By 
JHS Harmonic Trem Review – Is the affordable JHS 3 Series good value?
Introduction
This review is exciting because it accomplishes two things at once. First, this is my very first JHS pedal! I’ve been eyeing JHS pedals for a while and have loved many of their releases—some are still on my radar. So, this is a great opportunity to dive into their more “affordable” range. Second, it’s an effect I’ve been eager to try! What is it? In this review, we’re checking out the JHS Harmonic Trem.
JHS launched the 3 Series line in 2017 and has been expanding it ever since. The JHS Harmonic Trem was one of the later additions, and you could argue it’s the most affordable harmonic tremolo pedal on the market. So, I figured it was the perfect time to grab one, test it out, and see how it holds up. I’ve been searching for that Uni-Vibe/Tremolo effect for a while, and this seemed like the ideal way to experience it.
JHS Harmonic Tremolo Pedal
Before diving into the JHS Harmonic Trem, we should go over what the JHS 3 Series is all about. It’s a line of pedals that Josh Scott from JHS created with the goal of covering a wide range of effects while keeping costs low (I believe they are all under $100).
They all feature the same plain white enclosure and a three-knob layout, with some of the later models—including the JHS Harmonic Trem—adding a switch or two. While they may sacrifice looks and flashy design, they don’t compromise on tone or features! Best of all, they are made in the USA.
The JHS Harmonic Trem is a tremolo pedal based on a circuit originally designed by some guy called Leo Fender (you may have heard of him!) for his Bandmaster and Vibrasonic amplifiers. It’s a volume-based effect, but instead of modulating the signal evenly like a standard tremolo, it splits the frequencies and alternates between them, creating a wobbling, Uni-Vibe-like effect.
Looking at the pedal, you have four controls—three knobs and a switch! Starting from the far left:
- Volume Knob: Controls the output of the pedal. It has a good amount of headroom and can even be used to drive an amp if needed.
- Rate Knob: Adjusts how fast the tremolo effect is.
- Depth Knob: Controls how deep the modulation goes or how “extreme” the effect is. Picture it like adjusting the height of waves at sea.
- Type Switch: Allows you to toggle between harmonic tremolo and standard tremolo.
More on the JHS Harmonic Trem!
A few minor talking points, The pedal has a red LED on the bottom right which pulses to rate of the tremolo. The JHS Harmonic Trem runs on a standard 9v power supply and has side mounted inputs and outputs. The Harmonic Trem, as does all the 3 Series pedals, come with a 6 month warranty period, This will be discussed!
As mentioned earlier, the entire JHS 3 Series is priced around $99, but they frequently go on sale. You can often find the JHS Harmonic Trem for £70-£99, depending on where you shop.
The Sounds
As always, we’ll run through some demo songs—the first using the harmonic tremolo and the second using the standard tremolo. Both demos are recorded through the Boss IR-2 (full review here) and the Boss SDE-3000D (review here).
After the demo songs, we’ll simply plug the JHS Harmonic Trem into the front end of the Revv D20 (review here). We’ll go through both tremolo types on clean and crunch settings to demonstrate how the JHS Harmonic Trem sounds across different tones.
If you enjoyed the demo songs or sound samples, please drop a comment on the video! If you want to see more, subscribe to the channel—it really helps support us and allows us to keep creating more sound sample videos.
What are my thoughts?
Design & Packaging
If you’re looking for a pedal with flashy aesthetics or intricate design, this isn’t it! The JHS Harmonic Trem—like all JHS 3 Series pedals—is very plain-looking. But that’s not a bad thing! The simple design is intentional, helping keep costs down while maintaining high-quality sound.
The JHS Harmonic Trem comes in a standard-sized white enclosure with black knobs and text—and that’s it! There’s hardly any design work at all. But honestly? I love the clean, minimal look! No unnecessary clutter, no extra text—just straightforward, easy-to-read controls that make it effortless to use.
Sound
Now for the main event—how does it sound? Well, for the price, it sounds incredible!
The harmonic tremolo mode is fantastic—set the depth all the way up, tweak the rate and volume, and you can achieve an almost Uni-Vibe-like sound! It’s a wonderfully inspiring effect that adds a ton of character to your playing. The standard tremolo mode is also excellent—very usable, versatile, and allows for creative playing.
One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that the JHS Harmonic Trem can be clip-happy. If you push it too hard, it clips and almost overdrives. If you listen to the sound samples below, you’ll hear exactly what I mean! While this can be used as a cool effect, it might be distracting if you’re aiming for a clean, smooth tremolo wobble.
"I’m not thrilled about the warranty period. Most JHS pedals come with a 4-year warranty, but the JHS 3 Series only gets 6 months."
Critiques
Anyone who’s read my pedal reviews knows that I love top-mounted jacks—they make pedalboard setups neater, keeping cables organised and out of the way. Unfortunately, this pedal doesn’t have them! The JHS Harmonic Trem uses side-mounted jacks, which I assume was a cost or space-saving decision. Still, it’s a small disappointment.
Another critique? I’m not thrilled about the warranty period. Most JHS pedals come with a 4-year warranty, but the JHS 3 Series only gets 6 months. Given that JHS used to offer a lifetime warranty, this feels like a step back. It makes me question the long-term durability of these pedals.
That said, we’ll have to keep testing it. If any issues arise, I’ll update this review. At this price point, some compromises are expected—it’ll be interesting to see if any weaknesses show up over time.
Price
All things considered, I think JHS nailed the pricing on this pedal! $99 for a USA-made pedal is an absolute steal. I’ll be using the JHS Harmonic Trem as my main modulation pedal for a while—I’m really enjoying it! I might even custom-paint the enclosure or add some artwork myself. With a clean white background, it’s practically a blank canvas waiting to be customised!
Final Thoughts
The JHS Harmonic Trem is a killer deal for anyone looking for an affordable, high-quality harmonic tremolo. While it has a few minor drawbacks, the tone and value make up for them. If you’re considering adding a harmonic tremolo to your setup, this pedal is worth checking out!
Conclusion
So that is our review of the JHS Harmonic Tremolo, from their 3 series line up! Overall, I love the pedal. It will be stying on my board for a while now! Nice affordable pedal to have on for some extra textures! Of course there is a few things that we would like to change about the pedal, however, we have to keep in mind the price point this pedal is aimed at!
If you want to get a JHS Harmonic Trem for yourself, you can check out all the links below! The links below are affiliate links, so using the links below you won’t pay extra but will support the channel as we get a small commission.
If you want to support the site then please give us a follow on Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube.
JSA Harmoinc Trem Links:
- JHS 3 Series Harmonic Tremolo
- JHS Harmonic Trem (Andertons Affiliate)
- Andertons Affiliate Link
- Thomann Affiliate Link
Check out our other Articles here
