The 424 gain stage offers all the flexibility and lo-fi sound you get from plugging a guitar directly into a TASCAM® Portastudio® 424. Now available as a pedal, you can easily integrate the clear, rubbery tones, significant headroom, and powerful fuzz that have been brought back into fashion by emerging guitarists.
The original Portastudio® units became famous in the 80s and 90s and allowed us to bring our songs to life from the comfort of our cluttered bedrooms. These multitrack recorders, designed for home studios, found their place on hit albums like Springsteen’s "Nebraska," Wu-Tang Clan’s "Enter the Wu-Tang," and Spoon’s "Gimme Fiction." In fact, many of the vocals and fuzzy guitar parts on "Gimme Fiction" – a major source of inspiration for the creation of the Colour Box – were recorded on a Portastudio®. Ever since hearing those recordings, the 424 gain stage has been maturing in the background, and we are proud to introduce it to you.
In this historically faithful recreation, we have perfectly reproduced the original 424 MKI® circuit using the original UPC4570 and NJM4565 op-amps and all original controls, which is essential to recreating the unique character that defines the sound quality of vintage devices. The Portastudio® gain controls (Trim, channel volume, and master volume) work in synergy to achieve the desired sound and can be fine-tuned using the bass and treble EQ settings. Furthermore, our unit offers a 1/4" jack output and a balanced XLR output (DI output) for optimal flexibility in any situation, live or in the studio.
The 424 gain stage as a DI
Using a DI will provide you with the same incomparable creamy texture and lo-fi fuzz that you get by plugging a 424® in directly, without having to lug your expensive Portastudio® around. Leave it on your recording desk for easy access. For a more sophisticated touch, you can install an active A/B/Y switch at the end of your rig and send output A to your amp and output B to the input of the JHS 424 gain stage, then run the pedal's XLR output directly to your mixer or interface. This way, you can easily toggle between your amp and the 424 gain stage, or use both simultaneously. Try it out!
The 424 gain stage with an amp
Plugging a Portastudio® into your amp is a real adventure. With this pedal format, you can easily integrate the 424 sound with the saturation of your favorite amp. This adds a whole new quality to your tone and allows it to be paired with your other pedals. Use it as a gain stage to boost your signal, achieve a unique and colored overdrive sound, or push the gain knobs for a saturated and broken-up fuzz.
CONTROLS
VOLUME (Corresponds to the Portastudio® Master) - Controls the output volume. Counter-clockwise, it decreases; clockwise, it increases. On the Portastudio 424, this is the MASTER fader.
GAIN 1 (TRIM) - Adjusts the amount of pre-amplification added to the input signal. On the Portastudio 424, this is the TRIM fader.
GAIN 2 (CHANNEL) - Adjusts the volume of the second gain stage. On the Portastudio 424, this is the CHANNEL fader.
BASS - Cuts or boosts low frequencies. Counter-clockwise for less, clockwise for more.
TREBLE - Cuts or boosts high frequencies. Counter-clockwise for less, clockwise for more.
INPUT - 1/4" jack on the top right.
OUTPUT - 1/4" jack on the top left.
XLR OUTPUT - XLR jack on the left side of the pedal. This balanced output can be used as a direct output to a mixer or interface. The 1/4" jack and XLR outputs can be used simultaneously.
GROUND LIFT - DIP switch on the left side of the pedal. If you notice a hum while using the XLR output, use this switch to lift the ground.
POWER - Requires 9V DC center-negative power and consumes 50mA.
The 424 gain stage is silent, features soft switching, and has a buffered bypass.
This pedal measures 2.6" x 4.8" x 1.6" and consumes 50mA. Do not use more than 9V DC. Damage may occur and your warranty will be voided.