The Black LTD. Tri-Chorale is a chorus pedal from Jack Deville LTD. & Mr. Black pedals, built around three independently modulated delay lines rather than the single modulated line in a conventional chorus pedal. Mr. Black describes the result as "incredible dimension" from "three independent delay lines modulating in concert with one another"1. It was offered as a limited run of 63 pieces, designed by Jack Deville, at a list price of $199.95 as of 26 October 20261.
What a tri-chorus does
The circuit's lineage goes back to a mid-1970s southern California design. As Mr. Black tells it, "a few creative minds in southern California asked: 'What if we add two more modulated delay lines at different times and...'" to a chorus circuit. The result was the lustrous, shimmering sound that came to be known as "chorus" or the "ensemble sound"1.
The Tri-Chorale's version of that idea uses three meticulously-tuned delay lines, all sharing a common LFO, but working together at independent delay times and phase angles1. Because the three lines drift against each other rather than in lockstep, the effect is deeper and wider than a single-line chorus, and Mr. Black says it can be "subtle as a soft summer breeze, or wild as a friend who's 'Had too many'"1.
Controls
The front panel is deliberately simple, with three knobs1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sweep width | Carves out the width of the sweeps |
| Sweep speed | Sets how fast those sweeps run |
| Mix | Sets the amount of modulated delay triplet, from zero to 100% |
Power and hooking it up
The pedal runs on 9VDC through a 2.1mm negative center-pin jack, drawing about 59mA, and Mr. Black recommends a regulated supply delivering more than 100mA1. It can also run from an internal 9V battery, though the battery is not included1.
At roughly 59mA, the Tri-Chorale draws more than many low-current daisy-chain outputs deliver. Mr. Black recommends a regulated supply of more than 100mA1.
Impedance figures are input around 470K ohms and output around 2K ohms, and the pedal is True-Bypass, so the chorus circuit drops out of the signal path entirely when the pedal is off1.
Buying one
The Tri-Chorale was a limited edition of 63 pieces, and Mr. Black's terms for limited editions are explicit: "ALL LIMITED EDITION SALES FINAL! NO RETURNS/EXCHANGES/REFUNDS"1.
Videos
Jack Deville
Questions
Is the Black LTD. Tri-Chorale true bypass?
Yes. Mr. Black lists the Tri-Chorale as True-Bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes straight through without going through the chorus circuit. That matters on a pedalboard where you want the effect out of the signal path entirely when it is not in use.
Does the Tri-Chorale run on a battery?
It can. The pedal accepts an internal 9V battery, though the maker notes the battery is not included. It also runs from a 9VDC 2.1mm negative center-pin power adapter, and Mr. Black recommends a regulated supply delivering more than 100mA, since the pedal draws about 59mA at 9VDC.
How many Black LTD. Tri-Chorales were made?
The Tri-Chorale was offered as a limited run of 63 pieces. It is a Jack Deville original design sold under the Jack Deville LTD. & Mr. Black pedals name, and like the maker's other limited edition releases it was sold on a final-sale basis.
What is the Tri-Chorale's input and output impedance?
Mr. Black lists the input impedance at approximately 470K ohms and the output impedance at approximately 2K ohms. The high input impedance suits passive guitar pickups, and the low output impedance means the pedal can drive the rest of a signal chain or a long cable run without obvious loss.
Can the Tri-Chorale be returned after purchase?
No. Mr. Black states that all limited edition sales are final, with no returns, exchanges or refunds. Because the Tri-Chorale was sold as a limited edition run of 63 pieces, that policy applies to it, so a purchase is a commitment.
Sources (1)
- Black LTD. Tri-Chorale, Mr. Black