The JAM Pedals Ripply Fall is a chorus, phaser and vibrato pedal that combines two of the Greek maker's existing circuits in one enclosure: the WaterFall chorus/vibrato on the right and the Ripple phaser on the left1. Each side works on its own, with a dedicated footswitch per circuit, and the two can run together for composite modulation sounds12.
The idea came out of years of players and press recommending the WaterFall and the Ripple as a great combination. Delicious Audio, which set out with JAM Pedals to offer the two pedals housed side by side, describes the result as both circuits embedded in a bigger enclosure, with added features beyond what the two separate pedals offer1.
What each side does
The WaterFall side is a smooth, lush-sounding chorus/vibrato featuring BBD (bucket brigade device) chips for a classic analog sound, as Pedal of the Day describes it2. The Ripple side is a smooth, sweet and transparent 2-stage phaser, controlled by a single blue Speed knob2.
The two sides are laid out side by side, so you can dial in a chorus or vibrato on the right and a phaser sweep on the left, then turn each on and off independently with its own footswitch2.
Controls and switches
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed knob (Ripple side) | Controls the overall speed of the phaser2 |
| Chorus/vibrato toggle (WaterFall side) | Selects between chorus and vibrato modes2 |
| "Wetter" toggle (WaterFall side) | Switches to a wetter effect setting2 |
| Expression inputs (WaterFall side) | Let an external expression pedal control Depth and Speed2 |
| Footswitches (left and right) | Turn each side off and on2 |
| Middle footswitch | Engages the WaterFall's Speed Multiplier, tripling the set Speed2 |
The vibrato mode works by turning off the direct signal, leaving only the modulated signal. On That Pedal Show, Mick Taylor and Daniel Steinhardt walked through the pedal, including the vibrato switch and what they called the doubler button, which makes the effect go twice as fast3.
The middle footswitch and the Speed Multiplier
The feature that sets the Ripply Fall apart from simply owning both pedals is the middle footswitch. It engages the WaterFall side's Speed Multiplier function, which automatically triples the currently set Speed2. Delicious Audio describes it as tripling the at-any-given-point WaterFall Speed, generating sounds ranging all the way from Leslie speaker simulation to ring modulator effects and up to deranged warble1.
That range means the middle switch is not just a fast-chorus trick. With the Speed knob set low, tripling the rate lands in rotary speaker territory; set higher, the modulation rate climbs into ring modulator effects and beyond12.
History and limited artwork editions
The Ripply Fall grew out of the WaterFall and Ripple being recommended together for years before the two circuits were offered in a single box1. Alongside the standard pedal, JAM Pedals offers limited artwork editions, including the "G.O.A.T" and "Blue Herd" versions, each a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece34. A custom artwork version was also painted for That Pedal Show by the artist Joakim, who works on The Simpsons, using the same circuit as the standard pedal3.
Like other JAM Pedals releases, the Ripply Fall has appeared in limited hand-painted artwork editions. The "G.O.A.T" and "Blue Herd" versions are each one-of-a-kind hand-painted pieces, and the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown56. Both product pages offer a PDF manual for download56.
There was also a custom artwork version painted for That Pedal Show by the artist Joakim, who works on The Simpsons. It uses the same circuit as the standard pedal and was not available to buy3.
Limited artwork Ripply Falls are one-of-a-kind hand-painted pieces, so the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos on the product page56.
What reviewers and players said
The Ripply Fall was reviewed by Premier Guitar, whose reviewer wrote:
"The Ripply Fall reflects a design mindset geared toward coaxing the more lyrical side out of each effect. The results are lovely and truly musical individual and composite modulation effects."1
Damian Kulash of OK Go, one of the artists listed on JAM Pedals' roster, said of the pedal:
"every setting sounds so good that you want to write your song around it, and there’s another pleasant surprise every time you twist a knob."7
On That Pedal Show, the presenters demoed the pedal's switches and modes, including the vibrato switch and the speed-doubling button3.
!That Pedal Show demos the JAM Pedals Ripply Fall3
Videos
Premier Guitar
JAM pedals
JAM pedals
Questions
Does the JAM Ripply Fall use BBD chips?
Yes, on the chorus/vibrato side. The WaterFall side of the Ripply Fall is an analog chorus/vibrato built around BBD (bucket brigade device) chips, which is what gives it the classic analog character. The Ripple side is a 2-stage phaser.
What does the middle footswitch on the Ripply Fall do?
The middle footswitch engages the WaterFall side's Speed Multiplier, which automatically triples the currently set Speed. Depending on where the Speed knob sits, that takes you from Leslie speaker simulation territory through ring modulator effects and up to deranged warble.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Ripply Fall?
Yes. The Ripply Fall has expression pedal inputs for sculpting the WaterFall side's Depth and Speed in real time, so you can sweep either parameter while playing rather than reaching for the knobs.
Can the Ripply Fall do vibrato?
Yes. The WaterFall side has a toggle switch that selects between chorus and vibrato modes. The vibrato switch turns off the direct signal, leaving only the modulated signal for a true vibrato sound.
Is the Ripply Fall the same as a WaterFall and a Ripple?
Essentially. The Ripply Fall combines JAM Pedals' WaterFall chorus/vibrato circuit and Ripple phaser circuit, embedded side by side in a bigger single enclosure. Each side has its own footswitch, plus a middle footswitch that triples the WaterFall Speed.
Sources (7)
- JAM Pedals Ripply Fall Chorus/Phaser/Vibrato, Delicious Audio, 2023-08-03
- JAM Pedals Ripply Fall Chorus Vibrato Phaser, Pedal of the Day, 2021-07-06
- Boss EQ-200, JHS Cheese Ball, JAM Ripply Fall, Diamond Memory Lane Jr, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2019-10-29
- “Stalagmite Prince” WaterFall, Jam Pedals
- “G.O.A.T” Ripply Fall, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
- “Blue Herd” Ripply Fall, JAM Pedals
- OK Go, JAM Pedals (www.jampedals.com)
