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Reuss RSH-03 Rowland S. Howard pedal

The Reuss RSH-03 is replicating Rowland S. Howard’s basic pedal set-up, combining the sound and circuits of his two 1970s pedals into one compact unit. The pedal offers true vintage sound and response thanks to meticulous research and the use of real, vintage new old stock parts. The pedal is endorsed by the Rowland S. Howard estate who contributed to the development

Rowland S. Howard’s signature sound was very much about his Fender Jaguar hitting a MXR distortion+ and going into a crancked Fender Twin Reverb amp with lots of reverb. Occationally he would kick in his MXR Blue Box, with the distortion pedal still on, for some amazing noise bursts. The two effects blends extremely well, the distortion adding some very interesting overtones to the (otherwise dark sounding) blue box.

For those new to the ‘blue octave down’ effect, it’s a fuzz box which adds an artificial, monophonic, synth-like two-octaves-down tone to your guitar sound. This sound is blended into the fuzz sound using the ‘blend’ control, which goes from pure fuzz to pure monophonic bass synth-tone (on the Reuss pedals, the ‘blend’ control is actually reversed compared to a vintage unit, so that you are dialing in more octave-down content to your sound as you turn it up)

I believe the devil is in the detail, and the key to the great sound of the Reuss RSH pedals are the strict use of vintage new old stock semiconductors. The current pedals are made with rare G.E. brand 1N270 germanium diodes made in 1969 - along with new old stock Panasonic 2SC1849 transistors. The same as in vintage 1970s MXR pedals.

The RSH-03  features old-school carbon film resistors like the original 70s pedals. The RSH-version of the blue octave fuzz circuit is based on the original pre-1977 circuit which is more primitive, noisy and chaotic. Expect glitchy tracking of the octave tone and poor gating.

Like all Reuss pedals, the RSH-03 is completely handmade in the European Union.

The RSH-03 features the popular 'C11 mod' as a switchable option via a 'dip switch' at the circuit board inside the pedal. The 'C11 mod' makes the 'blue octave fuzz' brighter sounding, and it's a very popular modification, which I have had a lot of inquiries for.

Here's JP Shilo channeling the spirit of Rowland S. Howard, pushing air into crystals with a vintage Jaguar and the Reuss RSH pedal in Paris, February 2020. Bobby Gillespie taking his vocals to a new level of cool, Mick Harvey working the drums like it was 1999 and Conrad Standish laying the solid lows. It’s the ultimate Reuss RSH pedal demo:

The Reuss RSH (and ‘Evil Twin’) pedals are used by these fine artists – and more:

• PJ Harvey
• Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!)
• Mick Harvey
• Warren Ellis
• Jeff Schroeder (Smashing Pumpkins)
• James Johnston (PJ Harvey, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Gallon Drunk)
• JP Shilo (who conducted the original test driving of the RSH-02 model)
• Harry Howard
• Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten)
• Jochen Arbeit (Einstürzende Neubauten)
• Mike Hranica (The Devil Wears Prada)
• Nick Zinner
• Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven)
• Jason Victor (The Dream Syndicate)
• Fred Alpi (Sprung Aus Den Wolken etc.)
• Chris Brokaw
• Oliver Hoiness (with Kira Skov)
• Manoj Ramdas (Childrenn, Spektr, Sort Sol)

RSH-03 features:

• Vintage correct 1970s circuits and sounds
• Vintage correct components (carbon film resistors, NOS germanium diodes*, NOS 2SC1849 transistors, tantalum capacitors, 3 x LM741CN ICs)
• Switchable 'C11 mod' via a dip switch inside the pedal
• 'Olympic White' powder coat finish (same colour as Rowland's guitar)
• Silk screen printed Rowland S. Howard ‘crowned heart’ logo with metallic gold ink crown
• Individual true bypass-switching for the two circuits
• 100% handmade in the European Union (Denmark & Bulgaria)
• High quality Neutrik jacks, wired by hand
• Upgrade quality ‘pro’ footswitches (good for at least 15000 stomps)
• Ships in a 'Reuss' box and linen draw-string bag
• Fast worldwide shipping via DHL Express from Denmark. Your pedal is only few days away, no matter where you live

Sound samples (recorded with an RSH-02 = same circuit):

• Sample 1 - Distortion sounds ("distortion" control set quite high)
• Sample 2 - Blue fuzz sounds ("blend" control all the way down - no two octave down effect)
• Sample 3 - Switching the blue effect in and out ("blend" one third up = a bit of octave down effect added)
• Sample 4 - Playing with the blue effect on, while slowly turning the "blend" control all the way up and down

Download the Reuss RSH-03 manual here

A version of the RSH distortion circuit is available in the "Double Standard Distortion" pedal (if you don't need the octave fuzz part)

 PLEASE NOTE: Prices at the webshop are listed without VAT. For customers in the European Union 25% VAT is added at check-out.

*EU-customers also please note: Your pedal ships with new production RoHS-compliant 1N270 germanium diodes (not vintage new old stock) due to EU environmental regulations