The JAM Pedals "Blue Dragon" Ripple is a phaser pedal and a limited artwork edition of the company's Ripple: a compact two-stage circuit that, in JAM Pedals' description, creates a deep, soft-edged phase sound with a strong sense of movement and minimal tonal colouration. Every limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, so the Blue Dragon carries unique artwork rather than a printed enclosure.1
What it does to your sound
The Ripple is a two-stage phaser, a design that uses two all-pass filter stages to create its phase-shifting effect. JAM Pedals describes the result as a deep, soft-edged phase sound with a strong sense of movement and minimal tonal colouration. Compared with the deeper, more dramatic sweeps of four-stage and six-stage phasers, a two-stage design sits lighter in the mix, which is why one-knob two-stage phasers such as the JAM Pedals Ripple are often chosen for a subtle, always-moving texture rather than a jet-like sweep. For more on the type, see Phaser Pedals.1
Controls
The Ripple keeps things simple with a single knob:
Placement: before or after overdrive
JAM Pedals says the Ripple performs well before or after overdrive pedals, offering different levels of integration and prominence. That flexibility matters on a board: placed before an overdrive, the phaser's movement goes into the gain stage and is shaped by it; placed after, the phase effect sits on top of the distorted tone. Either way, the maker's position is that the pedal works in both spots.1
The hand-painted artwork editions
The Blue Dragon is one of several limited artwork versions of the Ripple. JAM Pedals offers the "Concentric" Ripple, "Moon Soup" Ripple, "Achenbach" Ripple and "Relic" Ripple as custom artwork editions, all described by the maker as "Same sound, different artwork". The circuit and controls are identical across the range; what you are choosing between is the paint on the enclosure.1
Each limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, so no two enclosures are alike.1
Power, size and practical details
The Ripple runs on a 9V battery or a 9V DC center-negative supply and draws 9 mA, so it fits a standard pedalboard power setup without special provision. True bypass switching means the effect is out of the signal path when off. The enclosure measures 11.1 x 7 x 4.8 cm (4.3 x 2.7 x 1.8 in) including jacks and controls and weighs 215 g (0.47 lb), keeping it compact on a crowded board.1
JAM Pedals sells the Blue Dragon Ripple at a regular price of £264.00 GBP, tax included, and ships to the UK DDP with 20% UK VAT and all duties included, with no extra charges on delivery. The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with a refund, no questions asked.1
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Questions
Is the JAM Pedals Ripple true bypass?
Yes. JAM Pedals lists the Ripple with true bypass, so when the pedal is switched off your guitar signal passes straight through without the phaser circuit loading it. That matters on a pedalboard where the phaser sits alongside other effects, because the clean tone stays untouched until you switch the Ripple on.
Does the JAM Pedals Ripple run on a battery?
It does. JAM Pedals specifies power as a 9V battery or a 9V DC centre-negative supply, so the pedal can sit on a board with a standard power supply or run standalone on a battery. Current draw is listed at 9 mA, which is light enough for most supplies.
How much current does the JAM Pedals Ripple draw?
JAM Pedals lists the current draw at 9 mA. That is a modest figure, so the Ripple fits comfortably on a daisy-chained or isolated supply alongside other pedals without demanding a high-current output.
Is the Blue Dragon Ripple a limited edition?
Yes. JAM Pedals describes the Blue Dragon Ripple as a limited artwork pedal, and says every limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece. The artwork versions share the same circuit and sound as the standard Ripple; what differs is the paint.
Does the Ripple work before or after overdrive?
JAM Pedals says the Ripple performs well before or after overdrive pedals, offering different levels of integration and prominence. In practice that means you can place it where it suits your board and get a usable phaser sound either way, with the character shifting depending on position.
Sources (1)
- "Blue Dragon" Ripple, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
