Used Radial JDX Direct Drive Amp Simulator and Direct Box

While the industry has leaned heavily into complex, digital, screen-menu-driven modelers, the Radial JDX Direct Drive stands out by doing the exact opposite. It is a completely analog, zero-latency amp simulator and direct box designed to live right at the end of a guitar pedalboard.

Instead of processing a signal through computer code, it uses Radial’s legendary discrete, class-A analog filtering circuitry to replicate the frequency response of a real guitar amplifier and speaker cabinet. It is the ultimate insurance policy against bad venue backlines, a bulletproof fly-rig centerpiece, and a silent stage lifesaver.

Unlike Radial's original JDX 48 (which requires being plugged between an amp head and a speaker cabinet), the Direct Drive is designed to take the signal straight from pedals. You plug the output of your overdrive, delay, or preamp pedal directly into it, and it splits the signal three ways to solve complex routing problems effortlessly:

1. BALANCED OUT (XLR): Sends a fully cab-simulated, low-impedance mic-level signal straight to the front-of-house PA mixer or recording interface.
2. THRU (1/4"): Passes your dry, un-simulated pedalboard signal directly into a physical guitar stage amplifier if you're using a hybrid stage setup.
3. TUNER / OUT (1/4"): Can feed a dedicated tuner or double as an un-simulated line-level monitor send.

The top panel features intuitive slider switches to quickly sculpt your direct tone without ever scrolling through a menu. Radial maps these filters to classic amp archetypes: