A Pedal-sized Tribute to the Stack that Ruled the ’80s
At the dawn of the 1980s, a certain iconic British amplifier manufacturer released a searing high-gain tube head that all but defined the decade's hard-rock and metal golden age. TC Electronic’s JIMS 800 preamp pedal packs that amp’s full-stack fury down into a compact, pedalboard-ready box! This pedal’s 2-channel design makes it a breeze to unleash dramatic dynamic shifts, with a robust 3-band EQ and Boost/Level/Gain controls to dial in each channel’s tone to your taste. Additionally, a click of the dedicated Boost footswitch allows you to supercharge a particularly poignant lead or lick with added authority, and the rear panel’s Pre/Post switch even gives you direct control of where the Boost lies in your signal. Finally, flip the pedal over to the rear panel to be greeted by a smattering of additional controls and features, including a tone-sculpting Presence pot and an official Celestion cab-sim-equipped DI out for whisper-quiet tracking sessions.
Related Videos: Ampworx JIMS 800 Preamp Pedal
Genre-defining hard-rock and metal tone
While the roaring classic-rock bite of TC Electronic’s JIMS 45 scored a direct hit with Sweetwater’s old-school fanatics, the ferocious JIMS 800 is another beast entirely. The JIMS 800 is modeled after a legendary tube amp from the early 1980s that helped high-define the high-gain edge of the hard-rock and metal era. If screaming, dive-bomb-laden solos and dirt-drenched rhythms are a regular part of your tonal vocabulary, you'll feel right at home with the JIMS 800. What’s more, the JIMS 800 voice is far from stock. This preamp pedal specifically replicates a specially modified iteration of its amplifier inspiration, boasting tone stack tweaks, second-stage gain modifications, and a clarity-enhancing treble bleed. It all adds up to a pedal that admirably covers all your ’80s 6-string needs, from tight, punchy cleans to gut-punching blasts of high-gain rage.
Footswitchable boost with dedicated rear-panel controls
Looking to crank up the grit? Simply stomp on the JIMS 800’s Boost footswitch to add some extra heat to your tone! Moreover, the “Pre/Post” switch gives you the power to choose where the boost is placed in your signal chain. While it can be placed at the end of the JIMS 800’s circuit for more volume and authority, Sweetwater guitarists find that cranking the boost up in the “Pre” section results in rich, saturated overdrive tones on even the mildest of pickup configurations.
A comprehensive set of functional features
Apart from serving as a spot-on amplifier emulation, the JIMS 800 is loaded with a vast array of quality-of-life functions to aid you in your practice, recording, and gigging endeavors. First up, the 2-channel design features fully independent tone-shaping options on each respective channel, with a dedicated footswitch to instantly swap between raucous lead tones and more restrained rhythms. In addition, the JIMS 800 boasts a dedicated DI for easy recording and performance, equipped with an official Celestion 4 x 12-inch G12-65 cab-sim IR emulation for the full dynamic response of a classic amp stack.
TC Electronic JIMS 800 Preamp Pedal Features:
- Expertly modeled after the sound of an iconic high-gain tube amplifier from the ’80s, along with several mods common to the originals for extra heat
- TC Electronic’s cutting-edge Ampworx modeling technology captures every detail of the original with minimal latency and a sweeping dynamic range
- 2-channel design with independent channel controls allows you to instantly swap between 2 of your favorite configurations
- Rear-panel global Presence pot to further dial in your tone
- Dedicated DI and headphones outputs for easy recording, performance, and practice
- Built-in official Celestion 4 x 12-inch G12-65 cab-sim IR to give your sound a true-to-life space and response
