The Kilt 10 is an overdrive/distortion pedal from JHS Pedals, released in 2025 to mark ten years since the first Kilt arrived in 20151. It is a continuing collaboration between JHS and guitarist Stu G, and JHS describes the original Kilt as one of its best-selling overdrive/distortion pedals year after year12. Delicious Audio calls the Kilt 10 "a comprehensive revision of the brand's best-selling distortion circuit"3.
The circuit traces back to the Expandora, the pedalboard cult classic that inspired the Kilt line4. Pedal of the Day's take on the revision is simple: "Think Kilt V2, but bigger."1
What it does to your sound
The Kilt 10 sits in the overlap between overdrive and distortion, with the G1 and G2 clipping toggles moving it across that whole range and into fuzz territory. An updated clipping section delivers more headroom, a smoother attack, and a richer, more dynamically useful drive range than the earlier Kilt1. Guitar World describes the result as a "refreshed voice" via that updated clipping section6.
The character depends heavily on the toggle settings:
| Toggle setting | What you get |
|---|---|
| Both toggles down | Drive at its lowest, articulate low-gain textures16 |
| G1 up | More overdrive4 |
| G2 up | More fuzz6 |
| Both toggles up | A massive wall of saturated British overdrive, the sound that made the original famous12 |
| G1 down, G2 up | A higher gain stage boost, for pushing your amp's front end or stacking with fuzz1 |
Guitar Pedal X lists the toggle range as Crunch, Overdrive, Distortion and Forbidden Fuzz7.
Controls
The control set is straightforward: Volume, Gain, Tone, a Bass-Cut/Flat toggle, and the two clipping switches, G1 and G27.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level7 |
| Gain | Sets the drive amount; the 0 to 25% range is now usable for articulate low-gain textures1 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble content7 |
| Bass-Cut / Flat | Cuts or keeps the low end; more audible effect than on the Kilt V2, and more compatible with a broader range of amplifiers, including amp modelers15 |
| G1 clipping switch | Adds more overdrive when up4 |
| G2 clipping switch | Adds more fuzz when up6 |
Two changes stand out against the earlier Kilt. First, the Gain knob now offers a far more usable range from 0 to 25%, unlocking articulate, low-gain textures that were not previously available1. Second, the G1 and G2 toggles now provide a more touch-sensitive playing feel, increased compression, more intense distortion, and a softer attack5.
The Kilt comes equipped with proprietary JHS Red Remote circuitry, which lets you switch the gain toggle on the fly for instant changes between overdrive and distortion, or distortion and fuzz2.
How it differs from the Kilt V2
The Kilt V2 already had the G1, G2 and Flat/Cut toggles, so the layout will be familiar to Kilt owners1. What is new in the Kilt 10 is the revised clipping section, the more usable low-gain end of the Gain knob, the more audible Flat/Cut toggle, and a Low-Cut toggle voiced to work with a broader range of amplifiers, including amp modelers15. Pedal of the Day frames the whole revision as "the most complete version of this classic circuit ever made"1.
Where it came from
The original Kilt appeared in 2015 as a collaboration between JHS Pedals and Stu G, built around the Expandora circuit that inspired it14. JHS says it has been one of the brand's best-selling overdrive/distortion pedals year after year since2. The Kilt 10 arrives a decade later as the anniversary revision3.
On JHS Pedals' YouTube channel, Josh Scott and Stu G demoed the original Kilt as the "Most Versatile JHS Drive Pedal," covering its overdrive, distortion, fuzz and boost functions and its use with the Red Remote82:
Videos
JHS Pedals
JHS Pedals
Sweetwater
Questions
Who designed the JHS Kilt 10?
The Kilt 10 is a continuing collaboration between JHS Pedals and guitarist Stu G, who also worked on the original 2015 Kilt1.
What do the G1 and G2 toggles do on the Kilt 10?
They select the clipping character. Both down gives the lowest drive, G1 up adds more overdrive, G2 up adds more fuzz, and both up gives the saturated British overdrive the original was known for164. With the Red Remote connected, you can switch the gain toggle on the fly2.
Is the Kilt 10 an overdrive or a distortion?
Both. JHS and the press describe it as an overdrive/distortion pedal, and the clipping toggles extend its range from crunch through distortion into fuzz127.
How is the Kilt 10 different from the Kilt V2?
It keeps the Kilt V2's control layout but adds an updated clipping section with more headroom and a smoother attack, a more usable 0 to 25% Gain range, and a Low-Cut toggle that works with a broader range of amps including amp modelers156.
Sources (8)
- JHS Pedals The Kilt 10 Overdrive Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2025-11-25
- KILT 10 - JHS Pedals, JHS Pedals
- New Pedal: JHS Kilt 10 Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2025-11-26
- In 2015, JHS Pedals released what it called the “ultimate dirt pedal”, MusicRadar, 2025-11-26
- JHS Pedals Kilt 10: Expanding The Expandora, gearnews.com, 2025-11-26
- JHS Pedals retools the underrated Kilt distortion, Guitar World, 2025-11-26
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-12-04
- Most Versatile JHS Drive Pedal: The Kilt Overdrive / Distortion / Fuzz / Boost And Red Remote, JHS Pedals (YouTube), 2023-07-03
