Instead of utilizing a guitar amplifier, he employs a Tascam 424. This innovative pedal product by JHS Pedals is designed to enable users to replicate the "elastic, lo-fi" tones managed by Mk.gee.
JHS Pedals has unveiled a new preamp pedal that is turning heads in the music industry - the 424 Gain Stage. This innovative pedal replicates the lo-fi tones of the classic Tascam Portastudio 424, a piece of hardware that has been favoured by artists for its unique sound for decades.
The 424 Gain Stage meticulously recreates the original 424 MKI circuit design, using the exact same op-amps (UPC4570 and NJM4565) found in the vintage Portastudio units. This results in the characteristic elastic, saturated, and slightly broken tones that have become synonymous with the Portastudio's unique sound.
Key features of the 424 Gain Stage include separate gain controls (Gain 1/Trim and Gain 2/Channel Volume), plus a Master Volume, just like the original Portastudio. These controls offer detailed tone shaping and gain staging, enabling musicians to emulate that direct-in, rubbery clean tone or "smashed out" fuzz effect. Additionally, the pedal includes Bass and Treble EQ controls for further tone customization, enhancing flexibility while maintaining the distinctive lo-fi vibe.
A buffered bypass and soft-touch switching ensure low noise and reliability without compromising tone. Outputs include a 1/4" jack for amp connection and a balanced XLR output that can drive a mixer or audio interface directly, allowing modern players to capture the Portastudio-style sound in studio or live environments easily. The pedal also includes a balanced XLR output with ground lift for added studio flexibility.
Artists such as Mk.gee, known for their bedroom pop and indie tones, use the JHS 424 Gain Stage to emulate the warm, gritty, and compressed textures produced by running guitars (or vocals) through the Portastudio 424. This pedal provides that signature lo-fi saturation and “elastic” response associated with vintage Portastudio recordings without needing the original hardware.
The 424 Gain Stage has been used by a variety of artists, including Bruce Springsteen and Wu-Tang Clan for recording. In 2024, an artist named Mk.gee released a record called Two Star and the Dream Police, and the guitar world was captivated by his unique sound. His unconventional use of the Tascam 424 as a tone-shaping accessory, rather than a recording device, played a significant role in pushing other musicians towards wanting the sounds that the 424 Gain Stage can produce.
Scott, who is likely a music professional, finds Mk.gee's unique guitar sound to be "really new and fresh and different". He is inspired by Mk.gee's use of the 424 Gain Stage to create guitar parts that are unlike anything heard before. The 424 Gain Stage is currently available for purchase at $249. More information about the pedal can be found on JHS' website.
In conclusion, the JHS 424 Gain Stage delivers the Tascam Portastudio 424’s lo-fi tones by reproducing its exact signal path and component choices in a pedal form, enabling the iconic 'rubbery,' saturated, and slightly degraded sound favoured by Mk.gee and similar artists.
- The 424 Gain Stage, inspired by the Tascam Portastudio 424, offers a unique sound that blends technology and entertainment, making it a popular gadget among musicians.
- With its lo-fi tones, the JHS 424 Gain Stage is not just a pedal for music production, but also a tool for creating innovative sounds, transforming the ordinary into entertainment gold.
