JHS 424 Gain Stage

The JHS 424 Gain Stage: Elastic Lo-Fi Character, Portastudio Vibe in a Pedal

Authentic Portastudio Tone in a Compact Stompbox

The JHS 424 Gain Stage captures the unmistakable sound of the TASCAM 424 Portastudio, bottling its tape-saturated, rubbery clean textures and gooey fuzz in a rugged, stage-ready format. No need to haul around a bulky multi-track recorder, now you can access those iconic lo-fi tones right on your pedalboard or recording desk. Whether you're chasing the textured sounds of D4vd, Steve Lacey, or Mac Demarco, this pedal is your shortcut to the smeared-out tone that's taken over modern indie guitar music.

A Bedroom Pop Power Tool

The 424 Gain Stage delivers tones that go far beyond nostalgia. It’s a fully functional gain stage with flexible voicing options, letting you sculpt your sound from high-headroom cleans to compressed and saturated fuzz. The pedal nails the direct-in feel of a 424 tape deck but excels when run into an amp or stacked with other gain stages. From spoon-fed fuzziness to ambient tape warmth, this is a studio-grade circuit in an intuitive, gig-ready format.

Studio-Grade Circuitry with Vintage Accuracy

A  historically accurate replica of the original 424 MKI circuitry is what really swets this unit apart. JHS painstakingly sourced and implemented the original UPC4570 and NJM4565 op-amps, giving the pedal that unmistakable midrange texture and dynamic response. Controls mirror the Portastudio’s signal flow: TRIM, CHANNEL, and MASTER, offering interactive gain staging with authentic responsiveness. Add the onboard EQ and you’re armed with full sonic sculpting power.

Dual Outputs for Flexible Signal Routing

Whether you're feeding an amp or going direct to your interface, the 424 Gain Stage adapts to your workflow. Use the standard ¼” output or tap into the balanced XLR out for crystal-clear DI tracks that carry all the analog vibe of the original unit. Pair it with an A/B/Y switcher and you’ve got full control over live routing or split recording paths. The XLR even includes a ground lift to keep things hum-free in studio or stage settings.

Push It Gently or Break It Beautifully

Dial in just a touch of drive for subtle grit and punch, or max out the gain stages for velcro fuzz and broken cassette textures. Use it at the front of your signal chain as a tone-shaping preamp or drop it at the end to saturate your full signal into warm, lo-fi overload. It’s not just a one-trick lo-fi pony.

Specifications

• Volume (Master) Control

• Gain 1 (Trim) Control

• Gain 2 (Channel) Control

• Bass EQ Control

• Treble EQ Control

• Input: Top-mounted ¼” jack

• Output: Top-mounted ¼” jack

• XLR Output: Side-mounted balanced output (can be used simultaneously with ¼” out)

• Ground Lift: Side-mounted dip switch

• Power: 9VDC center negative (not included), 50mA

• Buffered Bypass with silent soft-touch switching

• Enclosure: 2.6" x 4.8" x 1.6"

This effects pedal ships fully insured with signature required.