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JHS hate

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Kipp Harrington

Kipp Harrington

Feb 8, 2018
6,138
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Wauseon, Ohio
#1
I think I finally found an OD pedal to my liking (Moonshine by JHS). I did some reading about the hate and boycotting of JHS pedals from consumers. I am with that group also! Is there a pedal similar to the Moonshine that I can purchase? All input is appreciated.

P.S. The pedal has to have a blend/clean function.
 
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#6
While I'm not a JHS supporter, I've watched his arc from the beginning and he's done quite a bit to rehabilitate his company and his image over the past few years. JHS makes decent pedals and if you can find one used, it may be worth looking into.

According to this thread, the Moonshine is an asymmetrical LED clipping TS with a charge pump and a dual ganged gain/clean blend pot.
JHS Moonshine

So I would either get the Maxon OD820 mentioned in the thread, a Way Huge Pork Loin, or just get the Moonshine.
 
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#8
For those of you who were curious - it looks like about fifteen years ago the owner was employed as a musician by an evangelical group in Kansas City which has come under repeated fire for funding the persecution of LGBTQ people in third world nations, tax avoidance/bribery/corruption, and is rumored (though the rumors are well documented) to function more like a cult, with lots of incredibly nasty/unsavory stuff happening to members, particularly women and children. Many of these allegations came to light after the owner of JHS had already left the group*, but people were pretty wound up about it in like, 2014-2015. Haven't seen anything since until this thread.

The "copy" pedals are a separate issue that I don't have strong feelings on.

* - EDIT: I should note that there is absolutely zero evidence that he had any knowledge of or involvement with any of these things, only that he was a hired musician for some of their services.
 
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#9
Obese Chess said:
For those of you who were curious - it looks like about fifteen years ago the owner was employed as a musician by an evangelical group in Kansas City which has come under repeated fire for funding the persecution of LGBTQ people in third world nations, tax avoidance/bribery/corruption, and is rumored (though the rumors are well documented) to function more like a cult, with lots of incredibly nasty/unsavory stuff happening to members, particularly women and children. Many of these allegations came to light after the owner of JHS had already left the group, but people were pretty wound up about it in like, 2014-2015. Haven't seen anything since until this thread.

The "copy" pedals are a separate issue that I don't have strong feelings on.
Click to expand...

I’ve never heard that one before, but very familiar with the copying of others designs.
 
#11
While there are valid complaints about Josh's past affiliation with a disturbing religion, I've found YT channel quite informative. He spends most of his time advertising other makers' pedals. I've learned a lot about the history of pedals, and I've learned of several builders that I'd never heard of. He seems to have good relations with a lot of other builders as well, so I discount the "he stole that circuit" complaint.

The vast majority of new pedals are based on older models. "I like my X but want more gain" type stuff. I don't see why people complain about that. It's just a different flavor.
 
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#12
CTW68 said:
The vast majority of new pedals are based on older models. "I like my X but want more gain" type stuff. I don't see why people complain about that. It's just a different flavor.
Click to expand...

Honestly, it's what the the boutique market was built on. Regardless of what I think of Mike Fuller, the Fulltone Fulldrive might be the pedal that created the high end pedal market. At it's core, it's a tweaked BOSS SD-1 with a boost.
 
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#15
You know,

If you truly knew what half of artists and manufacturers really thought of specific things/topics, you probably wouldn't support or buy anything from any of them. I'm not saying that what they did wasn't bad, but if you found a pedal that you really like why are you going to let politics and social awareness sway your decision?

Just get the pedal you want and play it man. It's an object.

But then again, that's just my opinion. You do what you believe is right for you.
 
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#17
There's been a lot of evolution in the owner's path from the start of JHS to the present. And he seems to be of sound character now, and does boost and support other pedal makers.

Sometime in the past I mighr have felt differently, but at present, I'd buy a pedal of his. Been looking for an excuse to spring for a Colour Box 2, in fact, and may also wind up with a Muffuletta.

YMMV, but I think you could do much worse than a Moonshine.
 
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#18
OnTheDownLow said:
You know,

If you truly knew what half of artists and manufacturers really thought of specific things/topics, you probably wouldn't support or buy anything from any of them. I'm not saying that what they did wasn't bad, but if you found a pedal that you really like why are you going to let politics and social awareness sway your decision?

Just get the pedal you want and play it man. It's an object.

But then again, that's just my opinion. You do what you believe is right for you.
Click to expand...

Before I spend money anywhere, I have a succinct five page list of questions that I submit in order to determine whether they have the right to provide me with a good or service.

If someone can’t even properly identify the best type of pizza, then they have absolutely no business trying to sell me electronics.
 
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#19
Yeah I think the JHS hate train has lost most of it's steam over the last few years- I for one discount the whole church thing because it sounds like his involvement was minimal and certainly nothing to do with the Bad Stuff™ going on at said church. It's hard to judge people on tangential affiliations like that anyway, and heck, half the midwest is involved in those kinds of churches.
The circuit cloning is another thing, but it seems to be water under the bridge and his relations with other pedal manufacturers seem to be pretty good, so if it's good enough for them it's good enough for me.

If any of it still bugs you, buy secondhand and spray paint the enclosure. Andy won't get any of your money or any advertising from you that way, and you'll still wind up with the sound you want.
 
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#20
WillyW said:
I didn't realize there was a cancel movement against JHS.

Let me make a sign, do we meet somewhere, or do we just scowl at our half/calf soy latte?
Click to expand...

Those who whine about "cancel culture" are perfectly OK with using that exact same behavior to express their own agenda. You know, stuff like burning Nike shoes.
 
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