The Jordan Boss Tone Fuzz

[@fall0ut007]

9:45 I was howling when josh said "I'm not going to brag, but I can read tabs"

[@bearclan]

I borrowed a guitar in 1968, from the brother of a friend. It had a little box plugged into the jack, and when I turned on the amp, it howled with the most beautiful shriek I'd ever heard. I didn't know what that little box was until you told me. Thank you, Josh! I love you for clearing up my 53 year old mystery!! Blessings and peace be with you. Now, I wish I could afford to buy a reproduction... damn.

[@desmondmyers]

12:40 I’m literally replacing original screws on a pedal listening to this and feeling CALLED OUT

[@SakariKempas]

Yeah, I'm feeling attacked too

[@wadewozniak8705]

You’re SO screwed!

[@mikenoface]

"I'm not gonna brag, but I can read tabs." ... - every 90's guitar player

[@ugisimmers6836]

that’s a quote for a t-shirt

[@K9SolutionsLLC]

I represent that remark....

[@nedim_guitar]

"I'm not gonna brag, but I can correct tabs", because most of them are wrong.

[@lessthanbug]

I loved seeing Godzilla playing guitar! I saw him live once- he was playing his smash hit, "Blue Oyster Cult". This would have been around '77, I think. He was REALLY BIG in Japan at the time...

[@bimscutney1242]

Well done. 👍

[@ReddestRosa]

I thought Godzilla was a French band 😉

[@jimthecraftyguitarist878]

I saw BOC in 1984 at the Long Beach Sports Arena. That had the inflatable Godzilla in all his glory on stage for the duration of the song 🐉

[@lessthanbug]

@@bimscutney1242 Beer Fest reference?

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

I saw Godzilla back in '78, and he had a HUGE inflatable Oyster! I heard that eventually it became a cu...

[@rasciodc4699]

"You don't have to like it to love it" You touched me Josh, I feel touched by your wisdom.

[@matthewwallacemusicofficial]

i want a morley episode. no, i need a morley episode. from the oil can delay to the treadle-operated phaser, to the fuzz-wah. let's hear it!

[@timothyhoder4591]

The V3 tones were earthy and haunting.

[@50Something]

V3 spits octaves up! Very cool! Want!

[@anotherheadlessdemo]

In high school, my band did a double bill with a band where the guitar player had one of these. So it was his blackguard Tele into a Boss Tone into a white Dual Showman. He sounded like Jeff Beck from the Truth album. Because I'm ancient, none of this equipment was "vintage" at the time. :)

[@blairswitchproject2347]

When Josh sings “He Has the Box!” ..... I’m dead.

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

If only you were.

[@jansen2158]

@@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888 why do say that?

[@mschroeckenfuchs]

pure gold

[@blairswitchproject2347]

@@jansen2158 it’s just so funny. The way he leans over and and sings it with that smirk on his face.... priceless. This episode if full of awesome moments like that. Great content. Great channel.

[@murff625]

I worked at the Sho Bud pedal steel guitar factory in Nashville in the from 73 to 75. They manufactured Sho Bud amps on the third floor. Perhaps Sho Bud owned Boss Tone at that time. I'm not sure but they were also making Boss Tone fuzz boxes. They also had Boss Tone wah wah pedals. I don't know if they were still manufacturing them or not but they had a stock pile of them. I had one of the wah wah pedals.

[@TheMrDunker]

I have one of them and they suck

[@jonny1251]

I always thought the Jordan Bosstone was way underrated. For example, Captain beefheart, Muddy waters on "Electric Mud", The Standells..it was huge among many during the golden age of fuzz. If it came in a huge badass enclosure like the Fuzz Face, Tonebender, or Marshall Supa Fuzz, it would've been 10x more sought after than it is currently

[@dantemurphy2729]

Man that V1 sounds AMAZING.

[@deepdoodle]

I love the history aspect of this channel so much. Josh, you should write a book about the history of guitar sound modification and chasing tone.

[@kepler16b]

Josh’s energy on fridays crushes his energy on Wednesdays. It’s almost like this was filmed before

[@stephenthoule]

"Not gonna brag, but I can read tabs." 😂🤣😂 classic JHS.

[@michaelmattson3515]

I had a Boss Tone & a 60s SG. You don’t know what you got until it’s gone. Pedal Steel players liked the Boss Tone too. I’m watching Who’s Line is it Anyway and your show during commercials. Best of both worlds.

[@halvach1998]

Nailed the Spirit in the Sky tone, I've been thinking of building a fuzz for years, this is the one - at last, a use for my secret stash of Ge transistors.

[@sugarnap245]

Arguably the best part of this entire video was reserved for the end... A hit in the making, a song I would surely play often, "Surfing With My Girlfriend"

[@fenderdude0bob109]

I have to say, Josh must be one of the happiest folks on Earth with what he does. It's refreshing to see somebody working the business that he does, then still have the nerdy level of love and appreciation for effects and effect history that he does. I also appreciate his giant nerdy collection of effects. I'm not jealous, you're jealous.

[@ohkee]

Yes :D Great editing! I like the new graphic design and the little mistakes-that-I-kept-in-the-video style. Great work guys! Looking forward for the next one :)

[@RattlesnakeJakey]

Josh be like "in order to tell the story of danelectro we have to start with the first ice age.

[@kaarefestvog6540]

Also made by Sho Bud. Favorite of pedal steel players. The earlier versions of the Steel Driver were a copy of that one. Don't know if it's true but people it's said Sneaky Pete Kleinow may have used it on the steel parts of the Gilded Palace of Sin.

[@simonefocarelli9160]

I'm not a drummer but that snare sounds unbelievable! Great episode.

[@crackthefoundation_]

the whole kit is eq'd but yes i agree

[@PierceThirlen2]

I remember how badly radio stations played through the Boss Tone. Back in about 1970 in high school, I made a few copies of the circuit and put them into very heavy aluminum cases. All of the radio interference problems disappeared. i also used full size good quality pots, instead of those cheesy little pots that often broke in the Boss Tone. In fact, the reason that I got my hands on the Boss Tone was that a fellow guitarist in school had one with broken pots that I repaired.

[@ElMuttley]

That was one of the most beautiful videos I've ever seen on "guitar youtube". The way Josh talks about what he knows and loves is simply beautiful. I wish more guitar players would be that enthusiastic about guitar, since guitar's been dying lately. Thank you, Josh

[@masonianbund]

“I’m not going to brag but I can read tab” is the next shirt I need

[@JC-11111]

Fuck yes!

[@juancarlossuarez7486]

Is the next shirt *we* need

[@patrickbutcherine142]

I concure!! I also think he needs to make a "loud is more good" shirt. It was written on the dry erase board in one of his videos. When I took a screen shot of it and the look on his face at that moment is priceless gold. I pitched the idea and didnt get not even a fuck off, which I would of liked better than no reply... were gonna have to make them ourselves and put several company/brand names on it or something

[@tomdevos4217]

JHS vlogs are seriously the best! Thanks guys!

[@mCreecher91]

This video is why JHS is my favorite guitar channel

[@nou1101]

I want a 20 minute episode about that damn space jam game

[@ashhicks6664]

Check out AVGN’s video on tiger electronics. I don’t think the space jam one is on it but you’ll see that those things suck ass.

[@rasciodc4699]

Nick looks VERY excited at the drums

[@jimthecraftyguitarist878]

You could totally see Nick was in the zone for spirit in the sky...

[@rasciodc4699]

Indeed

[@rhykko77]

Boss Tone was my first distortion device ......along with my first electric guitar Vox Bulldog solidbody , and first, amp a Sears Silvertone Twin Twelve (model 1484) .....I loved the tones at the time. And yes, my Boss Tone also picked up certain AM radio stations when oriented in certain directions .

[@lightaces]

I've owned two Polytone's over the years (actually, I still do, but one of the power transformers is kaput, and I haven't found another). I use them for testing guitars during repair, and they are the best damn amps around to let you know exactly what is coming out of the guitar. It doesn't shape the sound at all - it's just clean and precise. I also used to use it a ton when I was trying (badly) to be a jazz guitar player, but I try not to talk about that.

[@TheFeelButton]

Great deep dive! Cheers Josh!!

[@Moka8]

I've been curious about the tones on "Spirit in the Sky" for years now. Thank you for this!

[@rustyl.6358]

Love seeing Josh play the Gibson Gold Top!! Watched the entire episode, as usual. And always love the history. Into music and history. (Among other things.)

[@FredLewis1979]

V1 is the best in this video, I’ve played all the clones and all the originals. It’s my favourite fuzz.

[@jordanharding6691]

As a Jordan. I really enjoyed this video.

[@jacobwaller92]

16:27 "He has the bag!"

[@slash196]

Sold out so fast.

[@jamesprosser7236]

Oh man this channel is just a gold mine of nuggets of information! Kudos to Josh and the team!

[@aaronholt511]

It has been said that Josh is the Mr. Rogers of the pedal world, but this video is giving me Alton Brown/Good Eats vibes. He makes the history entertaining and funny, then shows us how to cook.

[@marcofioravanti4176]

I have the box! "I´m not gonna brag"... but my red BUZZ TONE arrived today, here in Germany! Love it! Cheers! 👍

[@johnandkassbolles7708]

The Jordan Boss Tone was my second fuzz box. I bought it at Godfrey's Music in Binghamton, NY, because I wanted to get the sound of the lead guitar in "American Woman" by the Guess Who. My first fuzz box was a Lafayette Electronics fuzz box.

[@stephanematis]

I love you goofballs! The intros to all videos manage to make me smile so much it hurts :D ... ok onto the rest of the video!

[@senacht]

Pedals aside, this episode contains what has to be some of the best music I’ve ever heard on this channel. Well done gentlemen!

[@sirjoshuapaul]

I'm a fan of the version 1. I love that you guys made your own version. I'm bummed they sold out before I could snag one. Thanks for making things fun. Blessings on you guys.

[@REKlaus]

I bought a Boss Tone around 1969 and returned it as it picked up a local AM radio station. In the mid 1970's I was working in a music store in Nashville TN and the Jordan Boss Tones where extremely popular with the pedal steel players to imitate a string section. After Jordan went out of business, Show-Bud (pedal steel and amp manufacturer in Nashville that for a time was owned by Baldwin) in Nashville was building Boss Tones for the steel guitar market. Those had grey nylon like volume and attack knobs. I still have a Jordon made one.

[@timmungenast]

Hard to pick a fave episode, since you made so many fun ones, but this has to be one of the best.

[@jeremeydonovan8286]

Hey Josh! I love your record time segment ! Spirit is so cool how did I never hear of them before? I love your show and now I love Spirit! Thanks to you!

[@phillipbland2861]

Really enjoy the pedal history videos you do. Been a fan of the channel for a while. Just picked up my first JHS pedal today!

[@THEItchybruddah]

I sleep better knowing I’m the kind of viewer you care about. THANK you!

[@nikos4828]

Love the bosstone don't understand why this fuzz has not been famous. Love your red version, hope you will put more on the market.

[@beaniebailey62]

For anyone interested, those patch pedals are incredibly simple to build (I built the one in the video) and it'd be really easy to add true bypass switching to it if you'd ever like to move your little plug and play unit to a pedalboard👌🏻 cool episode Josh!

[@tuckpendelton]

Hey could you show me the pedal you built? Im dying to build one

[@crackthefoundation_]

Seconding @Justin Tucker

[@dadhobbies]

Love all the spring classics but that one has a special place in my heart.

[@cloudconnect]

I have been searching for the answer to the Norman Greenbaum Spirit Fuzz sound for many years. Not a lot on the guy because of the short popularity. Books, people, internet, and you finally answered it. Thank you, Josh.

[@duaneanderson6393]

you are getting really good at stand up and your straight man is perfect

[@desmondmyers]

God this sounds amazing

[@johnulrich5572]

I was in a band in '66 and the lead guitar player and I each bought one so we could play Satisfaction and other songs that needed fuzz. I had a Duo-Sonic II and the other guitarist had a Jaguar. It pluged in to the socket on the tops of the guitars great but it didn't work on Strat or Tele. The lead player broke his Boss Tone and borrowed mine. I never saw it again. Never loan gear to a lead guitar player. They have such a undeserved sense of entitlement. Karma came back to bite him the butt because the neck on his Jaguar warped. Wow! I came here for the Boss Tone and wound up with therapy!

[@rsilva1975]

I used mine on my strats, but you had to unscrew the plug in jack, invert it and put it back in place so that it projected outward instead of slanting into the body! Then you could plug the bosstone in at an angle, run your guitar cable from there through your guitar strap on the back end to secure the cable and bosstone in place so they wouldnt get pulled out accidentally.

[@ralphbyers6136]

I love your videos! Sometimes I just want to go back to an episode and just listen to your music. I wish you guys would periodically put out videos of just the songs/ jams from your videos put together like an album or playlist. 20, 30 or 40 minutes worth so we can enjoy all of your pedal magic creativity in a more native, listening to music kind of way. If you are too busy, I’m happy to help. Sincerely

[@zachalderson5608]

Though I did not get here in time to get one of your Buzz Tone's, I think its really cool that yall made a little supply of them. It would be dope if yall kept doing that sorta thing: talking about a pedal you love from the past, and then making limited stock of them, in your own style, just for us. I feel so special.

[@arcodejong5498]

Nice shirt: “Ronde van Vlaanderen”

[@jimthecraftyguitarist878]

Complex Harmonics too.

[@bensepulveda71]

I noticed that. Is Josh into cycling too?

[@kalkidasofficial]

@@bensepulveda71 he is

[@jAzz4b]

Yeah, pondering it too

[@jameschristiansson3137]

Watching this channel, I am in the presence of greatness.

[@Ratchman_5000]

Sold out. Thanks for not saving me one. Unreal.

[@mookmook5715]

Love these types of episodes, THANK YOU

[@tosseddwarf]

This should have over a million views! It proves beyond reasonable doubt that this is where the Spirit In The Sky tone came from, and thus solves one of the very greatest mysteries in all of guitar tone history. Subbed!

[@josephlopez5681]

Not only does Josh have almost every pedal on Earth, he also has weird early nuclear measurement technology. Soon this man will be collecting pottery from ancient civilizations or something.

[@Frankyandhisguitar]

Who messed with the drum tones!? They were sounding so good in previous episodes. Still love you Nick.

[@vikingsofvintageaudio7470]

Really love they way you played today!

[@Mr.D34]

Wow you have some cool Sovtek amps behind you Josh. I bet you got some of their pedals too. Probably no one has ever mentioned this but you definitely should do an episode about Sovtek. Love you man, cheers!

[@dankauffmanmusic]

My JHS Buzz Tone came yesterday... and it sounds amazing. Will be demoing it too.

[@tymime]

V1 sounded the most like the record to me, I wish they'd based the new version on that.

[@fiasco348]

Yeah the other versions weren't as bright as the v1 sound which to my ear was the original 'Spirit in the Sky' sound.

[@crackthefoundation_]

I Think I agree but is that just because he was playing the v1 during the intro part which is the most distinctive? would need a run through of all of them from the top

[@MrGuitarfreak132]

I agree I liked V1 the best

[@williambain2646]

This has been the best episode on a small company yet !!!!! Has there been an episode on the pre 0 series (large box) Ibanez pedals, or the pre- FX series DOD pedals ?

[@RadioBluesPR]

That song at the end is fiiiiyaaaaahhhh 🤘🏽🤙🏾💪🏽🔥

[@keeganyarber5089]

Wow, I love that Jordan Creator pedal! Nice playing, Josh!

[@wadeadkins4927]

The original Boss Tone V1 sounded best. It had the most satisfactory fuzz crumble and tonal balance to my ears. I wasn't in the room obviously, but that was my favorite from what I heard.The others were either too fizzy or woofy. Cool video, thanks!

[@PhilLament]

Please live forever, JHS crew. Love your stuff (I might even buy a couple pedals one day). Yes, Pedals: The Musical was the best musical theater I've watched this year...and I watched Hamilton on Disney+ (twice)!

[@lundsweden]

Engineers: lets create electronics with less distortion. Musicians: We need electronics with more distortion!

[@jimthecraftyguitarist878]

In the 70s Randy California replaced Ritchie Blackmore for one night in Deep Purple when Ritchie was ill. Thought you should know. It's no big deal. I already had the random knowledge in my head anyway.

[@scytheakse]

Cool episode! You and a few other KZbinrs have inspired me to pick my guitar back up! Keep doing what you do! (Also saw your pedals at a local guitar center when I was looking around)

[@duaneanderson6393]

I love that sound , it has me so hooked! thanks well played Norman is smiling.

[@nicolasaraistrujak208]

this show is so fun to watch

[@urbanwikstrom9246]

Big thanks to Nick and Allison! You make that tall pedaldesigner guy sound really good! Thanks! Great show! I`ve learnt alot from you guys.

[@jonathancarlisle7898]

Bummed to see the Bosstone already sold out. Then you redeemed yourself by giving us “Surfing With My Girlfriend” at the end. Thank you for that.

[@OssianEMills]

You're my favorite Trio, right now; maybe of all time. I can have several favorites. The world's ready for your LP, or EP; we don't care. We'll take it.

[@AlanShortySwanson]

It's me! It's me! I'm the kind of viewer they care about! !!

[@CVFMusic]

Holy shit, I actually got one. Shocking, honestly

[@aaronhazlett]

I’m kind of out of my mind at the fact that I’ve never heard of such a thing, that you nailed spirit in the sky, it’s sounds so amazing and that you say noocular.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Great bunch of little boxes. Classic sounds in a funny video. Deep dives into history are never dull on this channel.

[@mctwishvonnoodles9793]

The second V3 at 5:39 has a REALLY unique sound, I'm half tempted to ask Josh for the schematic on that exact unit

[@sidneyshaw3161]

I can't explain why but this video made my day better.

[@TheAndyroid]

As usual, nailed it with V1.

[@mckinleymorton]

Pride for the sinner! Seriously, those boss tone demos were great. Fascinating that different versions of the same model sound so different. I would love to hear other versions of standard pedals, if there are differences. Like Neil's tone coming from one, special amp...

[@paultumulty5430]

How did I know Josh would pronounce nuclear - “nuke-u-ler” ?

[@MrScrofulous]

Well, he can't say soLder :)

[@mattelder9147]

I think there was beer involved

[@likwidflame]

@@MrScrofulous sawder me boards

[@alextheguitarist7282]

Nuke u ler alligator... I'll see myself out....

[@scotthutchens1203]

Like saying “re-lit-er” instead of the correct way-“real-tor”.😂

[@MusicFillsTheQuiet]

This is peak JHS Show. Retire now. It cannot get better than this!! He has the WARRANTY CARD!!!!!

[@_RLP]

Great episode! Nick`s energy was off the charts on this one! Any chance we can get another run of the special edition pedal? Those of us who live in a different time zone kinda miss out on these 100% of the time... As always, thanks for sharing.

[@kimreynolds3024]

I bought one of these around 1967 and still have it. Green pc board, so I think that's version 1? After seeing this video, I put a fresh battery in it and plugged it in. Yep ... that's the sound my parents couldn't stand. But I bless them for giving up their garage to me and my "band mates". Kept us out of trouble ... or at least, serious trouble!

[@JptDesignStudio]

Loved the end! Thank you for that

[@40WattPodcast]

Put a foot switch on that little box you made and sell that to convert so many of these direct-into-guitar effects into a much more usable format!

[@pjmaas4287]

That vibrosonic sound is great