The JPTR FX Kaleidoscope ULTRA is a reverb pedal from JPTR FX maker JPTR FX, described by the company as a "Reverb Multi reflector unit". Rather than a conventional reverb, JPTR FX says the Kaleidoscope reflects your signal once or multiple times, with each duplicate meshing together while adding compression, modulation and large amounts of feedback. The ULTRA is a new version of the original JPTR FX Kaleidoscope, and the version shown on the maker's page is a 10YRS EDT, a ten years edition1.
The maker's two product pages show different prices for the pedal, £179.00 on the ULTRA page and £144.00 on the Kaleidoscope page, and the two figures have not been reconciled. Both are in pounds sterling as listed; neither has been converted.
What it does to your signal
JPTR FX describes the Kaleidoscope's core behavior as reflection: the pedal duplicates your signal once or many times, and each duplicate adds compression, modulation and heavy feedback as they combine2. The company describes the range of sounds as warm and haunting cloudscapes, shaped through the pedal's control set1.
The design intent behind the compression is specific. JPTR FX says the pedal is designed to sound like a "Fender Twin" with the reverb cranked, with the power stage of the amp compressing and driving the reverb1.
The controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level1 |
| Drive | Drive stage for the reverb2 |
| Feedback | Amount of feedback in the reflections; turn it up with Reverb rolled back for rhythmic wobbles2 |
| Gaze | Reverb parameter control1 |
| Reverb | Reverb level; roll it back for rhythmic wobbles, turn it up for a saturated, sustained sound2 |
| Comp | Simulates a Fender Twin power stage compressing and driving the reverb; placed after the Reverb so fading tails are pulled back up1 |
The Comp control deserves a note of its own. JPTR FX places the compression dial right after the Reverb, and says this really helps to push your tails: as the reverb fades out, the compression elevates it, which the company says helps push the player up in the mix1.
Hold, Kill-Dry and self-oscillation
Two switches extend what the pedal can do beyond a set-and-forget reverb:
- Hold: keep the Hold switch pressed down and the pedal produces a ramp of feedback which causes the reverb to go into self-oscillation1.
- Kill-Dry: enables an all-wet signal, which JPTR FX describes as a crispy whisper1.
The Hold switch is the route to the pedal's more extreme territory: held down, the feedback builds until the reverb sustains and oscillates on its own1. Combined with the Feedback control, which JPTR FX suggests dimming with the Reverb rolled back for lush, rhythmic wobbles that twist and gyrate along to your sound, the pedal can sit somewhere between a reverb and a feedback-driven texture generator2.
Guitar, bass, synths and beyond
JPTR FX says the Kaleidoscope was designed to complement and adapt to all musical styles and input signals, and names guitar, bass, drums, synths and even vocals as intended inputs2. Nothing in the pedal's described signal path ties it to guitar alone, so players of other instruments can treat it as a general-purpose reflection and texture unit.
Videos
We As A Company
We As A Company
dots.sounds
Questions
What does the Hold switch do on the Kaleidoscope ULTRA?
Keep the Hold switch pressed down and the pedal builds a ramp of feedback that pushes the reverb into self-oscillation. It is the way to get the pedal's washes and sustained, evolving textures from the effect itself rather than from an external loop or a second pedal.
What does the Kill-Dry switch do?
The Kill-Dry Switch enables an all-wet signal, which JPTR FX describes as a crispy whisper. With the dry signal removed, only the reflected, processed reverb sound is heard, useful for ambient passages and for running the pedal in an effects loop or alongside other time-based effects.
What does the Comp knob do on the Kaleidoscope ULTRA?
The Comp knob simulates the power stage of a Fender Twin with the reverb cranked, compressing and driving the reverb. JPTR FX places the compression right after the reverb, so as a tail fades out the compression pulls it back up, helping the player sit forward in the mix.
Can the Kaleidoscope ULTRA self-oscillate?
Yes. Holding the Hold switch down produces a ramp of feedback that causes the reverb to go into self-oscillation. Rolling back the Reverb control and turning the Feedback control up also produces lush, rhythmic wobbles that move along with the input signal.
Can I use the Kaleidoscope ULTRA with bass or synths?
JPTR FX says the pedal was designed to complement and adapt to all musical styles and input signals, and names guitar, bass, drums, synths and even vocals as intended sources, so it is not limited to guitar.
Sources (2)
- JPTR FX Kaleidoscope ULTRA, JPTR FX
- JPTR FX Kaleidoscope Ultra, JPTR FX (jptrfx.com)
