The individual eschews the traditional guitar amplifier, instead opting for a Tascam 424, as JHS Pedals fuses a Portastudio into a pedal to replicate Mk.gee's "flexible, low-fi sound".
The music industry has seen a fascinating resurgence of a vintage recording device, with the Tascam Portastudio 424 being repurposed as a tone-shaping accessory in guitar music. This trend has led to the creation of the JHS 424 Gain Stage, a groundbreaking preamp pedal that accurately recreates the distinctive sound of the Tascam Portastudio 424 MKI.
The Tascam Portastudio 424: A Legendary Recording Device
First introduced in the mid-1990s, the Tascam Portastudio 424 was a multitrack cassette recorder designed for home recording. Its affordability and ease of use made it a popular choice among musicians, leading to its use by notable artists like Bruce Springsteen and Wu-Tang Clan.
Mk.gee's Influential Use of the Tascam Portastudio 424
In recent years, an artist named Mk.gee began using the Tascam Portastudio 424 as a tone-shaping accessory, running his guitar directly into it. This unconventional usage taps into the 424’s signature warm, slightly saturated tones derived from its analog circuitry, capturing an "elastic clean tone," fuzziness, and high headroom characteristic of classic bedroom recordings.
Mk.gee's unique tone, now famously showcased in numerous YouTube tutorials, has inspired a new generation of guitarists, including Josh Scott from JHS Pedals.
The JHS 424 Gain Stage: A Modern Approach to a Classic Sound
In response to the growing interest in the Tascam Portastudio 424's unique sound, JHS Pedals has unveiled the 424 Gain Stage. This innovative preamp pedal digitally recreates the exact tone and gain structure of the original Tascam Portastudio 424 MKI, making this sound signature more accessible to guitarists in a compact pedal format.
The 424 Gain Stage features a simple layout with knobs for Volume, Bass, Treble, Gain 1, Gain 2, and a single footswitch. It also includes a balanced XLR output with ground lift for additional studio flexibility.
Replicating Mk.gee's Unique Tone
The 424 Gain Stage is not just a faithful recreation of the Tascam Portastudio 424, but it also aims to replicate Mk.gee's unique tone. In a video demo for the Gain Stage, JHS's Josh Scott mentions that an artist named Mk.gee released a record called Two Star and the Dream Police in 2024, which caused a stir in the guitar world due to his unique sound.
A Fresh Approach to Guitar Tones
The 424 Gain Stage offers a fresh and different approach to creating guitar parts, as demonstrated by Mk.gee. Its design allows for the recreation of both classic and new sounds, making it a versatile tool for any guitarist seeking to explore unconventional tones.
Pricing and Availability
The 424 Gain Stage is priced at $249 and is available for purchase on JHS's official website. With its unique sound and versatility, the 424 Gain Stage is set to become a staple in the pedalboards of guitarists worldwide.
[1] The Tascam Portastudio 424: A Historical Overview
[2] JHS Pedals Introduces the 424 Gain Stage Preamp Pedal
[3] The Tascam Portastudio 424: A New Lease of Life for Vintage Tones
[4] Mk.gee: The Man Behind the Tascam Portastudio 424 Renaissance
[5] The 424 Gain Stage: A Revolutionary Preamp Pedal for the Modern Guitarist
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