j. rockett

Phil X’s signature boost and overdrive is a powerful chameleon that transforms from searing to corpulent with ease.

Fantastically chameleonic. Highly interactive but intuitive controls. Great scathing-to-fat drive characteristics.

Expensive.

$349

J. Rockett PXO
jrockettpedals.com

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4.5
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Though J. Rockett builds excellent effectsoutside the drive realm, you get the feeling that the company loves a tasty overdrive first and foremost. Various incarnations of their Archer OD are regarded as among thefinest klones available. Lately, they’ve delved into drives built to capture theessence or specific needs of high-profile players. The PXO Boost and Overdrive may be designed for Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X, but its capabilities transcend arena rock.

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Here are 16 of our favorite stomp stations from the past year, including Chris Shiflett, Joe Bonamassa, Gary Holt, J Mascis, the AristocratsBryan Beller, Wolf Van Halen, Shinedown, and more.

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Kikagaku Moyo are (left to right) bassist Kotsuguy, guitarists Daoud Popal and Tomo Katsurada, drummer Go Kurosawa, and sitarist Ryu Kurosawa.

Photo by Jamie Wdziekonski

The effects-crazy, THC-fueled Japanese psychedelic rockers, led by guitarists Tomo Katsurada and Daoud Popal, have called it quits, but not before one last album and tour.

The core of Kikagaku Moyo, a psychedelic quintet from Tokyo, Japan, is group improvisation. Collaborative synergy and interplay are embedded deep within the band’s collective subconscious, and their live shows—as well as their studio recordings—are often spontaneous acts of creation.

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