The JHS Smiley is a JHS Pedals fuzz pedal. Close alternatives include the JHS Legends of Fuzz Supreme 1972 Japan Fuzz and the Friedman BE-OD. It pairs well with the Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo and the Magnatone 280.
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals · pedal
The JHS Smiley is a Fuzz Face-style fuzz pedal from JHS's Legends of Fuzz series, paying tribute to the circuit famously used by Jimi Hendrix, with a minimal two-knob layout (Volume and Fuzz) delivering a clear, defined fuzz tone that straddles the line between distortion and searing, sustained fuzz. A side-mounted JHS Mode button unlocks an internal boost to gain, volume, and fuzz character beyond the standard circuit's range, adding extra versatility to the otherwise vintage-faithful two-knob design.
- fuzz
- clear
- midrange
- compressed
- bite
- sustain
- extra versatility
- real extra versatility
Genres the JHS Smiley is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the JHS Smiley
Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo
Magnatone
27% matchThe Super Fifteen's punchy, vibrato-equipped blues voicing gives Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz a bold, classic-rock stage.
Magnatone 280
Magnatone
25% matchInto the Magnatone's true-pitch vibrato, the Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz keeps its bite instead of getting swallowed by modulation.
Magnatone 510
Magnatone
tonal matchMagnatone 510 stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here
Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W Head
Magnatone
tonal matchMagnatone Super Fifteen 15W Head layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp
Gibson
tonal matchGibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here
Laney World Series 100 SC
Laney
tonal matchLaney World Series 100 SC stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here
Magnatone 460
Magnatone
tonal matchMagnatone 460 layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal
Magnatone Super Fifty-Nine MkII 1x12 Combo
Magnatone
tonal matchRun fuzzy into Magnatone Super Fifty-Nine MkII 1x12 Combo for more modulated on top
Pedals that stack with the JHS Smiley
Fulltone OCD
Fulltone
35% matchStack the OCD's firm, British-voiced drive into the Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz for extra bite without losing midrange definition.
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Boss
34% matchThe Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz bite gives the BF-2's lush flange something with real edge to sweep across.
Klon KTR
Klon
30% matchThe KTR's transparent midrange boost feeds the Smiley's compressed fuzz a thicker signal without dulling its bite.
EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Signal Shredder
EarthQuaker Devices
30% matchStack the Smiley's clear, midrange-forward fuzz with the Plumes' own buffered, low-gain clipping and you get bite without losing definition.
Keeley Red Dirt Overdrive
Keeley
29% matchBoost with the Red Dirt first and the Smiley's compressed fuzz gets a fuller, more articulate midrange to bite into.
TC Electronic Stereo Chorus Flanger
TC Electronic
29% matchRun the Smiley before the Stereo Chorus Flanger so the modulation works on an already-fuzzed, compressed signal.
MXR M102 Dyna Comp
MXR
28% matchJHS Smiley's fuzzy fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Cusack Music Louder
Cusack Music
27% matchStack the Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz after the Louder's transparent boost for extra push without losing that fuzz's midrange bite.
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
JHS Legends of Fuzz Supreme 1972 Japan Fuzz
JHS Pedals
70% similarity“distinct from the smoother, more classic Fuzz-Face-style Smiley in the same series”
Friedman BE-OD
Friedman
70% similarityShared character: higher_gain, volume, distortion
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker
pedal
68% similarityShared character: volume, fuzz, distortion
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz
EarthQuaker Devices
67% similarityShared character: volume, fuzz, distortion
Greer Royal Velvet
Greer
67% similarityShared character: volume, fuzz, sustain
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
67% similarityShared character: volume, fuzz, simple
Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
Boss
67% similarityShared character: classic_tones, simple, boost
Electro-Harmonix Flatiron Fuzz
Electro-Harmonix
67% similarityShared character: volume, fuzz, distortion
Wampler Phenom Distortion
Wampler
92% similaritysimilar tone character
MXR CSP039 Duke of Tone Overdrive
MXR
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Empress Effects Drive Analog Overdrive
Empress
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Free The Tone IF-1D
Free The Tone
92% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the JHS Smiley (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the JHS Smiley?+
The closest matches in character are the JHS Legends of Fuzz Supreme 1972 Japan Fuzz, the Friedman BE-OD, the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker.
What pairs well with the JHS Smiley?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Magnatone Super Fifteen 15W 1x12 Combo, Magnatone 280, Magnatone 510 — The Super Fifteen's punchy, vibrato-equipped blues voicing gives Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz a bold, classic-rock stage..
Compare
- vs Wampler Phenom Distortion
- vs MXR CSP039 Duke of Tone Overdrive
- vs Empress Effects Drive Analog Overdrive