The JAM Pedals "Lechuk's Chest" Delay Llama mk.3 is a limited artwork version of the Delay Llama mk.3, the Greek builder's analog delay pedal. It is a compact, hand-finished pedal measuring 7.5 x 12 x 5.6 cm (2.9 x 4.7 x 2.2 in) including jacks and controls, and weighing 280 g (0.6 lb)1. It carries a regular price of £334.00 GBP1.
The circuit uses BBD chips modeled after the Panasonic MN3205, which JAM Pedals says "produce warm repeats that blend naturally with the dry signal"1. The company describes the mk.3 as adding "warm, organic repeats without obscuring the sound and touch of your instrument," with a tape-like character suited to everything from subtle depth and slapback to spacious rhythmic echoes2.
What it is and what it does
The "Lechuk's Chest" Delay Llama mk.3 is built in the same compact enclosure as the standard Delay Llama mk.3, at 7.5 x 12 x 5.6 cm (2.9 x 4.7 x 2.2 in) including jacks and controls, and 280 g (0.6 lb)1. It is priced at £334.00 GBP1. JAM Pedals backs it with a 30-day money-back guarantee, with a refund no questions asked if you are not satisfied within 30 days of receiving it1.
The "Lechuk's Chest" version carries that exact circuit under one-of-a-kind hand-painted artwork. JAM Pedals lists it alongside five other custom artwork versions of the mk.3: "Monterey", "Why?", "Achenbach", "Craboid" and "Relic"267. Each is the same pedal underneath; the paint is the only difference, and each painted piece is unique1.
The controls
The mk.3 keeps a simple three-knob layout, with the right footswitch and an internal trimmer pair handling the rest286.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time | Sets delay time1 |
| Repeats | Controls feedback1 |
| Level | Sets the repeats above the dry signal1 |
| Right footswitch (TAP) | Tap at least twice to set tempo; keep it pressed to engage HOLD/self-oscillation for as long as the switch is held1 |
| Subdivision toggle | Divides the tapped tempo into subdivisions5 |
| Internal trimmer 1 | Sets the maximum number of repeats1 |
| Internal trimmer 2 | Sets the trails fade-out time in buffered-bypass mode1 |
The HOLD function is the pedal's route to self-oscillation: hold the right footswitch down and the repeats build into feedback for as long as you keep the switch pressed, then return to normal when you release it1. Premier Guitar's reviewer, writing about the standard mk.3, noted "there's an internal trimmer that sets the delay trail's fade-out time (the amount of time the delayed signal takes to de[cay])"9.
Bypass: true or trails
The pedal ships in true-bypass mode. To switch to buffered trails bypass, so that repeats fade out naturally instead of cutting off when you disengage the pedal, JAM Pedals gives this procedure1:
- Disconnect power.
- Hold the TAP footswitch.
- Reconnect power and release after three LED blinks.
- Repeat the procedure to return to true bypass; two blinks confirm the change.
Delicious Audio confirmed the same choice on the standard mk.3: "You can also set the bypass mode to trails (buffered) or true bypass"4.
Power and size
The Lechuk's Chest runs on 9V DC, center-negative, drawing 120 mA1. That current draw is high enough that it belongs on a proper isolated or regulated supply rather than sharing a daisy chain with low-draw analog pedals. The enclosure measures 7.5 x 12 x 5.6 cm (2.9 x 4.7 x 2.2 in) including jacks and controls, and weighs 280 g (0.6 lb)1.
JAM Pedals sells this pedal direct at a regular price of £334.00, with a 30-day money-back guarantee and no-questions-asked refunds1. UK orders ship DDP, with 20% UK VAT and all duties included, so there are no extra charges on delivery1.
What reviewers said about the Delay Llama mk.3
Published reviews of the standard mk.3 apply directly to the Lechuk's Chest, since the circuit is identical. Premier Guitar gave the Delay Llama Mk3 a Gear Award in 2023, writing that it "reveals a superbly characterful and juicy-sounding analog delay voice" and that it "dishes late '70s and early '80s bucket-brigade goodness with a low noise floor"9.
"the Delay Llama Mk3 reveals a superbly characterful and juicy-sounding analog delay voice"
The Delay Llama family
The Lechuk's Chest sits in a wider line of JAM Pedals delays. Alongside the standard Delay Llama mk.3, the custom artwork versions include the "Monterey", "Why?", "Achenbach", "Craboid" and "Relic" mk.3 pedals, all sharing the same sound and differing only in artwork276. The line also extends to the feature-packed Delay Llama Xtreme and the Delay Llama Supreme for players who want more than the mk.3's three-knob format.
Questions
Is the Lechuk's Chest Delay Llama true bypass or trails?
Both. The pedal ships in true-bypass mode, but you can switch it to buffered trails bypass so repeats fade out naturally when you disengage it. To change modes, disconnect power, hold the TAP footswitch, reconnect power, and release after three LED blinks. Repeat the procedure to switch back.
Does the Lechuk's Chest sound different from a standard Delay Llama mk.3?
No. JAM Pedals describes its custom artwork versions as "same sound, different artwork." The Lechuk's Chest is the same all-analog BBD circuit as the standard Delay Llama mk.3, with the same controls, tap tempo, HOLD function and 600 ms maximum delay time. Only the hand-painted finish differs, and each piece is one of a kind.
How do you make the Delay Llama mk.3 self-oscillate?
Press and hold the right footswitch. JAM Pedals calls this HOLD: keeping the switch pressed engages self-oscillation for as long as you hold it down, letting the repeats build into feedback you can steer with the Time knob. Release the switch and the effect returns to normal.
What does the internal trimmer on the Delay Llama mk.3 do?
There are two internal trimmers. One sets the maximum number of repeats, so you can decide how far the Repeats knob can push before feedback takes over. The second sets the trails fade-out time in buffered-bypass mode, controlling how long the delayed signal takes to die away after you switch the pedal off.
How do you set tap tempo on the Delay Llama mk.3?
Tap the right footswitch at least twice at the tempo you want. The same switch does double duty: tap it repeatedly to set the delay time to your tempo, or press and hold it to engage the HOLD self-oscillation function. A subdivision toggle lets you divide the tapped tempo.
Sources (9)
- "Lechuk's Chest" Delay Llama mk.3, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- Delay Llama, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- Delay Llama B-Stock, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- Jam Pedals Delay Llama Mk3, Delicious Audio, 2022-11-25
- Jam Pedals adds tap tempo plus subdivisions to its refreshed and upgraded Delay Llama mk.3, MusicRadar, 2022-01-25
- “Craboid” Delay Llama mk.3, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- Delay Llama Bass Limited Artwork, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- “Achenbach” Delay Llama mk.3, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- Jam Pedals Delay Llama Mk3 Review, Premier Guitar, 2023-09-06
