Jackson Audio Optimist | Cory Wong Signature Dual Overdrive
Four sounds from one pedal — two overdrive channels, a stacked mode, and a three-band EQ that doubles as a standalone tool. The Jackson Audio Optimist is the most versatile overdrive in this class. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the Jackson Audio Optimist takes center stage — Cory Wong's (Vulfpeck / Fearless Flyers) signature dual overdrive — running into my Nash T63 Telecaster with Lollar Pickups and Emerson wiring, into the Benson Amps Monarch and Benson 2x12" cabinet via the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander with Benson Tall Bird for tube reverb.
The Optimist was designed by Brad Jackson and Cory Wong around a simple idea: take the two most celebrated transparent overdrive circuits in history, put them in one box, and add a studio-grade EQ section. The result covers four distinct voices.
OD1 is the Klon Centaur circuit, reproduced in exact detail with germanium diodes for the characteristic mid hump and compressed, sweet overdrive character the original is famous for. This is the circuit that has inspired more boutique overdrives than any other, and Jackson Audio's reproduction is meticulous.
OD2 is the Timmy-style circuit — designed to be perfectly flat across the full range of the guitar, intended for rhythm work and as a complementary harmonic enhancer for OD1 when stacked. The EQ curve of OD2 deliberately contrasts OD1's mid hump — together they balance each other while adding cumulative gain and harmonic richness. When the two pair together they create an even more boosted drive that doesn't squeal, because they're both mid-level drives.
The three-band Baxandall-inspired EQ — activated by pressing both footswitches simultaneously — is post-OD and fully bypassable. ±12dB of boost or cut per band, with center detents for easy return to flat. Used as a boost, it pushes your guitar signal into your amp's sweet spot. Used as a cut, it surgically removes the frequencies that mud up a guitar in a live or recorded mix. As a standalone EQ with both ODs bypassed, it shapes your clean tone.
Four sounds: OD1 alone, OD2 alone, both stacked, and the EQ engaged — any combination via MIDI or footswitch. This demo explores all of them.
🎛️ Jackson Audio Optimist: https://jackson.audio/products/the-optimist
🎸 Nash Guitars T63: https://nashguitarsusa.com
🎸 Lollar Pickups: https://www.lollarguitars.com/lollar-pickups
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
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🎸 Nash T63 Telecaster | Lollar Pickups | Emerson Wiring
🎛️ Jackson Audio Optimist | Klon (OD1) + Timmy (OD2) + Baxandall EQ | MIDI | Cory Wong Signature
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch | Benson 2x12" | Benson Tall Bird | Boss Waza TAE
