The JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 is a Jam Pedals chorus pedal, currently around $434.19. Close alternatives include the Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe and the Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus. It pairs well with the Marshall Super Bass and the Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo.
JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2
Jam Pedals · pedal
The JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 is a vibrato/chorus pedal emulating the classic Uni-Vibe circuit, built with photocells, a bulb, original NOS 2SC828 transistors, and carbon-comp resistors for period-accurate warmth, housed in a modern, pedalboard-friendly enclosure. It runs on standard 9V DC power internally lifted to 15V DC, drawing 80mA, and represents the original version in JAM's RetroVibe lineage, before the mk.3 added switching and expression-pedal refinements and the mk.4's ground-up control-range redesign.
What stands out
“Primary use case is classic psychedelic and blues-rock tones wanting the swirling, pulsing character associated with the original Uni-Vibe”
— from the community notes
“3 added switching and expression-pedal refinements and the mk”
— from the listing
“Use of original NOS 2SC828 transistors, photocells, and carbon-comp resistors gives genuine period-correct Uni-Vibe character”
— from the reviews
“2 is a vibrato”
— from the listing
“chorus pedal emulating the classic uni-vibe circuit”
— from the listing
- uni vibe
- expression pedal
- transistor
- vibrato
- chorus
- vintage
- blues rock
- psychedelic
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Where this leans warm, Marshall Super Bass answers back bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo
Peavey
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Laney Richter's bright balances out the warm tone
Mesa Boogie Subway D-350
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans warm, Mesa Boogie Subway D-350 answers back bright
PRS DG
PRS
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans warm, PRS DG answers back bright
Vox MV50 Brian May
Vox
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Vox MV50 Brian May leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Fuchs ODH
Fuchs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Fuchs ODH after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Soldano
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Pedals that stack with the JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea
EarthQuaker Devices
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea's bright balances out the warm tone
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Where this leans warm, Catalinbread Galileo answers back bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Chase Bliss Automatone CXM 1978
Chase Bliss Audio
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Chase Bliss Automatone CXM 1978 after JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb Pedal
pedal
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb Pedal after JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Alchemy Audio HBE Detox EQ
Alchemy Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Alchemy Audio HBE Detox EQ leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Free The Tone ARC-53M Audio Routing Controller
Free The Tone
tonal matchRun Free The Tone ARC-53M Audio Routing Controller after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Friedman Gold-72 Wah
Friedman
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Friedman Gold-72 Wah goes in front of JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Cheaper alternatives
Strymon Ultraviolet
Strymon
65% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, vintage charm
EarthQuaker Devices THE Depths V2
EarthQuaker Devices
62% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Tru-Fi Ghost Vibe
Tru Fi
61% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, vintage charm
Dunlop JHMS3 Hendrix Shrine Series Uni-Vibe
Dunlop
58% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Lovepedal Pickle Vibe
Lovepedal
57% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus, vintage charm
Ernie Ball Expression Tremolo
Ernie Ball
50% similarityShared character: expression pedal
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe
Smokin Amp Co
67% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus
Dunlop
64% similarityShared character: expression pedal, vibrato, chorus
Wylde Audio Rotovibe Chorus Vibrato
Wylde Audio
60% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Tinsley Audio Sir Henry Vibe
Tinsley Audio
59% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
JHS Unicorn
JHS Pedals
59% similarityShared character: expression pedal, vibrato, chorus
Roger Mayer Voodoo-Vibe 2024
Roger Mayer
52% similarityShared character: chorus
See all alternatives to the JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2?+
The closest matches in character are the Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe, the Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus, the Wylde Audio Rotovibe Chorus Vibrato. Budget picks: Strymon Ultraviolet, EarthQuaker Devices THE Depths V2, Tru-Fi Ghost Vibe.
What pairs well with the JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Super Bass, Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo, Laney Richter — Where this leans warm, Marshall Super Bass answers back bright.
How much does the JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2 cost?+
Around $434.19 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).