JHS relaunches Ross effects with five pedals
August 1, 2023 · 2 sources
JHS Pedals announced the return of Ross Electronics on August 15, 2023, unveiling five guitar effects pedals based on the brand's classic designs1. The line comprises a Compressor, Distortion, Chorus, Fuzz and Phaser, each with a two-knob setup and a side-mounted button for switchable modes1. The pedals are made at JHS Pedals' Kansas, Missouri headquarters1.
The project dates to 2020, when JHS founder Josh Scott approached Cameron Ross, grandson of Ross founder Charles "Bud" Ross, and suggested a partnership to bring the brand back1. The Compressor is an "Era 2" gray box with the same OTA-based compressor circuit, a reduced noise floor, soft switching, top-mounted jacks and a Vintage/Bright switch; Level controls volume and Sustain controls compression1. The Chorus is an all-analog bucket-brigade design with a V3207 chipset, Rate and Depth controls, and a Chorus/Vibrato switch1. The Distortion is an op-amp hard-clipper with Level and Distort controls and a switch between "Era 2" germanium and "Era 3" silicon modes1. The Fuzz takes its circuit from Bud Ross's Kustom amps, with Level and Fuzz controls and a Vintage/Modern voicing switch1. The Phaser reproduces an OTA-based Ross phaser circuit with Rate and Recycle controls and a switch between classic phaser and a Uni-Vibe-style mode1.
The line was available at launch priced at $1891. JHS also shot a documentary on the brand and its founder1. A separate account states that Ross Audibles, led by Cameron Ross, had reverse-engineered the Gray Compressor and the Ross Distortion from 2018, and that the JHS reissue was released in partnership with the Ross family2.
"The project to bring Ross Electronics back dates back to 2020, when Scott approached Cameron Ross, grandson of Bud, and suggested they go into partnership and bring the brand back."