Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $180
High-end/Boutique
$50
$176+
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Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "JHS Charlie Brown V4". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Stepping into the realm of vintage rock, the JHS Charlie Brown V4 brings you the soulful essence of the legendary Marshall JTM45. This pedal is more than just an overdrive effect; it's an amp-in-a-box, designed to replicate the full-bodied, rich tones of an iconic amplifier. Intended for guitarists who rely on their pedals for overdriven tones, the Charlie Brown V4 transforms your amplifier's character on demand, delivering a British attitude with a vintage crunch.
Whether you're seeking to emulate Clapton's tone, Hendrix's walls of Marshalls, or Gary Moore's high-gain sound, the Charlie Brown V4 is your ticket to these classic tones. Equipped with a Marshall-style 3-band tone stack, the pedal provides you with the ability to fine-tune your sound, ensuring that it integrates seamlessly with your current clean amp tone. This makes it an optimal choice for stacking with other overdrive pedals.
The Charlie Brown V4 responds like a vintage tube amp, offering warm cleans, natural bite, thick crunch, and high-gain overdrive. It doesn't just stop at overdrive; the interaction between the drive and volume control mirrors a master volume amp head, giving you control over your gain levels without losing clarity. Embrace the legendary JTM45 and bring a piece of rock history to your pedalboard with the JHS Charlie Brown V4.
Key Features: - Overdrive-distortion pedal that replicates the Marshall JTM45 - Marshall-style 3-band tone stack for optimal tone shaping - Drive knob and volume control that interact like a master volume amp head - Capable of a range of tones, from warm cleans to high-gain overdrive - Ideal for stacking with other overdrive pedals - True bypass for uncolored sound when the pedal is off - Made in the USA
Product specs
| Pedal Type | Overdrive |
| Analog/Digital | Analog |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" (instrument) |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| True Bypass | Yes |
| Power Source | 9V DC power supply required (sold separately) |
| Power Usage | 100mA |
| Height | 1.6" |
| Width | 2.6" |
| Depth | 4.8" |
| Weight | 0.62 lbs. |
FAQs
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What type of sound can I expect from the JHS Charlie Brown V4 Overdrive?
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The JHS Charlie Brown V4 emulates the classic Marshall JTM45 amplifier sound, offering a warm, vintage overdrive with a full Marshall-style tone stack. It delivers a rich, dynamic tone suitable for classic rock and blues.
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Does the JHS Charlie Brown V4 work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?
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Yes, the JHS Charlie Brown V4 is designed to work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups, providing a versatile overdrive that complements various guitar types and styles.
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What are the main controls on the JHS Charlie Brown V4 pedal?
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The JHS Charlie Brown V4 features Volume, Drive, Bass, Mids, and Treble controls, allowing you to shape your tone with precision. The Volume acts as a master volume, while the Drive adjusts the overdrive level.
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Is the JHS Charlie Brown V4 suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the JHS Charlie Brown V4 is suitable for live performances, offering robust build quality and true bypass switching for minimal tone loss. Its dynamic range makes it a reliable choice for gigging musicians.
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Can the JHS Charlie Brown V4 be powered by a battery?
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No, the JHS Charlie Brown V4 requires a 9V DC power supply and does not support battery operation. The power supply is sold separately.
Videos
JHS Pedals
My Favorite JHS Pedals
Reviews
PROS
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Amp-like feel, integrates well with other pedals
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Versatile as a preamp, boost, or for adding grit
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3-band EQ allows for detailed tone shaping
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Maintains guitar's volume responsiveness
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Mimics vintage Marshall tones effectively
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Can switch from clean to drive with guitar's volume
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High-quality, creamy breakup sound
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Enhances signal without altering inherent tonality
CONS
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Lower gain than some may expect
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Sound quality heavily dependent on the amp used
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Doesn't pair well with certain pedal chain setups (e.g., after a buffer)
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Some users find it lacks aggressiveness compared to predecessors
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Can get muddy with excessive drive settings
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Not universally preferred over similar pedals (e.g., Angry Charlie)
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May not satisfy those looking for high gain or tight, modern Marshall sounds
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about JHS Charlie Brown V4.
Features and functionality
Comparisons
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The Charlie Brown is likened to a Zvex Box of Rock, providing a gritty 60’s/70’s Marshall tone, whereas the Angry Charlie is closer to a Marshall Guv'nor with more gain.
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Owners report replacing pedals like the OCD with the Charlie Brown V4 for low/medium gain Marshall tones.
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A user replaced a Timmy pedal with the Charlie Brown V4 in their setup, achieving the desired Marshall-style tone when combined with a Greer Lightspeed.
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Use cases and applications
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The pedal excels at producing a classic Marshall sound through a clean amp, offering hot cleans to medium crunch, making it suitable for classic rock tones.
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The Charlie Brown V4 excels as an edge of breakup pedal, providing a harmonically rich breakup ideal for blues tones.
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The pedal is favored for rhythm sounds and can be used as an "always-on" low/medium gainer in setups.
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It enhances blues tones when used before a Klone, adding slight grit and sparkle.
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Users have found that the Charlie Brown V4 pairs exceptionally well with Greer Lightspeed for achieving super vocal lead tones that clean up well with the volume knob.
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User experience
4.0 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 3 Ratings
Worth the $200
The way I use this is through the effects loop of my amp, which has a little bit of breakup. I run the gain pretty much dimed and eq to taste. Roll in the volume for more grit for a solo and voila you've got a kickass sound. The combination of these plus my les paul never fails to make me smile.
209
Didnt last long
Angry Charlie beats this hands down as a drive pedal. For me this was more like an expensive boost. Dispointed, sold it on quickly. Other JHS pedals are much better.
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Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation3 alternative and related items for JHS Charlie Brown V4, curated by the Equipboard community.
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To me they sound pretty similar. One is based on the JTM45 and the other on the pedal that was based on the JTM45.
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