The JAM Pedals "Relic" WaterFall Bass is a limited-artwork version of the JAM Pedals WaterFall Bass, an analog BBD chorus and vibrato pedal built for bass. JAM Pedals describes it as a "rich, three-dimensional analog BBD chorus and vibrato" whose circuit "creates warm, fluid movement with depth and space while retaining the bass's core character"1. BBD stands for bucket-brigade device, the analog delay chip that classic chorus and vibrato pedals use to modulate the signal, and it is the reason this pedal is analog rather than digital.
The "Relic" part is the finish. Every limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown, making it uniquely yours1. The sound is the same as the standard WaterFall Bass: JAM Pedals' own summary of the artwork versions is "Same sound, different artwork"1.
What it does
The WaterFall Bass covers two related modulation effects in one box. Chorus mixes a slightly delayed, modulated copy of your signal with the dry sound, thickening it and adding a sense of movement and space. Vibrato modulates the pitch of the whole signal for a wobble effect. A C/V toggle on the pedal selects chorus or vibrato1.
Because it is voiced for bass, the pedal is built to add that movement without thinning out the low end, which is the main risk of running a guitar chorus pedal on a bass rig. JAM Pedals' description of the analog BBD circuit is that it "produces a warm, fluid response with a strong sense of depth and space"2. The same circuit appears in the standard WaterFall, the guitar version of the pedal, which JAM Pedals says "adds movement without sacrificing the character" of the instrument2.
The controls
The front panel is simple: two knobs and two toggles, plus one trimmer inside1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth knob | Sets intensity of the modulation1 |
| Speed knob | Sets rate; maximum settings produce rotary-speaker-style movement1 |
| C/V toggle | Selects chorus or vibrato1 |
| +/- toggle | Selects subtle or more pronounced modulation1 |
| Internal trimmer | Adjusts the maximum modulation speed1 |
The two toggles work together to shape the range before you touch a knob. You switch between chorus and vibrato, then choose the restrained or more pronounced intensity range to move from subtle shimmer to deeper movement2. The internal trimmer sets the ceiling for the Speed knob, so a player who wants faster vibrato at the top of the dial can raise it without changing anything on the outside of the pedal.
Power and bypass
The WaterFall Bass runs on 9V DC with a center-negative plug, the standard arrangement for most pedalboard power supplies, and draws 47 mA1. It is true bypass, so with the pedal switched off the bass signal passes through without the circuit in the path1. At 47 mA it is an easy load for a typical isolated supply.
Relic artwork and other versions
The Relic WaterFall Bass sits in a family of artwork variants of the same circuit. JAM Pedals also offers an "Achenbach" WaterFall Bass, another custom-artwork version with the same sound1, and the standard WaterFall Bass. On the guitar side, the "Relic" WaterFall carries the same hand-painted treatment, and JAM Pedals notes that guitarist John Scofield said of the WaterFall, "I like the Waterfall pedal and use it a lot now"2.
Each Relic pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, so the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the product photos1. JAM Pedals covers it with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and UK orders ship DDP with 20% VAT and all duties included, so there are no extra charges on delivery1.
For bass players comparing JAM Pedals modulation and other bass effects, the maker's bass line also includes the Ripple Bass, the Ripply Fall Bass, and the Dyna-ssoR Bass compressor, alongside overdrives and fuzzes such as the Rattler Bass and Red Muck Bass. For more on the effect types themselves, see the pages on chorus pedals and vibrato pedals.
Videos
Chris Kollias
Nikita Demchenko
Questions
Is the JAM WaterFall Bass true bypass?
Yes. JAM Pedals lists the WaterFall Bass with true bypass switching, so with the pedal off your bass signal passes through without the circuit in the path. It runs on 9V DC with a center-negative plug and draws 47 mA.
Does the Relic WaterFall Bass sound different from the standard WaterFall Bass?
No. JAM Pedals describes the Relic artwork pedals as the same sound with different artwork. The Relic WaterFall Bass is the WaterFall Bass circuit in a one-of-a-kind hand-painted enclosure, and the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown.
Can the WaterFall Bass do a Leslie rotary sound?
It can get close. JAM Pedals says maximum Speed settings produce rotary-speaker-style movement, and that high Depth and Speed settings create Leslie-style rotary effects. So while it is a chorus and vibrato pedal rather than a rotary simulator, pushed settings move in that direction.
What does the internal trimmer on the WaterFall Bass do?
The internal trimmer adjusts the maximum modulation speed. That sets the ceiling of the Speed knob's range, so a player who wants faster vibrato or more rotary-style movement at the top of the dial can raise it, or lower it to keep the knob's range more restrained.
How big is the JAM WaterFall Bass?
JAM Pedals lists the dimensions as 7.5 x 12 x 5.6 cm, or 2.9 x 4.7 x 2.2 inches, including jacks and controls. It weighs 300 g, about 0.66 lb, which is compact enough for most pedalboards.
Sources (2)
- “Relic” WaterFall Bass, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
- “Relic” WaterFall, JAM Pedals (jampedals.com)
