The JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 is a Jam Pedals chorus pedal. Close alternatives include the Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe and the Empress Nebulus. It pairs well with the Marshall Plexi 1959SLP and the Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head.
JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3
Jam Pedals · pedal
The JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.3 carries forward the same Uni-Vibe-inspired circuit as the mk.2, built with the same photocells, bulb, NOS 2SC828 transistors, and carbon-comp resistors, while adding a new internal trimmer to dial down effect intensity, an upgraded clickless footswitch, and compatibility with any passive 10k expression pedal. Power consumption rises to 150mA from the mk.2's 80mA, reflecting the added switching and expression-pedal circuitry, positioning the mk.3 as a refinement of the original mk.2 rather than a full redesign.
What stands out
“and compatibility with any passive 10k expression pedal”
— from the listing
“Expression pedal compatibility with any passive 10k pedal is a real functional addition, letting players control the vibrato in real time during performance”
— from the reviews
“3 carries forward the same uni-vibe-inspired circuit as the mk”
— from the listing
“2: swirling, pulsing vibrato/chorus for psychedelic and blues-rock tones, now with expression-pedal control over the effect's rate or depth”
— from the community notes
“2, built with the same photocells, bulb, NOS 2SC828 transistors, and carbon-comp resistors, while adding a new internal trimmer to dial down effect intensity, an upgraded clickless footswitch, and compatibility with any passive 10k expressi…”
— from the listing
- expression pedal
- vibrato
- uni vibe
- psychedelic
- blues rock
- chorus
- transistor
- expression pedal control
Genres the JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3
Marshall Plexi 1959SLP
amplifier
17% matchInto the 1959SLP's aggressive plexi saturation, Retrovibe's psychedelic uni-vibe swirl adds blues-rock motion on top of the amp's own drive.
Comes later in the signal chain
Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head
Dumble
16% matchThe Dumble's responsive, transformer-driven blues breakup gives the RetroVibe's psychedelic, uni-vibe-style swirl a genuinely legendary amp voice to color.
Comes later in the signal chain
Pedals that stack with the JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Sola Sound
29% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
The Retrovibe's uni-vibe-style swirl follows the Tone Bender's throaty germanium fuzz naturally — that psychedelic pairing is basically a genre unto itself.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dunlop JDF2 Fuzz Face
pedal
26% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Run JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 after Dunlop JDF2 Fuzz Face in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop JDF2 Fuzz Face's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz
Cusack Music
24% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 after Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Cusack Music Tap-A-Fuzz's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Zvex Razzle Dazzle Fuzz Factory
Zvex
24% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Run JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 after Zvex Razzle Dazzle Fuzz Factory in the signal chain, clear of Zvex Razzle Dazzle Fuzz Factory's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Sonicake Rude Mouse Distortion
Sonicake
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep Sonicake Rude Mouse Distortion's fuzzy voice out front: JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 goes after Sonicake Rude Mouse Distortion in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dunlop Screamadelica Fuzz Face Distortion
Dunlop
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep Dunlop Screamadelica Fuzz Face Distortion's germanium voice out front: JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 goes after Dunlop Screamadelica Fuzz Face Distortion in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Flatiron Fuzz
Electro-Harmonix
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 after Electro-Harmonix Flatiron Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Flatiron Fuzz's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Spaceman Rumblefuzz II
Spaceman
22% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 after Spaceman Rumblefuzz II in the signal chain, clear of Spaceman Rumblefuzz II's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
See all 32 pedals that pair with the JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 →
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe
Smokin Amp Co
65% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Empress Nebulus
Empress
65% similarityShared character: performance, expression pedal, vibrato
Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus
Dunlop
63% similarityShared character: expression pedal, vibrato, chorus
EarthQuaker Devices THE Depths V2
EarthQuaker Devices
61% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Strymon Ultraviolet
Strymon
60% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Wylde Audio Rotovibe Chorus Vibrato
Wylde Audio
59% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Ernie Ball Expression Tremolo
Ernie Ball
59% similarityShared character: expression pedal
JHS Unicorn
JHS Pedals
59% similarityShared character: expression pedal, vibrato, chorus
Tinsley Audio Sir Henry Vibe
Tinsley Audio
58% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
EBS Red twister
Ebs
57% similarityShared character: expression pedal, vibrato, chorus
Tru-Fi Ghost Vibe
Tru Fi
56% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
Dunlop JHMS3 Hendrix Shrine Series Uni-Vibe
Dunlop
53% similarityShared character: vibrato, chorus
See all alternatives to the JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3?+
The closest matches in character are the Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe, the Empress Nebulus, the Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus.
What pairs well with the JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Plexi 1959SLP, Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head, Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII — Into the 1959SLP's aggressive plexi saturation, Retrovibe's psychedelic uni-vibe swirl adds blues-rock motion on top of the amp's own drive..