Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
JHS Pedals spins an intriguing narrative to shift 500 end-of-line Mis-Biased SuperBolt / TacoBolt Amp-in-a-box Overdrives
Key Points
JHS’s SuperBolt began in 2012 as a Preamp / Overdrive take on the 1960s Valco Supro Thunderbolt. Over 12 years it gained a changed Thunderbolt symbol, a Red Remote socket and a Gain boost switch, then was slated for discontinuation to shift remaining PCBs.
Mason Stoops received a mis‑biased SuperBolt and preferred its fuzz; JHS used that story to launch the TacoBolt. 500 TacoBolts at $249 / £199 sold out almost immediately and are already flipping on second‑hand sites. As of yesterday, the price was £199.
Second‑hand SuperBolts rose in interest; the JHS Ruby Red Butch Walker Signature Overdrive and BJFE’s Honey Bee Overdrive are linked to the same Supro lineage. Notaklön has shifted over 20,000 units.
JHS’s SuperBolt first materialised in 2012 as a Preamp / Overdrive take on the 1960’s Valco Supro Thunderbolt amp. It’s been through a few iterations throughout its 12 year history - where the original 3-part Thunderbolt symbol needed to be extended to 4 parts to avoid trademark copyright issues.
The pedal also picked up a Red Remote socket and Gain boost switch along the way. But evidently the pedal had not been selling particularly well - and Josh decided that it should be discontinued - but with one last big push to shift the remaining PCBs I presume.
A few years back Mason Stoops received a mis-biased SuperBolt - where he actually preferred the more fuzzy sound of that one-off happy accident. Josh obviously thought that said narrative would be an excellent way to give the SuperBolt a great final send-off. And so the TacoBolt was born - in some ways a lesser pedal than the SuperBolt, but priced at the same $249 premium. And very evidently Josh has retained his Midas touch - as all 500 TacoBolts sold out in mere moments - and are already being flipped at ridiculous prices on second hand resources!
You really have to hand it to the JHS Marketing Machine - striking gold at every turn. The Notaklön has shifted over 20,000 units now, and there still seems to be a healthy appetite for anything and everything Josh and his team choose to promote.
By the time I got to the JHS Website yesterday - the TacoBolts had long since sold out - which at 500 x $249 / £199 - is another excellent little earner for the company.
There are a number of different ways to arrive at the same destination - and since the TacoBolts are all sold out and already trading at ridiculous inflated values - then second-hand SuperBolts are obviously in the ascendancy - along with the more extended range JHS Ruby Red Butch Walker Signature Overdrive take on the same. Interestingly also - BJFE’s Honey Bee Overdrive is also based on a somewhat beat-up and mis-biased Supro amp!
I’ve had the Ruby Red on my wishlist for a time - and will now have to wait another long while for things to quieten down some before a reasonable acquisition becomes viable again!
Props to JHS! They certainly know how to market a pedal - and their YouTube mastery is still paying dividends - even though they’ve been somewhat quiet of late!
TacoBolt Launch Video
