The JAM Pedals "Relic" Delay Llama XTREME is a hand-painted, one-of-a-kind version of the Delay Llama Xtreme, an analog delay pedal from JAM Pedals. It is built on three 3205 bucket-brigade (BBD) chips, the classic analog delay architecture, and delivers up to 800 ms of repeats alongside features more often found on digital pedals: four presets, tap tempo with subdivisions, expression and CV control, and four XTREME modes that bend the repeats with pitch shifting, random jumps, tape-style wear and vibrato1.
The "Relic" part is the artwork. Every custom artwork pedal from JAM Pedals is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown1. Under the paint it is the same circuit as the standard Delay Llama Xtreme.
An analog BBD delay with presets and modulation
The Delay Llama XTREME is a three-BBD analog delay that pairs 800 ms of warm repeats with presets, expression control and tap tempo1. Bucket-brigade chips pass your signal along a chain of capacitors one step at a time, which is what gives analog delays their character: each repeat loses a little top end and gains a little noise, so the echoes get progressively darker and rounder rather than staying identical copies of the dry signal.
What sets the XTREME apart is the combination. It is an analog delay pedal with presets and modulation, built on three 3205 BBD chips for an analog core1. Around that core it adds four preset slots and the four XTREME modes described below1.
The controls and footswitches
Three knobs cover the main delay sound: Time, Repeats and Level, with eighth-note, quarter-note and dotted-eighth subdivisions available to the tap tempo1. Tap the right footswitch at least twice to set tempo; hold it for oscillation1.
| Control or switch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Time, Repeats, Level | Cover the main delay sound1 |
| Right footswitch | Tap at least twice to set tempo; hold it for oscillation1 |
| Middle footswitch | Cycles between manual mode and four preset slots; a prolonged press turns the selected XTREME mode on or off1 |
| TRLS switch | Selects buffered trails or true bypass1 |
| KD switch | Activates kill-dry operation1 |
Two internal trimmers allow fine tuning: a multi-turn trimmer sets the maximum repeat count, and a second trimmer sets the maximum trails decay in buffered bypass1.
The four XTREME modes
The XTREME modes are the pedal's experimental side, each processing the repeats in a different way1:
- Pitch-Shift: offers five interval pairs and five playback patterns, including a five-mode sequencer1.
- Random: changes delay time at fixed intervals for abrupt pitch and rhythmic shifts1.
- Tape-Age: creates random, worn-tape-style pitch variation1.
- Vibrato: adds sine-wave modulation with adjustable depth and speed1.
The middle footswitch cycles between manual mode and the four preset slots, and a prolonged press turns the selected XTREME mode on or off1. With four presets plus manual mode, you can store settings for each mode and switch between them from the floor1.
Power and connections
The pedal runs on 9V DC, center negative, with a maximum current draw of 130 mA, and JAM Pedals recommends an isolated supply1.
JAM Pedals recommends an isolated power supply for the XTREME, and the 130 mA maximum draw rules out a battery1.
Connections go beyond the standard instrument in and out1:
- DT input: accepts a passive 10 kΩ expression pedal for delay time, or 0-5V CV when the internal DIP switches are set to CV mode1.
- TAP input: accepts a normally-open TS momentary remote switch1.
- PS input: accepts a TRS preset controller1.
Input impedance is 1 MΩ and output impedance is under 1 kΩ1.
Relic artwork and other versions
The "Relic" Delay Llama XTREME belongs to JAM Pedals' custom artwork series, where the same circuit ships in different hand-painted finishes12. Every custom artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown1.
Custom artwork versions of the Delay Llama XTREME include "Eye in the Sky", "Spirit of the Sword", "Tutti Frutti", "Achenbach monohead" and "Achenbach multihead" (sold out)1. Every custom artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and the pedal received will differ in detail from the photos shown1.
JAM Pedals began in 2005, when guitarist and sonic explorer Jannis Anastasakis set out to build pedals, starting as a one-man workshop in Athens1. The "Relic" Delay Llama XTREME carries a regular price of £439.001.
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Questions
How much delay time does the Delay Llama Xtreme have?
Up to 800 ms, produced by three 3205 bucket-brigade (BBD) chips. That is 200 ms more than the Delay Llama mk.3, which offers a maximum of 600 ms from the same analog bucket-brigade approach.
Can the Delay Llama Xtreme take CV?
Yes. The DT input accepts a passive 10 kΩ expression pedal for delay time, or 0-5V control voltage when the internal DIP switches are set to CV mode. A separate TAP input accepts a normally-open TS momentary remote switch.
Does the Delay Llama Xtreme have trails?
Yes, and they are selectable. The internal TRLS switch chooses between true bypass and buffered trails, so repeats can either cut off instantly or decay naturally when you disengage the pedal. A trimmer sets the maximum trails decay in buffered bypass.
Does the Delay Llama Xtreme have tap tempo?
Yes. Tap the right footswitch at least twice to set the tempo, with eighth-note, quarter-note and dotted-eighth subdivisions available. Holding the footswitch engages oscillation. A TAP input also accepts a normally-open TS momentary remote switch.
Sources (2)
- “Relic” Delay Llama XTREME, JAM pedals (jampedals.com)
- Relic Series, www.jampedals.com
Marc Ribot
