ROSS Electronics Pedal Lineup Relaunched!

We’re super excited for today’s complete PEDAL LINEUP: that’s right, we’re taking a look at ALL 5 newly released ROSS Electronics effects! In collaboration with Josh Scott and JHS Pedals, these five units bring back the flagship pedals (and one brand new creation) from a company responsible for some of the best vintage effects out there. Coming full circle and releasing this new group of effects, ROSS brings amazing sound and modern build quality to the sonic table…

ROSS Electronics was founded by Bud Ross in 1977 during the “Golden Era” of effects, alongside industry giants like MXR, Electro Harmonix, DOD, BOSS and ProCo. ROSS never grew to the success or size of Bud’s previous venture (Kustom Amplification) and eventually the company had to be sold due to financial hardship and poor sales. Changing hands multiple times in the 1980s, ROSS slowly faded from public consciousness, with operations ceasing in the mid-1990s.

Its disappearance is equal parts mysterious and tragic, but over the past two and a half decades, interest in ROSS has begun to grow as vintage pedals become sought-after collectibles. In 2020, JHS Pedals founder Josh Scott contacted Cameron and proposed a partnership to retell the ROSS story and relaunch the brand. With Josh’s dedication to pedal history, his experience in manufacturing, and his previous collaborations with pedal companies like Keeley Electronics, BOSS and Electro-Harmonix, the partnership between them was a perfect fit.

The Distortion, Phaser and Compressor replicate the original circuits from Era 2 of ROSS, while the Chorus pays faithful homage to the Era 3 Chorus. The fifth model, the ROSS Fuzz, did not exist in previous ROSS history. Instead, its circuit was pulled from a 1960s Kustom amplifier and transformed into a pedal.

Distortion: (available here: sweetwater.sjv.io/PyAMKe)

The ROSS Distortion is an op-amp, hard clipping distortion built around the classic 1970s topology seen in pedals like the MXR Distortion Plus, the DOD 250 and the ProCo RAT. While this pedal can be used in almost any situation, it excels at creating natural tube-like distortion and pushing your amplifier into natural breakup.

Chorus: (available here: sweetwater.sjv.io/GmQM0m)

The ROSS Chorus is a true-analog bucket-brigade chorus, utilizing a V3207 chipset. While this pedal excels at the vintage bucket-brigade chorus and vibrato tones you’ve heard for decades, these straightforward controls can also create a wide range of textures and are versatile enough for any music style.

Fuzz: (available here: sweetwater.sjv.io/VmQMbO)

The ROSS Fuzz did not exist in previous ROSS history. This circuit was pulled from the Kustom amplifiers made by Bud Ross. John Fogerty used the Kustom amp’s distortion for hit songs like “Run Through the Jungle” and “Fortunate Son.” Other artists like the Grateful Dead, Leon Russell, the Jackson Five, Carl Perkins and the Carpenters depended on these amps. This pedal is a tribute to a lost Kustom distortion effect that, until now, was only available in an amplifier. As a fairly unorthodox fuzz that isn’t associated with classics like the Fuzz Face, Tone Bender or Big Muff, this pedal highlights a hidden moment in distortion history.

Phaser: (available here: sweetwater.sjv.io/B0Gvzy)

The ROSS Phaser is a versatile and easy to use OTA-based phaser and is a faithful reproduction of the original ROSS circuit. This pedal excels at vintage phase tones: fast, slow and everything in between. If you need phasing that can sit perfectly in the mix, inspire a new riff or flawlessly replicate the past, this pedal is for you.

Compressor: (available here: sweetwater.sjv.io/Wq9M6A)

The ROSS Compressor is an OTA-based, vintage-style compressor. This pedal is a faithful reproduction of the coveted “Era 2” Gray Box ROSS Compressor circuit, possibly the most legendary compressor of its kind.

Trust us when we say these pedals sound great, and if you’d like to hear them for yourself, head to our demo video below over on YouTube! We run through each effect and a little bit of what each can do, then start mixing and matching these boxes together in the latter part of the demo. Lots of fun to be had, sounds to create and music to explore here – lots more info over on the new ROSS Electronics website, so go check out the full story…cheers!

“I am dedicated to pursue the manufacturing, production and evolution of this legacy brand in the same way Bud Ross would. As I have said time and time again, ‘Companies don’t make things, people do.’ I am beyond excited to merge the amazing legacy of Bud Ross’s life with the hardworking, passionate team at JHS Pedals.” – Josh Scott, JHS Pedals

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