Boutique pedal powerhouse JHS Pedals has dropped a major anniversary bombshell, unveiling the Kilt 10, a retooled and heavily upgraded special edition of its beloved but often underrated distortion pedal. Celebrating a decade since its debut, the JHS Kilt overdrive has received significant sonic and aesthetic enhancements, solidifying its status as a versatile studio and stage essential.
Revamped Circuitry: Higher Headroom, Smoother Attack
Initially developed in collaboration with guitarist and producer Stu G, the Kilt was built to be a sonic Swiss Army knife. For its 10th anniversary, JHS has focused on making the circuit even more player-friendly.
The new JHS Kilt 10 boasts a “refreshed voice” via an updated clipping section, offering higher headroom, a noticeably smoother attack, and enhanced dynamic versatility.
Key internal upgrades include:
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Expanded Gain Range: The Gain control is now far more usable in the lower end (0-25%), unlocking articulate, low-gain textures previously inaccessible.
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Enhanced Output and Headroom: Players will find more output on tap for a responsive tone across any rig, plus more headroom for stacking with other overdrive pedals or pushing a clean amp.
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Mix-Cutting Top End: The tone control is better equipped to help the Kilt 10 slice through a dense mix with clarity.
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Amp-Friendly Low-Cut: The Low-Cut mini switch has been optimized to be “far more amp-friendly,” guaranteeing seamless integration with both vintage tube amps and modern digital amp modellers.
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Improved Clipping Circuit: While retaining the core tonal charm, the clipping circuit now offers increased compression and distortion, delivering “touch-sensitive nuance” in spades.
New Look: The Scottish Cyberman Aesthetic
Beyond the sonic tweaks, the Kilt 10 features a striking “reimagined aesthetic” that JHS describes as resembling a “Scottish Cyberman,” offering a fresh visual departure for the milestone release.
The pedal retains the flexible control layout of its predecessor:
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Controls: Gain, Volume, and Tone.
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Mini Toggles: G1 (more overdrive), G2 (more fuzz), and Low-Cut.
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Connectivity: Standard in/outs, plus an additional Red Box jack for hooking up a latching footswitch, which unlocks advanced gain staging personalization.
A Tweakable Playground: Josh Scott Weighs In
JHS founder Josh Scott explained the philosophy behind the Kilt’s revival, referencing the circuit’s obscure, vintage heritage.
“This is textbook Josh,” says Scott. “It’s an old, vintage thing that’s obscure-ish that people love but no one is making and is highly tweakable. It’s like a playground for me, because there are so many things you can do with this circuit.”
The original Kilt, while a stalwart of the JHS catalog since 2015, often flew under the radar compared to mega-hits like the Angry Charlie or Morning Glory. The Kilt 10 aims to change that, offering a boutique distortion and fuzz pedal experience with unmatched flexibility.
The JHS Kilt 10 special edition distortion pedal is available now for $249.
Available at Andertons, priced £186 Black Friday Deal Price! – normally £249
Available at Sweetwater, price $186.75, Black Friday Deal Price! – normally $249
Available at Thomann, priced €289
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#JHS Pedals #The Kilt
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