Paul Cochrane Timmy vs. Vemuram Jan Ray: Does the Pricey Clone Outshine the Original?

If you’re reading this, you probably already know about the Timmy. It’s one of those legendary pedals that’s almost always part of the conversation around low-to-mid-gain, “transparent” overdrives. Created by Paul Cochrane, the Timmy is all about adding boost and distortion while preserving the dynamics and voicing of your amp.

Over the years, the Timmy has seen a few versions, but for this comparison, I’m focusing on the V2. The V2 features an external 3-position clipping switch, along with bass and treble "cut" style controls—meaning as you turn them clockwise, they roll off bass and treble frequencies. This version also served as the basis for the MXR Custom Shop Timmy collaboration, offering a more affordable option for those who want the Timmy sound without breaking the bank.

For a deeper dive into the various versions, check out this video by Rhett Shull.

By now, it’s pretty well known that the Vemuram Jan Ray is essentially a direct clone of the Timmy, even though its marketing blurb claims it was designed to recreate the tone of ’60s Black Panel Fender amps. When you look at the schematics, they’re almost identical. This has stirred up a fair bit of controversy, especially with the Jan Ray’s hefty price tag—a new one will set you back around £400. I picked up a used one on Reverb for £280, which is still a lot for an overdrive pedal. Timmy prices are climbing, but I found my V2 on eBay for £235 (the switch was a bit finicky, but a quick spray of contact cleaner seemed to sort it out). The MXR version, which I haven’t tried yet, retails for around £140. When it comes to affordability, that’s one point to the Timmy.

Say what you want about Vemuram pedals, but they definitely feel like quality pieces with their heavy brass enclosures and soft-touch footswitch. There's a reason you see them on so many pro pedalboards. The Shanks ODS-1 is one of my favourites, but I didn’t really bond with the Jan Ray. It has more gain than the Timmy and sounds brighter and harsher to my ears. The up position on the Timmy’s 3-way switch is probably the closest to the Jan Ray, but I actually prefer the mellower, less compressed middle position.

The Timmy feels well-built too, but it’s more in line with your typical boutique pedal, housed in a powder-coated Hammond enclosure (though I do like the blue of this one). As I mentioned, the footswitch was a bit dodgy on mine, so maybe the quality of components isn’t quite on the same level as the Vemuram pedals.

I found it way easier to dial in a good sound on the Timmy. With the Jan Ray, I spent more time tweaking. I’m also not a fan of the trim pots on Vemuram pedals—you need a tiny screwdriver to adjust them, and honestly, it just adds a layer of option paralysis. The Jan Ray’s saturation control, when fully clockwise, sounded woolly and muddy, and when fully counterclockwise, was thin and bright. In the end, I just left it in the middle.

If you want to hear them, check this comparison. To be honest, I'm not sure how useful these comparisons are. Yes, you can dial them in to sound almost identical, but for me, it’s more about the sounds I want from the pedal and how easy it is to find them.

For me, it’s a clear win for the Timmy. The Jan Ray is going back on Reverb, and I think I’ll grab an MXR version for another comparison. If you’re interested in that, let me know in the comments!