JHS Pedals 424 Gain Stage Preamp/Overdrive/Distortion Effects Pedal

The JHS 424 Gain Stage brings the iconic lo-fi, elastic tones of the TASCAM Portastudio 424 straight to your pedalboard. From rubbery cleans to high-headroom grit and smashed-out fuzz, this pedal captures the sound that inspired artists from Springsteen to Spoon. Faithfully recreating the original 424 MKI circuit with vintage op-amps, it offers intuitive controls for volume, dual-stage gain, and bass/treble EQ, plus a balanced XLR output for direct-to-mixer recording. Use it as a preamp, overdrive, distortion, or full-on fuzz—stack it with your favorite amp or pedals for ultimate tonal versatility. Experience the legendary Portastudio sound without hauling around a massive recorder—perfect for home, studio, or stage. 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. INPUT - Top ¼” right jack. OUTPUT - Top ¼” left jack. XLR OUTPUT - XLR jack on the left side of the pedal. This is a balanced output which can be used as a direct-out straight into a mixer or interface. The 1/4” output and XLR output can be used simultaneously. GROUND LIFT - Dip switch on the left side of the pedal. If you experience a hum/buzz while using the XLR output, use this switch to lift the ground. POWER - Requires 9VDC center negative power and consumes 50mA. The 424 Gain Stage is silent, soft touch switching with a buffered bypass. Like plugging straight into a Tascam Portastudio 424 in pedal form. • MFSKU 424 • UPC 810209870003