The JAM Pedals "Tetris" Chill is an analog sine-wave amplitude tremolo with a second life as a warm clean boost. JAM Pedals describes the circuit as producing smooth, vintage-style amplitude modulation suited to surf, western and slow pulsing textures, and it comes in a range of one-of-a-kind hand-painted custom artwork versions1.
The controls
The Tetris Chill keeps things to three knobs, which is what makes the boost mode possible: turn the modulation off and the pedal becomes a level control1.
Using it as a boost
JAM Pedals describes a warm boost mode built into the same circuit: "Set Depth to zero to remove modulation, then use Level as a harmonically rich clean boost." In that setting the Chill works like other pedals in the boost category, lifting your signal into the amp without changing the tremolo character. Players who want a dedicated boost from the same maker can look at the Boomster mk.2 or the LucyDreamer Supreme, which pair boost with overdrive1.
Artwork versions
Every limited artwork pedal is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted piece, and JAM Pedals notes that the pedal received will differ in detail from the photos shown. The same circuit is sold under several artwork names1:
- Achenbach Chill1
- Amethyst Chill1
- Bliss! Chill1
- "Hand in Hand" Chill1
- "Relic" Chill1
- "Steampunk" Chill1
- "Summer Afternoon" Chill1
JAM Pedals sums the range up as "Same sound, different artwork"1.
Because each pedal is hand painted, the unit you receive will not match the product photos exactly. The circuit and controls are the same across all artwork versions.
Power and size
The Chill runs on a 9V battery or a 9V DC center-negative adapter and draws 6 mA, so it fits comfortably on any standard pedalboard supply. Including jacks and controls it measures 11.1 x 7 x 4.8 cm (4.3 x 2.7 x 1.8 in) and weighs 230 g (0.5 lb)1.
Sources (1)
- “Tetris” Chill, JAM pedals
