JAM Pedals "Skin" RetroVibe mk.4

The JAM Pedals "Skin" RetroVibe mk.4 is a Chorus and Vibrato pedal built by JAM Pedals. A toggle selects Chorus for the classic pulsing phase character or Vibrato for pitch-focused movement¹. The "Skin" is one of a series of custom artwork versions of the RetroVibe mk.4, and it runs on 9V DC, center-negative power with a maximum current draw of 120 mA¹.

The mk.4 generation is the most expressive RetroVibe yet. JAM Pedals says it "preserves the soul of the original RetroVibe while making it far more expressive in performance"², and the additions over earlier versions include tap tempo, a ramping function and an expression input, along with wider Speed and Depth sweeps².

A Uni-Vibe-style pedal with Chorus and Vibrato modes

The RetroVibe mk.4 follows the template of the original Uni-Vibe, whose control arrangement included a Chorus/Vibrato selector switch, letting the player choose between the two modulation characters⁴. The RetroVibe mk.4 keeps that arrangement: JAM Pedals says "the toggle selects Chorus for the classic pulsing phase character or Vibrato for pitch-focused movement"¹.

In Chorus mode the dry signal is blended with the modulated one, producing the pulsing, breathing movement players associate with Uni-Vibe-style pedals. In Vibrato mode only the pitch-modulated signal remains, for a warbling tape-flutter character. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the mk.4 sums up the range: "Switch between Chorus and Vibrato modes to explore everything from slow, liquid waves to fast, rotary-like spins"³.

The LFO (the low-frequency oscillator that drives the modulation) sweeps from 0.5 to 9.5 Hz¹, which covers everything from a slow, almost-stationary wash to a fast rotary-speaker spin. For more on this family of effects, see chorus pedals and vibrato pedals.

Controls, expression and tap tempo

On the practical side, the "Skin" RetroVibe mk.4 runs on 9V DC, center-negative power, with a maximum current draw of 120 mA¹. It measures 12 x 10 x 5 cm / 4.7 x 3.9 x 1.9 in including jacks, controls and footswitches, and weighs 350 g / 0.77 lb¹. Its input impedance is 67 kΩ and its output impedance is under 10 kΩ¹.

The external connections work as follows¹:

• Expression (TRS): accepts a standard passive 10 kΩ expression pedal for continuous control of Speed, so you can swell the modulation rate with your foot mid-phrase.
• Tap tempo (TS): a separate input accepts an external tap-tempo switch, letting you set the LFO rate in time with the tempo rather than dialing it in by ear.
• Mode toggle: selects Chorus or Vibrato.

JAM Pedals backs the pedal with a 30-day money-back guarantee, with a refund no questions asked if within 30 days of receiving the product you are not satisfied and wish to return it¹. That return window matters for a hand-finished pedal like this, since a player can try the Chorus and Vibrato modes and send it back if it does not suit their board¹.

The hand-painted artwork versions

The "Skin" is one of six custom artwork versions of the RetroVibe mk.4 that JAM Pedals has offered, alongside the Camper, Fishbone, Paths, Pink Eye and Popped Art versions¹. JAM Pedals is direct about what distinguishes them: "Same sound, different artwork"¹. Every version carries the same all-analog circuit, the same true-bypass switching, the same toggle, and the same expression and tap-tempo inputs¹.

What makes each one individual is the finish. JAM Pedals states that "every custom artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece," and that the pedal you receive will differ in detail from the photos shown¹. Two Skin RetroVibe mk.4s will never look identical, which is the point of the series: the buyer gets a functional pedal and a unique painted enclosure.

JAM Pedals also lists guitar player Paul Gilbert among the users of the "Popped Art" RetroVibe mk.4, another member of the same artwork series⁵.

Buying and shipping details

The Skin RetroVibe mk.4 carries a regular price of £459.00 GBP, tax included, on JAM Pedals' own store¹. JAM Pedals ships it free of charge, DDP, with 20% UK VAT and all duties included, so there are no extra charges on delivery¹. The company also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, with a refund "no questions asked" if you are not satisfied within 30 days of receiving the product¹.

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