JHS Pedals 424 Gain Stage Pedal

The JHS 424 Gain Stage brings the elastic, lo-fi character of plugging a guitar directly into a vintage 424 multi-track recorder to a compact pedal format. Designed as a historically accurate recreation of the original 424 MKI signal path, it covers everything from rubbery clean tones and high-headroom preamp sounds to overdrive, heavy saturation, and smashed-out fuzz.

At the heart of the 424 Gain Stage are the original-style UPC4570 and NJM4565 op-amps, along with the same basic gain structure that gave the vintage recorder its distinctive sound. JHS translated the original Trim, Channel, and Master controls into Gain 1, Gain 2, and Volume, allowing all three stages to interact just as they do on the recorder. Bass and Treble controls provide additional shaping of the finished sound.

Gain 1 corresponds to the original recorder's Trim control and determines how much preamplification is applied at the input. Gain 2 recreates the Channel fader and sets the level feeding the second gain stage, while Volume functions like the original Master fader. Keep the gain controls lower for clean, colored preamp sounds, push them harder for overdrive, or drive both stages into overloaded fuzz and broken-up recording-console textures.

The 424 Gain Stage can work as either a conventional pedal in front of an amplifier or as a direct-recording preamp. Along with its standard 1/4" output, it includes a balanced XLR DI output for connection directly to a mixer or audio interface. Both outputs can be used simultaneously, making it possible to send one signal to an amp while recording another direct. A side-mounted Ground Lift switch is included for reducing hum or buzz when using the balanced output.

Key Features

• Preamp, overdrive, distortion, and fuzz based on a vintage 424 MKI multi-track recorder
• Historically accurate recreation of the original 424 MKI gain circuit
• Original-style UPC4570 and NJM4565 op-amps
• Three interacting gain stages based on the recorder's Trim, Channel, and Master controls
• Gain 1 controls input preamplification
• Gain 2 controls the second gain-stage level
• Volume controls overall output
• Bass and Treble EQ controls
• Standard 1/4" instrument output
• Balanced XLR direct output
• 1/4" and XLR outputs can be used simultaneously
• Ground Lift switch for the balanced XLR output
• Works as a gain pedal into an amplifier or as a direct-recording preamp/DI
• Silent soft-touch switching
• Buffered bypass

Specifications

• Effect Types: Preamp / Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz / DI
• Controls: Volume, Gain 1, Gain 2, Bass, Treble
• Input: 1 x 1/4"
• Outputs: 1 x 1/4", 1 x balanced XLR
• Additional Control: XLR Ground Lift
• Bypass: Buffered bypass with silent soft-touch switching
• Power: 9V DC, center-negative
• Current Draw: 50mA
• Dimensions: 2.6" x 4.8" x 1.6"
• Important: Do not supply more than 9V DC.