The JHS Kirkland Custom Boost is a boost pedal. Close alternatives include the JHS Pedals JHS AT+ and the NOC Pedals Songs for the Decade Preamp. It pairs well with the PRS MT100 and the Synergy SL2 Module.

JHS Kirkland Custom Boost

Unknown brand · pedal

The JHS Kirkland Custom Boost is a hand-wired tube buffer and gain stage developed by JHS Pedals. Its simple three-knob interface provides transparent boost functionality with optional tube saturation. The Kirkland appeals to players seeking natural, responsive tone shaping and impedance matching.

What stands out

  • “its simple three-knob interface provides transparent boost functionality with optional tube saturation”

    — from the listing

  • “The Class-A discrete circuitry ensures clean amplification”

    — from the community notes

  • “discrete class-a boost circuit delivering transparent tone lift with added sparkle and presence”

    — from the community notes

  • “A refined tool for discerning players seeking transparent tone enhancement”

    — from the reviews

  • “Suitable for rhythm boosting into lead sections, overall rig level raising, or subtle tone enhancement through carefully tuned gain staging”

    — from the reviews

  • transparent
  • class a
  • tonal character
  • saturation
  • presence
  • original rig character
  • sparkle
  • boost

Genres the JHS Kirkland Custom Boost is commonly used in

  • Alternative
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the JHS Kirkland Custom Boost

PRS MT100

PRS

24% match
$1329.26via Reverb

Into a transparent tone, PRS MT100 brings a pull toward medium gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module

Synergy

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt

Mesa Boogie

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Ceriatone 2202H

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Hughes & Kettner Warp 7

Hughes & Kettner

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a transparent tone, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H

Marshall

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Bad Cat Lynx 50

Bad Cat

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a transparent tone, Bad Cat Lynx 50 brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Hughes & Kettner Coreblade

Hughes & Kettner

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Hughes & Kettner Coreblade leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own

Pedals that stack with the JHS Kirkland Custom Boost

Soldano SLO

Soldano

24% match
$119.99via Reverb

Into a transparent tone, Soldano SLO brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

JHS Smiley

JHS Pedals

24% match

Into a transparent tone, JHS Smiley brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing

Comes later in the signal chain

Boss BF-2 Flanger

Boss

17% match
$100via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Boss BF-2 Flanger after JHS Kirkland Custom Boost in the signal chain, clear of JHS Kirkland Custom Boost's own gain stage

Comes later in the signal chain

Electro-Harmonix Bass Preacher

Electro-Harmonix

14% match
$84.84via Reverb

shapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.

Electro-Harmonix Bass Preacher's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Boss

9% match
$134.71via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Run Boss DD-3 Digital Delay after JHS Kirkland Custom Boost in the signal chain, clear of JHS Kirkland Custom Boost's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb

Alexander Pedals

9% match
$399via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb after JHS Kirkland Custom Boost in the signal chain, clear of JHS Kirkland Custom Boost'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 match
$203.84via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a transparent tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing

Donner Big Mouth Distortion

Donner

tonal match
$29.95via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Into a transparent tone, Donner Big Mouth Distortion brings a pull toward high gain that's missing

Alternativessee all similar tone character →

JHS Pedals JHS AT+

JHS Pedals

61% similarity

Shared character: boost, clarity, transparent

NOC Pedals Songs for the Decade Preamp

NOC Pedals

60% similarity

Shared character: tonal character, subtle, transparent

Truetone V3XO

Truetone

60% similarity

Similar role and voicing

Browne Amplification The Fixer Dual Boost/Buffer

Browne Amplification

58% similarity
$149via Reverb

Shared character: 8 impedance, boost, transparent

Electro-Harmonix Soul Food

Electro-Harmonix

58% similarity
$70.36via Reverb

Shared character: presence, subtle, boost

Mesa Boogie Flux-Five

Mesa Boogie

57% similarity
$135via Reverb

Shared character: subtle, boost, gain

J. Rockett Majestic

J Rockett

56% similarity

Shared character: transparent

Old Blood Noise Endeavors Fault V2

Old Blood Noise Endeavors

54% similarity
$224.20via Reverb

Similar role and voicing

J. Rockett Jeff Archer

J Rockett

54% similarity

Shared character: simple, boost, transparent

SolidGoldFX Solid Gold

Solidgoldfx

54% similarity
$173.62via Reverb

Shared character: gain

Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive

Rarebird Effects

53% similarity

Shared character: presence, boost, transparent

JHS Pedals JHS Tumnus

JHS Pedals

53% similarity

Shared character: boost, presence, transparent

See all alternatives to the JHS Kirkland Custom Boost (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the JHS Kirkland Custom Boost?+

The closest matches in character are the JHS Pedals JHS AT+, the NOC Pedals Songs for the Decade Preamp, the Truetone V3XO.

What pairs well with the JHS Kirkland Custom Boost?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: PRS MT100, Synergy SL2 Module, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Into a transparent tone, PRS MT100 brings a pull toward medium gain that's missing.

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