For guitarists seeking quality effects without breaking the bank, the JHS 3 Series pedals emerge as a compelling solution. In a market often saturated with complex and expensive stompboxes, JHS Pedals has introduced a line focused on simplicity, affordability, and, most importantly, great sound. The 3 Series is designed to be accessible to every musician, offering essential effects in a straightforward format.
The concept behind the 3 Series arose from a desire to address the increasing complexity and cost of modern guitar pedals. Many contemporary pedals boast a vast array of features and controls, often leading to steeper prices. Recognizing the need for simpler, more budget-friendly options, JHS Pedals set out to create a line that delivers quality and ease of use without compromising on tone. The result is the 3 Series: a collection of pedals priced at $99 each, characterized by a consistent design featuring three knobs, a toggle switch, and a single footswitch. This streamlined approach ensures that players can quickly dial in their desired sounds and focus on their music.
To truly appreciate the significance of the 3 Series, it’s helpful to consider the history of budget guitar pedals. The idea of affordable effects pedals isn’t new. The early 1980s saw the emergence of brands that offered alternatives to the then-dominant BOSS and Ibanez, making effects accessible to a wider range of musicians. Arion Effects, for example, gained recognition in 1983 with budget-friendly pedals that are now sought after for their sound quality and use by renowned players. Rocktek further pushed affordability in 1986, and even Ibanez entered the budget arena with the Soundtank Series in 1989, a line that holds nostalgic value for many guitarists.
The 1990s continued this trend with ProCo releasing more affordable versions of their iconic Rat distortion pedal, such as the Roadkill and Brat. However, it was the Danelectro Food Series in 1999 that arguably marked a turning point for budget pedals. Beyond their quirky food-themed names, these pedals offered accessible versions of classic and sometimes rare circuits, becoming incredibly popular in the mid-2000s and introducing many guitarists to a wider palette of effects. Behringer later followed a similar path, offering a compact and inexpensive line of effects, further expanding the availability of budget-friendly options.
While acknowledging the importance of these historical budget pedal lines, JHS Pedals aimed to overcome some common limitations often associated with them when designing the 3 Series. Two key areas of focus were quality and originality. Firstly, the 3 Series prioritizes quality. Understanding the demands of gigging musicians, JHS committed to using the same high-quality components, enclosure style, footswitches, jacks, and toggles in the 3 Series as they use in their more premium pedals. This commitment ensures reliability and durability, addressing a potential concern with some budget pedals.
Secondly, originality was a core principle. While many budget pedals are often variations or clones of existing circuits, the JHS 3 Series largely features original designs. Even when drawing inspiration from classic circuits, JHS has modified and innovated to create pedals with their own distinct character and functionality. This approach aims to offer players not just affordable options, but also unique and inspiring sounds. JHS envisions the 3 Series as a potential landmark in budget pedal design, striving to create a line that is both accessible and exceptional. Proudly made in the USA and priced at $99, the 3 Series pedals are designed to deliver professional quality and inspiring tones to players of all levels.
Let’s delve into two examples from the series to illustrate their design and functionality: the Overdrive and the Delay.
The 3 Series Overdrive embodies the straightforward philosophy of the line. Simply named “Overdrive,” this pedal is designed to do exactly what its name suggests. It utilizes a soft clipping circuit with an op-amp, drawing inspiration from popular overdrive topologies of the 1970s and 80s. The control layout includes Volume, Body, and Drive knobs. Volume adjusts the output level, while Drive controls the amount of saturation. The Body control is a unique feature, acting as a combination of tone and gain structure adjustment, allowing for nuanced shaping of the overdrive character. Additionally, a Gain toggle switch provides a different clipping style, significantly boosting the output and gain for a more aggressive and amp-pushing tone, ideal for driving a tube amplifier.
The 3 Series Delay, similarly named for its function, is the “Delay.” This pedal offers essential delay capabilities with a focus on ease of use and versatile sound. It features Mix, Time, and Repeats controls, along with a Type toggle switch. Mix controls the blend of the wet (delayed) signal, allowing users to dial in subtle echoes or more prominent delay effects. Time adjusts the delay time, ranging from slapback to longer delays for ambient textures. Repeats controls the feedback, determining the number of echoes, from a single repeat to infinite feedback for sustained washes of sound. The Type toggle switch offers a choice between Analog and Digital delay modes. The Analog setting provides a darker, warmer, and subtly modulated delay reminiscent of classic analog delays, while the Digital setting delivers a cleaner, more pristine, and articulate delay sound.
In conclusion, the JHS 3 Series pedals represent a significant offering for musicians seeking quality, affordability, and simplicity in their effects pedals. By prioritizing essential features, robust build quality, and original designs, JHS has created a line that stands out in the budget pedal market. Whether you’re looking for a versatile overdrive to shape your core tone or a flexible delay to add depth and dimension, the 3 Series provides accessible and inspiring tools for any guitarist’s pedalboard.
