Malekko Trem vs. FullTone Supa-Trem

IMNoone

Joined: May 18, 2013
Posts: 41

Posted on May 28 2013 03:26 PM

I've read good things about both of these and wanted to get your 2 cents on which might give me a more "real" surf tremolo sound. I can score the Malekko for about $80 and the Fulltone for about $150. Grazi!

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SanchoPansen

Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
Germany

Posted on May 29 2013 06:18 AM

Had an eye on those Malekkos a couple of months ago as well. Nice sounding trem for a fair price. The Fulltone seems to be good as well and IIRC Rick Miller from SCOTS uses it. I used a Nobels trem, which is really okayish for the money and the MXR Tremolo, which is a fantastic pedal! I ended up buying the Strymon flint and won't look back. All hooked on the brownface tremolo since I got the Flint.
I think it depends on how often and for which songs you want the trem. For the 'common surf trem' all the trems above should do the trick. If you want to have that whacky MOAM trem, you have to get the MXR or Flint. If you're looking for a sturdy trem to get some nuances to your strumming, buy the Fulltone. If you just want to play around with a trem in general, get a cheap one.
You may also have a look at the Pulsar from Electro Harmonix. Not bad and the price seems fair.
/Edit: Oh, and I remember reading somewhere on the net, that the Malekko Pedals are not very reliable. Not my personal experience, but there have been some reports.

—

The Hicadoolas

Last edited: May 29, 2013 21:05:05

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IMNoone

Joined: May 18, 2013
Posts: 41

Posted on May 29 2013 11:08 AM

Wow, thanks for the info, Sancho! That'll definitely help as I plunge in.

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mike_fried

Joined: Aug 02, 2012
Posts: 162
Nashville, TN
United States

Posted on Jun 02 2013 04:22 PM

I have the Malekko - it sounds great and has been on my board for a year with no problems; my only complaint is that the speed control's taper bunches up the fast speeds in the last quarter of its range. Being a tech, I looked into changing out its pot for a better taper (reverse audio instead of linear FWIW), but one that will fit doesn't seem to be available (which is probably why it is the way it is )

Last edited: Jun 02, 2013 16:23:10

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JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Jun 03 2013 02:40 AM

Hey howabout the Mooger Fooger Ring Modulator? They are the go-to trem pedal in Nashville, I understand. The cool thing about the RM is that in sub-audio range, the two signals, LFO and Modulator interact to create cross-pulses which can double up and halve the apparent rate of tremolo, yielding a slowing+speeding up effect, if you like. In audio range they produce sum and difference pitches. It also has Control Voltage inputs for LFO rate and Modulation pitch. Switchable sine and square wave and mix knob, as well as Drive to compensate or boost the output. Does not fit on a pedal board, though.

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Squink Out!

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IMNoone

Joined: May 18, 2013
Posts: 41

Posted on Jun 03 2013 01:17 PM

Hmm, cool idea JObeast! Well, the Supra-Trem on the local CL is gone and while I dig the sound of the Malekko on YouTube, I've now read enough things to be leary of them. I'll probably keep goofing with what I've got with one eye on Craigslist for something else to pop up. Many thanks, guys!

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AXXA

Joined: Mar 30, 2013
Posts: 51
Atlanta GA
United States

Posted on Jun 04 2013 01:21 AM

The Supa is the way to go IMO.

I had the Malekko, and it was decent, but it drove me nuts using it with dirt. With a dirty amp, fuzz, OD or boost pedals, the tremolo effect was cancelled out, even with the depth/intensity cranked. This is a problem with many trems that don't do 100% wet, to be fair. It was great for more subtle stuff though. I prefer more stuttery trems I guess.

That said, I love my Boss TR-2, it goes from chop to subtle quite well.

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JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Jun 04 2013 04:06 PM

AXXA,
you will never, ever get that problem with the MF RM. It's probably the most flexible device for tremolo, and what other device gives a cross-rhythm tremolo?

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Squink Out!

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IMNoone

Joined: May 18, 2013
Posts: 41

Posted on Jun 21 2013 08:46 PM

Finally grabbed a Supa-Trem on CL today! Wow, it sounds like the notes are breathing! I spent most of the evening toying with it and there's just one thing that's bugging me for a pedal of this price - the on/off button makes an audible through-the-amp SNAP! every time it's pressed. No biggie if it's on for a whole song, but could be annoying for stepping on during a song. Any hints or tips to fix this?
Yours in Reverb

Last edited: Jun 21, 2013 20:46:56

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SanchoPansen

Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
Germany

Posted on Jun 22 2013 06:25 AM

Mmmmh, it shouldn't do that. It might be your power supply or the button itself.

—

The Hicadoolas

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IMNoone

Joined: May 18, 2013
Posts: 41

Posted on Jun 22 2013 07:47 AM

Yeah, I think it was placed in a weird spot in the signal chain. I switched it all up and it seems to have stopped, thanks. Whew!

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IMNoone Joined: May 18, 2013 Posts: 41	Posted on May 28 2013 03:26 PM I've read good things about both of these and wanted to get your 2 cents on which might give me a more "real" surf tremolo sound. I can score the Malekko for about $80 and the Fulltone for about $150. Grazi! Top
SanchoPansen Joined: Jan 04, 2011 Posts: 1588 Berlin L-Berg	Posted on May 29 2013 06:18 AM Had an eye on those Malekkos a couple of months ago as well. Nice sounding trem for a fair price. The Fulltone seems to be good as well and IIRC Rick Miller from SCOTS uses it. I used a Nobels trem, which is really okayish for the money and the MXR Tremolo, which is a fantastic pedal! I ended up buying the Strymon flint and won't look back. All hooked on the brownface tremolo since I got the Flint. I think it depends on how often and for which songs you want the trem. For the 'common surf trem' all the trems above should do the trick. If you want to have that whacky MOAM trem, you have to get the MXR or Flint. If you're looking for a sturdy trem to get some nuances to your strumming, buy the Fulltone. If you just want to play around with a trem in general, get a cheap one. You may also have a look at the Pulsar from Electro Harmonix. Not bad and the price seems fair. /Edit: Oh, and I remember reading somewhere on the net, that the Malekko Pedals are not very reliable. Not my personal experience, but there have been some reports. — The Hicadoolas Last edited: May 29, 2013 21:05:05 Top
IMNoone Joined: May 18, 2013 Posts: 41	Posted on May 29 2013 11:08 AM Wow, thanks for the info, Sancho! That'll definitely help as I plunge in. Top
mike_fried Joined: Aug 02, 2012 Posts: 162 Nashville, TN	Posted on Jun 02 2013 04:22 PM I have the Malekko - it sounds great and has been on my board for a year with no problems; my only complaint is that the speed control's taper bunches up the fast speeds in the last quarter of its range. Being a tech, I looked into changing out its pot for a better taper (reverse audio instead of linear FWIW), but one that will fit doesn't seem to be available (which is probably why it is the way it is ) Last edited: Jun 02, 2013 16:23:10 Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Jun 03 2013 02:40 AM Hey howabout the Mooger Fooger Ring Modulator? They are the go-to trem pedal in Nashville, I understand. The cool thing about the RM is that in sub-audio range, the two signals, LFO and Modulator interact to create cross-pulses which can double up and halve the apparent rate of tremolo, yielding a slowing+speeding up effect, if you like. In audio range they produce sum and difference pitches. It also has Control Voltage inputs for LFO rate and Modulation pitch. Switchable sine and square wave and mix knob, as well as Drive to compensate or boost the output. Does not fit on a pedal board, though. — Squink Out! Top
IMNoone Joined: May 18, 2013 Posts: 41	Posted on Jun 03 2013 01:17 PM Hmm, cool idea JObeast! Well, the Supra-Trem on the local CL is gone and while I dig the sound of the Malekko on YouTube, I've now read enough things to be leary of them. I'll probably keep goofing with what I've got with one eye on Craigslist for something else to pop up. Many thanks, guys! Top
AXXA Joined: Mar 30, 2013 Posts: 51 Atlanta GA	Posted on Jun 04 2013 01:21 AM The Supa is the way to go IMO. I had the Malekko, and it was decent, but it drove me nuts using it with dirt. With a dirty amp, fuzz, OD or boost pedals, the tremolo effect was cancelled out, even with the depth/intensity cranked. This is a problem with many trems that don't do 100% wet, to be fair. It was great for more subtle stuff though. I prefer more stuttery trems I guess. That said, I love my Boss TR-2, it goes from chop to subtle quite well. Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Jun 04 2013 04:06 PM AXXA, you will never, ever get that problem with the MF RM. It's probably the most flexible device for tremolo, and what other device gives a cross-rhythm tremolo? — Squink Out! Top
IMNoone Joined: May 18, 2013 Posts: 41	Posted on Jun 21 2013 08:46 PM Finally grabbed a Supa-Trem on CL today! Wow, it sounds like the notes are breathing! I spent most of the evening toying with it and there's just one thing that's bugging me for a pedal of this price - the on/off button makes an audible through-the-amp SNAP! every time it's pressed. No biggie if it's on for a whole song, but could be annoying for stepping on during a song. Any hints or tips to fix this? Yours in Reverb Last edited: Jun 21, 2013 20:46:56 Top
SanchoPansen Joined: Jan 04, 2011 Posts: 1588 Berlin L-Berg	Posted on Jun 22 2013 06:25 AM Mmmmh, it shouldn't do that. It might be your power supply or the button itself. — The Hicadoolas Top
IMNoone Joined: May 18, 2013 Posts: 41	Posted on Jun 22 2013 07:47 AM Yeah, I think it was placed in a weird spot in the signal chain. I switched it all up and it seems to have stopped, thanks. Whew! Top

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Malekko Trem vs. FullTone Supa-Trem