The JAM Pedals "Achenbach" WaterFall is a limited-edition version of the maker's WaterFall chorus and vibrato pedal, carrying one-of-a-kind hand-painted artwork by John Achenbach, an artist known for his work on The Simpsons1. Under the paint it is the same pedal as the standard JAM Pedals WaterFall: an all-analog BBD chorus and vibrato with a toggle to switch between the two effects1.
JAM Pedals describes the WaterFall as "a rich, three-dimensional analog BBD chorus and vibrato," and says of the circuit that "the all-analog BBD circuit produces a warm, fluid response with a strong sense of depth and space"1. BBD stands for bucket brigade device, the analog delay chip that classic 1970s and 1980s chorus pedals were built around; it is the reason the WaterFall is an analog pedal rather than a digital emulation.
An analog BBD chorus and vibrato
The WaterFall covers two related modulation effects in one box. Chorus mixes a slightly delayed, modulated copy of the signal with the dry sound to create thickness and movement; vibrato modulates the pitch of the whole signal for a wobbly, warped character. The C/V toggle on the pedal selects which of the two you get1.
Because both effects come from the same analog BBD circuit, the switch is a change of routing rather than a change of engine, and the maker's description of the sound, warm and fluid with depth and space, applies to both modes1. For a player comparing this against digital chorus pedals, the distinction is the signal path: the audio never leaves the analog domain, which is the traditional route to the warmth JAM Pedals claims for it. More on the effect family generally is on the Chorus Pedals and Vibrato Pedals pages.
The controls
The surface of the pedal is deliberately simple: two knobs, Depth and Speed, controlling modulation intensity and rate respectively, and two toggles, one selecting chorus or vibrato and the other choosing a subtler or more pronounced modulation range, plus an internal trimmer that adjusts the maximum modulation speed1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth knob | Controls modulation intensity1 |
| Speed knob | Sets the rate; high Depth and Speed settings together create Leslie-style rotary effects1 |
| C/V toggle | Selects chorus or vibrato1 |
| +/- toggle | Chooses a subtler or more pronounced modulation range1 |
| Internal range trimmer | Adjusts the maximum modulation speed1 |
The +/- toggle is the depth-range switch: it moves the whole Depth control between a gentle, background chorus and a more pronounced sweep, which is useful for going from subtle clean-glass textures to more obvious modulation without re-dialing the knob1. The internal trimmer sets the ceiling on the Speed knob, so a player who wants faster, more extreme modulation can raise the maximum rate, while everyone else can leave it alone1.
A hand-painted limited edition of the WaterFall
The "Achenbach" in the name is the artist. JAM Pedals presents the pedal as "our famed chorus/vibrato, reimagined through the artwork of The Simpsons artist John Achenbach"1. Every limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and the pedal a buyer receives will differ in detail from the photos shown1.
"Every limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece."
The sound is unchanged from the standard WaterFall: JAM Pedals frames the limited artwork editions as "same sound, different artwork"2. Other hand-painted WaterFall editions in the series include the "Bewitched" WaterFall, the "Relic" WaterFall, the "Spookful" WaterFall, the "Poison View" WaterFall, the "Stalagmite Prince" WaterFall and the "Split Difference" WaterFall.
JAM Pedals lists the price as £314.001. The maker ships to the UK DDP, with 20% UK VAT and all duties included and no extra charges on delivery, and offers free shipping1. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee, with a refund no questions asked1.
The WaterFall Bass version
There is a parallel limited edition for bass players, the "Achenbach" WaterFall Bass, a bass chorus/vibrato built on the same analog BBD circuit3. JAM Pedals says it "adds movement and width" while the analog BBD circuit "creates warm, fluid movement with depth and space while retaining the bass's core character"3.
The control set matches the guitar version: Depth sets intensity, Speed sets rate, the C/V toggle selects chorus or vibrato, and a second +/- toggle selects subtle or more pronounced modulation3. Maximum settings produce rotary-speaker-style movement, and an internal trimmer adjusts the maximum modulation speed3. Specifications also match: true bypass, 9V operation and 47 mA current draw3. Like the guitar version, it is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece that will differ in detail from the photos, and it is the same sound as the standard WaterFall Bass with different artwork34.
Bassist Jonathan Maron is quoted by JAM Pedals on the WaterFall Bass: "The Waterfall bass is a fantastic chorus pedal for bass," adding that he has already used it a lot, either on its own or as a way of adding texture to other effects3.
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Questions
Is the JAM Pedals Achenbach WaterFall analog?
Yes. JAM Pedals lists the circuit as an all-analog BBD (bucket brigade device) design, which the maker describes as producing a warm, fluid response with a strong sense of depth and space. The C/V toggle switches the same circuit between chorus and vibrato modes.
Is the Achenbach WaterFall true bypass?
Yes. JAM Pedals specifies true bypass for the Achenbach WaterFall, so with the pedal disengaged the signal passes without buffering. The Bass version of the pedal carries the same true bypass specification.
How much current does the Achenbach WaterFall draw?
JAM Pedals lists a current draw of 47 mA for the Achenbach WaterFall, on 9V DC center-negative power. That is modest by modern pedal standards, but it is worth accounting for on a crowded pedalboard power supply.
Who painted the artwork on the Achenbach WaterFall?
The artwork is by John Achenbach, an artist known for his work on The Simpsons. JAM Pedals describes the pedal as its famed chorus/vibrato reimagined through his artwork, and each limited piece is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted pedal.
Does the Achenbach WaterFall sound different from the standard WaterFall?
No. JAM Pedals presents the limited artwork editions as the same sound with different artwork. The Achenbach WaterFall uses the same analog BBD chorus and vibrato circuit as the standard WaterFall, with the same controls and specifications.
What does the internal range trimmer do?
An internal trimmer adjusts the maximum modulation speed of the pedal. It sets the ceiling for how fast the Speed knob can go, so a player who wants faster, more extreme modulation can raise the maximum rate without changing anything at the surface of the pedal.
Sources (4)
- “Achenbach” WaterFall, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- “Stalagmite Prince” WaterFall, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- “Achenbach” WaterFall Bass, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- WaterFall Bass, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
