doesnt come much easier

i do find this very noisy when used with any amp if you were going to use it id suggest a noise gate or supressor i use a lot of effects pedals but tend to use multi efeects when giggin id use a pod xt live or me-50 depending on the songs me-50 is just so versatile id use the rocktron just for a signal boost with either of those altho id use an eq pedal also just for fuller tone

its a miniture tank pretty heavy id say it could be used without a back up but i wouldnt use it on its own or for the distortion on it

not needed

i play ac/dc to wolfmother and some pop covers good for the acdc sound if u have a noise gate
ive a few fulltone pedals boss ds 1 boss me 50 and to be honest id only use the rocktron for a boost say for a song with distortion whole track and ear splittin lead break wouldnt use it on its own tho

if it was cheap enough id recommend it for pro players and people with cash avoid unless you try it through your amp and are happy with the noise it produces

Takes a bit of dialing to get a usable overdrive out of this thing. I was going to just use it for the boost.

Its ok i guess. There are better pedals out there.

I bought this thing new years ago. I had to send it back to get fixed, and it was fixed. I forgot all about it after several moves. Started using it again yesterday for something different and today it fried itself. Smoke was coming out of the jacks when I unlpugged it. Its probably not under warranty anymore so i guess its just a paperweight now.

They fixed it once, but i don't remember how long it took.

Not worth it. Especially not with 3 much better overdrive pedals on my board.

Getting a 'good' sound is very subjective IMHO. The 'pedal' is quite a heafty box (very re-assuring to have in one's arsenal of stomp-boxes on-stage, as it won't get kicked around so easily).

There are 5 pots (Bass, Mid, Treble, Level, Gain) and two foot switches, giving the user the choice of using the pedal in two different modes: 'distorsion' or as a 'booster'.

*In 'booster' mode, the EQ and level is bypassed, but gives an adjustable gain stage of upto 20dB.

In actual 'use' I just set all the pots to '12 o'clock' and twiddled about until I got something I liked. Very simple really.

The EQ pots are quite sensitive. Need to spend some time between the Bass/Mid/trb/gain.

There is quite an array of 'distorsion' sounds to be had, and the quality is excellent. Very low noise.

As a 'booster' it does the job equally as impressive.

It's very sturdy/heavy built, and I got this off eBay for an absolute bargain! It was probably a demo and has no signs of use, scratches, or anything - just a little dust.

I've already gigged with it and it did exactly what I wanted (But I use 6 different distorsion/o-drive pedals in my live set-up - give my guitar-tech and soundmen a nightmare! LOL)

I've dealt with Rocktron a few times and I've always had a reply/solution given to me within 24 hours! Very helpful people!

I would definitely get one of these again if I were to lose it. Like I said before, I got this off eBay, out of curiosity (I tried some Rocktron stuff at a music fair this year and was impressed at the time) and it cost me 45???uros (including the 18???uros for 24hr shipping) so I reckon I got a steal!

My only 'gripe' is: I need to look for another one so I can have that as a 'booster' pedal only!

Its a very simple pedal to figure out, but it takes some tweaking to find your sound.

When I tried it out in the shop I ran it through a marshall Jcm900 combo, and it sounded pretty good. It has been described in previous reviews as doing a good ACDC sound, and on first impressions I would be inclined to agree; On a crunchy amp, the booster gives you just that bit more juice to really make the setup sing, but it can be a bit noisy at times. On a clean amp, the distortion side, gives you a nice medium gain (but suprisingly responsive) distortion. Even though it isn't dripping with gain, you can really get a nice clear fluid lead sound which sustains really well, but having said that, the pedal is very unforgiving, as it wont cover up your sloppy playing!

I use a couple of 5150IIs with the band, but as these are usually in storage at the studio, so at home I have an old 70's handwired valve 2x12" burman combo. The burman is basically the ultimate clean machine on one channel, and on the other it ranges from overdrive to crazy lo-fi grungy distortion. As the distortion on the burman is very spongy, I wanted a pedal that sounded more direct, for home practice.
The blackjack distortion sounds incredible on the clean channel, and by adjusting the EQ on both the amp and the pedal, you can create anything from 80s thrash metal, to a van halen-esque brown sound, to ACDC crunch. Basically any classic marshall tone, which is ironic, as I part-ex'd a marshall drivemaster for this pedal!

The gain is a bit lower than I had anticipated, but the sustain and response of the pedal more than makes up for this. After an hour or two of getting used to the feel of it, you realise that it isn't the gain you are missing, because the warm sound, that long singing sustain and the smooth attack are all still there, its the sludge you are missing. Because the distortion sounds clearer and more defined you don't get the 'mush' associated with 'high gain' which covers up all your mistakes!

The mid control is amazing. Finally a distortion pedal which I don't need to use a graphic EQ after it! Ususally I find mid controls on distortion pedals voiced either too 'boxy' or far too scooped, and consequently I have to use a graphic equaliser to dial in what I consider to be a nice warm, rounded mid. On the blackjack, the mid control just makes the distortion sound warmer and fuller, and at the very top of its rotation, it seems to give you a little Q'd peak, which aids you in getting a nice van halen brown sound.

Another thing worth noting: This pedal is designed to be used at real stage volumes in conjunction with a valve amp. At high volumes it will still sound clear and defined, and the gain won't get blurry like other distortion pedals. In your bedroom at quiet volumes through a tranny amp, it will not sound anywhere near as good as it gets. Infact there are other pedals on the market more suited to this. This pedal really shines, when you use a good tube amp, and a good guitar infront of it!


I would hazard to say, that this is one of the best distortion pedals I have ever used. I was so impressed Im going to have to give it a 10. (and I don't like giving '10'!)

Well I haven't had it very long, and I bought it used. The exterior of the pedal has seen some serious action, although it functions perfectly.

When people describe a pedal being built like a tank, usually they don't mean literally.

In this case I do. Aside it being a similar shape to an armoured truck, it has some impressive looking half-inch thick molded steel strips, akin to that of the cross-section of an iron girder. The functionality of these 'girders' seems to be, to protect your controls. If rocktron take the preservation of your settings this seriously, I shouldn't worry about the build quality of the rest of the pedal, it will probably made to military spec.

Since I hate giving out '10', and the logo is a bit scuffed, I'll give this a '9'.

I have never dealt with rocktron before. Infact this is my very first rocktron product! Fortunatley, rocktron seem to have a very good reputation in this department.

I only tried out this pedal in the shop, because I had never seen this pedal before, and I was curious of how it sounded. I had no intention of replacing any of my other distortion pedals, but I ended up taking it home.

The first thing I noticed about this pedal, was the supreme build quality. The sheer weight and unnecissary half-inch thick steel protection, is enough to make you realise that rocktron mean business with this pedal. The inital sound was great, but not really what I was looking for, but with a bit of tweaking, I managed to find some wicked tones, which floored me. The booster side is really cool for pushing your amp a little bit harder, but it is a bit noisy, and in truth I find myself using the distortion side on a clean amp more than anything else.
This category will score 9, as the booster side, although great, is not perfect, the rest of the pedal however is phenominal.

ok i play on a fender toronado plugged to a yamaha g100 II head with 4x12 heavy duty behringer box + a 15 laney bass box, mu fx loop is a vamp pro preamp + blackjack distortion + hendrix wawa + ibanez fl/ch + boss harmonist + boss superphaser.

it's no problem with that, easy to use the switchs and buttons, the only problem is that the inscriptions on the pedals are written in serigraphy and during the time they're goes on and during a gig it's not so easy to use... but at the end you know where things are

ho heu it's too hot !! really it's give to my distortions a little something i never never heard before. klllertones, well done good job. ok there some noise and overdubz but you know what, don't care it's one of the most hardcore distortion i've heard, nothing compare to same prices other boxes (like a metalzone by exemple)

yeah it's perfect (but you MUST have a good amp or the bass eq will broke your old) it'as a dangerous pedal, it broke my fender stage 180 and a hughes and kettner attacks 80... :( too small gear.

if you asking you wich pedals you must choose with a small or normal budget, go on, it's the harder way i know.

Well...not so simple cause the "Distortion" title is a little misleading.But when you figure it out,you'll get goose bumps! (See below)

Hey,wait a minuet!HOLD THE F*CKIN' PHONE!! It's called a "distortion" pedal,true.But it's really a 3 STAGE BOOSTER PEDAL!!

1)Boost-it's volume is controlled by the GAIN knob.It WILL NOT distort,but you'll get one hell of a boost. 20db...right?? The E.Q. can't be used in this mode.You won't need it.

2)Distortion-people complain that it doesn't have enough gain.Do you know why?? Because it has to CLEAN UP to act as the OTHER BOOSTER channel!! Volume is controlled by the Level knob.Just keep the Gain knob at 9:30...(a.m.) E.Q.??? YES!

3)In-this switch will cancel out the pedal and return to YOUR ORIGINAL VOLUME LEVEL.

When you kick-in the booster it does color the sound with just a dab a mid-range.Perfect when using a Smash-box!
The E.Q. section is very wide,clean and has lots of thump(bass).

You can get a CLEAR sounding CRUNCH in distortion mode,but it doesn't get wicked like the Smash-box or Rampage.Back off the gain a bit and the Blackjack will kick the shit out of most overdrives on the market!
WOW!!
Oh yeah,I use a Twin Reverb and a Tech 21.

Idunnoyet.

Upgrade?? WHY??

I own a whole buncha shit.The Backjack is very unique!It can boost your sound all the way up,in the middle,or way back down at the click of a button.Distortion?? Yeah,it can do that.But that's NOT the Blackjack's primary function.It's a very versitile booster pedal!When I use it to boost my SM-7 or Rampage,it sounds like GODZILLA on one of her PMS days.
There's a little noise in the booster section.My Boss NS-2 takes care of that.
NICE WORK Rocktron....VERY SLICK!!

Easy to use, takes some time to get the sound you want. It will get it though!

I use it with a 100 watt Marshall Plexi and a variety of Les Pauls and a 70's strat (with Dimarzio stacked pickups). The Distortion channel sounds excellent, not a heavy metal tone but more of an Angus Young tone. Not over the top, (I could use a bit more at times but I've never been dissapointed). A bit noisy but in a loud rock band you wont even notice, I've recorded with it and it gets the tone I've been shooting for (more of a overdriven rock tone, not for the metal player, if you want the "Angus" sound get a 100 watt plexi and this pedal you won't be let down!). I was let down by the overdrive channel. It has almost no control, has no bite. I bought it because it was a 2 channel overdrive box but in the year and a half I've owned it it has been useless for me ( but like I said, It goes through a Plexi with no master,it probally sounds better with a Master Volume head). For solos I use a Boss Super Overdrive in front of it and that takes care of that problem ( I was hoping to use 1 channel for solos and 1 for rhythm), It would have been better to have 2 of the distortion channels. But the Distortion channel makes up for everything!! For solos I use a Boss Super Overdrive in front of it and that takes care of that problem. I've spent alot of time and money trying a bunch of different pedals and this one smokes em' all (and I got it for less than $100.00)! They don't make them anymore but you can find them on e-Bay or G-Base.com from time to time.

I have taken this on tour, and to many shows where beer,people and God knows what have fallen on it and it still looks like its new. Still works like the day I bought it.

I've never had to use it.

We play high energy, Hot Rod Rock N Roll, Great match for the gear I own and the style I play, I have been playing for 20 years, A 69' and 79' Les Paul Custom (with Seymore Duncan Jeff Beck Pickups in the Bridge position,The best pickups ever made!!!!!)a 95 SG-Les Paul (stock) 69 Japanese re-issue Strat (all electronics have replaced, Dimarzio Virtual Vintage stacked single coils, Gibson 300k pots (very Blackmore sounding). I would buy it again, with the sound it gets you would always want one around (but look for something with 2 usable channels at the same time), For once I got the Sound I've been dreaming about (without sounding METAL), I hate CREED!!!!!!

Easy to use, well laid out stomp box. Manual supplied but you don't really need it.

Basically a two stage distortion pedal. The boost mode increases your amp by 20db, giving a pleasing crunch channel. The distortion mode rocks - really is the poddles plums/ dogs nads, when used with a Marshall amp.

No problems yet and I don't expect any. This pedal's build like a tank.

Not had to use them, but I understand you deal with Marshall, so it can't be all bad.

This pedal will cover all bases from blues to metal. I would definately replace it with another if the unfortunate happened. Some people have criticised it for being thin and trebly. But remember one thing, one man's brown sound is another's muddy/trebly sound. Check one out, I think you will be impressed.

Very easy to use, if you need a manuel to get the sound your looking for then your well......a retard.
I'd like it if it came with a audio tape with operating instructions.hahaha!

Excellant!!!!!I use an Ibanez smash box for my heavy sound but it can seem a bit to imposing to use the whole time. Which is where this beauty comes in, I use it with the settings real low, but it still has a really warm, full sound.+ the boost switch gives you that litte bit extra volume, that you always seem to need when your drummer gets carried away at a gig.

I always gig with it, dont worry im not going to giveyou some crap about how i threw it at a wall an it survied, but this pedal really is built like a (i was going to say tank)......whale.
It's no Mesa Boogie V-twin though.

I dont care.

I play in a hard rock/nu metal band. my signal runs.>
Ibanez rg7620-AKG uhf wireless unit-Ibanez smash box-rocktron blackjack-boss octaver-mxr phase 90-ibanez chorus/flanger-Electro harmonix Q-tron- boss dd3-boss dd3(yeah two)-Peavey Deuce VT.
The blackjack sits proudly in ther with the rest, and i would be stuck without it. If it ever broke i would probably be so old by then, that i wouldnt be able to make it more than 2 steps without pissing myself anyway.
This pedal rocks!! forget the crap that people before me have said. if you see one (i think they may have been discontinued) Buy it. But dont pay more than #60.
thankyou and goodnight.

Not difficult, so I suppose I will have to give it a reasonable mark.

Ha Ha Ha! Oh, you want a real answer. Thin, nasally, rumbling, inconsistant, squeaky, squealy...get the picture?

What's the use in reliability when it sounds silly?

Perhaps I would have rung them if I'd kept it longer than a day

CRAP I CANT THINK OF A USE FOR IT!