NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

[treyhaislip]

Got a new used Marshall Jackhammer JH-1 pedal and all I can say is wow. The Overdrive definitely nails the Marshall Crunch I was after. The Distortion is too much for me but that's not a problem because the OD is golden.

Earlier this year I sold off all of my pedals and decided to start from scratch on my pedals for tone. I kept my amp, a modded Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, which gives me the pristine Fender tube cleans. I also got a Purple Plexi Clone with a switch to change between a JCM 800 and a JTM 45 voicing/style of gain. It is an awesome pedal that really pushes my Hot Rod Deluxe but its modified clone so I really can't speak for the Purple Plexi itself.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

There's at least one longtime forum member here who swears by the JH-1.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

I remember it getting recommended a couple of times on this forum as well as others.

Definitely recommending this to others!

 

[Darg1911]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

Got one of those. Had it for years. It's not currently on the board but it wont end up being sold ... unless they start commanding original Klon prices. I wont hold my breath.

 

[ThisDyingSoul76]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

Most people feel the same about the JH-1's high gain setting. Apparently there are mods to change the voicing to be less muddy and more closely resemble the OD mode. Stock the high gain sounds like a blanket is on your amp, but I agree the OD side is a pretty good representation of a Marshall tube amp.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

Most people feel the same about the JH-1's high gain setting. Apparently there are mods to change the voicing to be less muddy and more closely resemble the OD mode. Stock the high gain sounds like a blanket is on your amp, but I agree the OD side is a pretty good representation of a Marshall tube amp.

I saw some of those mods, I like to have my pedals set where I just switch them on or off...don't want to have to bend down during a concert and switch it.....still may do the mod though.

 

[ThisDyingSoul76]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

I saw some of those mods, I like to have my pedals set where I just switch them on or off...don't want to have to bend down during a concert and switch it.....still may do the mod though.

I agree, bending down to switch modes is annoying, but if it makes the high gain mode more useful to you, who knows, you might stay on that mode all the time.

 

[Diego]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

I had one. Sold it out of necessity. I'll buy one again.
It's good and cheap enough that it's silly not to keep one around.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

I agree, bending down to switch modes is annoying, but if it makes the high gain mode more useful to you, who knows, you might stay on that mode all the time.

That is true, might get around to doing it!...if I can stand to get it off my board lol

If would be cool if you could add a foot switch to change between the OD and Distortion mode...

I had one. Sold it out of necessity. I'll buy one again.
It's good and cheap enough that it's silly not to keep one around.

Definitely cheap enough for the tone–$50 is what I paid for it and the tone is more usable than $200+ pedals I've bought in the past (not saying that this is "better" just that this is more usable)

 

[Diego]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

Are any of the Guvnor pedals similar to the OD side of the JH?

I actually wanna buy two of these. One to keep stock, another to modify and improve if possible.

 

[ThisDyingSoul76]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

The Guvnor GV-2 is similar to the OD side but tends to muddy if left stock. The mods to get the top end back are easy enough though.

If you got the jackhammer pedal, you wouldn't need the Guvnor really, unless you went for a clone of the original Guvnor of the 80's.

If you already own a jackhammer, I'd say go for a blues breaker pedal (the king of tone is based on the 80's version of that pedal by the way, although heavily modified to where it is now its own thing)

 

[BruceBruce]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

I used to have a Jackhammer, but got rid of it. It didn't have enough gain in either mode and was difficult to dial in because of the small knobs. Nowadays I have a GV-2 which is miles better. I doesn't have a ton of gain, but sounds very Marshally and can be boosted with a tubescreamer for that sweet sustain.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

Are any of the Guvnor pedals similar to the OD side of the JH?

I actually wanna buy two of these. One to keep stock, another to modify and improve if possible.

I have not tried the Guvnor–this one was cheap enough that I would have no problems buying two to have one modded and the other stock.

The Guvnor GV-2 is similar to the OD side but tends to muddy if left stock. The mods to get the top end back are easy enough though.

If you got the jackhammer pedal, you wouldn't need the Guvnor really, unless you went for a clone of the original Guvnor of the 80's.

If you already own a jackhammer, I'd say go for a blues breaker pedal (the king of tone is based on the 80's version of that pedal by the way, although heavily modified to where it is now its own thing)

I've heard great things about the Blues Breaker, need to try one.

I used to have a Jackhammer, but got rid of it. It didn't have enough gain in either mode and was difficult to dial in because of the small knobs. Nowadays I have a GV-2 which is miles better. I doesn't have a ton of gain, but sounds very Marshally and can be boosted with a tubescreamer for that sweet sustain.

Have you tried a Purple Plexi? That may be more of what you are looking for. I heard one and loved it–found an awesome "clone" of one that came with two classic voicings and it is capable of some very serious gain without being muddy AND it really pushes the amp for awesome harmonics where as the Jackhammer does not push the amp at all.

 

[DankStar]

Re: NPD - Marshall Jackhammer JH-1

I need to bust mine out, it's a nice pedal.

The high gain side is OK if you crank the heck out of the treble on your amp or an eq pedal, but the lower side has enough gain for most applications anyway.

I'd like to do a little test with the JH versus the crunch box, that'd be fun.