JHS Colour Box

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$449.00 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (20)

3 Critic Reviews

2 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Newer option

JHS Colour Box V2

$394.12 - $449.00

5.0 (7)

Find out who is using JHS Colour Box

1 community setup

58 wishlisted

93 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated July 2, 2026.

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5.0 (35)

$449.00

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5.0 (4)

$449.00

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5.0 (46)

$449.00 2 available New

$219.99 13 available Used

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5.0 (2)

$449.00

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5.0 (8)

$449.00

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4.6 (20)

$488.00 $449.00 $39.00 · All time low

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£399.00

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$449.00

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Average Price: $424

Standard/Professional

$249

$500+

Price Tier

In the Guitar Preamp Pedals category, JHS Colour Box is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 6 merchants for "JHS Colour Box". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Introducing the JHS Colour Box, a distinctive preamp stompbox that stands out in the world of guitar pedals. This amazing tool is more than just an effect pedal; it's a unique piece of gear that accurately emulates the legendary Neve recording console. Imagine the iconic tones of the Beatles right at your disposal - that's the magic of the Colour Box. Designed to be versatile, it's the perfect addition to your home recording setup, offering XLR ins and outs for effortless integration with any audio source.

Key Features:

Unique preamp stompbox that replicates the Neve recording console
Ideal for achieving classic Beatles-like tones
Versatile tool for home recording setups
Features XLR ins and outs for easy use with any audio source
Designed with multiple gain stages for a broad tonal palette

Product specs

Brand	JHS
Model	Colour Box V1
Finish	Hand Painted, White
Year	2014 - 2018
Made In	United States
Categories	Overdrive and Boost Pedals, Preamps
Pedal Format	Standard

FAQs

What type of sound can the JHS Colour Box produce?: The JHS Colour Box can produce a range of sounds from subtle clean tones to full-on distortion, mimicking the classic sound of plugging a guitar directly into a mic preamp.
Is the JHS Colour Box suitable for both guitar and bass?: Yes, the JHS Colour Box is designed to work well with both guitar and bass, offering versatile tonal shaping and overdrive capabilities for both instruments.
How does the JHS Colour Box handle high gain settings?: At higher gain settings, the JHS Colour Box can deliver a sound reminiscent of a fuzz box, providing gritty and saturated tones.
Does the JHS Colour Box require a specific power supply?: The JHS Colour Box operates on a standard 9V DC power supply, which is typical for most guitar pedals.
Can the JHS Colour Box be used in a professional recording setup?: Yes, the JHS Colour Box is suitable for professional recording environments, offering high-quality sound shaping that has been utilized by artists like The Edge and Josh Klinghoffer.

Videos

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ProGuitarShopDemos

JHS Colour Box

ProGuitarShopDemos

JHS Colour Box Demo on Vocals + Keys | CME Gear Demo | Nick Bays

Chicago Music Exchange

JHS Pedals Colour Box Guitar & Bass Demo

Reverb

JHS Colour Box, demo by Pete Thorn/Vintage King

Pete Thorn

JHS Pedals Colour Box "Guitar and Bass Demonstration" (Part 3 Of Reveal)

JHS Pedals

JHS Pedals Colour Box Overview (Part 2 Of Reveal)

JHS Pedals

JHS Pedals Colour Box Teaser (Part 1 Of Reveal)

JHS Pedals

Colour Box on Bass

JHS Pedals

Colour Box and Desk

JHS Pedals

Colour Box Direct Tones

JHS Pedals

Colour Box Fuzz Tones

JHS Pedals

Vox To Fender, Fender To Vox

JHS Pedals

Colour Box British Tones

JHS Pedals

Colour Box American Tones

JHS Pedals

Colour Box as A Second Gain Stage

JHS Pedals

Reviews

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PROS

Versatile DI for both bass and guitar
Robust EQ function, even in 1st gen
Suitable for a range of studio applications
Offers unique dirt at higher gain stages
Recreates famous Neve desk channel strip tone
Includes Lundahl transformer for authentic sound
Simple controls with powerful EQ section
Features both 1/4" and XLR inputs/outputs
Useful for live sound and studio recording
Enhances amp simulators for guitar recording

CONS

Lacks satisfying dirty breakup sound
Expensive for some budgets
High volume/power requires careful handling

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about JHS Colour Box.

Use cases and applications

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Effective as a 'volume brake' for managing super hot signals in analog setups, offering unique control not easily replicated by plugins.
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Owners find it useful for adding grit to beats when running them through the Colour Box in a home studio environment.
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Particularly valued in recording environments, allowing guitarists to recreate the direct console sound used on albums like Spoon's "Gimme Fiction" in live settings.
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The JHS Colour Box v2 is being used as a pedalboard amp with a cab sim for direct PA input, potentially replacing traditional amps for live performances in space-constrained venues.
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Features and functionality

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Functions well as a fuzz and EQ on both guitar and synths, with Hi/Lo switch enhancing versatility based on signal strength.
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Contains a dual gain stage and semi-parametric EQ, appealing to those seeking extensive tone-shaping capabilities beyond standard pedal offerings.
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The Colour Box v2 is praised for its versatility in home recording, particularly when used with a Fender Strat and Princeton Reverb, although it requires additional equipment for live use.
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Comparisons

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Compared to the UA Apollo, the Colour Box may fall short as a mic pre or bass DI for users preferring digital clarity over analog warmth.
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For those solely interested in its distortion, the JHS Crayon is recommended as a simpler alternative with a similar tonal character but without the full studio console features.
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Users suggest comparing the Colour Box paired with a cab sim to a UA Dream or Strymon Iridium for achieving a true Fender amp tone, noting the Colour Box's unique preamp character.
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User experience

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Some users find it challenging to integrate the Colour Box into digital-centric workflows, preferring plugins for EQ and gain adjustments.
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Owners report that using the Colour Box v2 as a standalone amp with a cab sim may result in a sound more akin to a direct input rather than a traditional guitar amp.
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Value and pricing

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Currently available for $336, offering a discount from its typical price, making it a more accessible option for those looking to invest in studio-grade gear.
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Build quality

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Includes a Lundahl transformer, known for its quality and impact on sound, contributing to the pedal's perceived value as a "Neve" style preamp.
Source

Critic Reviews

JHS Pedals: Colour Box preamp/EQ pedal | Tape Op Magazine | Longform candid interviews with music producers and audio engineers covering mixing, mastering, recording and music production.

tapeop.com

The JHS Colour Box is a versatile and robust preamp/EQ pedal that packs the classic "Nevesque" sound into a portable format. Its ability to deliver both subtle enhancements and gritty distortions makes it a powerful tool for studio and live settings. The Colour Box shines in various applications, from providing a unique character to vocals and instruments to serving as a reliable DI. Its design, ease of use, and affordability are praised, making it a game-changer for musicians seeking classic tones without breaking the bank. While not explicitly criticized, the review suggests its strengths far outweigh any minor limitations.

positive

Full Review

JHS Colour Box Review - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

JHS Colour Box is a versatile preamp pedal mimicking the iconic Neve 1073. It offers dazzling highs, rich lows, and impressive dynamic range, making it ideal for direct recording or enhancing amp tones. The pedal shines in delivering classic DI guitar sounds but can also transform traditional amps with its potent EQ. However, it's not without quirks. It demands an 18V power source and lacks comprehensive midrange control, which might limit its flexibility in crafting precise tones. Despite its premium price tag of $399, the Colour Box rewards creative tone seekers with unique sonic possibilities.

positive

Full Review

JHS Colour Box review

guitar.com

Full Review

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 20 Ratings

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1 star

walter

3485

over 9 years ago

Expensive but Well Worth It!

I purchased the JHS Colour Box to use as a preamp on my bass pedalboard in lieu of the typical Sansamp. The pedal is recreation of channel strip of the famous Neve recording desk used by such bands as The Beatles, Lenny Kravitz, Led Zeppelin, etc. Think the "fuzzed out" drive tone from the intro of The Beatles "Revolution". The Beatles achieved this tone by plugging a guitar straight into the Neve's preamp and maxing out the channel to overdrive the transformer. The Colour Box achieves this tone when the pre volume is high enough to achieve break up. The Colour Box features a Lundahl transformer to achieve this, and runs on 18volts of power. The pedal comes with its own wall power supply upon purchase, but be sure to keep this in mind when powering the pedal using an isolated power supply brick, The pedal is simple to use, with the red knobs functioning as controls for the preamp, the blue knobs are for EQ, and the grey knob is a hi pass filter which can be turned on or off by the switch on the face of the pedal. The preamp section has a Master Volume, Pre Volume, and a six way rotary switch called "step" which changes the amount of gain the pre volume can achieve. The first notch is as clean as you can get with the pedal, while each notch ascending in gain, with the last notch achieving the most fuzzed out overdrive tones. I use the preamp section to add just enough gain to my signal to warm it up, without adding too much gain or overdrive.
The blue section of the Colour Box is a 3 band EQ that features Treble, Mid, and Bass. The EQ is powerful enough that I use it rather than the EQ on my SVT classic. This is especially useful for DI tones when recording bass. Though I do not use the Hi pass filter for bass, it is useful when recording guitars with the pedal.
For bass players, the colour box features 1/4 OR XLR input, with a -20db pad for active basses, as well as a 1/4 inch AND XLR out. This is especially useful to recording bass. In recording my bands EP, all I used was this pedal along with my four pedal pedalboard (Tuner--> JHS Lime Aid Compressor-->Fuzzrocious Demon King-->JHS Colour Box) and no amp. The pedal is that good.
In terms of guitar, the pedal is also perfect for recording guitar in that it brings amp simulators to life. Beware, however, that this pedal has a LOT of volume and power and can cause damage to your equipment if you are not careful when using the volume.
The pedal can also be used on mics, including condenser and ribbons mics (though the pedal does not provide phantom power). If you are looking for studio sound in your live sound, this is the pedal you need.