ArtS
Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1401
Isle of Kent, MD
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 04:42 PM
Gearheads,
I have a 65 Twin reissue that I use that has great on board Tremolo but sometimes I use my old PA-100 through a Fender cabinet, or my a hot rod with no tremolo. So, I need a recommendation for a pedal that sounds closest to Fender's on board tremolo unit. My rhythm guitarist says the Boss Tremolo is okay, but doesn't really capture the more 60's sounding surf sound. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
— Surf.The most dangerous of genres...
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MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)
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jp
Joined: Feb 09, 2007
Posts: 917
Brew City
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 04:48 PM
you will get 100 different answers to this question. It all depends on how much you want to spend. Seems to me there have been a couple tremolo threads on here. I am no fan of the boss tr2. On the high side i like the fulltone full trem, on the cheap side i like the ibanez sound tank as it has a volume knob so you don't get lost in the mix. there a several other great trems out there.
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WetBandit
Joined: Feb 01, 2010
Posts: 106
MA
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 04:50 PM
The Carl Martin Surf Trem hands down I think is the best pedal for what you're looking for, I have a '67 band master BF and the vibrato on the vibrato channel is not working at the moment (getting fixed soon), so I've been using my Carl Martin Surf Trem in the meantime and it is quite delightful
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matt
Joined: Oct 18, 2010
Posts: 656
Boston, MA
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 05:02 PM
I got a Bluebird from Pure Analog Effects which I really like. plus you can use it as a boost pedal.
$109. http://www.pureanalogeffects.com/bluebirdtremolo.aspx
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MadScientist
Joined: Jan 17, 2008
Posts: 2188
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 05:05 PM
I find the Boss Tremolo kind lacking, but ymmv. Go play with one. I actually have one that I'm looking to unload should you decide you like.
For my money, I'll take either the Voodoo Labs Tremolo or if you have the scratch, the Monster Effects Swamp Thang, which I recently got dropped in my lap courtesy of a dear friend. It's completely amazing. Built to mimic the brownface tremolo sound.
http://www.voodoolab.com/tremolo.htm
http://www.monstereffects.com/swamp2.html
—
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BigWaveBilly
Joined: Sep 09, 2007
Posts: 34
Michigan
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 06:20 PM
http://surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=11674&highlight=
I asked about some early last year. I ended up going with Dunlop MXR M159 and like it a lot...especially how I can pong the tremolo between 2 amps.
— OUTSIDE!
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 07:00 PM
Caitlinbread Semaphore
http://www.catalinbread.com/SemaphoreTremolo.html
I don't think there is a better sounding tremolo to replicate tremolo found in amps. With that said, it isn't what I use. I use a Guyatone V series Trem, It is a much stronger trem, but does the amp sounding stuff as well.
Carl Martin, I would stay away from. The Boss Tremolo can be great, it just is harder to dial in right.
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ArtS
Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1401
Isle of Kent, MD
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Posted on Feb 14 2011 08:46 PM
BigWaveBilly
http://surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=11674&highlight=I asked about some early last year. I ended up going with Dunlop MXR M159 and like it a lot...especially how I can pong the tremolo between 2 amps.
Thanks, I'm going through that link now, along with the ones Brian posted within that post.
— Surf.The most dangerous of genres...
Surfcat
MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)
BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus
YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf
BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy
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clepak
Joined: Jun 11, 2006
Posts: 551
Liege (Belgium)
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Posted on Feb 15 2011 03:16 AM
WetBandit
The Carl Martin Surf Trem hands down I think is the best pedal for what you're looking for, I have a '67 band master BF and the vibrato on the vibrato channel is not working at the moment (getting fixed soon), so I've been using my Carl Martin Surf Trem in the meantime and it is quite delightful
+1 for the Carl Martin.
I also have a cheap Artec Vintage Tremolo (that's only the product name, it's not vintage at all), it's ok but only if you're broke...
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ruger9
Joined: Feb 19, 2009
Posts: 27
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Posted on Feb 16 2011 06:19 PM
What kind of trem does the Twin have? Power-tube-bias-vary? Opto-coupler? Harmonic Vibrato?
The answer to the OP depends on what's in the Twin he wants to copy.
OK, it's an opto-coupler trem circuit. BAZILLIONS of trems out there run this. I hate to be so vague, but the opto is the most-manufactured trem pedal out there. The TR-2 is one, Supa-Trem, Voodoo Lab, the list goes on & on & on.
I prefer the Fender power-tube-bias-vary trem (Princeton reverb as an example), the best in class on this are Swamp Thang, Sugarbaby, Bluebird, BYOC.
I recently had a Malekko Trem (the tiny one) for awhile, and I have no idea what the circuit is, but it's AWESOME. I did return it because I still love my Swamp Thang, but I gotta' tell you... I've been thru dozens of trems, and the Malekko was BY FAR one of the best, I'm actually considering re-buying.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 16 2011 08:36 PM
ruger9
OK, it's an opto-coupler trem circuit. BAZILLIONS of trems out there run this. I hate to be so vague, but the opto is the most-manufactured trem pedal out there. The TR-2 is one, Supa-Trem, Voodoo Lab, the list goes on & on & on.
.
Exactly, and any trem pedal will get this sound for you, so I personally, think one should get a pedal that is capable of a thicker/different trem, that can also easily emulate the Fender Opto trem which is just not the best trem out there.
And when in doubt, just say no to Carl Martin.
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TyPierce
Joined: Oct 26, 2007
Posts: 542
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Posted on Feb 17 2011 10:40 AM
JakeDobner
Exactly, and any trem pedal will get this sound for you, so I personally, think one should get a pedal that is capable of a thicker/different trem, that can also easily emulate the Fender Opto trem which is just not the best trem out there.
Try to hunt down a Brownface-Trem-In-A-Box for exactly this reason. Monster Effects Swamp Thang and the Mojo Hand Sugar Baby come to mind. I bought a Sugar Baby a while back as I was tired of losing volume during gigs when I kicked in the trem on my Pro Reverb. When I A/B'd the pedal against my in-amp trem, it was a no-brainer win for the Sugar Baby - There's some kind of extra warmth and harmonic wobble to it that's tough to describe but very intoxicating, and it made the benchmark Blackface trem in my Pro sound almost cold and straightforward by comparison.
I sold the foot switch for my Pro's trem a while back, and the Sugar Baby is stomped every time I plug in.
If you're buying extra gear, I'm all for buying with an eye to expand the tone options at your disposal!
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2687
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Feb 17 2011 11:36 AM
JakeDobner
Caitlinbread Semaphore
http://www.catalinbread.com/SemaphoreTremolo.html
This pedal sounds amazing in their demo, it has a volume knob too, I want one.
I'm using a Line 6 Stompbox modeler and I really like the Opto Trem that varies the rate according to the volume. Hit a chord hard and it sputters, then slows down as the volume decays. I don't know of other pedals that do that, it is supposed to copy a Deluxe Reverb tremolo. It sure beats my Boss TR-2 by a long shot.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 17 2011 11:47 AM
Stormtiger
I'm using a Line 6 Stompbox modeler and I really like the Opto Trem that varies the rate according to the volume. Hit a chord hard and it sputters, then slows down as the volume decays.
That sounds really awesome. You could get some good effects out of that!
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rotarybeat1287
Joined: Feb 07, 2010
Posts: 65
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Posted on Feb 21 2011 08:37 PM
Solid gold effects stutterbox
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eddiewagner
Joined: Aug 12, 2006
Posts: 77
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Posted on Mar 01 2011 01:52 PM
i dig my boss. i clipped the c4 and all is good. sounds better to me than the tremolo on my sf pro reverb amp.....
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RobbieReverb
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2388
San Jose, Ca.
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Posted on Sep 27 2014 05:45 PM
I've been using a Keeley modified Boss TR-2, but I just saw this review, and the video demonstration (at the bottom of the review), and am intrigued by the idea of a Fender Brownface harmonic tremolo in a pedal. The samples and video sound pretty good, but they always pale in comparison to listening to it in person. I need to try one out. http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/21430-coldcraft-harmonic-tremolo-v2-review
— Bob
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Louie7
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 448
50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
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Posted on Sep 27 2014 06:01 PM
I found the Boss Tr-2 to be superior to the on-board tremolo of my SF Pro Reverb. That's really all I require. 'Better' than Fender is a good enough standard for me. Plus, it fits my Boss pedal board, like others don't; and it was only 40 bucks. And what precisely does clipping the C4 do to a TR-2, EddieWagner? I'll do it if it's worth doing.
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JONPAUL
Joined: Apr 29, 2010
Posts: 2472
Venice, CA
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Posted on Sep 27 2014 06:18 PM
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Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Sep 27 2014 06:57 PM
I am parroting Jamie's post from 2011, but I have the exact same two tremolo pedals that he had at the time: a Voodoo Labs and a Monster Effects Swamp Thing. I like either and am happy with either. Having two seems a little redundant, but I wouldn't part with either. I also periodically like the opto-isolator trem. Sometimes I like choppy. That deep, swampy warble is awesome, but not everything. Some great tremolo-ey tracks have been recorded with blackface trems.
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