JHS Pedals Crayon Preamp Pedal

The JHS Pedals Colour Box is amazing. Its powerful, its versatile, it sounds stunning as a guitar pedal or as a recording preamp, and sometimes…just sometimes…its a bit too much for guitarists. Thats why we created the Crayon. This straightforward pedal harnesses the exact same gritty preamp tones of the Colour Box and puts them in a smaller stomp with a simplified control layout. Three knobs control the gain, output, and tone of the pedal, while a Hi-Pass switch accesses even more aggressive characters. If youre one of the musicians who is madly in love with those straight-to-console fuzz tones but dont need all the extras, the JHS Pedals Crayon was made just for you.

Streamlined, simplified, and ferocious

In 1968, the Beatles Revolution sent a piercing guitar tone through the speakers of the world. This tonal technique of plugging a guitar straight into a mixing console is now referred to as Direct-In Distortion.” The JHS Pedals Crayon gets you these legendary tones faster and in a more guitarist-friendly way than ever before.

– Compact enclosure sits comfortably on any pedalboard
– Easy-to-use controls for Master (output volume), Pre-Vol (gain), and Tilt (tone)
– Runs at 9- and 18-volts (We recommend 9V. It just sounds better.)

Hi-Pass toggle for more intense settings

If you like the sound youre getting from your Crayon but want to take it a step further, just flip on the Hi-Pass toggle switch. Youre immediately greeted with a drop of low frequencies that gives your tone an even more aggressive attitude with extra teeth. Youll also find a side-mounted frequency switch to dictate how much low-end content is shelved.

– Hi-Pass toggle cuts low frequencies to precisely tailor your tone
– 200Hz and 750Hz frequency switch located on the side determines which frequencies are cut

More than meets the eye

Like a lot of our pedals, just because this pedal is loaded with great fuzz tones doesnt mean there isnt a whole lot more to be discovered. Remember, the Crayon is designed after classic console preamps, not another dirt box. So why not see what else it has to offer?

– Run the Pre-Vol control low for a clean tonal enhancement for your rig
– Drop the Pre-Vol and crank the Master for a powerful clean boost
– Utilize the Tilt and Hi-Pass controls, turning the Crayon into a versatile EQ pedal
– Even at full fuzz, back off your guitar volume and be astounded with how well the pedal cleans up