JHS Ross Distortion vs Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high
The JHS Ross Distortion and the Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high are both pedals sharing bright. The JHS Ross Distortion leans high gain and tight. The Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high leans full and mid-forward.
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Blended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.46% — somewhat different
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Genres both listings are associated with.- Metal
- Hard Rock
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Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- bright
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$82.80via Reverb
The JHS Ross Distortion is a faithful recreation of the vintage Ross Distortion, a 1970s distortion pedal that used a circuit topology closely related to the ProCo RAT and the MXR Distortion+ family. The Ross Distortion was known for its aggressive, cutting distortion character with a specific op-amp voicing that produced a bright, punchy saturation suited to hard rock and early metal of the period. JHS recreates the Ross circuit with modern components while preserving the original circuit topology and tonal character.
The Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm is a budget high-gain distortion voiced after the classic British black-and-gold high-gain amp sound, with a convincing amp-like feel and response. Unusually for its price it carries a full three-band EQ -- High, Middle and Low -- plus a Mid Boost function adding punch and focus for cutting through a mix, so it covers everything from a scooped modern metal rhythm tone to a mid-forward classic rock crunch. A built-in boost circuit on its own footswitch piles on extra grit and volume for leads. The distortion itself is tight and aggressive with plenty of saturation and sustain, suited to metal and hard rock rhythm playing. True bypass, 25mA draw, 9V centre-negative supply.
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Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Alternative Rock
- Classic Rock
- Rock
- high gain
- tight
- aggressive
- full
- mid-forward
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Occasions this gear suits — judged per model, or derived from its wattage, connectivity and category.- Busking
- Live