Since its genesis in 2012, the Superbolt from JHS Pedals has risen to the status of a genre classic, praised for its ability to evoke the timeless tones of vintage tube amps . Rooted in the golden age of the 1960s, this amp-in-a-box pedal captures the essence of Supro-style amplifiers, loved by guitar icons such as Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page. Its track record on the pedalboards of the most respected musicians, from King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard to Noel Gallagher, testifies to its versatility and universal appeal.
In 2017, the Superbolt took an unexpected turn, in the form of a custom creation for Mason Stoops, session guitarist and longtime friend of Josh, the founder of JHS Pedals. In a gesture of friendship, Josh adorned the pedal with a taco graphic, a nod to the informal, creative evenings shared between friends.
Plugging in the pedal for the first time, Stoops was struck by an unexpected sound. The internal adjustments had not been made correctly, giving rise to a singular distortion, halfway between fuzz and overdrive. This unexpected result gave life to what is now known as TacoBolt, a tribute to the happy accident that transformed a simple pedal into an unexpected source of inspiration.
With its intuitive controls – volume, distortion and tone – it offers musicians a range of sonic expressions from gentle saturation to fuzz-like roughness. Every note resonates with harmonic richness, evoking the vintage ambience of Tweed amps while offering modern versatility.
In 2024, JHS Pedals decided to capture this magic in a limited edition of the TacoBolt, using the last remaining materials from the original Superbolt. This special reissue continues the legacy of the happy accident that gave birth to this one-of-a-kind pedal, and offers guitarists the world over the chance to explore new sonic horizons.
Controls :
- VOLUME: Controls output volume.
- DRIVE: Controls the amount of distortion.
- TONE: Increases “brightness” (“Right brighter, left darker”).
Retail price: €232.95 (THE PEDAL IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE…) 🙁
More information on the JHS Pedals website.
