The Pettyjohn Electronics CHIME3 is a handmade overdrive pedal aimed at clean to low gain tones. Pettyjohn describes it as being all about that pushed Vox/Matchless sound, cranked British AC style amps at the edge of breakup1. It belongs to the Pettyjohn3 "Cubed" Series, all of which are handmade in the Pacific Northwest, USA1.
What it does to your sound
Pettyjohn says the CHIME is focused on clean to low gain overdrive tones1. The stock transformer is a USA made steel core transformer, which the maker says adds subtle warmth and color and will saturate more as it is pushed, giving magnetic saturation and amp-like sag1. Power is a major part of the design: a proprietary 36-volt dual rail power supply is delivered via the FOUNDRY Series charge pump, which Pettyjohn says gives up to four times the headroom of most guitar pedals1.
In the middle clipping position, the pedal becomes something else entirely. Pettyjohn describes it as turning the CHIME V3 into a preamp/boost/tone shaper preamp pedal with loads of level and mojo on tap1, a role that puts it in territory shared with dedicated preamp pedals.
The controls
The CHIME3 gives you gain, tone, and low-end control on the surface, plus two clipping selectors1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DRIVE | Controls the main overdrive gain amount1 |
| TILT | Tone control, flat at noon; turning right boosts highs and cuts lows, turning left cuts highs and boosts lows, around a 1K center point1 |
| LOWS | Sweepable HPF (high pass filter, low cut) to control the low energy1 |
| UV LED clipping switch | Selects Yellow and Blue LED clipping, or UV/"preamp mode" with no clipping in the middle position1 |
| GERMANIUM clipping mini toggle | Selects between the two germanium clipping settings of the original V1 CHIME; the middle position activates the LED options1 |
There is also an internal preamp switch, a toggle that switches the UV LED mode out for no clipping or PREAMP mode1.
The 250mA stock and 300mA deluxe current draw is high for a single pedal. Most daisy chain outputs cannot supply it, so the CHIME3 needs its own high-current output on a pedalboard power supply1.
From the PettyDrive V1 to the ROYAL Limited
The CHIME circuit has a history inside the Pettyjohn range. The maker describes the CHIME circuit as originally issued in the PettyDrive V1, and the CHIME3 carries that circuit forward1. The CHIME V1 was identified as a low to medium gain overdrive in Pettyjohn's drive range2.
The line developed in stages. The CHIME circuit first appeared in the PettyDrive V1 before being issued as the CHIME V1, a low to medium gain overdrive12. One of the later limited runs was the ROYAL Limited, released in 2022 with blue LEDs; Pettyjohn notes that those who snagged one have further confirmed the design1.
The CHIME3 is a current production pedal, but build times run 5 to 15 business days before shipping1.
Mods and options
Pettyjohn offers custom shop options on the CHIME3 product page, including a Custom Wood Top1. The main upgrade is the Deluxe Dual 990 Discrete Opamp Mod, which at $99 USD replaces one Burr Brown chip with a dual studio-grade 990-style discrete opamp running the input buffer and the Inductor Mids/Output buffer stage1. That mod is also why the deluxe configuration draws 300mA rather than the stock 250mA1.
The CHIME3 sits alongside the rest of the current Foundry V3 range, including the IRON V3 and GOLD3, and the earlier CHIME versions. For a wider view of where a low-gain drive like this fits, see the site's overdrive pedals page.
Questions
Does the Pettyjohn CHIME3 have a transformer?
Yes. The stock transformer is a USA made steel core transformer, which Pettyjohn says adds subtle warmth and color and saturates more as it is pushed, giving a magnetic saturation and amp-like sag character. A Custom Wood Top is also offered as a custom shop option on the product page.
How much current does the CHIME3 need?
The CHIME3 runs on 36 volts of internal power from a standard 9V to 15V adapter, drawing 250mA in stock form and 300mA in the deluxe configuration. Because of the current draw, a standard low-current daisy chain output will not run it; use a supply output rated for at least 300mA.
What does the UV LED clipping switch do on the CHIME3?
The UV LED clipping switch selects between Yellow and Blue LED clipping, and its middle position accesses UV or preamp mode with no clipping at all. That turns the pedal into a preamp, boost, and tone shaper with plenty of level on tap. A separate Germanium clipping mini toggle selects the two germanium clipping settings of the original V1 CHIME, with its middle position activating the LED options.
Where is the Pettyjohn CHIME3 made?
All Pettyjohn3 Cubed Series pedals, including the CHIME3, are handmade in the Pacific Northwest, USA, by Pettyjohn Electronics.
Sources (2)
- CHIME3 | Pettyjohn Elec, Pettyjohn Electronics, 2022
- A Drive For All Occasions, Pettyjohn Electronics, 2018-12-13
