Jackson Audio Asabi - Refurbished

A Modern Signature: Mateus Asato's Asabi and the Idea of Analog Modules

Designed as Mateus Asato's signature pedal, the Jackson Audio Asabi was conceived to cover a wide range: from expressive crunch to powerful saturation, without losing musicality or precision. Its name, "Asabi," evokes an "unusual birth" and reflects the intention behind this model: to offer a gain pedal that breaks the usual mold.
Its most striking feature is its architecture based on replaceable analog saturation modules. The idea is not to install sounds via software but to be able to replace the saturation circuit with another module (complete analog components: op-amps, transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors). The result: the pedal can evolve with your rig and tastes while maintaining the feel and response of a true analog drive.

Who It's For and What It's For: From Studio to Stage Pedalboard

The Asabi is aimed at guitarists who want a "central" drive pedal on their pedalboard: a coherent sonic foundation capable of moving from subtle overdrive to assertive distortion, and quickly adapting to a guitar, amp, or venue. It suits both intermediate players and more demanding musicians thanks to its precise settings and control logic designed for real playing.
In terms of styles, it shines in modern blues, rock, hard rock, and current high gain genres, while remaining usable in cleaner "push" contexts for pop, funk, or worship. In the studio, the active EQ helps position the guitar in the mix; live, the diode voicings and MIDI enable quick changes without multiplying pedals.

Features and Controls: Two Channels, Diode Voicings, Active EQ, and Gain Cycle

The Jackson Audio Asabi combines a Distortion channel and an Overdrive channel. The stock module is a Modern High Gain: a high-gain clipping inspired by the Marshall JCM800, with an open, biting, and very "fun" character under the fingers, ranging from '80s hard rock to denser, modern saturations.
Each channel offers 4 diode clipping presets, activated by long press. On the distortion side, you'll find a "Guv'nor style" LED clipping (more dynamic and less compressed), an "808 style" silicon clipping (typical compression and grain), and two high-gain variants with asymmetric or symmetric clipping to refine attack, density, and harmonic complexity. On the overdrive side, the philosophy is similar: a "Classic Screamer" mode, more open Marshall vintage-style clipping options, and symmetric or asymmetric modes to adjust bite and definition.
A dedicated circuit harmonizes the output level according to the selected clipping: you can change voicings without volume "jumps," which is valuable live and for maintaining clean gain staging on an already pushed amp.
The Gain Cycle function adds real performance logic: it takes the Gain potentiometer position (which sets the maximum gain) and divides it into four steps. By pressing both footswitches simultaneously, you cycle through the gain levels step by step, up to maximum, then back to the first step. The Drive LED changes intensity according to the selected step, handy for quick visual feedback.
Finally, the distortion channel features a 3-band active EQ of studio quality, inspired by a Baxandall EQ and tailored for guitar needs. It's a powerful tool to shape bass, position mids, and open or tame highs depending on the amp, guitar, or mix placement.
For advanced rigs, the Asabi includes MIDI features allowing control over clipping presets, Gain Cycle, EQ, and activation/deactivation of the overdrive and distortion channels.

Sound

The Asabi stands out by combining a rare sense of responsiveness and control in a single gain pedal. The Overdrive channel aims for transparency: a response described as flat, without a marked mid bump, to push your amp or thicken a clean tone without changing your guitar's personality. It responds very well to right-hand nuances and guitar volume, perfect for moving from edge-of-breakup to a more singing drive.
The Distortion channel, inspired by the JCM800, delivers an open, crisp, and articulate grain, with enough reserve for solid rhythms and cutting leads. The different clipping types (symmetric or asymmetric, silicon or LED) allow going from more compressed, focused saturation to a more dynamic and airy drive. Combined with the 3-band active EQ, the Asabi can shift from a tight, modern sound to a more vintage rock tone, while remaining clear and musical.

Technical specifications

Signature pedal	Mateus Asato	Middle	neutral at noon, +/-20 dB range, center frequency around 660 Hz
Technology	replaceable analog saturation modules	Treble	neutral at noon, +/-20 dB range
Included module	Modern High Gain inspired by Marshall JCM800	Vol	overall volume of the overdrive circuit
Voicings	4 diode clipping presets on the Distortion channel and 4 on the Overdrive channel (activated by long press)	Tone	tone control of the overdrive circuit
Volume	overall volume of the distortion circuit	Drive	gain of the overdrive channel
Pres	tone control of the distortion circuit, usable as a global setting to adapt the pedal to a brighter or darker room	Gain Cycle	gain variation in 4 steps via simultaneous press of both footswitches
Gain	maximum gain of the distortion circuit	MIDI	control of clipping presets, Gain Cycle, EQ, and activation/deactivation of overdrive and distortion channels
Bass	neutral at noon, +/-20 dB range