Pedals that stack with the Jackson Audio Optimist

Klon Centaur

The Optimist's JFET compression feeds the Klon's midrange boost a naturally organic, already-shaped signal.

ProCo RAT 2

Run the Optimist ahead of the RAT and its natural JFET compression smooths out the RAT's cutting, bright low-gain drive.

MXR Dyna Comp

Dyna Comp's sensitive attack ahead of the Optimist evens out dynamics before the pedal's own vintage, jfet-driven compression.

Walrus Audio Lillian

Lillian's subtle analog phase colors the Optimist's organic, jfet-driven drive after the gain stage rather than stacking onto it.

Dawner Prince Boonar

Run the Boonar's vintage studio delay after the Optimist's organic, JFET-driven compression and the repeats carry that controlled signal forward. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander

Keep the SpaceXpander after the Optimist so its warm vintage breakup gets a spring-reverb tail instead of the reverb tripping over the drive. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)