The Yerasov FETube Deutsch Higain DH-5 is a stompbox guitar preamp: a single pedal that combines a preamp, distortion, cab sim and equalizer in one analog circuit1. It is part of Yerasov's FETube line, which RockBoard's PedalPedia describes as preamps inspired by real hall of fame amplifiers, built to give the sound and feel of a real tube amp using JFETs rather than tubes or digital modeling1.
What it does
The DH-5 is built around FETube technology, which RockBoard's PedalPedia describes as "Utilizing revolutionary FETube technology based on JFET, it gives you the sound and feel of a real tube amp."1 A JFET, or junction field-effect transistor, is a component whose response to signal level resembles the way a tube behaves, which is why it is a common choice in analog circuits that chase tube-style compression and touch sensitivity.
RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the pedal's playing feel this way: "It efficiently recreates tube dynamics and reacts on your picking just right, carefully delivering all details of your playing."1 In practice, that is the maker's claim that the pedal responds to how hard you pick, cleaning up when you back off and opening up when you dig in, the way a pushed tube preamp does.
Because the pedal carries four functions at once, it can be used in more than one way1:
- As a high-gain preamp feeding a power amp or a flat-response rig, with the cab sim shaping the top end1
- As a distortion and EQ stage in front of a conventional guitar amp1
- As an all-in-one gain and tone block on a pedalboard1
Power and practicalities
The DH-5 runs on 9V DC with a center-negative plug, the standard polarity for pedal power supplies1. Its current draw is the figure to watch: RockBoard's PedalPedia lists 400mA1, which is far more than a typical single pedal needs.
At 400mA, the DH-5 rules out battery power and a shared daisy chain with other pedals. Give it a dedicated output on a power supply rated to deliver at least 400mA on that output.
Yerasov publishes an English manual for the DH-5 as a PDF at yerasov.com, linked from the pedal's product listing1.
Where it sits in the FETube range
The DH-5 is one of Yerasov's FETube preamp pedals, all of which RockBoard's PedalPedia says were "inspired by real hall of fame amplifiers"1. The range includes the FETube Uber Higain UH-5 and the FETube Vital Higain VH-5, each a preamp in the same family with its own gain character. Yerasov also made the Gamma DS-1 Distortion, a distortion pedal from an earlier series.
For more on what this kind of circuit does, see Preamp Pedals and Distortion Pedals.
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Questions
Is the Yerasov DH-5 analog or digital?
The DH-5 is an analog circuit. Yerasov's product information lists its circuit type as analog, and the pedal is built around FETube technology, which uses JFETs (junction field-effect transistors) rather than digital modeling to reproduce the response of a tube amp preamp. That means no software, no presets and no latency, just the analog signal path you would find in a conventional stompbox.
What is FETube technology?
FETube is Yerasov's name for its JFET-based preamp design. According to the maker, the technology is based on JFETs and is intended to give the sound and feel of a real tube amp. Yerasov says all of its FETube preamps were inspired by real hall of fame amplifiers, and the DH-5 is one of that family, alongside the Uber Higain UH-5 and Vital Higain VH-5.
Does the DH-5 have a cab simulator?
Yes. Yerasov lists the DH-5 as combining a preamp, distortion, cab sim and equalizer in one box, so it can shape the top end the way a speaker cabinet would. That makes it usable as a preamp feeding a power amp or a flat-response setup, not only as a distortion pedal in front of a regular guitar amp.
What power supply does the Yerasov DH-5 need?
The DH-5 runs on 9V DC with a center-negative plug, the same polarity as standard pedal power supplies. It draws 400mA, which is a heavy draw for a single pedal, so it needs its own supply output or a power supply rated well above 400mA. A battery or a shared daisy chain with other pedals is not a practical option.
Is there a manual for the Yerasov DH-5?
Yes. Yerasov publishes an English manual for the DH-5 as a PDF on its website, and the pedal's product listing links to it directly. The manual covers the pedal's controls and operation, so it is worth downloading if you buy the pedal secondhand without printed documentation.
Sources (1)
- FETube Deutsch Higain DH-5 by Yerasov, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
