Vs Audio Platinum

A "Jubilee in a box": The spirit of a 1987 classic

The VS Audio Platinum is inspired by a legendary amp: the Silver Jubilee, introduced in 1987 and sought after for its unique balance of bite, musical compression, and generous sustain. This signature has influenced guitarists with very different styles and needs, from Slash to John Frusciante, as well as Joe Bonamassa, Alex Lifeson, Steve Morse, and Rich Robinson. With the Platinum, the goal is not just to offer simple distortion but a true preamp behavior: pick response, a "push" sensation in the mids, and controllable brightness that makes the playing stand out in a mix.

For whom, for which styles, and in what contexts?

The Platinum is aimed at guitarists who want expressive British rock tone without relying on a high-volume stack. In Rhythm mode, it covers essential bases: lively clean, edge-of-breakup, thick crunch for blues-rock and classic rock. In Lead mode, it pushes saturation further for hard rock, alternative rock, and singing leads.

It is also a very logical pedal for building a modern rig: placed at the end of the chain, it can become the center of gravity of the pedalboard (preamp), especially when going into an interface or a system with speaker simulation. Live, it works very well to secure "your" amp drive on an unknown backline, and in the studio to stack rhythmic takes with great tonal coherence.

Controls, channels, and design: a "real amp" under your foot

Designed around selected discrete JFETs, the Platinum aims for an organic feel and natural compression with a wide gain range. The Input Gain control drives the amount of drive like an amp channel, while the Output Master adjusts the output level to feed an amp, power amp input, or a direct chain.

The tone section Bass, Mids, Treble is intentionally powerful: this is not just a simple filter but a true shaping of character, from tight lows to thicker mids and more sculpted highs. The Presence switch affects the sense of openness and response in the upper spectrum, useful to compensate for a dark cabinet, tame a very bright guitar, or optimize the sound with a speaker simulation.

On stage, the pedal focuses on a clean and reliable experience: true bypass, silent relay switching, and dual footswitch (bypass + Lead) to switch from a rhythmic base to a solo channel without hassle.

The sound

The Platinum delivers an amp-typical coloration: tight lows, present mids (without the imposed "nasal" effect), and a top end that can remain silky or become more biting via the Presence. Dynamics are a strong point: lowering the guitar volume yields cleaner, tamer sounds, while playing harder produces that dense, tight "growl" reminiscent of great British circuits.

In Rhythm mode, expect a muscular clean and crunch that stacks very well with a boost or light overdrive. In Lead mode, the tone thickens and saturates, with ideal sustain for melodic lines and bends that hold, while maintaining good chord clarity (depending on Mids and Treble settings).

Technical specifications

Effects	Preamp, Overdrive, Amp Simulator	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Grey
EQ	3 channels

Inspiration	British Silver Jubilee amp (1987)	Output impedance	under 10 k?
Signal path	fully analog	Enclosure	stainless steel
Two channels	Rhythm and Lead	Manufactured	handmade in Greece
Controls	Input Gain, Output Master, Bass, Mids, Treble	Dimensions (L x W x H)	120 x 65 x 45 mm
Switch	Presence (adjusts negative feedback or treble boost)	Weight	550 g
Footswitch	bypass, Lead	Power supply	not included
Indicators	LED Effect On, LED Lead	Required power supply	9V DC
Input	6.35mm Jack	Connector	5.5 x 2.1 mm, polarity center negative
Output	6.35mm Jack	Consumption	100 mA
Input impedance	over 1 M?	Battery operation	no