JHS Colour Box V2 is a preamp, EQ, overdrive, distortion, fuzz, and a direct box all in one easy to use pedal. It can be used, with great results, live or in the studio, for guitar, vocals, drums, synths, keyboards, or just about anything else you can imagine.
The inspiration behind the Colour Box was the legendary Neve studio console. JHS's mastermind, Josh Scott, wanted to create a pedal that would allow players to achieve that "direct in" sound that can be heard on albums from the Beatles, Steely Dan, Wilco, Spoon, etc. in a live situation.
Since its release, it has been used in major studio recordings from bands like Muse, U2, The National, Wilco, Spoon, Collective Soul, and The War on Drugs - but not just as a guitar pedal. It has been used for vocals, kick drums, acoustic guitar, bass, keys, overhead drums, stereo busses, synths, reamps, and more with stunning results. It essentially gives you a strip from a Neve console that you can use in the studio or on the stage.
It has both 1/4" and XLR inputs and outputs, an "Instrument / Mic" setting switch, a 20db pad switch and a HUGE range for both EQ and gain. Use it as a preamp to color your tone, a clean boost, overdrive, distortion, fuzz, and/or direct box all at once. It is truly a swiss army knife that an musician or engineer could find a good use for.
