Everything You Need to Know About ROSS Pedals

[@TheodoreTooth]

I've been touring with John Fogerty for the past five years, I mix monitors for him. I'm sending this video over to our guitar tech. I'd be interested to get John's thoughts on the new fuzz. We were carrying around his old Kustom Tuck and Roll on the road for a while, but these days he uses Cornford amp heads for his distorted/fuzz tone and Dr. Z for his crunch tone. Cheers to you Josh for all the amazing work.

[@coldacre]

its so awesome that John is still out on the road, living legend. and I think we all did a fist-pump and a "f*** yeah" when he got his songs back recently! pass on our love - cheers man

[@J.C...]

​@@coldacreYes we did fist pump! John is definitely a Living Legend. 🙏❤️

[@collisw8302]

@@coldacre totally agree, was so happy for John. Truly a living legend.

[@hazysativa3045]

Please tell John thank you so much for all the great music over the years, and follow up with his thoughts on the fuzz. What does his current pedal board look like? His tech should do a video.

[@bonedale]

I first thought Josh simply had a passion for pedals, it is clear it is a medical emergency and we all benefit from his suffering. This is amazing what you have done with Ross

[@rogerneill7962]

Mom bought me a Ross phaser for Christmas when I was 14. First pedal I owned. I’m 59 now. Beautiful memories of that thing. Thank you for bringing these back.

[@ArkAmps]

same!

[@molliemicrobe]

That's funny, I bought my vintage Ross phaser when I was 14! It's about 30 years older than me.

[@mbg4041]

Do you still have it?

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

Shoutout to Sweetwater’s KZbin channel for leaking this info a day early.

[@srwaite7]

I was watching that video early this morning (eastern time zone) and it vanished from KZbin before it ended 😝

[@guitardweeb]

That's just top notch customer service.

[@JorbLovesGear]

They* have done it a few times, I'm convinced they do it to snatch up early preorders.

[@canopy-guitarsgear5615]

@@JorbLovesGearcompanies that leak should get ordering penalty caps - enforceable on their existing preorders

[@xb5883]

Sweetwater is shady

[@AndyDemos]

That’s awesome news! Long after that Ross Audibles demo we did, I always wondered why nothing came next. So glad Ross lives on 👊💥👊

[@RobertKeeleyTV]

No one better than JHS to relaunch ROSS! That new Fuzz sounds like Kustom FIRE! I love the bright switch on the comp and the Phaser & Chorus sound warm and delicious! End mounted jacks and soft touch switch! EXCELLENT!

[@oldnikix]

I love top-mounted jacks... I bought the Compressor.

[@DanielDangerTME]

this is how you do a pedal reissue series, other brands should take note.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

but sadly they wont take note

[@mileswatkinson8135]

Josh, you are pedal history in the making. Bringing back this line is a contribution to the guitar community that shows what a class act you are as a pedal historian and businessman. I hope the line does well for you.

[@TheMachinesWon]

Josh, you're such a great ambassador to the pedal community and music. Love the stories and how you help other companies so much!

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Hear, hear. Well said! 💯

[@iainblr]

Chanute, KS native here -- They recently painted a mural of Bud Ross on the side of a building in memory of him. I was best friends with Cameron in Kindergarten (until his parents moved to a different elementary school district in town) and have used a Kustom amp in my rig for forever to represent Chanute. It's awesome to see a revitalization of this brand. Chanute, KS has few claims to fame and Kustom is easily the best thing to have ever come out of Chanute. I C O N I C

[@jhspedals]

woah! that's awesome!

[@iainblr]

My guitar teacher (Jay EuDaly) used to play guitar for Bud and Kustom at their NAMM booth back in the day. According to Jay, "Bud made a million dollars and lost it at least three times in his life." The rumor is that he lost Kustom in a card game (can you substantiate this rumor and if its true, I would love to hear the entire story of this game)?

[@jhspedals]

🖤

[@davidpickering4291]

Demonstrating the pedals by plugging into a Kustom 100 amp is the chef's kiss to this video.

[@shonemanband]

I saw John forgerty last week! He played the guitar he played at Woodstock. He said he didn't have it for like 40 years and his wife found it and got it for him. I still have my black kustom amp just like the one in the video 😊

[@coldacre]

not enough credit is given to Josh for his guitar playing in these demo's. you really get to hear what the pedal is all about. all at JHS rock for doing what they do!

[@rundlet1658]

It's crazy how much Trey impacted the ross compressor. When he took it out of his rig in around 2002, a bunch of fans came together and scrapped together money to buy him a new one. Fans literally don’t let him take it out Lol

[@larrylakey4041]

My brother worked for Kustom in Chanute,Kansas and he was a good friend of Bud. He had moved to Kansas to work at Kustom with his friend Louie. Bud was a very cool guy who told my brother that his compressor pedal was a direct copy of the MXR compressor. He was an innovative man who had a great idea and was able to create and operate Kustom amplification for several years and then sold the Kustom name. Some of his employees were also creative and they moved to New York and they started their own amp company called Legend amps. They were all made with oak cabinets and cane grills,and they were hybrid tube preamp and solid state power section. Bud took Louie and my brother to Arrowhead stadium for the Raiders and Chiefs game . My brother and Louie were from Oakland and the Raiders won,so they were happy. Bud had a box at Arrowhead for his enjoyment.

[@larrylakey4041]

I had a Ross 8 track player that was a great stereo. It had speakers that clipped together for transport. Several of my friends had Kustom amps,due to John Fogerty using them. They were good clean amps,not good for distortion but they were loud.

[@MrAndrewClaycomb]

My first "big" amp was a Kustom 100 with a matching 2x15"+15" metal horn cabinet. I played bass through it, and it was incredibly anemic, but it sure looked cool. I bought it used (and dirt cheap) in the late 90s from a guitar store in Wichita, KS and I'll never forget the smell. It was a mixture of decades old cigarettes and dive bar funk. It also lightly shocked me every time I touched the power switch.

[@TheDilligan]

I never heard of Ross. But the pedals look beautiful. This is a huge thing on JHS’ quest to preserve pedal history - to actually revive a dead brand entirely.

[@jensenbell]

OK. So. There is a distortion pedal that I never knew the universe needed until I saw this. The Creedence Dirt Box. This might become the new GREY BOX COMPRESSOR obsession for studio pros. So many are CCR fans/ambassadors. First song I could play all the way through was "Born on the Bayou" ... followed by Proud Mary. As a little kid, I played my dad's CCR records laying with my head against the speaker until he came home from work and turned it down. I had no idea that i was listening to a Kustom Dirty Circuit. I mean. This concept is dawning on me right now. All the pedals sound great, I love the chorus acting like a rotary. Amazing. But I think your CCR DIRT BOX is the headline here.

[@larrylakey4041]

My friends had a band from 1971-1978 and they all used Kustom amps,and the pa system was Kustom too. The speakers are the same as the ones behind Josh in this video. They also had a Kustom organ,and everything was black tuck and roll. The drummer had Camco drums,which was a Kustom brand. They were great drums and still exist in a world class drum maker of another name.

[@DrKevGuitar]

Great idea to take the fuzz from the Kustom amps. A new but old product from the same family. Bravo!

[@vejabill]

I found the black Noise Gate about 10 years ago at goodwill. (Always wondered what their history was, turns out I drive by the Lakewood shop constantly!) My first noise gate, works great!

[@kens.5095]

I actually got stuck in Lodi, riding a motorcycle from OC to Redding and having to duck into some guy's carport to get out of an absolute deluge. Of course 'Lodi' became the theme song for the trip.

[@fionnpinaparker5332]

I’ve been watching JHS for years and this is the first time I’ve heard him mention Trey! I get that’s not everyone’s type of music, but I’ve always been blown away by the sounds he gets out of his rig, especially 97-00. Would love Josh’s opinions on “the funk siren,” “whale calls,” “the hadron collider,” and the countless other ambient textures experimented with in that time. Think Big Cypress Sand or the Island Tour Roses are Free. Not to mention the cacophony at the start of the happy whip and dung song. Long live Ross!!

[@pantone369c]

I've lived in Lakewood for 15 years and had no idea Ross was ever based here. I had my car repaired right next door to their old location on Cedar. 😆

[@ifxman]

Watched the documentary and then this and this really took me back to high school gigging and wishing I still had all my Ross pedals and Kustom amps and cabinets. I needed money to help my family and was going into the Army so like a fool I sold everything. This was sooooo good to watch. Thanks Josh and everyone for keeping it REAL. OH... the Stereo Delay is why I had two Kustom amps... Please please consider redesigning and making that one again HaHa I'm sure there are plenty of guitarists that would love to have them ALL... AGAIN! 🎸💯❤️😎

[@oozzyknob]

Bud Ross: What kind of enclosure should I use for my ROSS pedals, a BUD box? MXR: Nope

[@MyName-nx1jj]

My first pedal was an era 2 distortion. Bought new in late 1979 and it's still on my board today!

[@alanedmonds4272]

I had a Ross flanger back in the day-it was a purple/maroonish color and had an AC cord. That thing was badass, and it had a manual feature where you could set the notch depth without any sweep, producing some very interesting sounds. Like a lot of gear over the decades, I wish I'd never sold it.

[@sconni666]

My first pedal was a Ross distortion in 1982. Cool man.

[@bmckee5430]

Wow! What a perfect company to pull this off. Congratulations JHS!!! And adding the booklet with every pedal...so cool!

[@timschild7040]

I have a Chanute era distortion pedal (but no box, lol)! I was born and raised in Kansas, even have family around Chanute, so that increases the cool factor for me. Pedal sounds great!

[@nine9whitepony526]

I think it is very cool that you've helped bring ROSS back, you're a good man. I had a ROSS distortion back in the day, i sometimes have dreams that i found the one I lost in some boxes in the basement. It was the best distortion I ever owned.

[@nine9whitepony526]

P.S. Those were some great jams.

[@tomfonner1886]

Thanks Josh. You’re realizing a dream that Keith Barr had of bringing more manufacturing of music gear to the US. I’m appreciative of your efforts to share the history.

[@TribalGuitars]

This is awesome! Glad to see Ross get relaunched! When I bought my 1st guitar in the late '80s the guy also sold me his Ross distortion and his Arion stereo chorus. Over 30 years later the guitar is gone but the pedals I still have and use. Great video and awesome news! Much success to you and Cameron!

[@BOBBRADLEYCHANNEL]

Great pedals Josh, I had a Ross flanger that was milkshake thick! Nice record there at the end, salute!

[@davidgreen7268]

I just pulled the "Era 2" Distortion pedal I bought used for probably about $20 when I was 14 out of storage. It has electrical tape in place of screws and I don't have a power adapter that fits it, but it works as good as the day it was made, which was a long time ago.

[@darklight4815]

I used to jam on an old tuck and roll refrigerator stack when i was a kid...blue sparkle i believe it was

[@bocajeijlem]

Ok but y’all gonna be Makin Kustom amps again!?!?!

[@masonflippin6168]

When Josh busted out the bass I got excited, because I want to hear the Ross Fuzz on bass! I own a small Kustom practice amp and I've always loved the drive channel on it, especially how tight it is on bass. Thinking about ordering one soon 🤘🏻🍻

[@secretguitarlab]

Yes! I got my Ross Phaser in 1979 in Toledo, Ohio...still even have the box. Used it on several albums! Orange version with rate/intensity.

[@kassandjohnbolles3522]

Josh, you and your team have outdone yourselves. Putting a bright mode on the compressor was a stroke of genius, and the fuzz pedal is SICK.

[@badcomma]

Today has been a Ross Pedal blitz. No fewer than five guitar shops I follow on IG posted ads. Reverb and Sweetwater are pushing them. Every music-related website is covering the resurrection of Ross. JHS has put a lot of weight behind this campaign. Congrats.

[@jedimindfrak82]

This is freaking cool. My old tan Ross Distortion is one of my favorite pedals!

[@celestinocamicia]

Thank you for bringing back the brand, Josh! I managed to snap up a 1978 Ross Phaser at a pawn shop in Port Canaveral a few years ago (used to work for Disney Cruise Line back then) for 50 bucks! They sold it to me for that price because they said it needed repair...which actually was just a matter of resoldering the 9V battery clip. Came with its original box (he has the box!) complete with warranty sheet and Ross logo sticker...and what a fantastic score that was!

[@wankizer25]

Is there a Kustom/Ross Tremolo in the works? Fogerty’s trem is spectacular!

[@larrylakey4041]

I used to have a rack mount Ross digital delay and it was very useful for all kinds of things. I think it was at the beginning of the IMC era.

[@chriskohl9336]

I have one of those "rare" Taiwan Phasers Josh mentions - I didn't even know it was rare. I think I got it way back in the day when I would do guitar repairs and pickup installs, but most guitarists didn't have cash, so they would trade me equipment. I used it a few times and it was awesome. I just dug it out and will need to test it again with a battery to see how it sounds. Crazy, it's in near perfect condition. Ah, sweet memories.

[@GratefulNachos]

Always wanted the Ross compressor… huge Phish phan. Anyway I picked it up. I’m excited. Thanks for making them!!

[@PedalChainsAddiction]

So great to hear Nick and Josh play pedals for us once again!! Welcome back, Nick. You’ve been missed. What an exciting project; can’t wait to get my hands on a phaser. Woohoo!

[@bsbrum]

I started playing rock guitar in the 1980's and began collecting effects pedals. Then came the Digitech RP20 Valve board and I gave up individual effects pedals. Then I discovered the Line 6 PodXT Live and I've been there ever since. You have singularly reignited a desire in me to try effects pedals, and I think I'll start with these new Ross gems. Thank you, JHS, I am new recruit to the Tone Cult. LOL

[@jonnyhafer7376]

the drummer is so good, you all can play but his feel to the music and simplicity is the type of drummer i dream about for my psych garage band. seriously the drummer is a gifted player

[@joegoesretro]

That fuzz sounds like it’s up my alley! My favorite Compressor is a two-knob Keeley, which I understand is based on the Ross. It looks like the brand is in good hands.

[@lynnhopewell4728]

When my band launched in 1970 my lead guitarist came home with a black tuck and roll Kustom with a 2x12 cabinet and horns (if I am remembering correctly). He had a Ross phase pedal but all I remember is that it was orange. I still have his Vox wah, but the Ross is long gone. Thanks Josh.

[@KenLasaine]

Wow, cool! Can you dig into and possibly develop a combo Trem/Vibrato (Ross) pedal that was also in some of the Kustom amps?

[@Onetinsoldier]

great idea. Born on the Bayou

[@oscarpalaciosbustamante4029]

"I didn't learn it right but I had learnt it" 😂 totally relate. My family loves CCWR, cheers!

[@jamesdefrancesco7765]

My dad owned the Cosmos' Factory LP which I have listened to since 1970 or 71. Looking Out My Back Door. I also had Chronicle on cassette from the Columbia Record Club. I was even lucky enough to play in my dad's bandfor a while. Creedence was in every set. Great documentary and demo vids. I am a keyboardist and love all your vids. You got me through the pandemic.

[@grahamnunn8998]

Fogerty is such an incredible talent - to produce albums full of killer tracks at the rate CCR did is insane. Apart from the guitar playing, an incredible singer. Saw a great documentary on the European tour that ends with the Albert Hall concert - Tuck and Roll!

[@RavenStJohn]

These are great!....Can't believe we're seeing Ross again...I still have my 79' Phase / Distortion pedal!

[@johnwardle9667]

I'm here for the jams and pedal talk. I love this stuff.

[@TheMachinesWon]

I was going to hold out for the diamond vibrato rerelease but this Ross Chorus vibrato mode kinda stole my heart..

[@JayKughan]

Great stuff! Congrats & all the best with the new business venture. 🍻

[@zeejonesy]

The Ross Compressor is hands down my favorite compressor circuit. Not a lot of coloration, just leveling out dynamics and increasing sustain and adding just a smidge of sparkle. 🤌🏼 I have the Xotic SP which is based on the circuit and it is absolute money.

[@louaguado995]

I had the big 4 knob red flanger in the early 80's. I read that Robin Trower used one on his recordings back then and I had to have one! 😁

[@michaeldewey6485]

I remember as a 14 year old kid working for my Dad Wes Dewey during the Chanute Ks. Era hand spraying and silkscreening the chassis for those pedals .....

[@waskerbasket9601]

I have the Chanute, KS. Ross flanger. Great flanger

[@odeo-]

Usually it's not the central point of your videos, but your guitar skills are incredible. Love these jams

[@hakar743]

absolutetly fell in love with that fuzz.

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

Thanks for bringing these back, Josh! I’ll be buying the Fuzz. Also LOL at your “time to get a watch” tattoo.

[@al271987]

I had an old 70’s Kasino bass amp (Kustom’s regular tolex line) from a weird eBay deal at one point in the early 2010’s. It was only 15w but was shockingly loud and sounded great, definitely had more than enough output for a busy club gig. Those old solid state amps could be pretty cool.

[@rjx5905]

My first pedal was a tan ross distortion I bought at Parker music back in the late 70s wish I still had it Josh is turning these pedals into gold

[@jamieclinard5807]

My first amp was a Ross, got it when I was 14 and still have it. I’m 46 now!

[@joshuanobiling6384]

Your Ross fuzz is one of the few pedals have wowed me. There is something magical about it. Cheers!

[@SamuelRivera_DAMN]

That Fuzz 😭 I need it

[@LitoLevenbach]

Oh man, I've been waiting for many years for someone to make the Kustom fuzz into a pedal! If you could make the combined tremolo+vibrato too I'd be much obliged haha

[@happihockey8601]

1st pedals I ever bought way back in 1979, an MXR Micro Amp and a Ross Distortion, used those two as my "drive" pedals for the next decade, no board, batteries in em and on the floor, never thought I needed anything else and during that time I ran them into Fenders, Peaveys and Roland amps. Such a cool story behind the Ross pedals, never knew about the Kustom amp connection to Ross.

[@resistor27]

I had a Ross distortion pedal in the mid ‘80s I had gotten from a buddy, it conked out, so I gave it to another buddy that said he could fix it-never saw it again so this is way cool!

[@AnxoHunter]

Great story, great pedals and great Kustom Amp Kemper profile

[@sparella]

Shhh! Don't give it away!

[@jonathan-smith]

When I think pedals, I think Josh Heath Scott. Legendary stuff man.

[@jonathan-smith]

Just bought the compressor.

[@astridlenore]

Nice touch with the Kustom amp. Seriously considering some of these for future purchase, largely thanks to your engaging content.

[@jhspedals]

do it!!!

[@PerezBroz-p5o]

I don’t know if I’m just psyching myself out but these pedals sound really really really fantastic in this demo.

[@fonusbak]

Blimey. The Ross Distortion was the first pedal I ever bought back in 1982 (?). Still got it somewhere!

[@SteveMurnaghan]

I just want to say I appreciate you and the fine folks at JHS!!!!

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

The talented Mr. JHS. Love all your YT vids!

[@DamianS1893]

I love CCR!!! Legendary Rock Music

[@jhspedals]

yeah!

[@Glicksman1]

Kustom amps, etc. were manufactured a few miles from where I lived back in the day. A lot of bands in the area used them. .My band had a Kustom P.A., the best P.A. I ever used. Their stuff looked and sounded great and didn't require a lot of maintenance or fall apart on the road like Marshall, etc. R.I..P. Kustom.

[@Tomalyo]

You guys are awesome. Great jamming ❤

[@JasonsGuitarJams]

Love your videos Josh. Your passion for this industry never disappoints! Cheers

[@caldruery]

the irony of bud ross having to stop making bud box ross pedals

[@brianvankley3529]

Very cool to make these iconic historic circuits available & accessible again! Can’t wait to try them out.

[@mikeh892]

The Ross is still my favorite take on "that" distortion circuit.

[@crapmalls]

So youre saying the Ross pedal was on a break?

[@RickardYxelflod]

I absolutely love what you guys are doing!

[@michaelbanach9972]

THANKS SO MICH FOR BRINGING THESE BACK!!!!!

[@spidgeb3292]

This and the documentary were very well done. I also am a Creedence fan. Lodi is the song that taught me how to solo in the major pentatonic scale.

[@HalfHeartedFanatic]

That Lakewood, Colorado address is less than a mile from where I used to live from age 7 to age 11. It's weird how much that excited me. The only Ross gadget I ever had (and still have) is a Ross 4X4 recorder.

[@fisherwebdev]

When I was about 15 years old in 1985 I bought a Ross distortion pedal (era 3 v2 silicon - black with yellow label). I still have it and it still works. My old band used to call it "the rasp" and over time they basically demanded that I get a different distortion pedal, and they weren't wrong. I keep trying to put it back in my rig but it's just too damn raspy. Seems like the older Bud Ross germanium version sounds a lot better.

[@nathanieldahman9268]

It's incredible that you have every era and version of these pedals and others you highlight on your channel. It makes me curious: is there a pedal you DON'T have?

[@meyhemmolly]

Yep. This is definitely one of my very favorite channels. Yep.

[@dennisdewinter1997]

This is so incredibly cool! Thanks for going to this effort to release such a great pedal line. I played a Kustom amp back in 1970 in a band when in Junior High in Michigan. The local music store let us use all their gear, including Kustom amplifiers, when we played at a local mall celebrating the mall’s anniversary.

[@smalllicks]

this is really cool, bringing back part of forgotten musical history ... you did that with great honour ...awesome ....love ross pedals