The Jam Pedals Custom Multi-Pedal is a multi-effect pedal that combines a compressor, an overdrive, and an analog delay in a single box1. It is built by Jam Pedals, a handmade, boutique company that calls Greece home, and it is offered as a player-specified set of Jam pedals: the buyer chooses which Jam circuits go in the enclosure. Premier Guitar reviewed one such custom unit in 2021, noting that several more standard versions are available besides the custom configuration1.
The reviewed unit carried three of Jam's circuits: a Dyna-ssor compressor, a TubeDreamer+ overdrive, and a Delay Llama delay. Its front panel holds eight knobs and five footswitches, none of which are labeled, and the enclosure wears an artful, vintage-gift-wrap finish incorporating yellowed sheet music and a reproduction of a woman who may have been a '50s B-movie queen1.
The three sections and their controls
Each of the three circuits keeps the control set of its standalone Jam pedal, and the Dyna-ssor and Delay Llama each have a single footswitch for on/off. The TubeDreamer+ has an on/off footswitch plus a High Gain switch1.
| Section | Circuit basis | Controls | Footswitches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyna-ssor compressor | Inspired in part by the MXR DynaComp and Ross Compressor | Sustain and Level knobs | Single on/off |
| TubeDreamer+ overdrive | Tube Screamer 808-flavored overdrive | Level, Tone, and Gain knobs | On/off plus High Gain switch |
| Delay Llama delay | BBD-style analog delay using faithful reproductions of the Panasonic MN3205 IC chip | Repeats, Time, and Level or Mix knobs | Single on/off |
The Dyna-ssor can be used as a typical squash-type compressor or as a sustainer, according to the manual Premier Guitar cited1. The Delay Llama's max delay time is 600ms, with repeats ranging from slapback to what the reviewer called sci-fi sound regeneration1.
Jacks, outputs, and the FX loop
The pedal has six jacks laid out on three different sides. On the left side are two output jacks, an A and a B, and a footswitch about an inch from the Delay Llama's Time knob toggles output between them, making the second out suitable for a tuner or mute1. The top rear panel carries Send/Return jacks for an FX loop and an expression pedal out for controlling delay time1.
The front panel's eight knobs and five footswitches are unlabeled on the reviewed unit. Premier Guitar found this "looks cool, to be sure, but makes some obvious sacrifices in terms of functionality," and noted that buyers of custom units can ask Jam to label their controls1.
What Premier Guitar made of it
The reviewer's overall verdict was blunt and positive: "All of the Jam's Multi-Pedal effects sound exceptional."1 On the individual sections:
- Dyna-ssor: especially good with a humbucker and a little distortion; it worked exceedingly well as a sustainer, with the caveat of a somewhat limited boost capability1.
- TubeDreamer+: of the handful of Tube Screamer inspired pedals the reviewer had played through, it was the best by far, with a tone richer overall and more harmonically complex than the pedal that inspired it1.
- High Gain switch: took the pedal into creamy distortion zones beyond what typical overdrive pedals deliver, which the reviewer called a nice addition on the Tube Screamer theme1.
- Delay Llama: sounded like a vintage BBD-style delay that was mint-in-the-box, quiet and about as noise free as you can get from an analog stomper1.
"of the handful of Tube Screamer inspired pedals I have played through, it was the best by far."
The reviewer also found the sections work well together: used with the Dyna-ssor, the TubeDreamer+ gave a really aggressive, tuneful overdriven sound that worked great for both lead and rhythm1.
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Questions
Which Jam pedals are inside the Custom Multi-Pedal?
The unit reviewed by Premier Guitar combined three Jam circuits in one box: the Dyna-ssor compressor, the TubeDreamer+ overdrive, and the Delay Llama analog delay. The Multi-Pedal is built as a player-specified set of Jam pedals, so the exact contents of a custom unit depend on what the buyer asks for.
Can you order a Jam Pedals multi-pedal with your own choice of effects?
Yes. Premier Guitar describes the Multi-Pedal as a player-specified set of Jam pedals in a single box, and the magazine reviewed a custom unit while noting that several more standard versions are also available. Buyers of custom units can ask Jam to label their controls, since the stock front panel leaves the knobs and switches unlabeled.
What is the maximum delay time on the Delay Llama section?
The Delay Llama section offers a maximum delay time of 600ms. Premier Guitar found its repeats range from slapback to what the reviewer called sci-fi sound regeneration. It is a BBD-style analog delay using faithful reproductions of the classic Panasonic MN3205 IC chip.
What power supply does the Jam Custom Multi-Pedal need?
It runs on a 9V DC power supply only, and the supply is not included with the pedal. There is no battery option, so it needs a 9V DC source on the pedalboard to run.
Where are Jam Pedals made?
Jam Pedals is a handmade, boutique builder that calls Greece home. The company has built its reputation well beyond the Mediterranean, and its pedals, including the Multi-Pedal, are handmade rather than mass-produced.
Sources (1)
- Jam Pedals Custom Multi-Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-11-12
