About This Item
Description
The Jackson Audio Hour Glass packs two fully independent analog OTA compressor circuits into a single pedal, so you can dial in one voicing for single coils and a second for humbuckers, or chain both in series for near-endless sustain.
Why guitarists choose the Hour Glass
- Two completely independent OTA compressor circuits mean two guitars, two pickup types, or two playing styles can each get their own dialed-in compression.
- Running both compressor circuits in series creates a sustain effect well beyond what a single compressor stage can deliver.
- Switchable Fast/Medium/Slow attack times (100/400/1600ms) shape everything from percussive funk compression to smooth sustain.
- A three-position Treble switch (Flat/Medium/High) adds top-end sparkle back into a compressed signal.
- Accepts both 9V and 18V DC, so it fits standard pedalboard power supplies without a dedicated adapter.
Controls and switches
- COMP (per circuit) — Sets compression amount from subtle leveling to heavy squish and sustain.
- BLEND (per circuit) — Mixes dry and compressed signal; fully counter-clockwise is compressed only, fully clockwise is dry only.
- VOL (per circuit) — Sets the output level of each compressor circuit, usable as an independent boost.
- ATTACK switch — Selects Fast (100ms), Medium (400ms), or Slow (1600ms) compressor attack time.
- TREBLE switch — Selects Flat, Medium, or High treble-boost voicing for the compressed signal.
Power and pedalboard compatibility
Runs on a 9-18V DC center-negative supply drawing 60mA. No battery operation is published for this pedal.
Technical specifications
| Model | Jackson Audio Hour Glass Analog Dual Compressor Pedal |
| Effect type | Dual independent analog OTA compressor |
| Controls | COMP (per circuit), BLEND (per circuit), VOL (per circuit), ATTACK switch, TREBLE switch |
| Power | 9-18 Volt DC |
| Current draw | 60 mA |
| MPN | Hourglass Sand |
| ASIN | B0CKJ1V4XT |
| Warranty | 5-year Jackson Audio VIP Warranty |
FAQ
Can I use both compressors at the same time? Yes. Engaging both circuits routes them in series for a dual-stage sustain effect beyond what either compressor delivers alone.
Can I set up separate compression for two guitars? Yes. Because the two OTA circuits are fully independent, many players dial one in for single-coil guitars and the other for humbuckers, then switch between them.
What attack times are available? Three switchable options: Fast (100ms), Medium (400ms), and Slow (1600ms).
Does the Hour Glass run on 18V? Yes. It accepts 9-18V DC center negative, making it compatible with standard multi-voltage pedalboard power supplies.
Does the Hour Glass have MIDI or presets? No. Attack time and treble voicing are set with toggle switches, and there is no MIDI or stored preset system.
Is the bypass true bypass? Jackson Audio has not published the exact bypass topology for the Hour Glass; footswitches select Comp 1, Comp 2, or both engaged.