The JAM Pedals "Relic" Delay Llama mk.3 is a hand-painted, one-of-a-kind artwork version of the Delay Llama mk.3, the Greek builder's all-analog bucket-brigade (BBD) delay pedal. JAM Pedals describes it as a delay that "adds warm, organic repeats without obscuring the sound and touch of your instrument," with a maximum delay time of 600 ms, tap tempo with subdivisions, and a self-oscillation mode1.
The mk.3 line was released in January 2022 as an update to JAM Pedals' long-running Delay Llama series, adding tap tempo and a subdivision toggle to the vintage-voiced analog circuit2. The Relic is one of several custom artwork versions of the same pedal: same sound, different artwork1.
An all-analog BBD delay with tap tempo
The Delay Llama mk.3 is an all-analog BBD delay1. BBD stands for bucket-brigade device, the chip type that analog delays have used since the 1970s: the signal is passed along a chain of capacitors, which is what gives analog delays their characteristically warm, progressively darker repeats. The mk.3 uses BBD chips modeled after the Panasonic MN3205, which JAM Pedals says "produce warm repeats that blend naturally with the dry signal"1.
The controls
The control layout is simple: three knobs, one toggle and two footswitches.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time | Sets delay time1 |
| Repeats | Controls feedback567 |
| Level | Sets the repeats above the dry signal1 |
| Subdivision toggle | Selects eighth notes, quarter notes or dotted eighth notes1 |
| Left footswitch | Engages and bypasses the effect |
| Right (TAP) footswitch | Tap at least twice to set tempo; keep it pressed to engage HOLD/self-oscillation for as long as it is held1 |
The subdivision toggle is what makes tap tempo practical on a gig: tap the tempo of the song and choose whether the repeats land on quarter notes, straight eighth notes or the dotted-eighth rhythm common in ambient and U2-style parts1.
The HOLD/self-oscillation function is the classic analog-delay party trick taken a step further. Instead of having to push the Repeats knob to its limit and hope the pedal tips over into runaway feedback, you hold the tap footswitch and the pedal self-oscillates only for as long as you keep it held, giving you control over when the runaway repeats start and stop1.
Power and connections
The Relic Delay Llama mk.3 runs on 9V DC, center-negative, with a current draw of 120 mA1. Premier Guitar's review noted that "power comes via standard center-negative 9V adaptor"8.
At 120 mA, this pedal draws more current than a typical analog pedal and more than a 9V battery can supply in practice. Plan on a proper 9V DC power supply with center-negative polarity rather than a battery or a shared daisy chain.
The bypass is selectable between true bypass and buffered trails, and the pedal ships in true-bypass mode4. To switch to buffered trails bypass, disconnect power, hold TAP, reconnect power and release after three LED blinks; repeating the process returns it to true bypass, with two blinks confirming the change9. In buffered mode, an internal trimmer sets the trails fade-out time9.
The Relic and the other artwork versions
The Relic is one of six custom artwork versions of the Delay Llama mk.3. JAM Pedals' own summary of the range is "same sound, different artwork"1: the circuit, controls, power and specifications are identical across all of them, and only the paint differs.
The artwork versions are:
- "Lechuk's Chest" Delay Llama mk.3
- "Monterey" Delay Llama mk.3
- "Why?" Delay Llama mk.3
- "Achenbach" Delay Llama mk.3
- "Craboid" Delay Llama mk.3
- "Relic" Delay Llama mk.310
Every custom artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece. The pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown, making it uniquely yours1.
So the Relic does not sound different from the standard mk.3: it is the same pedal under the paint. What you are choosing between is a standard-finish Delay Llama mk.3 and a hand-painted variant, at a higher regular price of £334.00 GBP for the Relic1.
JAM Pedals also offers the same custom-artwork treatment on its larger Delay Llama Xtreme, including a "Relic" Delay Llama XTREME, for players who want the mk.3's analog character with more delay time and features.
Videos
Nikita Demchenko
Questions
What is the maximum delay time on the Delay Llama mk.3?
The maximum delay time is 600 ms. That figure comes from JAM Pedals' own product page and is confirmed by published reviews from MusicRadar, Delicious Audio and Premier Guitar, all of which list the same 600 ms ceiling for the mk.3.
Is the Delay Llama mk.3 true bypass or buffered?
It is selectable. The pedal ships in true-bypass mode, but you can switch it to a buffered bypass that lets delay trails fade out naturally instead of cutting them off when you disengage the pedal. An internal trimmer sets how long the trails fade in buffered mode.
What BBD chips does the Delay Llama mk.3 use?
It uses BBD (bucket-brigade device) chips modelled after the Panasonic MN3205, the classic bucket-brigade chip used in vintage analog delays. JAM Pedals says these produce warm repeats that blend naturally with the dry signal.
Does the Relic Delay Llama sound different from the standard mk.3?
No. JAM Pedals describes the custom artwork versions, including the Relic, as the same sound with different artwork. The Relic is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, so the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown, but the circuit is identical.
Can the Delay Llama mk.3 self-oscillate?
Yes. Hold the right (tap) footswitch to engage HOLD/self-oscillation for as long as you keep it pressed. Tapping that same footswitch at least twice sets the delay tempo.
Sources (10)
- “Relic” Delay Llama mk.3, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- Jam Pedals adds tap tempo plus subdivisions to its refreshed and upgraded Delay Llama mk.3, MusicRadar, 2022-01-25
- Jam Pedals Delay Llama Mk3, Delicious Audio, 2022-11-25
- Delay Llama, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- "Lechuk's Chest" Delay Llama mk.3, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- "Monterey" Delay Llama mk.3, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- “Craboid” Delay Llama mk.3, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- Jam Pedals Delay Llama Mk3 Review, Premier Guitar, 2023-09-06
- "Why?" Delay Llama mk.3, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- Delay Llama B-Stock, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
