The JHS Pedals Artificial Blonde is a true pitch vibrato pedal, released on 21 October 2022 at $249, and it is the signature pedal of singer, songwriter and guitarist Madison Cunningham12. Where a chorus pedal mixes a modulated signal with your dry tone, a pitch vibrato modulates the pitch of the whole signal, and the Artificial Blonde is built around exactly that: what JHS describes as a never off, always on, slightly 3D pitch vibrato sound32. It is JHS's first stereo pedal, with two footswitchable speed/depth presets aimed at live use2.
A never-off pitch vibrato
The Artificial Blonde is a collaboration between JHS Pedals and Madison Cunningham, and its design goal was Cunningham's own signature sound: a very simplistic, always-on, slightly 3D pitch vibrato23. Premier Guitar described the concept as:
"a very simplistic approach to Madison's signature sound: a never off, always on, slightly 3D pitch vibrato sound"2
That idea came from how Cunningham actually plays. She used the JHS Emperor Chorus/Vibrato in vibrato mode as her foundational, always-on sound, and the Artificial Blonde grew out of that circuit54. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley called it "a true pitch vibrato pedal" evolving out of the Emperor4.
For a player, the practical difference from a chorus or a Uni-Vibe-style pedal is that the Artificial Blonde commits to pitch vibrato: the whole signal wobbles rather than being blended against a dry path. Pedal of the Day's reviewer put the pedal in context of the wider field314:
"a never off, always on, slightly 3D pitch vibrato sound"3
The reviewer was comparing it against the vibrato pedals the site had checked recently, and judged it among the strongest of that group3.
The controls
The pedal's control layout splits into two preset sections and a shared global section. Each side has its own Speed and Depth controls, and the two sections are switchable from a second footswitch42.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| VOLUME | Controls the overall volume of the pedal. Left is less, right is more1 |
| EQ | Active tilt EQ. Noon is flat; left boosts lows and cuts highs, right boosts highs and cuts lows1 |
| Speed (A and B) | Sets the modulation speed for each preset section4 |
| Depth (A and B) | Sets the modulation depth for each preset section4 |
The EQ is the control that shapes the vibrato's character. MusicRadar describes it as "an EQ that operates as an active tilt control, where noon is flat, clockwise from there boosts highs and cuts lows and vice versa"4. In JHS's own demo video of its chorus and vibrato lineup, Nick of JHS Pedals shows the same idea in practice:
"And you can use this EQ to brighten it up."6
Premier Guitar sums up the shared section as "a shared volume/EQ section to polish your vibrato"2.
The two footswitches work together for live use. One turns the effect on and off; the other toggles between Vibrato A and Vibrato B, the two independent speed/depth sections43. Pedal of the Day notes that "the secondary footswitch switches between the two speed/depth preset sections"3, which is the feature that grew directly out of Cunningham's habit of switching her Emperor settings mid-show.
Mono and stereo outputs, power and bypass
The Artificial Blonde was JHS's first stereo pedal2. It has one 1/4" mono input jack, and 1/4" MONO and STEREO output jacks5. Use the MONO output alone for a mono signal path, or use both outputs for what JHS calls a 3D stereo soundscape1. Delicious Audio's product page puts it the same way: the pedal has a mono input and stereo output, but can be used in mono by plugging in just the left output5.
Power comes from a 9V DC pedalboard power supply4.
The Artificial Blonde is not true bypass. When the effect is off, the pedal is buffered bypass, and both outputs pass the normal dry signal1. If your rig depends on a fully bypassed signal path when the pedal is disengaged, this buffered bypass is worth knowing about before you add it to the chain.
Madison Cunningham and the Emperor behind the design
The pedal's origin story starts with the JHS Emperor Chorus/Vibrato. Madison Cunningham used the Emperor in vibrato mode as her foundational, always-on signature sound, including through the sessions for her album Who Are You Now1. JHS founder Josh Scott, tech'ing for her, noticed she always had the Emperor on and kept switching its settings between a subtle and a not-so-subtle sound during a sound check in Lawrence, Kansas14. From that, Josh developed the idea for an entirely new stompbox suited to her needs1.
The first version was not a finished product. Cunningham toured for a full year with a black, nondescript prototype labeled "BLONDE?" before the official release1. The finished pedal, in its baby blue enclosure3, launched on 21 October 2022 as the newest member of the JHS lineup and as Madison Cunningham's signature pedal137.
How it differs from the JHS Emperor
The Artificial Blonde evolved out of the JHS Emperor Chorus/Vibrato4, but the two pedals serve different purposes:
- The Emperor is a chorus/vibrato pedal; the Artificial Blonde is a dedicated true pitch vibrato4.
- The Artificial Blonde adds two independent, footswitchable speed/depth preset sections, built for switching between subtle and pronounced vibrato on stage24.
- It adds an active tilt EQ to shape the vibrato's tone14.
- It is JHS's first stereo pedal, with mono and stereo outputs25.
For players comparing pitch vibrato pedals more broadly, the Artificial Blonde sits alongside options like the Boss VB-2, the Diamond Vibrato, the TC Electronic Shaker and the EarthQuaker Devices Aqueduct in the vibrato category.
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Questions
Who is the JHS Artificial Blonde designed for?
It is Madison Cunningham's signature pedal, built by JHS founder Josh Scott around her always-on, slightly 3D pitch vibrato sound. But it works for any player who wants a true pitch vibrato with two footswitchable speed/depth presets for live use, in mono or stereo.
Is the Artificial Blonde a stereo pedal?
Yes. It was JHS's first stereo pedal, with 1/4-inch MONO and STEREO output jacks. Use the MONO output alone for a mono signal path, or both outputs together for what JHS calls a 3D stereo soundscape. It has a single mono input.
What does the EQ knob do on the Artificial Blonde?
The EQ control is an active tilt EQ. At noon it is flat. Turning left boosts lows and cuts highs, while turning right boosts highs and cuts lows. In JHS's demo video, Nick uses it to brighten the vibrato sound.
What voltage does the Artificial Blonde use?
It takes a 9V DC pedalboard power supply. No other power details are given here, so treat it as a standard 9V DC pedal rather than a battery or higher-voltage unit.
Is the Artificial Blonde true bypass?
No. When the effect is off, the pedal is buffered bypass, and both outputs pass the normal dry signal. That buffered bypass is shared by the maker's own product page and press coverage of the pedal.
How is the Artificial Blonde different from the JHS Emperor?
The Artificial Blonde evolved out of the JHS Emperor Chorus/Vibrato, which Madison Cunningham used in vibrato mode as her always-on sound. The Artificial Blonde is a dedicated true pitch vibrato with two switchable speed/depth presets, an active tilt EQ, and stereo outputs, where the Emperor is a chorus/vibrato pedal.
Sources (7)
- ARTIFICIAL BLONDE, JHS Pedals
- JHS Unveils Madison Cunningham Artificial Blonde Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2022-10-26
- JHS Pedals Artificial Blonde Madison Cunningham Signature Vibrato, Pedal of the Day, 2023-09-23
- JHS Pedals launches much-anticipated Madison Cunningham signature vibrato pedal, the Artificial Blonde, MusicRadar, 2022-10-21
- JHS Artificial Blonde Stereo Vibrato (Madison Signature), Delicious Audio, 2023-09-25
- Deep Diving Into JHS Chorus Pedals (Rotary Chorus, Emperor, 3 Series Chorus, Artificial Blonde), JHS Pedals (YouTube channel), 2025-04-02
- MADISON CUNNINGHAM ARTIST SIGNATURE PEDAL, JHS Pedals
