The JHS Calhoun V2 is a two-in-one fuzz and overdrive pedal from JHS Pedals, built as a collaboration with guitarist and producer Mike Campbell. It is his first ever signature pedal, and JHS says it is his go-to pedal for rhythm and lead tones live and in the studio1.
The pedal holds two fully independent circuits, so you can use either one on its own or stack them together1. The right side is a fuzz based around the vintage Tone-Bender fuzzes made famous in the 60s and 70s2. The left side is JHS's Twin Twelve channel drive, designed after the vintage Silvertone amps made in the early 60s1.
Two independent circuits
The Calhoun V2's fuzz side is built around the vintage Tone-Bender fuzzes that were made famous in the 60s and 70s2. JHS describes it as giving you everything you need to get that "Satisfaction" tone2. Tone-Bender style circuits are a recurring theme in JHS's fuzz line, including the JHS Bender and the JHS Legends of Fuzz Bender.
The overdrive side is the Twin Twelve channel drive, designed after the vintage Silvertone amps made in the early 60s1. With Volume and Drive controls, JHS says you can boost your amp or send the pedal into heavy overdrive1.
Because the two circuits are fully independent, each can be used alone or stacked1. A center toggle selects the order of the effects when both are engaged: flipped to the right, the fuzz is first in the chain; flipped to the left, the overdrive is first1.
The controls
Each side has its own controls and its own footswitch. The right footswitch engages the fuzz side, and the left footswitch engages the overdrive side1.
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | Fuzz | Works with the Fuzz knob for lower or high gain fuzz tones; has headroom to push your amp1 |
| Fuzz | Fuzz | Sets the fuzz gain, from lower gain to high gain fuzz tones1 |
| Bias | Fuzz | Adjusts the power going to the transistors, fine-tuning the fuzz character from more open and louder to more saturated and dirty2 |
| Tone | Fuzz | Wide sweep, from fat tones to thinner, more vintage tones1 |
| Volume | Overdrive | Sets the output level, from a clean boost into heavy overdrive territory1 |
| Drive | Overdrive | Sets the gain, from boosting the amp to heavy overdrive1 |
| Order toggle | Center | Selects which effect is first when both are engaged: right for fuzz first, left for overdrive first1 |
The Bias control is the one vintage-fuzz players will recognize. JHS explains that it "adjusts the amount of power going to the transistors to enable you to fine-tune the character of the fu"zz, from more open and louder to more saturated and dirty2. In practice it works the way biasing a germanium fuzz does: starve the transistors and the sound gets gated and splatty, feed them fully and it opens up.
Where it came from
The Calhoun V2 is JHS's collaboration with Mike Campbell, and his first ever signature pedal1. Delicious Audio classed it on release as an overdrive/fuzz3. Gearnews reported in April 2017 that a limited edition of 100 units carried a hand-painted design rather than the standard red version, with an RRP of EUR 3594.
"All of Mike's proceeds from the Calhoun are being donated to the Tazzy Animal Rescue Fund."
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Questions
Can you run both sides of the JHS Calhoun V2 at once?
Yes. The two circuits are fully independent, so you can use the fuzz or the overdrive on its own, or stack both together. A center toggle sets which effect comes first when both are engaged, so you can hear the fuzz pushing into the drive or the drive pushing into the fuzz.
How do you change the order of the fuzz and overdrive on the Calhoun V2?
A toggle in the middle of the pedal selects the order when both sides are engaged. Flipped to the right, the fuzz is first in the chain; flipped to the left, the overdrive is first. This lets you stack the two circuits either way without rewiring your board.
What does the Bias knob do on the Calhoun V2?
The Bias control sits on the fuzz side and adjusts the amount of power going to the transistors. That lets you fine-tune the fuzz character, from a more open and louder sound to a more saturated and dirty one, in the same way you would bias a vintage fuzz.
Which footswitch turns on the fuzz on the Calhoun V2?
The right footswitch engages the fuzz side, which carries the Volume, Fuzz, Bias and EQ controls. The left footswitch engages the overdrive side, which has Volume and Drive controls. Either side can be on alone, or both at once.
Who designed the JHS Calhoun?
The Calhoun V2 is a collaboration between JHS Pedals and guitarist and producer Mike Campbell, and it is his first ever signature pedal. JHS says it is Mike's go-to pedal for rhythm and lead tones both live and in the studio.
What is the Calhoun's fuzz circuit based on?
The fuzz side is based around vintage Tone-Bender fuzzes that were made famous in the 60s and 70s. JHS describes it as giving you everything you need to get that Satisfaction tone, with a Bias control for shaping the character.
Sources (4)
- CALHOUN HAND PAINT, JHS Pedals
- CALHOUN V2, MIKE CAMPBELL, JHS Pedals
- JHS Pedals The Calhoun V2 Overdrive/Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2017-05-17
- JHS new Calhoun V2 and The Milkman pedals: Some drive, a dog and a bit of echo, www.gearnews.com, 2017-04-26
