The JHS Emperor is a JHS Pedals chorus pedal. Close alternatives include the Catalinbread Callisto MkII All-Analog Chorus and the Alexander Pedals Equilibrium DLX Vintage Modulation. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo and the Friedman BE-Mini Head.
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.
- chorus
- modulation
- vibrato
- pitch
- eq
- rotary
- lush
- shimmer
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
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo
Mesa Boogie
23% matchInto the Mark IIC+'s glassy clean channel, the Emperor's chorus and rotary modulation stays shimmering instead of getting distorted.
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchInto a low gain tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchThe low gain tone has headroom to spare — Synergy SL2 Module gives it high gain to fill it with
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchThe low gain tone has headroom to spare — Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 gives it high gain to fill it with
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchThe low gain tone has headroom to spare — Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head gives it high gain to fill it with
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchThe low gain tone has headroom to spare — Ceriatone 2202H gives it high gain to fill it with
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Coreblade's high gain fills in what this low gain tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman Phil X Signature
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Phil X Signature's high gain fills in what this low gain tone doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the JHS Emperor
Suhr Rufus Reloaded
Suhr
55% matchChase the Rufus Reloaded's high-gain fuzz with the Emperor's chorus and the modulation has real harmonic content to move through.
Fjord Fuzz Berserk
Fjord Fuzz
27% matchThe Berserk's aggressive, doom-leaning fuzz is a much heavier gain than the Emperor's own chorus and vibrato character offers on its own.
Red Witch Titan
Red Witch
25% matchKeep JHS Emperor after Red Witch Titan in the signal chain, clear of Red Witch Titan's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electronic Audio Experiments Eldritch Blast V2
Electronic Audio Experiments
24% matchRun 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.
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar V1 Dynamic Audio Grinder
EarthQuaker Devices
22% matchKeep EarthQuaker Devices Zoar V1 Dynamic Audio Grinder's fuzzy voice out front: JHS Emperor goes after EarthQuaker Devices Zoar V1 Dynamic Audio Grinder in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Rainger FX Chop Fuzzz
Rainger Fx
22% matchJHS Emperor's modulated voice goes after Rainger FX Chop Fuzzz in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Rainger FX Chop Fuzzz's own fuzzy character
Black Arts Toneworks Destroyer V2
Black Arts Toneworks
20% matchRun JHS Emperor after Black Arts Toneworks Destroyer V2 in the signal chain, clear of Black Arts Toneworks Destroyer V2's own gain stage
Suhr Thornicus Ian Thornly Signature Fuzz
Suhr
20% matchRun JHS Emperor after Suhr Thornicus Ian Thornly Signature Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Suhr Thornicus Ian Thornly Signature Fuzz's own gain stage
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Catalinbread Callisto MkII All-Analog Chorus
Catalinbread
74% similarityShared character: vibrato, warm, pedal
Alexander Pedals Equilibrium DLX Vintage Modulation
Alexander Pedals
72% similarityShared character: vibrato, dry_signal, pedal
Caroline Guitar Company Somersault LoFi Modulation
Caroline Guitar Company
71% similarityShared character: vibrato, balance, warm
Univox Uni-Vibe
Univox
71% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, subtle
Warm Audio WA-C1 Chorus and Vibrato
Warm Audio
71% similarityShared character: vibrato, pedal, chorus
MXR Flanger
MXR
71% similarityShared character: vibrato, warm, pedal
JHS Emperor v2
JHS Pedals
70% similarity“with the V2 refinements for improved audio quality and expanded features over the original Emperor”
Keeley Seafoam Plus Chorus/Vibrato
Keeley
69% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, subtle
EarthQuaker Devices ERQ Aqueduct
EarthQuaker Devices
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Crazy Tube Circuits Memphis
Crazy Tube Circuits
96% similaritysimilar tone character
TC Electronic Shaker Mini Vibrato
TC Electronic
96% similaritysimilar tone character
JHS Artificial Blonde
JHS Pedals
96% similaritysimilar tone character
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 Alexander Pedals Equilibrium DLX Vintage Modulation, the Caroline Guitar Company Somersault LoFi Modulation.
What pairs well with the JHS Emperor?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo, Friedman BE-Mini Head, Synergy SL2 Module — Into the Mark IIC+'s glassy clean channel, the Emperor's chorus and rotary modulation stays shimmering instead of getting distorted..
Compare
- vs EarthQuaker Devices ERQ Aqueduct
- vs Crazy Tube Circuits Memphis
- vs TC Electronic Shaker Mini Vibrato