424 Gain Stage
By JHS Pedals
A historically accurate recreation of a vintage 424 multi-track recorder's preamp circuit, for the elastic, lo-fi gain heard on classic bedroom-recorded albums.
About this pedal
The 424 Gain Stage replicates the original 424 MKI multi-track recorder circuit — op-amps and all — to deliver the same rubbery clean tones, high headroom, and smashed-out lo-fi fuzz heard on records like Springsteen’s Nebraska and Spoon’s Gimme Fiction, with both 1/4” and balanced XLR DI outputs.
Quick answers
- How much does the 424 Gain Stage cost?
- JHS Pedals lists it at $249 (USD). Dealer and used prices vary.
- Is the 424 Gain Stage still available?
- Yes. JHS Pedals lists it as a current model that's available to order.
- Who makes the 424 Gain Stage?
- JHS Pedals, building gear since 2007. Where it's built: Built at the JHS production facility in the Kansas City area. It's listed here as a preamp pedal.
- What warranty does JHS Pedals offer?
- 4-year limited warranty on parts and internal components (6 months for 3 Series pedals and DIY kits), non-transferable and activated by registering online. US warranty repairs are free including return shipping, with prepaid labels in the first 30 days. International repairs carry a $25 return shipping fee. Physical abuse, trim-pot tampering and outside modifications are not covered. Out-of-warranty repairs are available at reasonable rates.