Ever felt let down by a hyped-up piece of gear? I've been there, especially with overdrive/fuzz pedals. But sometimes, just sometimes, a company listens to the critics (and maybe even reads my reviews!), and completely transforms a product for the better. That's exactly what JHS Pedals has done with their new Kilt 10th Anniversary Edition, a polished aluminium beauty that redefines their Expandora-inspired offering.
Now, I'll be honest, the original JHS Kilt wasn't my favorite. It felt…lacking. Dense, cold, and not nearly as vibrant or expressive as a typical Expandora-style pedal should be. I hate to use the analogy, but it felt like a wet blanket over the sound. Your typical Expandora has more life and color. But here's where it gets controversial... some players actually liked that darker, more compressed tone. It just wasn't for me.
It's almost uncanny, but this new Kilt 10th Anniversary Edition addresses every single one of my previous gripes. It's like JHS peeked into my brain! Gone is that former 'dankness,' replaced by a warmth and expansiveness that reminds me of their legendary Morning Glory. Seriously, this is a much better pedal.
We're talking brighter, louder, better sounding, and even significantly better looking. The shiny polished aluminum enclosure is a real head-turner!
The controls are straightforward but powerful:
- Volume: Controls the overall output level.
- Gain: Sets the amount of overdrive/fuzz.
- Tone: Shapes the overall EQ.
- Bass-Cut / Flat: A handy switch to tighten up the low end.
- G1 Clipping Switch: Selects different clipping styles for the first gain stage.
- G2 Clipping Switch: Selects different clipping styles for the second gain stage. This is where the magic happens, and where the Red Remote comes into play.
The clipping switch combinations unlock a range of tones:
- ↓ ↓ = Crunch: A subtle, bluesy breakup.
- ↑ ↓ = Overdrive: Classic overdrive tones, perfect for rhythm playing.
- ↓ ↑ = Distortion: Higher gain, more aggressive sounds for leads.
- ↑↑ = Forbidden Fuzz: All-out fuzz mayhem! Prepare for sonic chaos.
And this is the part most people miss... the Red Remote. The Kilt 10th Anniversary Edition is brilliantly enhanced by JHS's Red Remote, which controls the second G2 Clipping Switch. Down (Blue) and Up (Red) offer distinctly different flavors. For me, I leave the Bass-Cut permanently off (Flat) and both Clipping Switches Up. The Red Remote then lets me instantly switch between Overdrive and Fuzz modes. It’s how I also use my Decibelics Reverend Mini, which behaves almost identically. Possibly I prefer my Reverend just a smidge, but this new Kilt is really fantastic too, especially with that extra headroom and Volume. It's not quite as aggressively spiky at its peak as some of my other Expandoras – like the Basic Audio Futureman – but it still sounds brilliant. Think of it as a more refined, versatile take on the circuit.
So, JHS has completely turned my opinion around. I didn't particularly like the original Kilt, but I love this one! It's a testament to their commitment to improvement.
My preferred settings? Volume at 3 o’clock, Gain at 4 o’clock, Tone at 5 o’clock, with the Bass-Cut Switch on Flat, and both G1 and G2 Clipping Switches UP! Try it – you might be surprised.
I think I bought the last Red Remote (£34) from Andertons. All JHS Pedals are currently on 25% Black Friday discount – which means US Pricing is just $187, with equivalent UK Pricing (Andertons) at £187. A steal, in my opinion.
Interestingly, the Red Remote just uses a plain TS (Tip-Sleeve) cable! No fancy proprietary connector here.
This is probably my last gear acquisition of the month, and one of the last hands-on reviews for this year. As right at the start of December I switch to the Best Gear of the Year articles, which take a long time to complete!
I am indeed very satisfied with this much-improved current iteration – it sounds superb!
Now, what do you think? Are you a fan of the original Kilt's darker tone, or do you prefer the brighter, more versatile sound of the 10th Anniversary Edition? And what are your favorite Expandora-style pedals? Let me know in the comments below!
