Empress

Empress
Tremolo2
PRICE: £215
ORIGIN: Canada
TYPE: Tremolo pedal
FEATURES: True-bypass,
tap tempo, 8 presets,
MIDI control
CONTROLS: Depth, rate/
ratio, rhythm, output, mode
switch, save switch,
waveform switch
FOOTSWITCHES:
Tap/preset, bypass
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard output,
control port
POWER: 9V battery or
9-18V DC adaptor (100mA)
DIMENSIONS: 114 (w) x 89
(d) x 57mm (h)
T
he latest version of the very first
Empress pedal, the Tremolo2
offers a choice of three
waveforms – a standard triangle with
a smooth ramp from loud to soft,
a gorgeous asymmetrical throb, as found
in a ‘brownface’ Fender Vibrolux amp
and a choppy square wave. There’s also
a choice of eight rhythms for the
undulations. Rhythm 1 on the rotary
switch is standard tremolo as we all
know it, but the others offer musical
variations by putting an accent on, say,
every fourth beat – there’s even one
rhythm in 5/4 time! You can set the
tremolo rate with a knob or via a tap
tempo footswitch, and there are eight
footswitch-recallable memory slots.
On top of all this, there’s an advanced
configuration mode, where you can
customise the pedal’s functionality and
control of parameters by expression
pedal, CV, external tap switch or MIDI.
Verdict
As good a trem as we’ve heard, with an
impressively versatile range of facilities.
C
anadian company Empress Effects was
launched in 2005 with a remit to come
up with a tremolo effect with a set of
features that were unavailable on the market at
the time. After that first pedal, the range has
expanded greatly to cover most effects types.
Empress pedals are constructed to a very high
standard and feature heavy-duty footswitches
and metal knobs and jack sockets. The
company can count Adrian Belew, Andy
Summers, Dan Auerbach and Prince among
its many users.
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: An upgraded version of
one totally tasty tremolo
Empress Heavy
PRICE: £259
ORIGIN: Canada
TYPE: Distortion pedal
FEATURES: True-bypass
CONTROLS: Gain, mid,
output, weight, gate
switch, mid freq switch,
hi, low, gate threshold
trim pot
FOOTSWITCHES:
Heavy, heavier
CONNECTIONS: Standard
input, standard output
POWER: 9V battery or
9-18V DC adaptor
(200mA)
DIMENSIONS: 114 (w) x
89 (d) x 57mm (h)
First Line Distribution
01626 853876
empresseffects.com
D
esigned as a source of high-gain
tones, the Heavy features two
independent channels (one with
slightly more gain) that can either be
voiced similarly so one acts as a boosted
version of the other, or can be set up for
two quite different sounds. Each channel
sports gain and output knobs, a weight
knob that changes the character of the
low end, and a mid knob that offers
a powerful 10dB of cut or boost at
a frequency (500Hz, 250Hz, 2kHz)
selected by a switch above it. Each
channel has a selectable noise gate with
a choice of natural or aggressive settings,
while the whole output can be tonally
tweaked by high and low shelving filters.
Whether you want to scoop out some
midrange or add girth to your high-gain
distortion, the Heavy will cater to your
needs, with or without the noise gate to
keep hiss in check and your riffing tight
and controlled.
Verdict
Tailor-made for metal players and useful
for anyone seeking aggressive distortion.
GUITARIST RATING
Guitarist says: Never has a pedal been
more appropriately named…
Empress
Effects Pedals
£215-£389
WORDS Trevor Curwen
PHOTOGRAPHY Joby Sessions
Boutique quality from Canada
114 Guitarist February 2015
EMPRESS EFFECTS PEDALS £215-£389
PEDAL ROUND-UP
As good a trem as we’ve heard, with an
GIT390.rev_peds1.indd 114 16/12/2014 18:01