JHS Superbolt V2

Designed to mirror the Supro amps of the 60’s, this drive pedal packs a major punch. The folks at JHS have created a pedal with some serious attitude and gain that might score a little too high on the intensity scale. Like all of JHS’s pedals, it is a wonderfully made machine, especially for guitars, but in the horn world, the Superbolt may have too much bark for it to be useful.

External Control: REMOTE 
Cost: $$

HornFX Review

Interface:  4/5
This is another nicely laid out and simple pedal. Its three knobs are the standard for an overdrive pedal. While it does have the switch for the two gain stages, and the corresponding JHS red remote system, the pedal might be too intense for the gain switch to be usable.

Versatility: 2/5
You might be able to find a small sweet spot on this pedal where you don’t have overly intense drive, but that will be a challenge. This pedal is best suited for heavy overdrive or just crazy noise generation.

Tone Reproduction: 2.5/5
Since this pedal is so aggressive and heavy handed, your tone does not stand much of a chance. Right off the bat you lose a significant amount of tonal integrity due to the intense gain. If you do manage to find a workable sound however, it can be a warm and pleasantly heavy sound.

Live application: 1.5/5
This pedal might just be too intense to use with a microphone. The knobs should start at 10 and count up from there.

Product Information

When we released the Superbolt in 2012, we never dreamed that it would become one of the most recognized and distinguished pedals in our history. Turns out there are guitarists all over the world that are loving the ‘60s-era Supro amp-in-a-box tones that this pedal churns out. In designing the pedal, we paid very close attention to the feel and sound that made the original amps the go-to combos for players like Jimmy Page, Brian Setzer, and Switchfoot’s Drew Shirley. And with the SuperBolt Version 2, we’ve upped the ante by giving you access to our versatile Gain boost circuit via the front-mounted toggle or our own JHS Red Remote footswitch (sold separately).

VINTAGE AMP TONES WITH A TAP OF YOUR TOE

If you want to know what our SuperBolt V2 is capable of, just listen to the opening chord stabs of Led Zeppelin’s debut album. A more iconic rock tone there isn’t. And though the cranked ‘60s Supro amp tones Jimmy Page deployed will go down as legend, those sounds are only the beginning of what the SuperBolt V2 is capable of.

- Tones based on the clear and gritty tones of ‘60s Supro tube amps
- Drive knob acts in a similar fashion to the volume controls on the old amplifiers.
- Tube rectifier-like sag is increased as the Drive control is turned up
- We made sure the tone control is usable throughout the whole range

MORE VERSATILE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Yes, when you step on the SuperBolt V2, your tone will be transformed into the glorious tones of classic rock’s heyday. But there’s much more under the hood than Jimmy’s Tele-driven rock. Back off on the Drive and Tone controls, and you’ll immediately find yourself digging into your best smokey Chicago blues licks. Or keep that drive low but crank the Volume, and you’re able to boost any amp into harmonically rich submission.

- Tone control takes you from warm and mellow to cutting and aggressive, without ever losing its musicality
- Internally converts 9V to 18V for a huge amount of headroom and punchy output
- Gain knob sweeps between darn-near-clean and amp in full-meltdown mode

TWO FOOTSWITCHABLE GAIN LEVELS

By pairing your SuperBolt V2 with the JHS Red Remote (sold separately), you’re able to access the front toggle’s gritty higher-gain settings on the fly. It’s like having two SuperBolts in one pedalboard-friendly package.

- Switch to a more powerful sound with enhanced low end and grit
- Plug in your JHS Red Remote for switching between the two voices with the tap of your toe
- Handy LED changes from blue to red, indicating the status of the boost circuit

VERSION HISTORY

V1 = 3 controls, Hi/Lo toggle, some early stamped units had "3 stage lighting bolt," most have a 4 stage bolt
V2 = replaced Hi/Lo toggle with a Gain Toggle, added Red Remote system

THIS PEDAL REQUIRES STANDARD 9V DC NEGATIVE POWER, CONSUMES 3MA, AND MEASURES 2.2"X4.8"X1.6".

Product info taken from the JHS website.