Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Decades Pedals perfectly revives and improves Multivox's 1978 Big Jam Distortion - which sits sort of adjacent to but distinct from the early MXR Distortion+ and DOD250
Key Points
Multivox commissioned Firstman Electronics (aka Hillwood) to manufacture the 1978 Big Jam Distortion. Built around a UA741/LM741 OpAmp, 1N60 Germanium Diodes and two C945 Silicon Transistors, it sits near the MXR Distortion+ and DOD250, but with a richer output profile.
Decades Pedals’ MultiJam uses the original components and adds Fat Cap and Modern modes for more volume, punch and definition. Controls are Volume, Drive, Fat Cap, Tone and Mode.
It delivers a textured 70’s style distortion, though the article’s only critique is that it could use more volume and a little more gain. It goes for $250 from the Decades Pedals Webstore.
So back in the late 70’s, American brand Multivox commissioned Japan’s Firstman Electronics (aka Hillwood) to OEM manufacture a new series of ’Big Jam’ pedals. Of which the Big Jam Distortion was one of the key successes.
The Big Jam Distortion sits somewhat adjacent to the other 2 big late 70’s American distortions - MXR’s Distortion+ and DOD’s 250 - the DOD250 was essentially a clone of the MXR - and both originally had Germanium Diodes - where the DOD250 later changed to Silicon Diodes. The ProCo Rat from the same kind of timeline is a quite different animal - while those are all examples of American 70’s era hard-clipper distortions.
The Big Jam Distortion starts with the same foundation essentially - a UA741 / LM741 OpAmp and Germanium Diodes, and it then adds 2 x C945 Silicon Transistors into the mix for an even richer output profile.
There are still some 70’s dynamics and sensibilities apparent in the new and improved Decades Pedals MultiJam variant - where my friend Quentin has used the same components as in the original - including rare UA741, C945 and in particular 1N60 Germanium Diodes.
The output most definitely reminds me of the Distortion+ and DOD250, but with a little extra in the mix. Those 70’s distortions could all have done with a little more volume output, and that’s still noticeable here to a degree - albeit much improved with the extra 2 mods Quentin provides here. I pretty much have those 2 toggle-switches welded to the right - as they sound so much better On than Off - and give the pedal a little more output volume, punch and definition.
The Big Jam / MultiJam is a great sounding 70’s style distortion and a little more exotic for sure than its other contemporaries. I kind of collect extended range DOD250’s and MXR Distortion+ types and those were the first that came to mind when I played the MultiJam.
For a number of my DOD250 variants I always feel they could have done with a little more volume and oomph. A lot of those 70's pedals kind of went to 8 or 9 on the output profile - where I typically prefer '11'.
For this Decades MultiJam - that's my only critique really - that I would have liked a little more volume, and possibly just a smidge more gain. It's like driving a sports car and feeling that it could really do with just one more gear!
This is one of those Nashville secret weapons, and there is already a clique of players who favour this distortion - which have been very receptive of Quentin's new revival. The original of course had slider controls - and came in a very distinct 70's era appropriate enclosure.
Quentin has done an excellent job in bringing the Big Jam Distortion up to date. It's a variety that I wasn't familiar with before. I'm not sure many of these made it to Europe. I guess it's a little like those early Ross pedals in that respect.
Controls - Volume, Drive, Fat Cap : Off/On, Tone, Mode : Vintage / Modern.
I tend to have the Volume and Drive controls maxed out, with the Tone @ 3 o'c - and the Fat Cap and Modern Modes consistently and continuously applied.
It's a great sounding pedal - slightly more textured and more interesting than the Distortion+ and DOD250, but could still ideally do with that one more gear!
There's much to love about this edition - Quentin has done an excellent job here - and as you can see from my visuals - this is a really high quality build.
If you like DOD250's and Distoriton+'s and are looking for something along similar lines but better - then this has to be your best choice. Highly commended. The MultiJam goes for $250 from the Decades Pedals Webstore.
Demos
