The JHS Emperor is a JHS Pedals chorus pedal. Close alternatives include the Catalinbread Callisto MkII All-Analog Chorus and the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Rotary Chorus. It pairs well with the Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head and the Mesa Boogie JP-2C 1x12 Combo.
JHS Emperor
JHS Pedals · pedal
The JHS Emperor V2 is a chorus and vibrato pedal based on the circuit of the Arion SCH-1, a vintage chorus pedal known for its lush, dimensional modulation. Controls include Rate, Depth, and a tilt EQ that balances high and low frequencies in the wet signal. A mode switch selects between Chorus and Vibrato. The Emperor V2 covers subtle clean chorus shimmer, convincing rotary speaker simulation, and full pitch vibrato modulation. Made in Kansas City, Missouri.
What stands out
“The Emperor V2 covers subtle clean chorus shimmer, convincing rotary speaker simulation, and full pitch vibrato modulation”
— from the listing
“Players use it for chorus on clean guitar, for indie, jazz, and shoegaze contexts requiring dimensional modulation, and in Vibrato mode for pure pitch modulation”
— from the community notes
“A mode switch selects between Chorus and Vibrato”
— from the listing
“a vintage chorus pedal known for its lush”
— from the listing
“Controls include Rate, Depth, and a tilt EQ that balances high and low frequencies in the wet signal”
— from the listing
- chorus
- modulation
- vibrato
- pitch
- rotary
- lush
- shimmer
- subtle
Good for
- Silent Recording
- Silent Stage
Genres the JHS Emperor is commonly used in
- Jazz
- Shoegaze
- Indie
- Ambient
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Post Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Post Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the JHS Emperor
Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head
Revv
24% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Run JHS Emperor after Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head in the signal chain, clear of Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie JP-2C 1x12 Combo
Mesa Boogie
19% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Keep JHS Emperor after Mesa Boogie JP-2C 1x12 Combo in the signal chain, clear of Mesa Boogie JP-2C 1x12 Combo's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Friedman BE-Mini
Friedman
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Run JHS Emperor after Friedman BE-Mini in the signal chain, clear of Friedman BE-Mini's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
ENGL E651 Custom Shop Artist Edition 50W
Engl
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Put JHS Emperor after ENGL E651 Custom Shop Artist Edition 50W in the signal chain, clear of ENGL E651 Custom Shop Artist Edition 50W's own gain stage
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
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after JHS Emperor in the chain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Synergy SL2 Module after JHS Emperor
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H goes after JHS Emperor in the chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Friedman BE-Mini Head after JHS Emperor
Pedals that stack with the JHS Emperor
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
26% matchThe Emperor's rotary, pitch-modulated chorus swirls on top of the Dirt Transmitter's driven signal rather than genuinely stacking with it.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
26% matchSmiley's clear, compressed fuzz gain feeds the Emperor's rotary-style chorus and vibrato, which colors that drive rather than stacking onto it.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electronic Audio Experiments Eldritch Blast V2
Electronic Audio Experiments
24% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Run the Emperor's rotary, pitch-modulated chorus after the Eldritch Blast's touch-sensitive, high-gain fuzz and the modulation has real saturation to color.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Maxon FW10 Fuzz Elements Wind
Maxon
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Run JHS Emperor after Maxon FW10 Fuzz Elements Wind in the signal chain, clear of Maxon FW10 Fuzz Elements Wind's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Mask Audio Electronics Clubber Lang
Mask Audio Electronics
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep JHS Emperor after Mask Audio Electronics Clubber Lang in the signal chain, clear of Mask Audio Electronics Clubber Lang's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Tru-Fi Two Face
Tru Fi
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep Tru-Fi Two Face's germanium voice out front: JHS Emperor goes after Tru-Fi Two Face in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fender The Pelt
Fender
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep JHS Emperor after Fender The Pelt in the signal chain, clear of Fender The Pelt's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Black Arts Toneworks Destroyer V2
Black Arts Toneworks
20% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Run JHS Emperor after Black Arts Toneworks Destroyer V2 in the signal chain, clear of Black Arts Toneworks Destroyer V2's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Catalinbread Callisto MkII All-Analog Chorus
Catalinbread
68% similarityShared character: vibrato, warm, chorus
JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Rotary Chorus
JHS Pedals
64% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation
ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky Vertical
Zvex
62% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation
JHS Artificial Blonde
JHS Pedals
61% similarityShared character: vibrato, modulation, subtle
TC Electronic Tailspin Vibrato
TC Electronic
59% similarityShared character: vibrato, modulation, subtle
Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe
Smokin Amp Co
59% similarityShared character: vibrato, circuit, chorus
Warm Audio WA-C1 Chorus and Vibrato
Warm Audio
59% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation
Behringer uv300
Behringer
59% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation
Crazy Tube Circuits Memphis
Crazy Tube Circuits
58% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation
NuX Vibe Univibe
Nux
58% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation
ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky
Zvex
58% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation
Origin Effects MAGMA57 Amp Vibrato & Drive
Origin Effects
58% similarityShared character: jazz, vibrato, clean
See all alternatives to the JHS Emperor (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the JHS Emperor?+
The closest matches in character are the Catalinbread Callisto MkII All-Analog Chorus, the JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Rotary Chorus, the ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky Vertical.
What pairs well with the JHS Emperor?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head, Mesa Boogie JP-2C 1x12 Combo, Friedman BE-Mini — Run JHS Emperor after Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head in the signal chain, clear of Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head's own gain stage.