“So much more than simply ‘Mk.gee in a pedal’, this smart little preamp box leaves a lot of space to discover your own voice”: JHS Pedals 424 Gain Stage evaluation

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What is it?

If you’ve been focusing on the modern guitar scene over the previous 24 months, possibilities are you’ve become aware of Mk.gee– everybody’s preferred fast-rising guitar hero who has actually introduced a tonal transformation thanks to his inexplicably antiquated setup.

Such tones took spotlight on his well-known launching, 2 Star & & The Dream Policeand thanks to that record– together with Mk.gee’s deal with the similarity Dijon and Justin Bieber– Mk.gee’s guitar noise has actually been talk of the proverbial tone town.

He does not go through an amp– tube, strong state or otherwise– nor is he plugging into an amp modeler or pedal amp. He does not plug into any type of ‘amp’ at all, and rather injects his modded Jaguar straight into a Tascam 424 Portastudio.

The Portastudio– a multi-track recorder that changed home recording– is something of a ‘cult traditional’ piece of equipment, understood for its squishy DI compression and tones that can run the range from sultry ’80s sounds to blown-out, speaker-ripping clipping fuzz. These old-school, formerly prevented, traditionally ‘bad’ tones are the ones Mk.gee champs. They’re likewise the ones lots of gamers desire nowadays.

(Image credit: Future )Now, it’s exceptionally difficult to acquire a classic Portastudio– absolutely more so now, thanks to the Mk.gee inflationary curve– and while smaller sized store pedals have actually currently been repackaging its sonic DNA into pedal kind, it was just a matter of time before among the’huge brand names’ at it itself.

JHS Pedals has actually won that race with the 424 Gain Stage– a leisure of a single Portastudio channel strip that provides the precise very same op-amps and

controls for those searching for some quickly available Mk.gee tones.Specifications

(Image credit: JHS Pedals)

Dimensions: 2.6″ x 4.8″ x 1.6″ (66m x 122mm x 41mm)

Develop quality

( Image credit: Future)Develop quality ranking: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

I’m regularly impressed with simply how well put-together JHS Pedals are. My experiences with the Morning Glory constantly on, Moonshine for Tube Screamer-style overdrive tones, and a Notaklön for classic grit vouch for this. The 424 Gain Stage is no various.

The soft-touch footswitch is my preferred aspect of this– no irksome clicks or pops when stomping this pedal on– and, as anticipated, the plastic knobs (which, undoubtedly, can feel a little budget plan)are robust however smooth sufficient to assist use a responsive spectrum of tones.

Leaving no stone unturned, under the hood JHS has actually reproduced the UPC4570 and NJM4565 op-amps discovered in the Tascam too.

Functionality

(Image credit: Future)Use score: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

It’s a canny technique from JHS, and the outcome is a pedal that is extremely simple to start with right out package

single-channelThe 424 Gain Stage is a single channel strip of the Tascam Portastudio in a pedal, with 2 Gain specifications, Treble and Bass knobs, and a Volume control. It’s a reliable method to enhance the Tascam experience, due to the fact that let’s face it, not everybody would have the time or perseverance to plug into a desk and compete with the generous supply of controls the Tascam has. It can be rather challenging, specifically to those inexperienced in the method of multi-tracks.

It’s a canny technique from JHS, and the outcome is a pedal that is really simple to get going with straight out the box. It’s likewise available how the pedal has actually been established. Volume equates to the OG 424’s Master, Gain 1 is its Trim, Gain 2 is the channel fader, and Bass and Treble act as you ‘d anticipate.

These all operate in tandem and impact one another, which nicely duplicates the experience of battling a classic Tascam. That leading row does feel rather crowded, however, and it’s simple to mistakenly change among the flanking knobs when grabbing the main Gain 2 control.

To make it a lot more useful, there’s a well balanced XLR output for sending it straight to a desk by means of XLR, a required ground lift switch for competing with resulting hum, and top-mounted I/Os, making it a breeze to suit hectic pedalboards.

(Image credit: Future)

Sounds

(Image credit: Future)Sounds score: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

It can be utilized into an amp, as a de facto drive, tidy increase, or fuzz pedal, however can likewise be utilized as a direct-in alternative for a much more genuine experience

For something with such a fairly easy style goal, it’s noteworthy simply how flexible the 424 Gain Stage can be in the best setting. It can be utilized into an amp, as a de facto drive, tidy increase, or fuzz pedal, however can likewise be utilized as a direct-in choice for a lot more genuine experience. Complete disclosure, it’s the latter in which this pedal stands out, and truly nails the Portatstudio quick.

Attempting it into both my Fender Blues Junior and Two Rock Studio Pro 35 to see how it would respond with a tube amp– the oxymoronic practice of utilizing a pedal for its DI tones into a tube amp was definitely not lost on me, I ensure you– it did I great task with the smashed-out fuzz element of its tonal spectrum, though the cleans up left me feeling a little bit underwhelmed. It appears weird to utilize the 424 for its cleans up into a tube amp, when that noise is something that is most likely attempting to be prevented in this circumstances, so it’s not a surprise that held true.

As a cranked, ear-ripping, noise-rock fuzz pedal, however, the 424 felt rather in the house on my’ board, and the squishy, saturated goodness that the controls can assist call in definitely provided me substantial delight. It filled a sonic space I didn’t truly understand I had, inhabiting that odd grey location in between analog fuzz and DI clipping, and showed to be rather motivating.

( Image credit: JHS Pedals )

I had a better time when I went direct to some speakers. Here, the subtleties of the Portastudio noise can truly be valued

Having stated all that, I had a far better time with the 424 Gain Stage when I went direct to some speakers with it, no pesky preamp valves or amp speakers obstructing. Here, the subtleties of the Portastudio noise can truly be valued, and though I would not reach to pin my whole rig around this in a live setting, I ‘d definitely include it into my already-DI setup, as that’s where I felt it might have the most effect.

Because regard, it’s a method that might be considered more brave souls, which’s where I discovered the real magic of the 424 Gain Stage to lie. We’re residing in an amusing time for tone today– as soon as viewed ‘bad tones’ are ending up being popular, and studio-grade noises are avoided in favor of lo-fi DIY options. The 424 Gain Stage is both an event of that and a tip that tone genuinely is subjective.

Mk.gee plugged into an old multi-track assisted to change the understanding of preferable tone in the guitar world. There’s no reason the old equipment depending on your stock could not have the very same impact on your playing. The 424 Gain Stage is a really motivating pedal that not just brings 2025’s most preferred tones to your pedalboard, however in some way likewise motivates you to do your own thing with it. It’s not trying to help with an army of Mk.gee rip-offs, more supply a platform for individual experimentation.

Decision

(Image credit: Future)

A very well motivating pedal, not without its faults, that can bring a popular and flexible taste to your rig

The Tascam 424 Portastudio has actually been the talk of the proverbial tone town for a long time now, and though it isn’t strictly the very first to do so, JHS Pedals has actually done a great task of making those classic desk tones more available to casual gamers.

It’s a sign of the tone times we’re presently enduring, and while numerous will dismiss the 424 Gain Stage as a desperate effort to take advantage of the Mk.gee buzz, a less negative school of idea will see if for what it is– which is a very well motivating pedal, not without its faults, that can bring a popular and flexible taste to your rig.

Guitar World decision: Though lots of will merely see the 424 Gain Stage as ‘the Mk.gee pedal’, it appears incorrect to keep up such a tag. Rather, this is a sign of the “tone revolution” we’re presently experiencing in some quarters of the guitar world, and a platform to explore some hugely popular tones. To put it simply, it does more than the Mk.gee thing– you can really make the 424 Gain Stage your own.

Attempt

Catalinbread Airstrip Console Preamp -$ 179/ ₤ 135.83/ EUR155.54
A leisure of the Trident A-Range console, which formed a substantial part of the UK recording scene in between the 1960s and 1980s. It acts likewise to the 424 Gain Stage, however with somewhat various source product.

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John Mayer

News Editor, GuitarWorld.com