Jackson Audio Broken Arrow MIDI Black

A modern overdrive platform in the spirit of the TS-808, with Jackson Audio DNA

The Broken Arrow follows the great tradition of "soft clipping" overdrives that made the TS-808 successful: progressive, musical saturation that is very controllable via the guitar's volume. Where it stands out is its flat and neutral philosophy at noon on the controls: no imposed mid hump, since the active EQ allows you to recreate (or avoid) this behavior on demand. To complete the package, Jackson Audio integrates a MOSFET boost from the same family as the Prism preamp, designed to push an amp, another pedal, or the Drive section of the Broken Arrow with a more "amp-like" character.

For which guitarists and styles?

The Broken Arrow targets guitarists who want a reference overdrive capable of covering several "classic" pedals on a pedalboard. Thanks to its clipping presets and active EQ, it naturally transitions from blues and rock to pop, indie, and more modern terrains where multiple gain stages are stacked (drive + boost + already crunchy amp).

In live settings, its footswitch functions (presets, Gain Cycle) allow you to keep the same overall setting while changing texture and amount of saturation without bending over the knobs. In the studio, the Baxandall EQ helps place the guitar in the mix: more mids to stand out, fewer highs to tame a bright take, or firmer lows to thicken a rhythm part.

Presets, controls, and MIDI: an overdrive designed for the modern pedalboard

The Broken Arrow combines a Drive section and a Boost section controlled by two footswitches. Each section offers 4 presets accessible by long press, allowing you to change "voicing" without altering your base settings. An internal circuit harmonizes the output level based on the chosen clipping preset to maintain consistent volume when switching modes.

The Gain Cycle function turns your Gain knob into a "ceiling": the pedal divides this maximum into 4 levels (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%). Simultaneous pressing of both footswitches cycles through these steps, and the Drive LED changes intensity to indicate the selected level.

Regarding the boost, the Broken Arrow uses a MOSFET transistor optimized for silent potentiometer rotation. An internal selector allows choosing between a standard boost (same tone, noiseless) and an alternative version offering a bit more gain but potentially generating crackles during rotation. The pedal also features MIDI (via Control Change) to activate/deactivate Drive and Boost, select clipping diodes, control Gain Cycle, and change the Boost EQ: a real plus for rigs with switchers, MIDI loopers, or compact racks.

The sound

At "12 o'clock" settings, the Broken Arrow aims for a balanced and relatively flat response: ideal for respecting the personality of your guitar and amp, then precisely shaping with the active EQ. Dynamics are one of its strengths: depending on the clipping mode, you move from a very controlled "screamer" compression to more open, edgier, and more "amp-like" textures. The MOSFET boost can serve as a clean boost or a "driver" to push the next stage harder (Drive, another overdrive, amp input), with four EQ profiles that clearly change how the signal "drives" the rest of the chain.

Technical specifications

Effects	Boost, Overdrive	Type	sector
Technology	Analog & Digital	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Black
EQ	3 channels

Guitar effects pedal	Overdrive + Boost	Internal selector	standard boost (silent) or alternative boost (a bit more gain, possible crackles during rotation)
Overdrive circuit	soft clipping, TS-808 inspired, without imposed mid-hump	Range	+/-12 dB per control
Boost circuit	MOSFET in its own true bypass loop, usable independently from the Drive	Controls	Volume (Drive master), Gain (max gain), Boost (boost level), Bass, Middle, Treble
Electronics	analog circuit with digital control (preset and function management)	Input	6.35mm Jack
Preset 1 "Green" - Classic Screamer	2 symmetrical silicon diodes, Tube Screamer-style saturation and compression	Output	6.35mm Jack
Preset 2 "Magenta" - Asymmetric clipping	3 asymmetrical silicon diodes, more complex grain, excellent for aggressive rhythms	MIDI	TRS input on 6.35mm Jack (MIDI info received via Ring connection)
Preset 3 "Blue" - Symmetric clipping	4 symmetrical silicon diodes, more focused and direct sound	MIDI function (introduced on this version)	control via Control Change
Preset 4 "Amber" - Vintage Marshall	2 symmetrical red diodes, more dynamic, more open and less compressed feel	Accessible controls	Drive on/off, Boost on/off, clipping diode selection, Gain Cycle, Boost EQ selection
Overdrive preset selection	long press on the Drive footswitch	Default MIDI channel	channel 1 (modifiable from the pedal)
Output level harmonization	maintains constant volume according to selected clipping preset	Input impedance	1M?
Divides the Gain potentiometer value into 4 steps	25%, 50%, 75%, 100%	Output impedance	100k?
Foot control	simultaneous press on both footswitches	Dimensions	approximately 68.6 mm x 123.8 mm
Visual indication	Drive LED intensity according to gain percentage	Height	approximately 69 mm
Profiles	Bright Boost, Mid Boost, Tailored Boost, Full Range	Weight	approximately 0.32