JHS Pedals spins an intriguing narrative to shift 500 end-of-line Mis-Biased SuperBolt / TacoBolt Amp-in-a-box Overdrives

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!