Tremolo advice

[tune_link]

I used to own the Boss TR2 tremolo a few years ago and it was fine. I sold it because at the time I wasn't using it very much and it seemed like I couldn't get too wide a variety of sounds out of it. I've been looking at bringing tremolo back to my board but I can't decide on a pedal. I'm pretty sure I don't want another TR2. I keep hearing about the Walrus Monument being great but I honestly hate the way it looks. Was wondering if any of you all knew of something that could do hard repeats like the EQD Hummingbird but also do mellow amp style stuff. I looked at the EHX Super Pulsar but it seems like it would be a pretty large pedalboard footprint and have way more options than I'd ever use.

[marqueemoon]

The new MXR thing looks pretty cool.

No onboard tap tempo (overrated for tremolo IMO), but it has a multifunction jack that could be used for that.

[lamp]

The tc electronic pipeline is really versatile, especially with the toneprint functionality. I really like mine.

[Zork]

I think the EHX Stereo Pulsar is very versatile, affordable and not very large. Why not try one of those if you were already interested in the Super Pulsar?

[Guy Guyatone]

For a cheap pedal, I was pleasantly surprised by my "Trelicopter" tremolo pedal, there are a couple of different versions on the market but I think they are all the same. Make sure it has a "bias" knob.

[Shadoweclipse13]

Tremolo being my favorite effect, I've had a few: Keeley-modded BOSS TR-2, BYOC tremolo that I built, EQD Hummingbird, EQD Night Wire, Caroline Parabola. The Hummingbird is awesome as does the chop thing really well. Depending on the position of the depth knob, it has a slightly different wave shape (triangle (?) for lighter depth, square for heavier depth, and a blend of the two in the middle) as well as 3 speed modes. Damn good tremolo. For a while, the Caroline Parabola was my choice over the Hummingbird since it can do both amplitude and frequency modulation, has a switch for 2 speed settings (changing the range of the speed knob) and is very versatile. The Parabola also has a really nice preamp that can drive the tremolo, but I don't use it very high (knob around 10:00). Now, I have both on my board, but they are both very awesome tremolos.

Awesome tremolos that I've never tried and would like to:
Walrus Monument
Old Blood Noise Endeavors White Cap (dual asynchronous tremolo)
Catalinbread Semaphore (the old one that was in a bigger enclosure)
Stone Deaf Tremotron (looks awesome, though probably more complicated than I'd like)
David Rolo Twin Peaks
Dwarfcraft Devices Twin Stags
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dweller (tremolo with delay?)
Jam Pedals Big Chill

[budda12ax7]

Bad cat trem : foot switchable two speeds

[Beltone]

For reasons I still don't fully understand, there is a long discussion about tremolo pedals in the Amps section you might enjoy for recommendations.

https://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vi ... 0&t=115090

[tune_link]

The new MXR thing looks pretty cool.

No onboard tap tempo (overrated for tremolo IMO), but it has a multifunction jack that could be used for that.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I think I'm gonna try this MXR thing as it seems to be a potential swiss army knife of trem. Those can often go either way though - for example I find that after having many cheaper multifunction reverbs that the main thing I want is a really good modulated reverb most of all rather than a one size fits most pedal that does a decent mod reverb. That being said at least the MXR would give me options to try more than one trem type and see which one is maybe the most useful for what I do.

I think, to sort of respond to last comment here, that the reason there's a trem discussion in the amp section is that they're discussing amps with a built in trem function like a Fender Twin Reverb has among others. If that veered off into a discussion of pedals at some point I wouldn't be surprised though.

[Tafarel]

You might want to look into the Caroline Parabola and the Mattoverse Tremstortion. They both do what the Hummingbird does -- a hard chop, as well as reverse sawtooth tremolo. Both also have all of the standard tremolo settings. They also have plenty of gain on tap. I have both, ATM, and am using the Mattoverse on my board right now.

[Igorilla]

If you are not afraid of going digital, I would suggest Source Audio Vertigo Tremolo.
Many, many good tremolo sounds in that pedal.
Even without App/PC editor you get optical, bias, and a sick harmonic tremolo with a pot for wave shape adjustment and volume pot with the stock unit.

[ElephantDNA]

Just ordered a new trem a few minutes ago! Ha great minds think alike. I went with the catalinbread valcoder I managed to find on a clearance for $115. The project I'm in is very early punk/garage rock, so I wanted to upgrade to a filthier modulation sound. Also found a b-stock Phase 45 script reissue for a nice discount as well. Plan is to set that pretty subtle and then the trem pretty aggressive. We'll see.

If I wasn't going for such a specific thing, I would suggest also what other above have mentioned. The boss and EHX are very solid and won't let you down. I am a fan of the TC toneprint pedals if you want to try a lot of different stuff without overspending. And MXR can be a little generic with some of their products but are affordable and get the job done. I'm less familiar with some of those boutique options, but I'm sure they have their merits.

[shoule79]

Chop/repeat percussions? mellow tremolo sounds?

Sounds like you want the Walrus Monument. I've been a fan of it since V1, I think its catching on now that the V2 has the smaller case. It has a lot of bang for your buck feature wise and sounds good.

I have a Flint on my board to save some space, but if i'm recommending a pure tremolo the Monument is usually my go to.

[Shadoweclipse13]

Chop/repeat percussions? mellow tremolo sounds?

Sounds like you want the Walrus Monument. I've been a fan of it since V1, I think its catching on now that the V2 has the smaller case. It has a lot of bang for your buck feature wise and sounds good.

I have a Flint on my board to save some space, but if i'm recommending a pure tremolo the Monument is usually my go to.

That's interesting. I was really interested in trying a Monument when it came out. I like the size of the V2, but I have never cared for the double footswitches on that size enclosure, and would probably prefer the bigger one.

[shoule79]

Chop/repeat percussions? mellow tremolo sounds?

Sounds like you want the Walrus Monument. I've been a fan of it since V1, I think its catching on now that the V2 has the smaller case. It has a lot of bang for your buck feature wise and sounds good.

I have a Flint on my board to save some space, but if i'm recommending a pure tremolo the Monument is usually my go to.

That's interesting. I was really interested in trying a Monument when it came out. I like the size of the V2, but I have never cared for the double footswitches on that size enclosure, and would probably prefer the bigger one.

Yeah, after owning the Fathom and Arp-87, two footswitches on a small form factor are a non starter for me, I'm sticking with the V1. Its one of my pedals in the "never sell" pile, even if i'm not using it on my board.