Description
The JHS 424 Gain Stage Pedal is made for players chasing those unmistakable lo-fi textures heard all over modern indie and bedroom pop. Inspired by the TASCAM Portastudio 424, this pedal drops that elastic, saturated, and slightly broken tone right onto your pedalboard. If you're into the Mk.Gee thing or even tones from artists like Steve Lacy, D4vd, and Mac DeMarco, this gets you right in that sonic ballpark without needing the full Portastudio rig.
Inside, it's a faithful recreation of the 424 MKI signal path, down to the original UPC4570 and NJM4565 op-amps. You get separate GAIN 1 (Trim), GAIN 2 (Channel Volume), and Volume (Master) controls, plus bass and treble EQs to fine-tune your sound. The real strength here is flexibility; use the 1/4" out for amps, or the balanced XLR out for direct-in fuzz, compression, and saturation. Whether you're tracking straight into your interface or flipping between amp and DI with an A/B/Y switcher, the 424 is incredibly useful.
Despite how niche the sound might seem, the layout and build make this pedal super easy to integrate. Soft-touch switching, buffered bypass, and ground lift make it quiet and reliable, while the small footprint leaves room on your board. We really like this one for anyone producing, recording, or just looking to add some colorful, gooey, character-rich tone to their setup.
Controls:
- VOLUME (Corresponds to Portastudio® Master) - Controls the output volume. Left is less, right is more. On the Portastudio 424, this is the MASTER fader.
- GAIN 1 (TRIM) - Sets how much preamplification will be added to the input signal. On the Portastudio 424, this is the TRIM control.
- GAIN 2 (CHANNEL) - Sets the volume level of the second gain stage. On the Portastudio 424, this is the CHANNEL fader.
- BASS - Cuts or boosts bass frequencies. Left is less, right is more.
- TREBLE - Cuts or boosts the treble frequencies. Left is less, right is more.
Specifications:
- Input: Top ¼" right jack
- Output: Top ¼" left jack
- XLR Output: Balanced out on left side (can use ¼" and XLR simultaneously)
- Ground Lift: Dip switch on left side
- Power: 9VDC center negative, 50mA
- Dimensions: 2.6" x 4.8" x 1.6"
- Bypass: Buffered, silent soft-touch
Sku: 424GS
