The JAM Pedals Chill is a no-frills analog sine-wave tremolo pedal that, in the maker's words, "captures the lush, flowing pulse of vintage Fender-style amplifie[rs]"1. Where many tremolo pedals offer wave selection, tap tempo and multiple footswitches, the Chill keeps it to three knobs and one job: a warm, smooth amplitude modulation in the style of the bias-wiggle tremolo built into vintage Fender amps. JAM Pedals describes it as delivering "warm amplitude modulation with three controls that are quick to understand and difficult to misdial"1.
The Chill is built with carbon-composition resistors, which JAM Pedals says give the circuit "an extra layer of harmonic richness"1. The pedal weighs 230 g / 0.5 lb1, and JAM Pedals backs it with a 30-day money-back guarantee, refunding no questions asked1.
A warm analog sine-wave tremolo
A sine-wave tremolo raises and lowers the volume of your signal along a smooth, rounded curve rather than the sharper corners of a square or sawtooth wave. The result is the gentle, breathing pulse associated with vintage amp tremolo rather than the choppy helicopter effect some players associate with the effect. JAM Pedals says the circuit produces "smooth, vintage-style amplitude modulation suited to surf, western and slow pulsing textures"3, and the maker's own description runs "from slow, mellow movement to surf and spaghetti-western rhythms"4.
Because the Chill is analog, the modulation comes from an LFO (low-frequency oscillator) acting on the audio path rather than from digital modeling. For a player comparing circuits, that puts it in the vintage-voiced camp alongside amp-style tremolos, and apart from digital pedals that offer multiple waveforms and tap tempo.
The controls: Speed, Depth and Level
The Chill has exactly three controls, and each does what its name says1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets the tremolo rate |
| Depth | Controls modulation intensity |
| Level | Sets output |
That is the whole control surface. There is no waveform switch, no tap tempo and no internal trimmer to worry about. The trade-off is straightforward: you give up the rhythmic precision of a tap-tempo tremolo, and in exchange you get a pedal you can dial in by ear in seconds.
The Level control also unlocks the Chill's second use as a boost. JAM Pedals describes a warm boost mode: "Set Depth to zero to remove modulation, then use Level as a harmonically rich clean boost"1. With the modulation gone, the pedal becomes a straight level booster, and the carbon-composition resistors in the circuit color the boosted signal with that extra harmonic richness the maker claims1. Players who want a dedicated pedal for that job can compare it against the Boost Pedals category, but having it built into a tremolo saves a pedalboard slot.
Power and connections
The Chill runs on a 9V battery or a 9V DC power supply with a center-negative plug, the standard arrangement for most guitar pedals1. Its current draw is only 6 mA1, which is light enough that it will not strain even a modest isolated power supply, and a battery is a realistic option for players who gig without a board supply.
The Chill is true bypass1, so when it is switched off your dry signal passes through without buffering. On a long cable run with several true-bypass pedals, that can cost some high end; see Buffer Pedals if that is a concern.
The enclosure is compact: 11.1 x 7 x 4.8 cm (4.3 x 2.7 x 1.8 in) including jacks and controls, at 230 g (0.5 lb)1. JAM Pedals also backs the pedal with a 30-day money-back guarantee, refunding no questions asked if you are not satisfied within 30 days of receiving it1.
Hand-painted artwork editions
The Chill is sold in limited artwork versions, each a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece. JAM Pedals notes that the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown, making it uniquely yours1. The artwork versions carry the same circuit: "same sound, different artwork"1.
Current custom artwork versions include1:
- "Achenbach" Chill
- "Amethyst" Chill
- "Bliss!" Chill
- "Hand in Hand" Chill
- "Relic" Chill
- "Steampunk" Chill
- "Summer Afternoon" Chill
- "Tetris" Chill
The limited artwork pedals are priced higher than the standard finish: the "Achenbach" Chill is listed at £264.00 GBP, against a regular price of £199.00 GBP12. JAM Pedals also offers a Chill Bass Limited Artwork collection for bass players5.
The Chill and the Big Chill
The Chill is not JAM Pedals' only tremolo. The Big Chill is the company's larger take on the same effect, and like the Chill it carries JAM Pedals' carbon-composition resistors, which the maker says give the circuit "an extra layer of harmonic richness"1. Both pedals are covered by the same 30-day money-back guarantee with a refund no questions asked1.
Delicious Audio's 2013 review of the Big Chill was strongly positive. Reviewer Gus wrote:
"This is one of the few pedals I would dare to call perfect!"
JAM Pedals covers the Chill with a 30-day money-back guarantee, refunding no questions asked1.
By comparison, the Chill is the simpler sibling: three knobs, one footswitch, no expression or Chop features, in a smaller enclosure. Players who want switchable speeds and expression control have the Big Chill; players who want the smallest, simplest version of the JAM Pedals tremolo sound have the Chill. The company has also since collaborated with That Pedal Show on the Harmonious Monk, a harmonic tremolo pedal, for those after a different flavor of the effect.
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Questions
Is the JAM Pedals Chill true bypass?
Yes. JAM Pedals lists the Chill as true bypass, so with the pedal disengaged your signal passes through without the circuit coloring it. This applies to the standard Chill and to the limited hand-painted artwork versions, which share the same circuit.
Can the JAM Pedals Chill run on a battery?
Yes. The Chill runs on a 9V battery or a 9V DC center-negative power supply. Its current draw is only 6 mA, so it is easy on a pedalboard power supply and a battery lasts a long time at that draw.
Can the Chill be used as a clean boost?
Yes. JAM Pedals describes a warm boost mode: set Depth to zero to remove the modulation, then use the Level control as a harmonically rich clean boost. Carbon-composition resistors in the circuit add an extra layer of harmonic richness to the signal.
What is the difference between the JAM Chill and the Big Chill?
The Chill is a no-frills analog sine-wave tremolo with three controls: Speed, Depth and Level. The Big Chill, introduced around 2007, is a larger tremolo with four knobs, including two separate speed settings each with its own knob, toggled by a footswitch, plus expression and Chop features.
How big is the JAM Pedals Chill?
The Chill measures 11.1 x 7 x 4.8 cm, or 4.3 x 2.7 x 1.8 inches, including jacks and controls, and weighs 230 g (0.5 lb). That is a compact enclosure that fits easily on a small pedalboard.
Sources (5)
- Chill, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- Duke Levine, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- “Steampunk” Chill, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- “Relic” Chill, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- Chill Bass Limited Artwork, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
Jim Campilongo
