JAM RetroVibe

126 Guitarist March 2015
JAM PEDALS £165-£255
PEDAL ROUND-UP
JAM
TubeDreamer
58
PRICE: £165
ORIGIN: Greece
TYPE: Overdrive pedal
FEATURES: True-bypass
CONTROLS: Level,
tone, gain
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard output
POWER: 9V battery or 9V
DC supply (6mA)
DIMENSIONS: 60 (w) x 111
(d) x 32mm (h)
JAM RetroVibe
PRICE: £255
ORIGIN: Greece
TYPE: Vibe pedal
FEATURES: True-bypass
CONTROLS: Depth,
speed, 2x internal trimmer
(level, intensity)
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard output
POWER: 9V battery or 9V
DC supply (65mA)
DIMENSIONS: 94 (w) x
119 (d) x 53mm (h)
440 Distribution
01132 589599
www.jampedals.com
J
AM has four different versions of
the Tubedreamer in its range. All
are based on the Tube Screamer
but vary in their circuitry to produce a
different tonal response. This TD58’s
variation is that it uses the JRC4558D
chip, as in the original TS808, but has
three diodes for asymmetrical clipping
instead of symmetrical. The TD58’s
control knobs have largely the same
range as a vintage TS808 and the sound
naturally has a little extra added in the
midrange area to help its prominence in
a mix. What you are getting is a natural
amp-like overdrive that responds really
well to picking dynamics and is
endowed with plenty of clarity so that
every note in a chord rings true. It’s a
great asset in front of any valve amp,
adding a natural leg-up whether you
want a lead sound to complement your
clean or to get a driven amp to sing.
Verdict
Everybody’s doing one these days, but as
Tube Screamer-style pedals go, this is
one of the best we have played through.
W
e’ve seen quite a few Uni-
Vibe-style pedals lately,
including Korg’s up-to-the-
minute take on the original with totally
redesigned circuitry. By contrast, JAM’s
take on the ’Vibe goes back to the original
sound creation method of using four
photocells surrounding a pulsating light
source. You don’t get the switchable
vibrato and chorus modes or treadle-
operated adjustment, but, between
them, the depth and speed knobs provide
plenty of variation. The pedal doesn’t
lack volume when kicked in and there’s
an internal trimmer (factory-set to max)
to reduce the output. Another internal
trim pot adjusts the maximum intensity.
We’d like to resist the temptation to
name-check Hendrix and Trower in a
vibe review, but the RetroVibe will sound
so familiar if you’re a fan of either – not
just the modulation but a gloopy
reduction in the top end, too.
Verdict
It’s not too big, sounds authentic and has
purple chicken head knobs!
JAM pedals
£165-£255
BY Trevor Curwen
PHOTOGRAPHY Joseph Branston
Boutique and Greek!
J
AM pedals are handmade in Greece
using only high-quality materials,
including rare NOS chips, specially
selected matched NOS transistors, tropical fish
capacitors and carbon comp resistors. For the
most part, they are based on classic pedals
from the past and designed to deliver vintage
tones, particularly the sounds of classic 60s
and 70s rock. Users include Billy Gibbons,
Brad Whitford, Dweezil Zappa, Bernie
Marsden, Bill Frisell and Nels Cline. Custom
artwork is available at extra cost, as are point-
to-point wired versions.
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: Organic overdrive with
real clarity
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: Authentic sound delivered
via the simplest interface
GIT391.rev_ped1.indd 126 22/01/2015 14:55