JHS Morning Glory: Review

The JHS Morning Glory V4 is a transparent overdrive pedal that has garnered acclaim for its ability to enhance a guitar's natural tone without significant coloration. Building upon the classic Bluesbreaker circuit, this pedal offers modern features that cater to a wide range of musical styles and playing techniques.

Design and Features

The Morning Glory V4 maintains a compact and sturdy design, featuring three primary control knobs: Volume, Drive, and Tone. These allow for precise adjustments to output level, gain, and tonal brightness. A notable addition in the V4 is the Gain toggle switch, which activates a higher gain mode, providing increased low-end content and overall power.An LED indicator changes color to reflect the gain mode—blue for standard and red for higher gain. The pedal also includes a Bright Cut switch to tame high frequencies, and a remote gain jack for on-the-fly gain adjustments using an external footswitch. True bypass switching ensures signal integrity when the pedal is disengaged.

Sound and Performance

Renowned for its transparency, the Morning Glory V4 excels in preserving the character of the guitar and amplifier while adding a touch of overdrive. The Drive control offers a spectrum from clean boost to gritty overdrive, suitable for genres ranging from blues and country to rock. The Gain toggle introduces a more saturated tone, expanding its versatility. The Bright Cut switch is particularly useful for managing brightness when using single-coil pickups or bright amplifiers. Users have praised its responsiveness and dynamic range, noting its ability to stack well with other pedals and its suitability for both rhythm and lead playing.

User Feedback

Guitarists appreciate the Morning Glory V4 for its ability to enhance their tone without overshadowing it. The pedal's build quality and intuitive controls receive positive remarks. Some users mention that while it offers ample gain for most applications, those seeking high-gain distortion may need to pair it with additional pedals. The price point is considered reasonable given its performance and features.

Conclusion

The JHS Morning Glory V4 stands out as a versatile and transparent overdrive pedal that caters to a broad spectrum of guitarists. Its thoughtful design, dynamic responsiveness, and tonal clarity make it a valuable addition to any pedalboard. Whether used as a subtle boost or a primary overdrive source, the Morning Glory V4 delivers consistent and musical results.

Pros:

• Transparent overdrive that preserves guitar and amp character

• Versatile gain range suitable for various genres

• Bright Cut and Gain toggle switches for tonal flexibility

• High-quality construction and true bypass switching

  
  

Cons:

• May not provide sufficient gain for heavy distortion needs

• Additional pedals might be required for high-gain applications

References: The Guitar Stand, Tone Start, Humbucker Soup, Guitar Mission, Guitar Pedal Mania, Guitar Pedal DB, Equipboard, Sweetwater, The Gear Page, TalkBass, Traveling Guitarist, and Looria.