---
product_id: 170265205
title: "Jhs Colour Box V2 Preamp"
brand: "jhs pedals"
price: "£363.65"
currency: GBP
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
category: "Jhs Pedals"
url: https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/170265205-jhs-colour-box-v2-preamp
store_origin: GB
region: United Kingdom
---

# Phantom power passthrough 5-stage gain control Precision EQ shift knobs Jhs Colour Box V2 Preamp

**Brand:** jhs pedals
**Price:** £363.65
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🎸 Elevate your tone game—studio magic in a pedal!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Jhs Colour Box V2 Preamp by jhs pedals
- **How much does it cost?** £363.65 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.uk](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/170265205-jhs-colour-box-v2-preamp)

## Best For

- jhs pedals enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted jhs pedals brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Dynamic Gain Control:** Five-step gain stages plus master and pre-vol knobs deliver everything from ultra-clean to fuzz-driven distortion.
- • **Precision EQ Mastery:** Shift knobs let you dial in exact frequency ranges for treble, mid, and bass with ±17dB control—tailor your tone like a pro.
- • **Pro-Ready Connectivity:** XLR and 1/4" inputs with -20dB pad and phantom power support condenser mics and high-output sources flawlessly.
- • **Studio-Grade Versatility:** Transforms any rig into a Neve-inspired tonal powerhouse with preamp, EQ, and distortion all-in-one.
- • **Silent Switching & Clean Signal:** No annoying switch-pop and 100% clean acoustic guitar signal ensure your live and studio sound stays pristine.

## Overview

The JHS Colour Box V2 is a studio-grade preamp, EQ, and distortion pedal designed for multi-instrument and microphone use. Featuring a 5-stage gain control, precision EQ shift knobs, a Hi/Lo switch for clean headroom or distortion, and phantom power passthrough, it delivers versatile tone shaping from ultra-clean to fuzz. With XLR and 1/4" inputs, silent switching, and a -20dB pad for high-output mics, it’s a professional-grade tool trusted by top artists and producers worldwide.

## Description

In 2012, I had a crazy idea for a tone shaping device that had never been done before in the world of guitar pedals. I wanted to create an effects Pedal that replicated The hard to achieve sounds of "direct-in" Electric guitar recordings that I loved. Bands like the Beatles, Spoon, Wilco, and Steely Dan had used This technique for years, but it was nearly impossible to recreate live. I wanted this pedal to transform My guitar rig into the tonal equivalent of a Neve studio console, and that was no small task. After lots of trial and error, experimentation, and re-works, this concept evolved into something far beyond what we had imagined. In 2014 as we filmed the first demo videos at Abbey road studios in London and this Idea had evolved into the most unique product we had ever made. The color box was a full-fledged studio-grade preamplifier, EQ, and distortion generator with multi-instrument compatibility. It did what I had always wanted It to do, but it did so much more! On its release day, I wasn't quite sure how it would be accepted, but I knew that I loved it. As a few months went by, We saw something amazing begin to happen; this pedal was showing up in all types of environments. Producers, engineers, and artists were emailing us, tagging us on socials and showing how they had put the color box to use. Studio vocals, live vocals, kick drums, acoustic guitars, bass, keys, overhead drums, stereo bus's, room mics, synths, re-amps, and some incredibly large stage setups had it on almost every instrument! This unit can be heard on dozens of recordings from U2, Wilco, Beck, Mac demarco, St. Vincent, the National, Spoon, Collective soul, muse, to War on Drugs, foot fighters, and phantogram amongst others. As proud of this pedal as we were, we wanted to make it better, so we did. – Josh Scott The color box V2 has all the same functionality of the V1 with many new and improved additions like expanded EQ controls, a Hi/lo switch for massive clean headroom, and the ability to pass Phantom power to your condenser mics. The most significant improvements are: addition of an output transformer safely passes 48V phantom power EQ shift knobs for precision EQ control Hi/LO switch for ultra clean headroom 100% Available clean signal even on acoustic guitar silent switching, Aka no "switch-pop" Runs on standard 9V DC neg power let's take a look at the features and controls of the color box V2. The gain section in red has three controls: master, pre-vol, and step. The Master volume controls The overall volume of the unit. The pre-vol controls the amount of gain between the two internal gain stages. This acts as a "drive" Or "gain" Control, adding more grit, distortion, and even fuzz as you increase the gain. The step control increases the gain of each preamp stage in five stages. Rotating the step knob from Left-to-right will increase the gain by the following: 1st is +18 dB, 2nd is +23 dB, 3rd is +28 dB, 4th is +33 dB, 5th is +39 dB. The color box V2 has a new Hi/ LO switch to control the amount of clean headroom you have available. In the Lo mode, you will easily be able to get Ultra clean sounds without breakup. Lo mode is excellent for tone shaping when distortion is not needed. In the Hi mode, the color box V2 will distort much more readily, giving you a broad spectrum of overdrive, distortion, and fuzz sounds. In addition to the Hi/ LO gain switch, there is a -20dB pad switch on the right side of the color box V2. This function only works when in XLR input mode and can help tame the volume for high output microphones. The EQ section in blue has three new Shift controls correlating to its standard treble, middle and bass controls. The shift knobs adjust the range of frequencies that the treble, middle, and bass knobs control. The center frequencies for the shift knobs are treble 10kHz, middle 1kHz, and bass 120Hz, while the treble, middle, and bass knobs boost or cut with +/- 17dB of control. If you want to boost high-mid frequencies, turn the mid shift knob to 3 o'clock or above and increase the middle knob above 12 o'clock. If you want to cut upper treble frequencies, turn the treble shift knob to 3 o'clock or above and set the treble knob below 12 o'clock. The shift knobs give you precision control over the EQ for anything you put through the color box V2. The Hi-Pass section is enabled by the toggle switch below the Hi-Pass knob. Just flip it up to engage the Hi-Pass knob, which spans from 60Hz to 800Hz with a 6dB per octave slope. The color box V2 has a combination XLR and 1/4" Input jack to use either an instrument or microphone. Select your input with the input selector switch on the right side of the pedal labeled INST/XLR. The color box runs on standard 9V DC negative power and measures 5. 7” x 3. 75” x 1. 85".

Review: Does what it says! (And it doesn't claim to be an ACTUAL Neve) - As long as you don't go in expected it to ACTUALLY be a Neve console in some miraculously small box, it's remarkably versatile! Similar in spirit, but definitely a departure with unique high-gain features. Pros: -Powerful-but-simple parametric EQ (minus a Q control I suppose) -XLR in, plus parallel XLR and 1/4 inch out. -Both input and output transformers (I view it as a nice little "mastering" kind of effect) -Step control and hi/lo toggle in addition to two volumes provide as wide a range of gain as you would ever really need. -No-nonsense hi-pass with on-off toggle is very useful for applying this pedal to a variety of instruments/microphones/pickups. I have recorded vocals and instruments through a variety of mics, and performed with it as a DI for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and electric bass. *Once you learn how to use it* I have found it to be a wonderful catch-all EQ+D.I. Cons: -Significant monetary investment (ultimately worth the feature set, but admittedly steep) -Somewhat noisy 1/4inch output (XLR is remarkably noiseLESS, and I suspect this is a natural factor of the original intension of getting the "drive a console very hard like on x,y,z record!" sound live through your amp on a stage. I typically use this direct through XLR live, however, and have had no noise issues.) -Very bright LED (easy to fix by coloring or taping over) that makes it hard to see the controls in a lot of the lower-light situations of a typical stage.
Review: Amazing control and sound - This pedal is an incredibly versatile tool with a lot to offer, as long as you’re not expecting it to replace a full Neve console in a small box. It features a powerful parametric EQ, XLR and 1/4" outputs, input and output transformers, and flexible gain controls. It works great as a mastering-style effect, DI, or EQ for vocals and instruments. The high-pass filter and step controls add even more functionality. While it’s a significant investment, the feature set makes it worth it. The XLR output is noiseless, but the 1/4" can be a bit noisy, depending on use. The LED is quite bright, but that’s easily fixable. Overall, it’s a reliable, multi-purpose tool for live performance and studio use.

## Features

- A full-fledged studio-grade preamplifier, EQ, and distortion generator with multi-instrument and microphone compatibility
- The Gain section controls the overall volume of the unit, the amount of gain between the two internal gain stages, and the gain of each preamp stage in five stages
- Using the new Hi/Lo switch, get ultra clean sounds without breakup when distortion is not needed or achieve a broad spectrum of overdrive, distortion, and fuzz sounds
- A -20dB pad switch on the right side of the unit tame the volume for high output microphones when in XLR input mode
- The new Shift knobs in the EQ section adjust the range of frequencies that the Treble, Middle, and Bass knobs control to give you precision control over the EQ
- The Hi-Pass section spans from 60Hz to 800Hz with a 6dB per octave slope
- Offers 100% clean signal even on acoustic guitar, silent switching to eliminate "switch-pop", and passing phantom power to condenser mics

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B081P7N88Y |
| Amperage | 100 Milliamps |
| Audio Output Effects | Preamp, Equalization, Distortion, Overdrive, Fuzz |
| Best Sellers Rank | #22,398 in Musical Instruments ( See Top 100 in Musical Instruments ) #126 in Guitar Distortion & Overdrive Effects |
| Brand Name | JHS Pedals |
| Color | Multicolor |
| Connector Type | 1/4 inch audio |
| Controls Type | Pedal |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (102) |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00650415212224 |
| Hardware Interface | 1/4-inch Audio |
| Item Dimensions | 6 x 4 x 2 inches |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 6"L x 4"W x 2"H |
| Item Type Name | Guitar Effects Pedal |
| Manufacturer | JHS Pedals |
| Manufacturer Part Number | CBoxV2 |
| Model Name | Colour Box V2 |
| Model Number | CBOXV2 |
| Power Source | Electric |
| Signal Format | Analog |
| Style | Boom microphone stand with a telescoping boom arm |
| UPC | 650415212224 |
| Voltage | 9 Volts |
| Warranty Description | Limited lifetime warranty within the usa; 1 year limited warranty internationally. |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** JHS Pedals
- **Color:** Multicolor
- **Product Dimensions:** 6"L x 4"W x 2"H
- **Style:** Boom microphone stand with a telescoping boom arm
- **Voltage:** 9 Volts

## Images

![Jhs Colour Box V2 Preamp - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51BRQcHpUvL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Pattern** options.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Does what it says! (And it doesn't claim to be an ACTUAL Neve)
*by W***G on September 18, 2022*

As long as you don't go in expected it to ACTUALLY be a Neve console in some miraculously small box, it's remarkably versatile! Similar in spirit, but definitely a departure with unique high-gain features. Pros: -Powerful-but-simple parametric EQ (minus a Q control I suppose) -XLR in, plus parallel XLR and 1/4 inch out. -Both input and output transformers (I view it as a nice little "mastering" kind of effect) -Step control and hi/lo toggle in addition to two volumes provide as wide a range of gain as you would ever really need. -No-nonsense hi-pass with on-off toggle is very useful for applying this pedal to a variety of instruments/microphones/pickups. I have recorded vocals and instruments through a variety of mics, and performed with it as a DI for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and electric bass. *Once you learn how to use it* I have found it to be a wonderful catch-all EQ+D.I. Cons: -Significant monetary investment (ultimately worth the feature set, but admittedly steep) -Somewhat noisy 1/4inch output (XLR is remarkably noiseLESS, and I suspect this is a natural factor of the original intension of getting the "drive a console very hard like on x,y,z record!" sound live through your amp on a stage. I typically use this direct through XLR live, however, and have had no noise issues.) -Very bright LED (easy to fix by coloring or taping over) that makes it hard to see the controls in a lot of the lower-light situations of a typical stage.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing control and sound
*by P***N on November 25, 2024*

This pedal is an incredibly versatile tool with a lot to offer, as long as you’re not expecting it to replace a full Neve console in a small box. It features a powerful parametric EQ, XLR and 1/4" outputs, input and output transformers, and flexible gain controls. It works great as a mastering-style effect, DI, or EQ for vocals and instruments. The high-pass filter and step controls add even more functionality. While it’s a significant investment, the feature set makes it worth it. The XLR output is noiseless, but the 1/4" can be a bit noisy, depending on use. The LED is quite bright, but that’s easily fixable. Overall, it’s a reliable, multi-purpose tool for live performance and studio use.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rad pedal
*by K***N on June 27, 2025*

Expensive but worth it. Makes everything sound better. Overdrive is rad—sounds retro and cool, makes a mic sound rad and tinny/trash can lid-like. If you can justify spending the money, go for it!

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/170265205-jhs-colour-box-v2-preamp](https://www.desertcart.co.uk/products/170265205-jhs-colour-box-v2-preamp)

---

*Product available on Desertcart United Kingdom*
*Store origin: GB*
*Last updated: 2026-06-25*