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Why the hate on JHS?

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12SB

12SB

Guest
Apr 1, 2013
66
19
Long Island, NY
#1
Just asking because I honestly don't know where the flack comes from every time I see the company come up on this forum..I see mentions of religion/politics/ design hijacking...can someone give me the lowdown? I'm curious!

I own 2 of their pedals, plus a bunch of other "boutique" or independent pedal makers like HBE, earthquaker, xotic, rockett, diamond, etc etc. I like the sounds of the ones of I have just as much as the other makers' and they seem well built..so what's the deal?
 
#5
20db pad said:
Google it........
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I did...then I came here to ask a forum group that I enjoy being a part of.....most google links are just links to another forum. All I'm seeing is that he clones pedals (doesn't almost EVERY maker to that in some way?) or they are hating on him being "christian" and not having "christian" business practices..Now, I'm not religious whatsoever, but I also don't give a damn what someone else believes in either, as long as they aren't trying to force it on me.

I would only be concerned with the company using good business practices and him being a stand up guy. Nearly every pedal maker site says things like " circuit based on..." " sounds like ___ but with more ___ " etc etc... Essentially many "clones" and derived pedals out there as far as I can tell. I read about Devi Ever as well as the Klon debacle.. Nothing is standing out to me 'cause there doesn't seem to be more than smoke and opinionated people. I suppose it would be hard to get the facts though? I don't know.
 
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#7
I've gotta say, I understand all of those criticisms and I'm not saying that anyone should feel differently about them. But the one JHS pedal I played through (the Sweet Tea on guitar) did sound really, really nice.
 
#9
12SB said:
I did...then I came here to ask a forum group that I enjoy being a part of.....most google links are just links to another forum. All I'm seeing is that he clones pedals (doesn't almost EVERY maker to that in some way?) or they are hating on him being "christian" and not having "christian" business practices..Now, I'm not religious whatsoever, but I also don't give a damn what someone else believes in either, as long as they aren't trying to force it on me.

I would only be concerned with the company using good business practices and him being a stand up guy. Nearly every pedal maker site says things like " circuit based on..." " sounds like ___ but with more ___ " etc etc... Essentially many "clones" and derived pedals out there as far as I can tell. I read about Devi Ever as well as the Klon debacle.. Nothing is standing out to me 'cause there doesn't seem to be more than smoke and opinionated people. I suppose it would be hard to get the facts though? I don't know.
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I don't think it's so much the fact that JHS simply clones pedals, it's that they clone pedals then claim that they are original JHS designs.
 
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#10
mmbongo said:
I don't think it's so much the fact that JHS simply clones pedals, it's that they clone pedals then claim that they are original JHS designs.
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Yes, and, they have sanitized their website quite a bit in the last year. They loosely imply that their pedals are clones now. But, if you went to their website a year or so ago, Josh Scott was taking complete credit for the invention of the Orange Squeezer circuit. The BluesBreaker was described as something that he developed early on to be brand new OD that would not be just another TS. And, it went on and on for every pedal.

There is a rig rundown out there, it's pretty old, where a band shows off their boards and points to a custom JHS box they specifically commissioned with Devi Ever circuits. JHS ran with that and said they basically invented those circuits.

And, just to make something clear, the only people who ever bring up their politics/religion are their supporters that often say they are being treated unfairly for those reasons. The truth is that I have never heard anybody criticize them for those issues, it's their business practices that are horrible.

Creation Audio Labs is pretty religious and I have never heard anybody criticize them for it. Of course, they make quality products that they actually develop with actual expertise. :)
 
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#11
There are so many pedal makers out there with similar offerings that I don't see why anyone has to buy from a builder with shady business practices or questionable ethics. Reward the nice guys and the original guys instead. Internet and user reviews are great for doing a bit of research into custom builders, I don't want to send my money into a black hole or into the pockets of a db.
 
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#12
nshuman said:
Well, it's a clone of two pretty good pedals ;)
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Semi-off-topic story related to the JHS. I used it because a friend had it and my Zoom multi-FX guitar unit was giving me trouble finding a clean/OD setting that matched volumes in the mix. But that sent me on a quest to find a dedicated analog OD/distortion pedal that had at least two sounds in it. I narrowed in on the Empress Multidrive and the rest is, for me at least, history. I had bought an Eventide Pitchfactor but the Multidrive was really what started sending me down the rabbit hole of ditching multi-FX in favor of individual pedals.

About the Empress: I don't know if they've ever said what their circuits are based on. They've never really said the circuits are unique nor if they are clones or "based on" something else. I suspect they are pretty standard circuits at the core. But they do add their own unique touches. The whole idea of the Multidrive for example---three circuits in parallel---is pretty unique that I can think of. And the high/low pass filters for each channel; you don't see that very often.
 
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#13
I read on an earlier thread that they're pretty impersonal with customers and people have felt brushed off, but IME pedal builders are sorta weird guys to start with and a lot of my favorite brands (ehx comes to mind) have straight up ignored me on basic qc stuff. So if that's true I get the hate but I personally dont discount them for what they do, I usually just can't afford their stuff :D
 
#14
Adamixoye said:
Semi-off-topic story related to the JHS. I used it because a friend had it and my Zoom multi-FX guitar unit was giving me trouble finding a clean/OD setting that matched volumes in the mix. But that sent me on a quest to find a dedicated analog OD/distortion pedal that had at least two sounds in it. I narrowed in on the Empress Multidrive and the rest is, for me at least, history. I had bought an Eventide Pitchfactor but the Multidrive was really what started sending me down the rabbit hole of ditching multi-FX in favor of individual pedals.

About the Empress: I don't know if they've ever said what their circuits are based on. They've never really said the circuits are unique nor if they are clones or "based on" something else. I suspect they are pretty standard circuits at the core. But they do add their own unique touches. The whole idea of the Multidrive for example---three circuits in parallel---is pretty unique that I can think of. And the high/low pass filters for each channel; you don't see that very often.
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Yeah, the Empress stuff is all great I think. It is probably based on standard circuits, and I won't fault anybody for not saying what they base their stuff on. I just don't like when a company tries to imply they invented it. Honestly, very very very few companies ever try to do that.
 
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#17
groovatron said:
I was also curious about the JHS hate......I found this link helpful


Invalid Link Removed
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That page tries to whitewash a lot of what JHS has done. Sorry, but his whole "well, I don't know electronics" thing when talking about runoffgroove thing is dishonest at best. People with electronics knowledge have traced his pedals and proven the allegations time and time again.

That whole page you linked is so biassed. And, by the way, a lot of criticism of JHS is not by "Anonymous" posters on the internet. A lot of posts regarding it on DIY forums are by people who have revealed their real names time and time again.

That link is as dishonest as JHS.
 
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#18
jwr said:
Ugh. The religious debate of course. I am Catholic and I don't care if anyone knows it. I don't advertise it on my business because I don't see the need to, but it's silly to disregard someone solely on that alone. Just silly.

You opinion matter just as much as theirs. I'm so tired of hearing this anti religion stuff. We get it. Ok.
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I am what most Americans would call a left wing commie godless atheist ;) and I have no problems with any company or person advertising or not advertising their religion. And, in a lot countries in the world (including but not limited to Canada), nobody cares what you worship or don't worship. :)
 
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#19
nshuman said:
That page tries to whitewash a lot of what JHS has done. Sorry, but his whole "well, I don't know electronics" thing when talking about runoffgroove thing is dishonest at best. People with electronics knowledge have traced his pedals and proven the allegations time and time again.

That whole page you linked is so biassed. And, by the way, a lot of criticism of JHS is not by "Anonymous" posters on the internet. A lot of posts regarding it on DIY forums are by people who have revealed their real names time and time again.

That link is as dishonest as JHS.
Click to expand...

Just curious---do you think the text of the e-mail is a fake? Or do you think there was a second e-mail on the grassy knoll*?










*Do Canadians get this reference? :D
 
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#20
nshuman said:
That page tries to whitewash a lot of what JHS has done. Sorry, but his whole "well, I don't know electronics" thing when talking about runoffgroove thing is dishonest at best. People with electronics knowledge have traced his pedals and proven the allegations time and time again.

That whole page you linked is so biassed. And, by the way, a lot of criticism of JHS is not by "Anonymous" posters on the internet. A lot of posts regarding it on DIY forums are by people who have revealed their real names time and time again.

That link is as dishonest as JHS.
Click to expand...


Well, shows you what I know.

I will tell you that I did not use that article to form any sort of an opinion. It just had the most information of allegations that I could find on a single page on the internet. I mostly read that part. I don't have time to sit here all day and read forum posts in every corner of the internet. And honestly, I really don't care very much. I do not own any JHS pedals. I have always wanted a 4-wheeler. I would still probably pick one up on the used market. Bottom line, if they have broken the law, then someone should take them to court. As far as religious/political views, I could care less.
 
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