Jhs 424 Gain Stage Preamp / Disto / Overdrive

The JHS PEDALS 424 Gain Stage Preamp / Distorsion / Overdrive gives all the elastic, lo-fi tone inspired by a guitar being plugged straight into a vintage 424 multi-track recorder. With the 424 Gain Stage pedal, you can easily integrate the rubbery clean tones, high head room, and smashed out fuzz that’s being repopularized by today’s emerging guitarists.

Multi-track recorders were made famous in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and gave musicians and songwriters the ability to bring our songs to life from the comfort of our cluttered bedrooms. These devices meant for home studios eventually found their way onto hit records like Springsteen’s Nebraska, the Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang, and Spoon’s Gimme Fiction. Many of the vocal parts and fuzzy guitar tracks on Gimme Fiction – a huge inspiration for the creation of the Colour Box – were actually recorded on a vintage multi-track unit. Since hearing those recordings, the 424 Gain Stage has been brewing in the background.

In this historically accurate recreation, JHS perfectly replicated the original 424 MKI circuit using the original UPC4570 and NJM4565 op-amps and all the original controls, which is crucial for recreating the unique character that makes the old units sound so good. The 424 MKI's gain controls–trim, channel volume, & master volume–all work in tandem for dialing up your desired tone and can be further refined with the Low and High EQ settings. In addition, it offers a ¼” output alongside a balanced XLR output (DI out) for ultimate flexibility in any situation, live or studio.