“It feels like you’re plugged straight into an amp,…

“It feels like you’re plugged straight into an amp, rather than a pedal”: ThorpyFX x Lazy J The J review

ThorpyFX x Lazy J The J: Analogue amp emulator based on the Lazy J J 20 amplifier.

What is it?

ThorpyFX’s latest pedal is a collaboration with British boutique guitar amp manufacturer Lazy J. And the intention here is to recreate both the sound and feel of the amp brand’s J 20, a modern evolution of the 1950’s 5E3 Fender Deluxe amp – an object of desire for many guitarists.

The J pedal offers the sound of two different amp channels – Normal and Bright – with footswitching between the two. Both channels have their own control knobs, increasing volume and gain, feeding an overall output level knob, which has a little extra headroom for a boost if required.

The option of swapping the preamp valves in the real amp is duplicated here by a toggle switch that lets you choose between the lower gain 12AY7 or the 12AX7 for more drive if you need it.

Specs

PRICE: £329 (approx $449)
ORIGIN: UK
TYPE: Amp emulation pedal
FEATURES: True bypass, 2x channels
CONTROLS: Output, Response, Supply, Tone, Normal, Bright, X/Y switch, Channel footswitch, Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard input, standard output
POWER: 9V DC adaptor (not supplied) 50mA
DIMENSIONS: 100 (w) x 125 (d) x 53mm (h)
CONTACT: ThorpyFX

Usability and sounds

For tonal tweaks, the Tone knob is pretty standard bright or dark EQ, but you also get a Response knob, which subtly dials in the presence, all combining to carefully match the pedal to your own rig.

Further tonal variation is delivered via the Supply knob, which emulates voltage attenuation. Fully clockwise is full voltage, but the sonic and feel variations from a drop in voltage are recreated as you wind it back.

Plugged into a clean amp, The J offers all the complex harmonic texture and warm midrange expected of a tweed amp and delivers it with really nuanced control over the sound from the aforementioned array of controls. Both channels can go from clean to fully driven, but the Bright has more gain and a little extra bite.

Like the original amp, the channel knobs are interactive, so you can adjust the volume of the other channel to subtly tweak the tone and tightness on the one you’re using.

There’s great touch sensitivity here, too, with the feeling you’re plugged straight into an amp, rather than a pedal, especially so if you roll back the Supply knob for some natural compression.

Verdict

Verdict: ★★★★★

The fact that it took the combined talents of Adrian Thorpe and Lazy J’s Jesse Hoff several years to create The J suggests that it was always going to be something very special – and it does not disappoint.

Guitar World verdict: A vintage tweed Deluxe or the Lazy J J 20 is beyond the wallet of many guitarists, but The J can give you that essential flavour with your own amp. Instantly familiar classic tones on demand.