Tremolo Pedal Round Up

137
october 2015 Guitarist
TREMoLo Round-up
The DynaTrem offers tremolo and
reverb, although the reverb is only
available in one of three modes, either
with tremolo or by itself. The pedal’s
agenda is dynamic tremolo that
responds to your playing: play harder
and you can either get faster or deeper
tremolo in the fi rst two modes, the
depth variation seeming the more
natural of the two when playing. The
third mode offers ‘Harmonic Tremolo
+ Reverb’ for that phase-y tremolo with
a hint of pitch shift combined with a
spacey ambience.
There’s usefully adjustable output
level and, while the depth and rate
knobs do their normal job for mode
three, they also feature an element of
setting how the parameters react to
playing dynamics in modes one and
two. A Shape knob offers four different
waveforms for the fi rst two modes and
adds the reverb for the third.
[TC]
8
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Tremolo pedal
FEATURES: True bypass,
dynamic tremolo,
selectable waveforms,
reverb and tremolo
combination
CONTROLS: Depth, Rate,
Shape, Level, Mode switch
Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS:
Standard input,
standard output
POWER: 9V adaptor
(not supplied)
DIMENSIONS: 66 (W)
x 112 (D) x 50mm (H)
Guitar Guitar
0800 456 1959
www.rkfx.com
KEELEY
dYnATREM
£135
3
This is a recently launched revamped
version of the original that adds stereo
operation and a channel phase knob
that can adjust the phase between left
and right output channels from 0 to
180 degrees, which results in some
interesting sonic variations.
The shape of the tremolo waveform
here is continuously variable from sine
wave through triangle to square wave,
and you can also tweak the shape, so
there’s load of variations – from familiar
vintage tones to extreme helicopter
chops. While the depth knob works as
you’d expect, you can adjust the speed
in three ways – either conventionally
with the knob or via the tap tempo
footswitch, either as tapped or by
engaging the ratio switch to dial in
speeds up to four times faster than your
quickest tap. The sound sits well when
engaged, but there’s no apparent boost
and no volume adjustment.
[TC]
7
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Tremolo pedal
FEATURES: Electrical
true bypass, variable
waveforms, tap tempo
CONTROLS: Wave,
Depth, Shape, Speed,
Ch Phase, Mode switch,
Bypass footswitch,
Tap Tempo footswitch
CONNECTIONS:
Standard inputs
L (Mono) & R, standard
outputs L & R
POWER: 9V battery
or 9V-18V adaptor
(not supplied)
DIMENSIONS: 90 (W)
x 125 (D) x 55mm (H)
Rosetti
01376 550033
seymourduncan.com
SEYMOUR DUNCAN
SHApESHIFTER
£249
4
The Flint seems designed for habitual
Fender amp users who are faced with
the problem of having to use a hired/
borrowed amp, and features both
reverb and tremolo, individually
footswitchable. While the reverb
simulations cover spring, plate and
hall sounds, it’s the tremolos that
we’re interested in here, and all three
Fender varieties are available: there’s
a ’61 harmonic vibrato, ’63 power
tube bias tremolo and a ’65 photocell
tremolo. Intensity (depth) and speed
adjustment knobs grace the front panel
but there are also secondary functions
like setting the pedal for a slight boost
when it’s kicked in and setting the
order of the two effects.
Three trem fl avours cover plenty
of bases from the choppy ’65 to the
more rounded ’63 and the delightful
harmonic tremolo with its hint of
rotary speaker or Uni-Vibe.
[TC]
VERDICT Tremolo and reverb in one pedal is a great
idea that is perfectly implemented here
9
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Tremolo/reverb
FEATURES: True bypass,
3 reverb, 3 tremolo types
CONTROLS: Intensity,
Mix, Speed, Decay,
Colour, Tremolo type,
Reverb type, Tremolo and
Reverb Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS:
Standard input, standard
outputs, expression pedal
POWER: Supplied 9V PSU
DIMENSIONS: 102 (w) x
114 (d) x 62mm (h)
MusicPsych
0207 607 6005
www.strymon.net
STRYMON
FLInT £249
1
Despite its compact size, the Jack
Rabbit packs plenty onboard. In
addition to the standard rate and depth
knobs, the output level knob can go
from unity gain to supply 14dB of boost,
which can really drive an amp into
overdrive – turn down the trem depth
to use it as a pure boost. The modulation
waveform is also variable with Sine,
Square, Triangle, Reverse Ramp and
Ramp shapes for a range of sounds from
rounded Fender-style throb through to
harder-edged on/off stutters.
If you want to change speeds on
the fl y, two tempo modes with three
subdivisions (quartet note, eighth note
and quarter note triplet) are possible by
holding down the footswitch for two
seconds. There’s normal Tap tempo
and a Strum tempo mode where you
set the tempo with three strums, and
the option of control with a remote
footswitch, too.
[TC]
VERDICT With its compact size, many trem variations
and a usable boost, this is a must-try pedal
8
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Tremolo pedal
FEATURES: True or
buffered bypass,
selectable waveforms,
tap tempo, strum tempo
CONTROLS: Depth,
Rate, Level, Waveform
switch, Tempo
Subdivision, FX Link,
Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS:
Standard input, standard
output, FX Link jack
POWER: 9V battery
or 9V adaptor
(not supplied)
DIMENSIONS: 67 (w)
x 114 (d) x 50mm (h)
Peach Guitars
01376 553016
www.suhr.com
SUHR
JACK RABBIT £179
2
VERDICT An interesting sonic signature makes this
a great choice if you want something different
VERDICT With a massive feature set, you can conjure
up a wide range of tremolo sounds with this pedal
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitarist399
GIT399.peds_trem.indd 137 9/4/15 2:01 PM