Jackson Audio New Wave

A Modern Vision of BBD Chorus, Designed with Mark Lettieri

The Jackson Audio New Wave follows in the tradition of great analog BBD chorus circuits while pushing the concept much further in terms of control. The core sound remains decidedly organic thanks to the MN3007 chips, while a microcontroller finely manages parameters to offer stability, memory, and precision that are difficult to achieve with traditional 100% analog designs.

Developed with Mark Lettieri (Snarky Puppy), the New Wave aims for the "ultimate chorus": the warmth and texture of a vintage chorus, but with a contemporary approach designed for modern pedalboards, stereo playing, and MIDI setups.

For Which Guitarists and Contexts is the New Wave Ideal?

The New Wave is aimed at musicians who want an expressive chorus/vibrato capable of ranging from subtle thickening to very pronounced modulations without losing definition. It suits guitarists in funk, pop, rock, and fusion as well as fans of ambient textures seeking a wide and lively stereo image.

In the studio, it excels at recording clean and controlled stereo takes, with perfectly locked speeds thanks to tap tempo. Live, its presets and MIDI control allow instant recall of consistent sounds from one song to another, while maintaining an "analog" playing feel under the fingers.

Controls, Presets, and Control Options: A Pedal Designed as a True Tool

The New Wave offers comprehensive ergonomics with dedicated controls for depth, speed, and tone, as well as rarer parameters on a chorus pedal. The announced controls are: Mix, Depth / Mode, Speed, Tone, Phase/Ratio / Shape, and Delay. This combination allows precise dosing of effect level, modulation intensity, brightness, and how the stereo image is constructed between the two channels.

The pedal includes 7 presets designed to cover the essentials: "70" (classic mono chorus with clock and LFO references measured on an original CE-1), "80" (stereo chorus inspired by the CE-300), "RCK" (80's style chorus with integrated pitch shifter), "VIB" (classic vibrato), "ROT" (pitch and amplitude modulation simulating a Leslie speaker), "HRM" (harmonic mode, each channel modulated mathematically), and "UC" (user control for creating your own sounds).

For further flexibility, the New Wave integrates advanced performance features: tap tempo, Slow and Fast modes, and a latch mode for momentary effect activation. It also supports the use of an expression pedal to control speed, as well as recordable settings usable via an expression pedal or footswitches like RAMP or BLOOM, allowing you to create gradual transitions or instant swells depending on your playing.

Finally, the LFO section offers 5 digitally controlled waveforms : sine, triangle, square, and two custom harmonic shapes inspired by the ARP Solina synthesizer. This allows you to move from a smooth, "liquid" chorus to more chopped, almost synthetic effects, while remaining musical.

Sound

The New Wave delivers rich, three-dimensional modulation with the typical BBD circuit feel: natural movement, slight warm coloration, and a very pleasant response to playing dynamics. At subtle settings, it thickens the signal and widens the sound without drowning the attack, ideal for funk rhythms, pop arpeggios, or broader leads.

At deeper settings, it becomes very expressive: clear vibrato, more pronounced 80's chorus, credible rotary effect to bring life to a part, and harmonic textures that fill the stereo space with remarkable precision. The Phase/Ratio control is a real plus: it manages the sensation of width and movement between channels, adapting the effect to a mix, a front-of-house sound, or a stereo recording.

Technical specifications

Effects	Chorus, Effects	Type	sector
Technology	Analog & Digital	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Blue
EQ	Tone

7 presets	70, 80, RCK, VIB, ROT, HRM, UC	Phase/Ratio adjustment	phase alignment of the 2 channels from 0 to 180 degrees out-of-phase
5 waveforms	sine, triangle, square, 2 harmonic shapes inspired by the ARP Solina