Anyone use a JHS Bonsai pedal as a tube screamer/boost?

[nightlight]

I haven't been able to use this yet, but I picked up a JHS Bonsai pedal.

Any users here with experience with one? Is it really feasible to have multiple OD sounds in a single analog pedal?

 

[griff10672]

I haven't been able to use this yet, but I picked up a JHS Bonsai pedal.

Any users here with experience with one? Is it really feasible to have multiple OD sounds in a single analog pedal?

very feasible ...... when the parts are SMD components you could fit ten tube screamers in one pedal .... and obviously digitally control the switching

aka : the Bonsai

I've never played one ..... but reliable sources say it's a great pedal

 

[motorboy1]

All the settings are great. OD1 in a Marshall style amp kills. Check out Pete Thorns video on it…

 

[jchrisf]

I wanted to get one of these when I heard a demo of the EXAR OD-1 1989 setting. It sounded great. I think it would be my favorite setting.. how do you like it?

 

[hellzington]

I owned one and liked it a lot. I ran it in front of my old Recto for years and it worked great. The only reason I eventually sold it was because I started getting a high-pitched whistle in the signal coming from the pedal. At that point I had to move on.

Since then I’ve been using the Source Audio Zio. It has a similar concept where you can click through different boost options, and it has been very solid for me. You might want to check that one out as well.

 

[griff10672]

I owned one and liked it a lot. I ran it in front of my old Recto for years and it worked great. The only reason I eventually sold it was because I started getting a high-pitched whistle in the signal coming from the pedal. At that point I had to move on.

Since then I’ve been using the Source Audio Zio. It has a similar concept where you can click through different boost options, and it has been very solid for me. You might want to check that one out as well.

sometimes digitally controlled analog pedals don't play well with other gear .... at least in my experience .... buffers too ...

 

[dstroud]

I have the Bonsai, it’s a great pedal. really fun to run through the different models.

 

[hellzington]

sometimes digitally controlled analog pedals don't play well with other gear .... at least in my experience .... buffers too ...

The Zio Boost is all analog with no digital components. They brag about it quite a bit in the marketing materials and the pedal even says "Analog Front End + Boost" on it.

I'm not sure if the Bonsai converts to digital anywhere in the signal path.

I've also had issues with buffers introducing noise into my signal path. Compressors have been very problematic for me, as well. The Horizon Devices Clarity Compressor and the UA MAX Compressor both work well for me with no extra noise or tone suck.

 

[griff10672]

The Zio Boost is all analog with no digital components. They brag about it quite a bit in the marketing materials and the pedal even says "Analog Front End + Boost" on it.

I'm not sure if the Bonsai converts to digital anywhere in the signal path.

I've also had issues with buffers introducing noise into my signal path. Compressors have been very problematic for me, as well. The Horizon Devices Clarity Compressor and the UA MAX Compressor both work well for me with no extra noise or tone suck.

without researching it .... from what I remember is the audio signal path in the Bonsai is analog ... the switching isn't .... funny thing is there isn't a crap ton of variance between the tubescreamers that are in it as far as parts and values ... it's where in the circuit they are it's multiple positions in the circuit .... that's really hard to do with one mechanical switch

and yeah ... buffers can bring out the best and worst of your set up ... depending whats on your board .... it's a dance

compressors seem to bring out noise you never knew existed sometimes

 

[nightlight]

I wanted to get one of these when I heard a demo of the EXAR OD-1 1989 setting. It sounded great. I think it would be my favorite setting.. how do you like it?

I actually got it when a deal for a guitar fell through. Since I had made a deposit, I just picked up the pedal usjng that money. JHS seems to have a decent reputation and that helped as well.

Haven't even played it yet, because being jobless is occupying all my time nowadays, heh.

My curiosity was piqued at the idea of having an OD that I could run in front of multiple amps, since sauce for the goose isn't the same for the gander.

In that regard, I really needed more OD flavours. All I've been using for years is a beat up Ibanez TS-9, which is nice, but I really didn't have anything to compare it to.

 

[RockyStar]

Great pedal IMO. Definitely worth owning and a good bang for the buck considering what you get.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I have one.. just put it back on my second board. It sounds good and how can you beat the usable tones?? OD-1 on a switch, fantastic sounding Nobels setting, and the two modded TS settings on there by JHS and Keeley. It's incredible value and it rips.

One caveat? Head to head with my TS-808, my stand alone TS sounds better even though the Bonsai was modelled after a "vintage" sounding TS. Could have been it's component drift or other, my more modern TS-808 sounds better. BUT to have all these versions under my foot? That's where the value is and especially if you like the two modded versions. They are really great sounding. So for me I can go Jake E Lee with the OD-1 to Schenker on a TS-9 back to Lynch on the 808 and then the Nobels setting for other needs. The modded sides will punish an 800 and easily get you into heavy saturated metal tones because of their voicing. Not many pedals can do that. You will be happy with it. I'm a huge fan of multiple use pedals.