The JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai is a JHS Pedals overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini and the Wampler Moxie TS10 Tube Screamer Style Mini Overdrive. It pairs well with the Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head and the Revv Generator G25 25W Tube Amp Head.
JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai
JHS Pedals · pedal
The JHS Bonsai is a nine-in-one overdrive that houses faithful recreations of nine famous Tube Screamer style circuits, selectable with a rotary switch, each built from components specific to that mode rather than a single circuit with tweaks. The modes span the Boss OD-1, the TS808 and TS9, the rare MSL and TS10, the Exar OD-1, the higher-gain TS7, the Keeley Mod Plus, and a JHS Strong mode, ranging from brighter low-gain drives to thicker, higher-gain and modified voices with varying midrange, low end, and gain. It is used both to add classic warm overdrive to a clean channel and to boost a gain channel with different flavors, making it a definitive reference and comparison tool for the entire Tube Screamer family in one pedalboard-friendly box.
What stands out
“It serves both as a flexible always-on drive and as a varied stacking boost”
— from the reviews
“The modes span the Boss OD-1, the TS808 and TS9, the rare MSL and TS10, the Exar OD-1, the higher-gain TS7, the Keeley Mod Plus, and a JHS Strong mode, ranging from brighter low-gain drives to thicker, higher-gain and modified voices with v…”
— from the listing
“The community prizes the Bonsai as a best-of Tube Screamer collection, giving access to nine accurately recreated screamer circuits, from the Boss OD-1 and TS808 to rare and modified variants, each with its own gain, midrange, and low-end c…”
— from the community notes
“It is used both to add classic warm overdrive to a clean channel and to boost a gain channel with different flavors, making it a definitive reference and comparison tool for the entire Tube Screamer family in one pedalboard-friendly box”
— from the listing
“higher-gain and modified voices with varying midrange”
— from the listing
- drive
- low end
- low gain
- bass
- midrange
- rotary
- overdrive
- mids
Genres the JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai is commonly used in
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai
Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head
Revv
23% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Comes later in the signal chain
Revv Generator G25 25W Tube Amp Head
Revv
22% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)
Revv Generator G25 25W Tube Amp Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H for more high gain on top
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Synergy SL2 Module stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here
Pedals that stack with the JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai
Fjord Fuzz Odin
Fjord Fuzz
25% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
Put Fjord Fuzz Odin in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Comes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
25% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Electro-Harmonix Bad
Electro-Harmonix
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Electro-Harmonix Bad after JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai in the signal chain, clear of JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Wren and Cuff Gold Comp
Wren And Cuff
11% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai leans toward full, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss DD-200 Digital Delay
Boss
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Boss DD-200 Digital Delay after JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai in the signal chain, clear of JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Strymon El Capistan after JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai in the signal chain, clear of JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Death By Audio Destruction for more fuzzy on top
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini
Ibanez
68% similarityShared character: high gain settings, middle, boost
Wampler Moxie TS10 Tube Screamer Style Mini Overdrive
Wampler
64% similarityShared character: middle, boost, smooth
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
62% similarityShared character: original, high gain settings, wide range
JAM Pedals TubeDreamer MK2
Jam Pedals
60% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, smooth
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
58% similarityShared character: high gain settings, middle, boost
Origin Effects M-EQ Driver
Origin Effects
56% similarityShared character: high gain settings, subtle, boost
Tone City Green Tube
Tone City
56% similarityShared character: wide range, middle, smooth
Browne Amplification Ethane
Browne Amplification
55% similarityShared character: high gain settings, middle, boost
Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET
Fulltone
55% similarityShared character: three modes, middle, boost
Electro-Harmonix ERD
Electro-Harmonix
54% similarityShared character: middle, boost, smooth
Behringer TO800 Vintage Tube Overdrive
Behringer
54% similarityShared character: boost, middle, bass
Browne Amplification Gritador Classic Overdrive
Browne Amplification
54% similarityShared character: middle, boost, bass
See all alternatives to the JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai?+
The closest matches in character are the Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini, the Wampler Moxie TS10 Tube Screamer Style Mini Overdrive, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer.
What pairs well with the JHS Pedals JHS Bonsai?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head, Revv Generator G25 25W Tube Amp Head, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here.