NPD / Mini Review: Jam Pedals Delay Llama Xtreme

GavRichList

This arrived on Wednesday but only had a chance to have a proper play yesterday evening. I'd taken the decision to move on my much loved Meet Maude because I wanted tap tempo and the additional functions as i'm limited to one delay by virtue of the size of my board. 

Wow. as much as I loved Maude, I dont think I'm going to miss it. This thing sounds stunning. For want of a better description, it sounds expensive. The standard delay has a wonderful warmth without losing clarity; the BBD noise almost feels like vinyl. Probably the first delay I've tried that stands up to my Moog MF104M really competitively. The Xtreme settings all sound great too, and will prove to be brilliant creative tools - the Vibrato set deep and slow is glorious wonk. Tape pretty much does what I loved out of Maude. Then we're on to the Pitch settings. Maybe not as much control as the Thermae, but tonally it absolutely wipes the floor with that. Couple that with the most insane level of packaging, and this has been one of the most impressive pedal discoveries I can think of - real magic. 

punchesjudy

Tldr version. He likes it. 

ourmaninthenorth

I took the time to read this excellent review.

Always cheers me up when someone lands on something they like. 

Nice work, thanks for posting. 

GavRichList

Thank you kindly 

mburekenge

Great pedal. Love mine.

Wazmeister

Nice review Gav, thanks for taking the time out to do it...

High praise indeed mate. These are getting a LOT of love lately, and I’ve just felt the Gasometer rise !!

Is there any background noise mate ?

I must comment on the Jam packaging; I think it’s superb, fun and shows a lot of ‘love’ and thought. 

GavRichList

Wazmeister said:

Nice review Gav, thanks for taking the time out to do it...

High praise indeed mate. These are getting a LOT of love lately, and I’ve just felt the Gasometer rise !!

Is there any background noise mate ?

I must comment on the Jam packaging; I think it’s superb, fun and shows a lot of ‘love’ and thought. 

BBDs inherently have noise- it’s considerably less than the Chase bliss offerings, and comparable with the Moog. The noise itself isn’t harsh as mentioned; I’d go so far as to say it’s desirable. 

BintyTwanger77

Better than the Thermae? Well this one is definitely on the list...

GavRichList

BintyTwanger77 said:

Better than the Thermae? Well this one is definitely on the list...

I much prefer it. 

BintyTwanger77

GavRichList said:

BintyTwanger77 said:

Better than the Thermae? Well this one is definitely on the list...

I much prefer it. 

I really did like the bubbly pitch-shifting on the Thermae, but from demos the Xtreme got very close.

GavRichList

The core delay tone is much better on the Xtreme. You can craft differentials and patterns to far more detail on the thermae... but the Llama sounds better. 

soma1975

The core tone on it is fantastic. 

colourofsound

You can always expand it if you want more pitch-shifting control: just grab something like the 8 Step: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4FWJJqX_NA

Then you have a Thermae that actually sounds good

Mine Llama is on order - can’t wait for it to arrive!

UnclePsychosis

Gav, have you tried a Hungry Robot Moby Dick, EQD Space Spiral, or Boss DM-2W?

I think you and I have quite similar tastes and I know you've been through ALL OF THE DELAYS. 

(I actually own a Moby Dick, but I'm intrigued as to how it compares to some other things). 

GavRichList

I haven’t, though that and the skreddy were always of interest. They’re not analog though are they? I’m quite fussy about that. Empress are my favourite digital emulations I think. Best I can say about this Jam is that I can say that I’m no longer looking for delays. I have delay done

UnclePsychosis

They're "digital" in that they use the PT-whatever-it-is chip. (DM-2W is analogue though). They're very much analogue sounding and feeling though. 

mburekenge

GavRichList said:

The core delay tone is much better on the Xtreme. You can craft differentials and patterns to far more detail on the thermae... but the Llama sounds better. 

I'm glad to hear that from someone who has experience. I can only judge from demos due to my location. Always thought the CB functionality and form factor was really cool but never blown away with the sound.


One of the techs at Jam told me there was an expander box coming for the llama xtreme. Not sure if it is only a preset switcher or what, but even so it sounds promising!

GavRichList

mburekenge said:

GavRichList said:

The core delay tone is much better on the Xtreme. You can craft differentials and patterns to far more detail on the thermae... but the Llama sounds better. 

I'm glad to hear that from someone who has experience. I can only judge from demos due to my location. Always thought the CB functionality and form factor was really cool but never blown away with the sound.


One of the techs at Jam told me there was an expander box coming for the llama xtreme. Not sure if it is only a preset switcher or what, but even so it sounds promising!

Always nice to learn that your future bank account will become additionally lighter 

Paul_C

How many delay pedals is too many ?

Asking for a friend.

GavRichList

Paul_C said:

How many delay pedals is too many ?

Asking for a friend.

This should be one of them 

Mike77

I'm gassing for something I didn't even know I needed now. Great review.