About This Item
Description
The Optimist stacks two completely different overdrives, a mid-focused germanium boutique voice and a flat, transparent drive, behind a switchable studio-grade EQ, giving Cory Wong's rhythm and lead tones in one board-friendly pedal.
OD1 recreates a sought-after germanium-diode overdrive circuit in the Klon tradition, OD2 is a Timmy-inspired flat full-range overdrive built for boosting OD1 or driving an amp on its own, and a 3-band active EQ can follow either drive, both, or run standalone.
Why guitarists choose the Optimist
- Two independently footswitchable overdrives, mid-focused germanium OD1 and flat full-range OD2, can run alone, stacked, or used to boost each other.
- A switchable 3-band active EQ (+/-12dB, Baxandall-style, flat at noon) works after the drives or completely standalone as a clean tone-shaping tool.
- MIDI on/off control of OD1, OD2, and EQ lets you recall exact tone combinations from a pedalboard controller.
- Center-detented pots on the EQ make it fast to find and return to a flat reference setting.
- A compact 2.7 x 4.875 in footprint keeps two drives and an EQ on a normal-size pedalboard.
Controls and switches
- OD1 footswitch — Engages the mid-focused germanium-diode overdrive.
- OD2 footswitch — Engages the flat, full-range overdrive.
- Both footswitches — Press and release both together to toggle the EQ.
- 3-band EQ (Bass/Middle/Treble) — Active Baxandall-style EQ, flat at 12 o'clock, +/-12dB per band with center detents; usable after the drives or on its own.
Connections & Power
- MIDI is received on the ring of a TRS MIDI cable: CC#1 OD1 on/off, CC#2 OD2 on/off, CC#3 EQ on/off.
- Runs on a 9V DC center-negative supply with a minimum current of 150 mA; 9V is the maximum voltage.
| Model | Jackson Audio The Optimist (Cory Wong signature) |
|---|---|
| Effect type | Dual overdrive with switchable 3-band active EQ |
| OD1 | Mid-focused germanium-diode overdrive |
| OD2 | Flat-response full-range overdrive |
| EQ | Bass / Middle / Treble, +/-12dB per band, Baxandall-style, center detents |
| Footswitches | 2 (OD1, OD2; both together toggle EQ) |
| MIDI | TRS (ring), CC#1–3 on/off for OD1, OD2, EQ |
| Input impedance | 1 MΩ |
| Output impedance | 100 kΩ |
| Power | 9V DC center-negative, 9V maximum |
| Current draw | 150 mA minimum |
| Footprint | 2.7 x 4.875 in (69 x 124 mm) |
| Signal path | Analog |
| Warranty | 5-year Jackson Audio VIP Warranty |
FAQ
What do the two overdrives sound like? OD1 is a mid-focused overdrive built with germanium diodes in the Klon tradition. OD2 is a Timmy-inspired drive voiced to stay flat across the full range of the guitar, so it works as a transparent drive or a harmonic boost for OD1.
Can I use OD1 and OD2 together? Yes. Both overdrives can be stacked, and OD2's flat response makes it a natural boost in front of or behind OD1.
Can I use the EQ without either overdrive engaged? Yes. The 3-band active EQ is switched on by pressing both footswitches together and works as a standalone tone-shaping tool.
Does The Optimist support MIDI? Yes. MIDI arrives on the ring of a TRS MIDI cable, with CC#1, CC#2 and CC#3 switching OD1, OD2 and the EQ on and off.
What power supply does it need? A 9V DC center-negative supply rated at least 150 mA; 9V is the pedal's maximum voltage, so do not exceed it.
Is there a Galaxy Edition? Yes. The Optimist is offered in Classic and Classic Galaxy Edition finishes.