The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: Other Equipment: Tremolos

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Tremolos

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- Rated: 55 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 3:37 p.m. fieldhdj:

As some of you know, I occasionally use my son Dylan's Gretsch Executive amp. Lately I''ve been on a Creedence jag, learning and in one case, relearning some of those fine songs. Naturally, I've become of huge fan of the superb tremolo built into the amp. Reverb too. Trouble is, I don't have a cool old brownface or any other amp with built in trem of my own (I'll fix that one day), so I'm looking for a trem pedal. I got hold of a Dano Cool Cat, but I'm wanting something a bit more. I heard a Swamp Thang pedal years ago, but they don't even make the model anymore.

Anyone have a Trem pedal they really like?
- Rated: 44 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 4:40 p.m. Richard Hudson:

My Twin Custom 15 has a good tremelo; but it's just too stinkin' heavy for this old man to carry on gigs; so I would be interested in a good trem pedal also. About all I use it for would be for my very poor imitation of Duane Eddy.

Richard
- Rated: 66 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 4:44 p.m. Walter Broes:

This question came up not too long ago, but I don't know how to search the forum.

There are a lot of really good tremolo pedals available, from stupid cheap to surprisingly expensive.

Also, someone was selling a Fulltone tremolo on the GDP recently - which is one of the best ones I've heard.
- Rated: 204 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 5:05 p.m. Proteus:

Standard answer: the little yellow Danelectro Tuna Melt, at 39.00 or less, is very good.

I'm currently using the Boss TM-2 WITH the Keeley mod (which lets you compensate for effective volume loss when tremoloting). It's a solid, functional pedal, but no better sounding than the Dano, just built beefier.

I'm not sure there are any really BAD trem pedals, actually.
- Rated: 5 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 5:25 p.m. 229someday:

I bought a beat up and well-used Swamp Thang off Ebay and LOVED the sound, but the switch popped noisily and the slow speed was noticeably more quiet than the faster speed. I ended up sending it back to the seller, but man did it sound good (aside from the issues). There was just something about the shape of the sound-wave that oozed brownface Fender to me.

Now I have your same Cool Cat, and while I like that it's quiet, doesn't have volume loss and is true bypass, it doesn't quite have the magic of the 'Thang. I do like the "hard" setting though for the helicopter-type sound, but I'll most likely eventually trade up.

I've heard good things about the Fulltone mentioned above, and the Seymour Duncan Shape Shifter appears to be very versatile with lots of wave settings and a tap tempo function for $130 or so new.
- Rated: 17 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 5:34 p.m. TwangOmatic:

Get this and be done with it. http://gretschpages.com/forum/garage-sale/fulltone-tremolo-effect/14510/page1/
- Rated: 19 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 6:58 p.m. TyPierce:

Big fan of the new Danos. Same tones as the Tuna Melt, but metal and true bypass.

I'd say either go for the Dano or splurge for a Voodoo Labs trem, which would give you a volume control to adjust for any perceived volume loss when engaging the trem.
- Rated: 24 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 7:04 p.m. billydlight:
- Rated: 41 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 7:14 p.m. J(esse James)D:

TREM PEDAL

I would hope that this one sounds good
- Rated: 66 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 7:21 p.m. Walter Broes:

JD, it sounds great - it's what Duane Eddy used early on!
- Rated: 8 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 9:52 p.m. MacStevenXIII:

I just got this not too long ago. Its AMAZING. Aside from great vintage trem you can get some crazy stuff going on with this thing.

From Seymour Duncans website

"Sonically pure, 100% analog signal path delivers the familiar lush, hypnotic, pulsing tremolo vibes characteristic of ‘50s tube amps. Digital tap control offers incredible control. Shape and Wave controls provide unparalleled versatility.

description There are two modes. In Rate mode the tremolo speed varies continuously from one to 20 cycles per second. An LED pulses in time with the tremolo effect for easy Rate setting. In Ratio mode, the speed is established by tapping the Tap Rate switch, allowing for easy synchronization of the tremolo rate with the song tempo. Also, in Ratio mode, the tapped tempo can be expressed in your choice of four tap-to-note ratios: 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, or 4:1 (1/4 notes, 1/8 notes, triplets, or 1/16 notes)."
- Rated: 114 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 10:07 p.m. wenzel:

I personally trust Billy D Light's recommendation of the Surf Trem! Depending on what you're looking for, I'm sure the Surf Trem is a good buy. I've seen and played with Billy's band live in the past and his tone and style are truly fitting for any gretsch officianado as well as vintage vibe hounds. If Billy says that pedal is the shit, then it's the shit! I'm going to buy one now... Thanks Billy!

Chris
- Rated: 12 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 10:22 p.m. nielDa:

If you want go old school, check my DeArmond Trem-Trol site.

http://www.danformosa.com/dearmond.html

They can be found for $200 or so, but ebay prices can be crazy. These old DeArmond units are kind of quirky (I'm not actually recommending it as a unit to take on the road). There are lots of good pedals available. I have a Boss TR-2 pedal also, but typically use tremolo built into whatever amp Im using. Wouldn't mind experimenting with other pedals.

Dan
- Rated: 40 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 12:00 a.m. tartan phantom:

Doug, there's only ONE way to get that true Fogerty/CCR sound..... it was built into his AMP!

The thing to remember is that Fogerty's sound is not just a tremolo...it also incorporates VIBRATO. It is Kustom's synchronized Tremolo/Vibrato circuit. The amp he used had this circuit, which featured separate intensity controls each for the tremolo and the vibrato... they were sychronized with one common speed control.

This was originally featured on the Kustom 150/250/500 series amps, but is currently only available on the Tube '72 Coupe series.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 1:00 a.m. TAG4:

I'm with Wenzel--If he thinks Billydlight likes it, it oughta be OK! Now I'm wodering if Carl Martin makes a reverb?

TAG4
- Rated: 114 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 1:19 a.m. wenzel:

Thanks TAG, I just went out and bought the Surf Trem at Billy's recommendation sight unseen. I am sure it will do what I want it to do. I am not a big wave form guy, I just like the trem to sound like my old silvertone 1484, which had a really cool trem in it, the only thing was it didn't go slow enough for me sometimes.
- Rated: 20 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 4:10 a.m. TAG4:

Wenzel--Does the Surf Trem have (need) a power supply?--Seems like it would eat batteries without one.

TAG4
- Rated: 55 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 4:33 a.m. fieldhdj:

Tartan Phantom said: it was built into his AMP! `
Rob, I remember you showing me one in Nashville and I my comment was "that is seriously swampy" or something like that.

No question built in is the way to go. For me the question is what to use until I get there.

I'll be watching the used market for the '72 Coupe though.

Wenzel said: I just went out and bought the Surf Trem

All right! I was just thinking what I might use as a test for any trem, maybe some basics: Creedence, Tommy James and some Chris Issak?
- Rated: 19 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 8:19 a.m. cielski:

You can't go wrong with the CCR. I heard "Midnight Special" yesterday---that'd do nicely---it's as swampy as you'd want to get without having to deal with 'gators.
- Rated: 66 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 8:29 a.m. Walter Broes:

I'm using my "Mergili Innovations Admiral Girth" for trem (ànd 'verb) these days, and I'm very happy with it. And it didn't really cost me more than a very fancy reverb pedal + very fancy trem pedal would have cost me.
- Rated: 55 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 10:28 a.m. fieldhdj:

oh my!
- Rated: 55 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 10:51 a.m. otterbean:

MXR M159 Tremolo pedal. Its a good one. Its the purple one. Duane Eddy used one of these.
- Rated: 114 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 11:02 a.m. wenzel:

TAG, I'm not sure if it comes with one, but it looks like a normal Danelectro or Boss style adapter will work with it. It doesn't have a special type of adapter plugin from what I can tell.
- Rated: 41 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 7:56 p.m. bwallace1:

hi Doug, I just bought two effects peddles. both were made by Boss. one of them was a Phase Shifter PH3. maybe if you can find a store that has a "test rack" of Boss peddles, you could try one of these. Boss also has a tremelo peddle. I'm thinking maybe you could try both at the same time, you might get the sound that you're looking for. that Phase Shifter kinda acts like a tremolo effect. just a thought. brent
- Rated: 34 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 11:08 p.m. crowbone:

"Admiral Girth"

Sounds like a bad skin flick star's name.

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