JHS has introduced the Hard Drive, its inaugural original distortion pedal, aimed at continuing a 90-year tradition of reshaping guitar sound.
Diverging from their established lineup, the Hard Drive distinguishes itself in two significant ways. It represents JHS’s first foray into modern distortion pedals without relying on or modifying classic designs. Additionally, it serves as a tribute to Cliff Smith, the late former lead engineer who contributed to iconic JHS pedals like the Crayon Overdrive, the Colourbox, and the Twin Twelve.
While not directly emulating any single pedal, the Hard Drive incorporates a spectrum of tones reminiscent of ’90s and ’00s styles—from RAT and DS-1 distortions to high-gain amp sounds akin to modded-Marshall Plexi and 5150 tones.
A standout feature of the pedal is its versatile control set, featuring a three-band EQ with a mid frequency selector, allowing musicians to explore a wide range of sounds, including scooped ’00s tones, tube-like crunch, and bright, mid-rich Boss-style tones.
Internally, the circuitry of the Hard Drive includes cascading gain stages, a hard limiting circuit, and a class AB amplifier. Scott, a spokesperson for JHS, remarked on the pedal’s development process, describing it as a culmination of various inspirations and ideas rather than a direct clone of any single circuit.
Overall, the Hard Drive represents JHS’s dedication to innovation within the guitar effects industry while honoring its longstanding heritage in crafting distinctive, high-quality pedals
