Blog

Category: News

JHS 424
News

JHS Pedals Unveils the 424 Gain Stage

Classic Portastudio Tone in a Compact Pedal JHS Pedals has announced the 424 Gain Stage, a preamp/fuzz pedal that faithfully recreates the character of the TASCAM® Portastudio® 424 cassette recorder. Using the same UPC4570 and NJM4565 op-amps found in the original unit, it delivers the lo-fi, “elastic” tones heard on classic home recordings and popularized today by artists like Mk.gee. The control layout mirrors the Portastudio’s mixer section with Volume, Gain 1 (trim), Gain 2 (channel), Bass, Treble, and footswitch. It features both 1/4″ in/out and a balanced XLR output with ground lift, making it equally at home as a DI, fuzz box, or tonal enhancer in a traditional rig. From rubbery cleans and high-headroom tones to fully smashed fuzz, the 424 Gain Stage offers a wide dynamic range of textures. Compact and pedalboard-friendly (2.6” x 4.8”), the pedal runs on standard 9V DC power and offers buffered bypass. JHS emphasizes that it’s not about amp-like breakup but about capturing the quirky, lo-fi magic of the original cassette recorder’s preamps—textures that range from glitchy cleans to bubbling, saturated fuzz. The JHS 424 Gain Stage is available now from JHS and authorized dealers. If you enjoyed checking out this JHS pedal, here are more JHS products worth exploring — all tested and reviewed here on BassGearReviews: – JHS Colour Box V2 – The Neve-Inspired Swiss Army Knife for Bass Players

News

BOSS Releases RT-2 Rotary Sound Machine Pedal

Compact Rotary Speaker Effects with Vintage Tone and Modern Control BOSS has announced the release of the RT-2 Rotary Sound Machine, a new compact effects pedal designed to deliver authentic rotary speaker tones in a streamlined format. While not built specifically for bass, the RT-2 offers rich tonal flexibility and control options that may appeal to adventurous bass players looking to add movement and harmonic texture to their sound. At the heart of the RT-2 is BOSS’s advanced rotary speaker modeling, offering three distinct modes: The RT-2 includes a Drive control inspired by the tube amplification stages of traditional rotary cabinets. This knob adds variable saturation to the signal, from subtle warmth to full-bodied grit. A rear-panel switch lets users assign the Drive knob to instead control the balance between treble and bass rotors, offering additional tonal shaping. Settings are automatically saved and recalled with power-up. A Fast/Slow control adjusts the rotor speed on the fly, and a Rise/Fall Time switch fine-tunes how quickly the virtual rotors transition between speeds—great for creating dramatic swells or subtle fades. The RT-2 also features a virtual rotor display, with LED indicators showing the independent speeds of the treble and bass rotors. The pedal supports four different footswitch modes, allowing users to configure how the RT-2 behaves in live situations—whether toggling bypass, speed changes, or a brake function. For expanded control, the RT-2 also supports external footswitches or expression pedals, assignable to functions like speed or braking. Connectivity includes mono and stereo I/O, with two output modes: standard stereo or independent wet/dry outputs, useful for players routing their clean signal separately from the rotary effect. Though designed with general instrument use in mind, the RT-2’s tonal flexibility, modulation depth, and expanded control options make it a versatile tool for bassists looking to explore rotary textures within their own rigs. The RT-2 is available now and comes with the standard BOSS five-year warranty.

News

Ernie Ball Drops Pino Palladino StingRay Collection

Fretless Fans Rejoice! Ernie Ball Music Man just dropped a killer new tribute to one of the most iconic fretless tones in history—the Pino Palladino StingRay Bass Collection. This release features two Artist Series models (fretted and fretless) plus a seriously limited Icon Series replica of Pino’s legendary 1979 fretless StingRay. Artist Series: These are built to capture the soul of Pino’s tone and feel, with a poplar body in ’79 Burst, a dark-tinted maple neck, rosewood board, and a custom asymmetrical carve. Under the hood: vintage-style Alnico pickup, hand-wired 2-band preamp (voiced with a 500k treble pot), and Pino’s signature flatwounds (on the fretted version). The fretless model gets custom Slinky nickels. You also get a MONO case, brass saddles with a string-through bridge, mutes, bullet truss rod, and that slick Artist Series neck plate. Icon Series: Limited to just 15 worldwide, this is a museum-grade recreation of Pino’s original ’79 fretless. Every detail is dead-on: NOS hardware, custom-wound pickup with Alnico V magnets, aged CTS preamp, nitro finish, and even Pino’s Wales Rugby sticker. Comes with a G&G case and a signed headstock. Pino said it best: “That bass changed my career.” These new releases celebrate that legacy—right down to the paint chips. Available now at select EBMM dealers and the Vault. Icon Series will go fast!

News

Markbass Unveils the GV GOG Series with Andrew Gouché

The “Godfather of Gospel” Gets His Markbass Signature Axe Markbass has teamed up with gospel bass legend Andrew Gouché to launch the GV GOG (Godfather of Gospel) line – a fresh addition to their GV series that combines pro-level specs with a wallet-friendly price tag. Available in 4- and 5-string configurations, the GV GOG basses come dressed in two striking finishes: Red Passion and Blue Sky. But these instruments are more than just a pretty face – they’re designed to deliver clarity, warmth, and that unmistakable Gouché groove. Passive Power, Modern Response In a move that’ll please tone purists, the GV GOG basses are fully passive, featuring a brand-new pickup design developed by Markbass. At the core are dual J-style Markbass Noiseless pickups that aim to deliver crystal-clear response with zero hum – even when soloed. Each pickup gets its own volume control, with a single tone knob (low-pass filter) for dialing back the highs. The layout is simple, intuitive, and leaves all the expression in your hands – just the way Andrew likes it. Classic Build, Modern Feel Construction-wise, the GV GOG doesn’t cut corners. You get a solid alder body, a maple neck, and your choice of either maple or rosewood fingerboard – both featuring block inlays across 20 frets for that classy, throwback aesthetic. It’s a solid, gig-ready build that feels premium without being precious – and yes, a gig bag is included. Price & Availability Pricing hasn’t been announced just yet, but if it falls in line with the rest of the Markbass GV series, we expect it to land under the $1,000 mark – which would make it a seriously compelling option for players looking for a no-nonsense, pro-ready passive J-style. Our early take? If you’re after a responsive, hum-free passive J with Andrew Gouché’s seal of approval and a look that turns heads, the GV GOG might just be your next go-to bass. Full hands-on review coming soon – stay tuned.

News

MXR Releases the Bass Synth Pedal

MXR Unveils New Bass Synth Pedal in Collaboration with Ian Martin Allison MXR®, a division of Dunlop Manufacturing, proudly announces the launch of the MXR Bass Synth Pedal, a bold and versatile addition to the MXR Bass Innovations line. Developed in close collaboration with acclaimed bassist and educator Ian Allison, this pedal is designed to bring expressive, synth-driven textures to the forefront of modern bass playing. Built from the ground up with working bassists in mind, the MXR Bass Synth Pedal delivers vintage analog warmth, contemporary digital control, and intuitive usability—all in a compact and road-ready housing. With a unique blend of classic synth waveforms, dynamic filter sweeps, and assignable modulation, this pedal empowers players to sculpt everything from sub-heavy synth-bass grooves to sparkling octave textures. “It’s the pedal I always wanted on my board,” says Ian Allison, known for his energetic stage presence and genre-defying tone. “We designed this with real players in mind—something that sounds massive but doesn’t take a degree in synthesis to use. It’s about inspiration, not complication.” This pedal marks MXR’s most ambitious foray into synth territory yet and solidifies Ian Allison’s growing role as an innovator in the bass community. Whether you’re laying down grooves in a pop production, experimenting with lo-fi soundscapes, or just want to unleash some sci-fi fury at your next gig, the MXR Bass Synth Pedal delivers the goods with power, tone, and musicality. You can check our first impressions here! Pricing & AvailabilityThe MXR Bass Synth Pedal will be available worldwide beginning July 15, 2025, at authorized MXR and Dunlop dealers and online at jimdunlop.com.