The JHS Smiley is a JHS Pedals fuzz pedal. Close alternatives include the Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz and the Old Blood Noise Endeavors Alpha Haunt Fuzz. It pairs well with the Ampeg SVT-CL and the Laney GH100L.
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.
What stands out
“Valued for delivering a clear, articulate take on the classic Fuzz Face circuit, retaining low-end sustain and crisp midrange bite , more compressed fuzz character”
— from the community notes
“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 (Volume and Fuzz) delivering a clear, defined fuzz tone that strad…”
— from the listing
“Clear, defined fuzz character with genuine low-end sustain and midrange bite distinguishes it from muddier or more compressed fuzz circuits”
— from the reviews
“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”
— from the listing
“Hidden JHS Mode button adds real extra versatility (boosted gain/volume/fuzz)”
— from the reviews
- fuzz
- fuzz face
- clear
- midrange
- bite
- low end
- extra versatility
- real extra versatility
Genres the JHS Smiley is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the JHS Smiley
Ampeg SVT-CL
Ampeg
35% matchInto a transparent tone, JHS Smiley brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney GH100L
Laney
30% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — JHS Smiley leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Comes later in the signal chain
Magnatone 280
Magnatone
25% 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)
Into the Magnatone's true-pitch vibrato, the Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz keeps its bite instead of getting swallowed by modulation.
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Vibrolux 6G11
amplifier
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)
Put Fender Vibrolux 6G11 in front and the fuzzy tone leans further toward modulated
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss Acoustic Singer Live
Boss
21% matchJHS Smiley leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 100
Ceriatone
21% matchJHS Smiley leans this transparent tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gibson Les Paul LP-1 Preamp layers modulated onto an already fuzzy signal
Magnatone 510
Magnatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Magnatone 510 stacks modulated on top of the fuzzy already here
Pedals that stack with the JHS Smiley
Cry Baby Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q Multi-Wah
Cry Baby
33% matchJHS Smiley layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
32% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)
Super Hard On's subtle jfet boost pushes Smiley's clear, compressed fuzz harder without changing its bite.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Strymon BigSky
Strymon
30% matchWhat JHS Smiley brings here leans toward fuzzy — that's worth building a pairing around — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer
pedal
29% matchJHS Smiley's own fuzzy character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Plumes Signal Shredder
EarthQuaker Devices
29% matchStack the Smiley's clear, midrange-forward fuzz with the Plumes' own buffered, low-gain clipping and you get bite without losing definition.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
J. Rockett Archer Ikon
J Rockett
28% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)
JHS Smiley leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss ODB-3
Boss
28% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)
JHS Smiley leans this low gain tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
27% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → fuzzy)
JHS Smiley layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Alternatives
Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz
Fulltone
55% similarityShared character: simple, fuzz, distortion
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Alpha Haunt Fuzz
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
53% similarityShared character: fuzz
Electro-Harmonix Flatiron Fuzz
Electro-Harmonix
53% similarityShared character: sustain, volume, fuzz
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi with Tone Wicker
pedal
53% similarityShared character: volume, fuzz, distortion
Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix
52% similarityShared character: sustain, volume, fuzz
Dunlop JHW4 Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys Fuzz
Dunlop
51% similarityShared character: fuzz, distortion, classic rock
Dunlop PSF30
Dunlop
50% similarityShared character: sustain, volume, simple
Manson Supermassive Black Fuzz
Manson
50% similarityShared character: fuzz, distortion
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz
EarthQuaker Devices
50% similarityShared character: sustain, volume, fuzz
Keeley Fuzz Bender
Keeley
49% similarityShared character: fuzz, classic rock
Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Fuzz
Walrus Audio
48% similarityShared character: simple, fuzz, classic rock
JAM Pedals Fuzz Phrase Si Silicon Fuzz
Jam Pedals
47% similarityShared character: circuit, fuzz, classic rock
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 Fulltone '69 MkII Fuzz, the Old Blood Noise Endeavors Alpha Haunt Fuzz, the Electro-Harmonix Flatiron Fuzz.
What pairs well with the JHS Smiley?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Ampeg SVT-CL, Laney GH100L, Magnatone 280 — Into a transparent tone, JHS Smiley brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing.