The JHS Pedals Low Drive V2 is a bass overdrive pedal from JHS Pedals, built to take a bass signal from a clean boost all the way into heavy dirt. JHS describes its range as going "from meek to mild all the way to downright dirty," and positions it as a go-to pedal for classic bass overdrive tones1. The pedal is discontinued: Pedal of the Day reported it was dropped from the line in Fall 20132.
For a player shopping today, the Low Drive matters mostly as a piece of JHS history, because its circuit lived on. In a 2022 JHS Pedals video, Josh Scott explained the lineage: the Moonshine is "technically the version two of the Low Drive, which is technically a modified version of the JHS 808"3. Pedal of the Day likewise reported that the Low Drive V2 was replaced by the Moonshine2.
What it does to your sound
The Low Drive is voiced for bass, and JHS says a defining characteristic is that "the clarity of your rig will be held in tact no matter how much drive you have going"1. In other words, the low end of your tone stays articulate even with the gain turned up, which is the main thing a bassist wants from an overdrive that a guitar pedal often fails to deliver.
On review, Pedal of the Day's Noah found the pedal covers a wide spread of drive character, describing it as running "from pure 'mojo' tone to a nice Tubecreamer-esque overdrive. Nice and bluesy and totally worth it"2. That Tubecreamer comparison lines up with the family tree: the Low Drive traces back to a modified JHS 808 circuit, itself a Tube Screamer-style design3.
"From pure 'mojo' tone to a nice Tubecreamer-esque overdrive. Nice and bluesy and totally worth it."
Although it was designed for bass, the same reviewer found the Low Drive "conquers on guitar as well," and singled out the middle position of the gain toggle as a standout2. So a guitarist hunting a used one is not misusing it.
The controls and the three-way gain toggle
The control layout is simple: three knobs and one switch2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level |
| Tone | Shapes the EQ; JHS calls it possibly "the most useful overdrive tone knob you have ever used"1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive; JHS describes it as "very flexible with an amazingly wide range of dirt"1 |
| Gain toggle (3-way) | Switches between V1 clipping, open boost, and LED crunch1 |
The three-way toggle is the V2's headline feature. JHS explains that it "allows you to go from V1 clipping to open boost or LED crunch"1. In practice that gives you three clipping characters in one box: the original V1's diode clipping, a cleaner open boost, and an LED-based crunch, which typically reads as a firmer, more aggressive clip. The open boost position is the closest the pedal gets to a clean boost, while LED crunch is the dirtiest end of the range.
Power comes from a 9V DC negative supply, and the pedal can also run at 18 volts, which JHS says gives more headroom and punch2. Running at 18V is worth considering for bass, since extra headroom keeps the clean blend of your low end from compressing as the drive comes up.
Versions: V1, V2 and the Moonshine
JHS lays out the version history plainly on its product page1:
- V1: Same look as the current model but different knobs.
- V2: Gain toggle switch added.
That toggle is the whole difference between the two versions, so a used V1 gets you the same core circuit without the three clipping options12.
The story continues past the Low Drive itself. Pedal of the Day reported the V2 was replaced by the Moonshine2, and Josh Scott confirmed the relationship in JHS's own video: the Moonshine is technically the version two of the Low Drive, which is itself a modified version of the JHS 8083. The Moonshine carried the idea forward as a guitar overdrive pedal from JHS Pedals4.
Videos
Prymaxe
Questions
Can you use the JHS Low Drive on guitar?
Yes. Although the Low Drive V2 was designed for bass, Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the overdrive works well on guitar too, and praised the middle position of the gain toggle. The maker describes the pedal's range as running from meek and mild all the way to downright dirty, so it covers clean boost through heavier drive for either instrument.
Is the JHS Low Drive discontinued?
Yes. Pedal of the Day reported that the Low Drive was discontinued in Fall 2013. JHS Pedals still lists a hand-painted Low Drive page on its site, but the pedal is no longer a current product, and the maker's own page shows a list price of $0.00 USD, which reflects its discontinued status.
What replaced the JHS Low Drive?
The JHS Moonshine. Pedal of the Day reported that the Low Drive V2 was replaced by the Moonshine, and in a 2022 JHS Pedals video Josh Scott described the Moonshine as technically the version two of the Low Drive, which is itself a modified version of the JHS 808.
What is the difference between the JHS Low Drive V1 and V2?
According to JHS Pedals, V1 had the same look as the current model but different knobs. V2 added a three-way gain toggle switch that lets you move between V1 clipping, open boost, and LED crunch. Everything else about the circuit's control layout, tone, volume and gain, stayed the same.
How big is the JHS Low Drive V2?
The Low Drive V2 measures 2.2 inches by 4.3 inches by 1.5 inches, as listed by Pedal of the Day. That is a compact standard-size enclosure that fits easily on a small pedalboard, comparable to other single-footswitch JHS overdrives of its era.
Sources (4)
- LOW DRIVE HAND PAINT, JHS Pedals
- JHS Pedals Low Drive Bass Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-08-24
- What is the JHS 3 Series Screamer?, JHS Pedals (YouTube channel), 2022-04-08
- JHS Pedals Moonshine Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-09-10
