The Pepper Pedals Jalapeño Overdrive is a hand-built overdrive pedal from Pepper Pedals, a builder based in Atlanta, Georgia. It takes the standard three-knob overdrive layout and adds two switches, FAT and SEEDS, that change the pedal's low end and clipping character. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in May 2014 and described its sound as "Meaty yet warm, crunchy yet smooth," adding that it takes a while to dial in because the options are vast and the tones remarkable1.
The controls: Level, Tone, Gain, FAT and SEEDS
The core of the pedal is the familiar overdrive layout. As Pedal of the Day's reviewer put it, "Your basic Level, Tone and Gain knobs make up the core of almost every overdrive pedal, and the Jalapeño is no different"1. Those three knobs set output level, tone shaping and the amount of drive, as on most overdrive pedals.
The two switches are what set the Jalapeño apart from a standard three-knob overdrive1:
- FAT: a switch that adds heavy chunk and low-end heat to your tone, per the reviewer1
- SEEDS: a three-way toggle with very distinct sounds. UP gives an added crunch tone, MIDDLE works as a great boost, and DOWN compresses your tone just enough but not too much1
The reviewer's verdict on SEEDS was that all three positions are extremely usable, where a number of other overdrives he had encountered offered only one, maybe two usable positions1.
The Chipotle / Jalapeño 2-in-1 dual overdrive
Pepper Pedals also built a one-off dual enclosure that combines the Jalapeño with the company's Chipotle Distortion in a single housing. Pedal of the Day featured the custom pedal, the Pepper Pedals Chipotle / Jalapeño 2-In-1 Dual Overdrive, in November 2014, describing it as a combo of the Chipotle Distortion and Jalapeño Overdrive3.
The right side of the dual pedal is the Jalapeño Drive, a low-to-mid gain overdrive with Volume, Tone and Drive controls. Its Seeds toggle selects from three different clipping modes: Compressed in the down position using asymmetrical silicon, Crunch in the up position using Red LEDs, and Boost in the middle, which removes the diodes for a boost section3. A second toggle, Stuff, acts like a bass enhancer, thickening up the tone and cutting the high end a bit for a smooth and rich overdrive3.
"Great as individual pedals, killer as a team, the Chipotle and Jalapeño Dual Overdrive is another sonic work of art"
Hand-built construction and custom work
Pedal of the Day's review sums up the Jalapeño's build as "Hand-built, one at a time, supreme craftsmanship, and true bypass," calling those the things players look for in a great effects pedal1. The reviewer also noted that Pepper Pedals takes custom requests: "You want a custom graphic on your pedal? Just ask. They'll even do metal etching if need be"1. The one-off Chipotle/Jalapeño dual pedal featured later that year is an example of that custom work3.
The Jalapeño Overdrive was reviewed by Pedal of the Day in 2014, and the Chipotle/Jalapeño dual pedal is described as a one-of-a-kind custom build rather than a regular production pedal13.
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Questions
Is the Pepper Pedals Jalapeño Overdrive true bypass?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review of the Jalapeño Overdrive lists true bypass alongside its hand-built construction as part of what the reviewer looked for in a pedal. True bypass means the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when it is switched off, so it does not load down or color your guitar's tone when not in use.
What does the SEEDS switch do?
SEEDS is a three-way toggle that changes the pedal's clipping character. On the dual Chipotle/Jalapeño pedal, the Seeds toggle selects between asymmetrical silicon clipping in the down position, Red LED clipping in the up position, and diode removal in the middle for a boost section. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found all three positions extremely usable, where many other overdrives offer only one or two usable settings.
What does the FAT switch do on the Jalapeño?
The FAT switch adds what Pedal of the Day described as heavy chunk and low-end heat to your tone. It is the first of the pedal's two switches, sitting alongside the SEEDS toggle, and gives you a thicker, fuller low end when you want it without touching the main knobs.
Can Pepper Pedals make custom graphics for the Jalapeño?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day, custom graphics are available on request, and the maker will even do metal etching if needed. The site's later feature on the Chipotle/Jalapeño 2-in-1 dual overdrive shows an example of the custom work the builder produces.
Is the Jalapeño Overdrive handmade?
Yes. Pedal of the Day's review describes the Jalapeño Overdrive as hand-built, one at a time, and notes the craftsmanship as part of its appeal. Pepper Pedals is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and the site's feature on the dual Chipotle/Jalapeño pedal describes the builder's work as a sonic work of art.
Sources (3)
- Pepper Pedals Jalapeño Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-05-16
- Pepper Pedals Jalapeño Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-05-01
- Pepper Pedals Chipotle / Jalapeño 2-In-1 Dual Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-11-02
