Cheap Tremolo

MartinB

I could do with picking up a cheap tremolo pedal, to use when I'm not using my amp that has tremolo.  I tried a Donner "Golden Tremolo" (which looks very similar to the Mooer/Eno/Rowin Trelicopter), but it has a problem with the LFO causing a clicking noise both when engaged and when bypassed.  So that one will be going back.  
What else is worth looking at?  I've seen the Joyo which might be OK, or I used to have a Marshall Vibratrem that I liked.  I don't need any particularly extreme tremolo effects, and it would be nice if it wasn't huge.  

jamesguitar

Can't beat the Mooer Trelicopter

MartinB

jamesguitar said:

Can't beat the Mooer Trelicopter

Have you noticed any ticking noise from it?  I've seen reports of the same noise I have with the Donner, and the two pedals look to be quite closely related.  

kjdowd

Generally hate Mooer pedals, but the trelicopter is good 

jamesguitar

I haven't noticed it before, will listen out for it next time it's on my board. I also have the Chase Bliss Gravitas, Strymon Flint and Basic Audio Throbby so do think you get what you pay for with this stuff, but the Trelicopter is bloody good for the price and fits on your board when others don't. 

UnclePsychosis

Boss tr-2. 

No frills but sounds great. 

jamesguitar

UnclePsychosis said:

Boss tr-2. 

No frills but sounds great. 

+1 - worth getting the Analogman, Keeley or similar modded TR-2 if you can.

John_A

The clicking when bypassed issue is pretty common on a lot of tremolo pedals, it's normally cured when you put it in the chain after a pedal with a buffer.

EricTheWeary

John_A said:

The clicking when bypassed issue is pretty common on a lot of tremolo pedals, it's normally cured when you put it in the chain after a pedal with a buffer.

Yeh, my Vibratrem did that.

Worth keeping an eye out for Boo or Fredric trems, not cheap new but they don't tend to keep their value so can be a used bargain and people seem to like them and a cut above the Mooer/ Donner type brands. 

Ben8010

How cheap is cheap?

Another vote for the boss TR-2. They can be had used for under £40. Personally I wouldn't bother with a modded one, I've had the standard one for a few years and have no gripes with it. Boss changed the circuit themselves in around 2006 (I think) and added a slight boost so if you go down that route I'd try and get a post-2006 if you can. The updated circuits have "PB Free" printed on the circuit board I believe which is a way to identify which one you have.

benmurray85

I have an old EHX Pulsar somewhere which I'd sell if you were interested. It's got a lot of sounds in it!

MartinB

I haven't sent the Donner back yet - I've just tried it with my Belle Epoch delay in front of it (the only buffered pedal in my setup), and sure enough, the ticking is gone.  I don't use tremolo and delay at the same time, so the order they come in isn't important.  With just the Donner between my guitar and amp, the ticking was annoying enough that I would consider it unusable.  I dunno, should I just hang on to it and put it after the Belle Epoch?  It would be easier than looking around for something else...

JD50

I have a Johnson 'fifties tremolo' for sale, basically a TR-2 £30 delivered if interested.

John_A

MartinB said:

I haven't sent the Donner back yet - I've just tried it with my Belle Epoch delay in front of it (the only buffered pedal in my setup), and sure enough, the ticking is gone.  I don't use tremolo and delay at the same time, so the order they come in isn't important.  With just the Donner between my guitar and amp, the ticking was annoying enough that I would consider it unusable.  I dunno, should I just hang on to it and put it after the Belle Epoch?  It would be easier than looking around for something else...

That's good to hear.  It's the current fad for true bypass that means a lot of newer pedals don't have buffers, you wouldn't get the ticking with a Boss, but if the order isn't important just hang on to it, you'd get the same issue with a lot of others too

Cookiemonster

Trem last in chain for me. 

tweaknoob

I just got an Onerr CT-1 Copper Tremolo for about £15 on eBay. Absolute bargain - can go really really fast, good range of waves and depth.

Dave_Mc

Ben8010 said:

How cheap is cheap?

Another vote for the boss TR-2. They can be had used for under £40. Personally I wouldn't bother with a modded one, I've had the standard one for a few years and have no gripes with it. Boss changed the circuit themselves in around 2006 (I think) and added a slight boost so if you go down that route I'd try and get a post-2006 if you can. The updated circuits have "PB Free" printed on the circuit board I believe which is a way to identify which one you have.

Yeah I was going to say, if you're going the Boss route try to get one from after they fixed the volume drop issue (guess which dope bought his before they fixed this? ). I'm not sure exactly how to tell the differences- I'm sure you're right but just pointing out that I'm not corroborating what you said on that point.

Cookiemonster

I had the trelicopter no noise or anything. Think yours must be faulty 

ThePrettyDamned

Just get a boss tr2. It's an absolute classic and sounds brilliant, for not many pounds used. 

If you want something crazier and more square wave, it might not do it (although it does get fairly choppy). But as an all around trem I don't know that I'd want anything else. 

I used to hanker for the Duncan one though. 

5redlights

The rowin tremolo is basically a mooer trelicopter, but cheaper. I've never had problems with it. 

markslade07

Danelectro Cool Cat trem? Hard/ soft term options and sounded pretty good to me for the dosh