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https://thmn.to/thoprod/441071?offid=1&affid=3252 affiliate link for Jan Ray
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00:00 I thought Vemuram were…expensive
00:19 price was the elephant in the room?
00:40 I spoke to a guy living in Tokyo
2:02 they really sound good?
4:19 how Vemuram first hit my radar
4:32 Paul C’s thoughts on “cloning”
5:27 I’d like to say the Ibanez SD9 sounds the same as a Vemuram Butter Machine
6:14 additional tone controls
6:22 Ibanez SD9 vs Vemuram Butter Machine
6:45 so not “just” cloning?
7:10 the brass enclosure must be expensive?
7:35 my own personal conflict with Vemuram…
8:00 Used prices are quite OKish
9:00 if you want these flavours of drive, you don’t have to spend huge money?
https://www.patreon.com/johnnathancordy you can get my backing tracks and lesson tabs here.
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnnathancordy – if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!
Get my PADs bundle here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TVZN39QQAAKTG (this folder will grow, and I’d encourage you to ask for different keys/songs and stuff that might suit this type of preset?)
I’ve decided to make it possible to grab both my Helix/HX Stomp bundles (the expression bundle with freeze presets has always been separate) together – https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=CCTNL7P2XSQDC – I will then email you a link to both bundles!
Try my general patches for Helix or HX Stomp in this bundle using this link – I will then send out the patches! https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=45L8AZ4RYL3HW
You can get my EXPRESSION patches in this bundle using this link – I will then send out the patches! https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=3PUJ7M8YPS4WU
Try my patches for Pod GO using this link – I will then send out the patches! https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2E7DSCRZW45JN
https://www.patreon.com/johnnathancordy get my backing tracks here
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnnathancordy – if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!
source
I’ve had a jan ray it was nice but like all my other pedals nothing ever stays forever. My fav tones tbh are just cranked amps without pedals.
The only pedal sellers ripping us off are on reverb. The original manufacturers generally charge a fair price given the the work and research that goes in. They need to make a profit to stay in business long-term.
Issue with this kind of pedals is that there are just too many alternatives for better prices, looking at Way Huge, JRAD, Walrus or even MXR for example, and also for most guys it won't be a noticable improvement over what the "standard" version of the pedal does.
About the prices being alright inside of Japan, that's not a useful take. Customers outside of Japan don't care about the prices being OK in Japan. These are all very basic overdrive pedals, which shouldn't cost 400€.
Was that you saying “alright, give it a rest mate” during the TruFie ad, or just the voices in my head?
Isn't their appeal ultimately additional trimpot adjustment capability either on the side or inside these pedals not offered by their inspirations?
I've owned several Vemuram pedals. 7 from memory, and they've all been fantastic. Expensive but reassuringly so
"You can't patent a circuit." – Josh Scott
That SD9 still haunts my dreams. One moment it would work fine, one moment it wouldn't. Change the electricity switch transistors. Would work fine, come back the next day and didn't work. Change electrolytic caps, would work. Come back the next day, wouldn't work … Etc etc
I run a Jan Ray and Butter on weekly gigs. (Designed for live playing imo) They are worth the money. I’m sure the case material jacks up the price and cuts down on noise. The pedals are dialed in and if not exactly tweak the mini pots. We can all get things done with junk. Getting that extra 3% is worth it to certain people. 😊
Vemuram is new to me, so thanks for the pointer. The crew at FreeStompBoxes have posted a traced schematic of the Butter Machine. I may be missing something, but the gain section (which determines the distortion character) is basically identical to the SD9 (but the diodes aren't identified; that could potentially be important). Compared to the SD9, there is a bit of high cut at the input, which will affect the distortion character, but which is something you could do with the SD9 and an EQ pedal. The tone control is altered to have a different frequency response. The trimmable EQ (described as a low-mid boost and 6 kHz boost @ Vemuram's site), is completely after the gain stage. I don't see anything that should significantly affect dynamics/headroom, except maybe having less highs in the gain stage (though maybe the diode choice is exotic). It could be interesting to see if a bit of EQ before & after an SD9 could breath new life into it, perhaps mimicking what John experiences with the Vemuram. —Tom
Great Video, John!
The Jan Ray is my favourite OD. Period. And i‘ve tried a lot (different Timmy Versions as well). The Jan Ray is super smooth and has that „spongy“ feel under the fingers.
It stacks super well with the King Of Tone (Jan Ray before) as well.
Great video. Love to hear your take on Vertex stuff.
The nux 6ixty5ive overdrive is a very decent option for $50, and it an be set for a wide range of overdrives from subtle to high gain.
Have you not embarrassed yourself enough by now? Are you so self-unaware that you don't realize how ridiculous you sound? Stop it with hassling pedal builders for heaven's sake.
Watching now for the "One weird trick…" videos…
No, you’re right the price is high. That’s not the point though. The question should be is the pedal worth that price to you?!
I honestly think you would be better watching some electronic videos to see how these things work. Been playing since the sixties and was delighted when I sold my Colour Sound fuzz ror £400 a few years ago. Still got my original MXR script logo distortion +in it's box if you want to try.
The Jan Ray is nearly a part for part clone of the Timmy, with less versatility. There are no meaningful differences to justify that price, especially when the original is readily available.
Vemuram are phenomenally well built and thought out pedals – every time. You want the best, you pay for it.
I tried the Vemuram pedals in a store. Plan was too buy the Butter Machine. But … I didn’t like them … There was too much ‘presence’. The Nordland ODR-C is the same quality but way more versatile. Never found anything lacking on an original Timmy (also love the Lovepedal OD11). Never found a good alternative for a SD9.
Should i sell my boutique pedals and but a digital efx pedal… thats my current dilemma
It’s just clipping.
A true testament would be to do a gig with a pedal board with pedals worth no more than £100.. see if the audience can tell the difference.
I'm sure these pedals and the like are very nice but I've done many gigs without boutique pedals.
Too expensive for me. Yes, ripping us off. Specifically me as a nu-x, joyo, mosky pedal lover. To other people, not a rip off at all.
Their website shows 13 out of 18 pedals as discontinued. They haven't been on my radar until the last few months, so I don't know if this is SOP for the company. 218 "Vemuram" items on Reverb, so there seems to be a healthy supply of them. I could be tempted by the SD-9 version (Butter Machine?). I've always considered the SD-9 as an "almost but not quite: pedal for me.
One of the few advantages for me, living here in the antipodes, is cheap transport costs from Japan. Never dabbled with selling pedals but I may now.
I got to say, Shanks is the best drive I've played. A close second [and half the money], Greer Lightspeed. If it inspires, it's worth it.
You remind me of that song
L'opportuniste
Chanson de Jacques Dutronc
Je suis pour le communisme
Je suis pour le socialisme
Et pour le capitalisme
Parce que je suis opportuniste
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu'un seul geste
Je retourne ma veste, je retourne ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je n'ai pas peur des profiteurs
Ni même des agitateurs
J'fais confiance aux électeurs
Et j'en profite pour faire mon beurre
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu'un seul geste
Je retourne ma veste, je retourne ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je suis de tous les partis
Je suis de toutes les party
Je suis de toutes les coteries
Je suis le roi des convertis
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu'un seul geste
Je retourne ma veste, je retourne ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je crie vive la révolution
Je crie vive les institutions
Je crie vive les manifestations
Je crie vive la collaboration
Non, jamais je ne conteste
Ni revendique ni ne proteste
Je ne sais faire qu'un seul geste
Celui de retourner ma veste, de retourner ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je l'ai tellement retournée
Qu'elle craque de tous côtés
À la prochaine révolution
Je retourne mon pantalon
If it inspires you to play, then follow what your heart desires. Have I played a vemuram peda? Not yet. Have I played absurdly expensive boutique gear before? Yes, I have, and I have spent stupid amounts of money on it as well. However, what you lose upfront, you wind up saving in the long term because that's less flopping around gear. Figured that one out with a Suhr and an Amplified Nation amp. I stopped buying guitars in 2022 thanks to the Suhr and do not desire another amp. If vemuram has that effect with pedals, I say go for it.
would you do the nu-x 65 overdrive v the janray? the nu-x 65 overdrive is like 35 pounds.
I've never played a real Vemuram pedal. But I built a Jan Ray clone from a PCB available online. It really didn't remind me much of a Timmy, even though the circuits has a ton in common. And the Jan Ray clone had so much level – a great enhancement. Really let you use it as a flexible boost (more or less drive, tone shaping, etc.).
I spent years ripping on the Jan Ray for all its daft marketing and suggestions that the brass case changes the sound. I still don't believe that stuff – it's obviously a load of crap. But I got a well-priced used one on a trip to Japan in 2019 and it's been one of my nailed-on favourites ever since…
Glad to see this they are brass enclosures and well built. You can buy one on reverb for 250 that’s not a ripoff. The janray isn’t a Timmy it definitely sounds a little different but obviously with transparent overdrives they’ll sound similar.
Glad to see this question,they are brass enclosures and well built. You can buy one on reverb for 250 that’s not a ripoff. The janray isn’t a Timmy it definitely sounds a little different but obviously with transparent overdrives they’ll sound similar.
Good pedals, yes.
Reasonably priced in Japan? Yes.
For the rest of us – circa £400 (that’s $500 US)
Very expensive.
Are they shipped from Japan in Limos?