What Are Tremolo Pedals?
Whether you're playing chords or a lead line, a tremolo pedal can make your riffs sound more interesting and unique. This choppy modulation effect has long been used by guitarists in many genres and can very well be the next great addition to your pedalboard.
As proof of how the effect can spice up your playing, think about how the intro to "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day wouldn't be as memorable as it is without its choppy tremolo guitar chords.
In this guide, we will demystify the tremolo effect, explaining everything you need to know to choose the best unit for your setup, plus showcase eight of the best tremolo pedals in 2024. Let's dive in!
A Brief History of the Tremolo Effect
The tremolo dates back to the 1940s, appearing as a built-in effect in some of the first guitar amplifiers, such as the Fender Vibrolux and the Magnatone. These early instances of the effect used circuits to modulate the sound and create that pleasant pulsing sound that is still loved today by many guitarists.
One fact that you should know, though, is that there has always been some confusion regarding tremolo and vibrato, due to Fender labeling the effect as the latter on some of their amps. But while tremolo modulates the volume of your signal, vibrato modulates the pitch.
In the 1960s, the tremolo got really popular with surf rock bands and spaghetti western soundtracks. It wasn't until the 1970s, though, that the effect started being produced as dedicated pedals.
Nowadays, we have a multitude of tremolo pedals available in the market. From analog units that pay homage to classics of the past, to digital and modern renditions that sound otherworldly, there's certainly a place for a tremolo in your setup.
Songs That Use a Tremolo Pedal
Perhaps one of the most famous songs to use tremolo in modern music is "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", by Green Day. According to rumors, the band didn't actually use a tremolo pedal for this part. Instead, their producer/engineer at the time manually drew the volume automation on the recording software. Despite that, the effect can be recreated very easily with pretty much any tremolo unit.
Going back in time, you can also hear the tremolo being used on the rhythm guitar of the memorable song "Money", by Pink Floyd. The band used the effect to give some texture to the chords that support the main riff.
If you want to use the effect more subtly, listen to the intro of "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones. Arguably one of the most iconic guitar riffs of the 1960s, it shows that tremolo can also give a nice texture to lead lines.
Common Features and Parameters of Tremolo Pedals
Here are some of the main features and parameters you will find on tremolo pedals, and what they do. Keep in mind that due to the sheer number of pedals in the market nowadays, some units might have extra features as well.
Best Tremolo Pedals of 2024
Cusack Music Tremolo AME
Main Features
- Compact tremolo pedal
- Depth, rate, and level control
- Three banks of three waveforms each
- Expression jack
- Tap tempo footswitch
For such a small pedal, the Cusack Music Tremolo AME is quite complete. It features not only the standard controls you find on most tremolo units but also several extras such as nine types of waveforms and a unique brake mode.
The nine types of waveforms are divided into three banks of three, and you can easily flick between settings using the Bank and Wave toggle switches. There, you can find everything from the classic sine wave to non-traditional waveforms, allowing for lots of experimentation.
The tap tempo function is also a quite useful addition to this unit, but one of the most interesting features is the brake mode. The brake mode allows you to instantly speed up or slow down the tremolo effect by holding down the right footswitch, and the three different modes can be accessed by holding both footswitches together.
KJams HarmonicTremolo
Main Features
- Harmonic tremolo pedal
- Spin FV-1 DSP chip
- Two expression jacks
- Tap tempo footswitch
This pedal from KJams is a harmonic tremolo, capable of combining two instances of the effect arranged in parallel to create an effect that's slightly different from its more traditional counterparts, allowing for lots of experimentation possibilities.
This KJam pedal is very versatile too, as it features distinct normal and harmonic modes, and four-wave shapes: square, triangle, sawtooth up, and sawtooth down. The harmonic mode is particularly inspired by the early 1960s Fender amps, and it sounds very musical.
Finally, some quality-of-life additions to the KJam Harmonic Tremolo include a tap footswitch and two expression jacks, which can be used to control the tempo and the speed of the effect.
Mojo Hand FX Bayou
Main Features
- Classic amp-style tremolo pedal
- Depth, level, and rate control
- Can be used as an analog boost
The Mojo Hand FX Bayou Trem is a very minimalistic tremolo pedal inspired by the classic amps of the 1950s and 1960s. It's very basic, but does the job quite well if you're looking for a hassle-free unit that sounds good right off the bat.
The Depth and Rate knobs are quite responsive, and you can get anything from a subtle vibe-like texture to full-blown choppy tremolo. The effect sounds quite analog and warm as well.
One very interesting feature of the Bayou Trem is that it can also be used as an analog boost by keeping the Rate parameter low and cranking up the Level knob, thanks to its vintage circuit.
Cusack Music Tap-a-Whirl V4
Main Features
- Fully-analog tremolo pedal
- 24 waveforms
- Digital presets
- Tap tempo footswitch
- Stereo output
The Cusack Music Tap-a-Whirl V4 is the bigger brother of the aforementioned Tremolo AME. It is a complete tremolo powerhouse and the most complete pedal on our list, featuring a whopping 24 waveforms and digital preset banks.
An interesting feature of this pedal is that the 24 possible waveforms are printed on the side of the unit, making it easy to mix and match options. You can also save presets and switch between them easily: there are four banks with two presets each.
The Tap-a-Whirl V4 also features a stereo output, something that's not commonly found in most tremolo pedals and allows for lots of experimentation. While expensive, this unit is definitely a great choice for fans of the effect.
OBNE Whitecap
Main Features
- Dual asynchronous tremolo
- Combines analog and digital tremolo
- Five waveforms
- Expression jack
- Tap tempo footswitch
The OBNE Whitecap is a dual asynchronous tremolo, combining a simple analog tremolo and a digital instance of the effect, with five selectable waveforms. Both instances can be routed in parallel, in series, or isolated.
This unit is a perfect choice for experimental-inclined guitarists, as it's perfect for genres such as ambient and drone music. You can create some very unique and interesting textures with the Whitecap.
Finally, there are many quality-of-life features as well, such as the expression jack and the tap tempo footswitch, that can also be used as a ramp effect, instantly speeding up or down the effect.
Humanoid FX Psychosis
Main Features
- Classic tweed-style preamp with built-in tremolo
- Modeled after the circuit used in the 5E3
- JFET-based signal path
The Humanoid FX Psychosis is not only a tremolo but a tweed-style preamp modeled after the circuit used in the 5E3 Fender amp. This combo comes in handy if you're also looking for a great-sounding overdrive.
The tremolo effect in the Psychosis is very simple, as you only get Speed and Depth knobs. There is no waveform selector or tap footswitches. Despite that, it does the job quite well in replicating some classic tremolos of the past. The overdrive sounds extremely bluesy, so that's a good extra.
EarthQuaker Devices Hummingbird
Main Features
- Choppy, sawtooth tremolo pedal
- Modeled after the vintage repeat percussion
- Three oscillator modes
- Expression jack
The EarthQuaker Devices Hummingbird is a sawtooth tremolo pedal modeled after the vintage repeat percussion found on early Valco and Vox amplifiers. It is a very versatile unit, capable of everything from analog swirls to ring-modulator-like sounds.
An interesting feature of the Hummingbird is the three oscillator modes, which can be selected with the toggle switch. Each one of them determines the oscillator range, from slow to fast. You can also use an expression pedal to control the rate of the pedal.
OBNE Visitor Parallel
Main Features
- Dual-modulation pedal
- Parallel circuit
- Feedback loop function
The OBNE Visitor Parallel is a dual-modulation pedal. It not only features tremolo but also chorus and phaser. You can run all these effects by themselves or in parallel, creating some unique and interesting textures.
One interesting feature is the Regen knob: it adds feedback from both modulations back onto themselves, creating a loop that's very useful for genres such as ambient music and experimental styles.
For the price, the Visitor Parallel is quite a gem and you'll rarely find any other pedals with this amount of features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Should a Tremolo Pedal Be Placed on My Pedalboard?
Tremolo pedals are typically placed towards the end of your signal chain, after modulation effects like chorus or phaser but before time-based effects like reverb and delay. That way, you will get a cleaner modulated sound. Feel free to experiment with other positions as it can create some very interesting sounds.
What Is the Difference Between a Mono and a Stereo Tremolo Pedal?
A mono tremolo pedal has a single output and can modulate the volume of your audio signal. A stereo tremolo, on the other hand, can modulate the signal differently in each output, giving you a wider stereo field and allowing for effects such as panning.
How Is Tremolo Different From Vibrato?
While tremolo modulates the volume of your signal, vibrato modulates the pitch. Both effects are usually confused, and sometimes tremolo is named vibrato, such as on some Fender amps.
Conclusion
These are the best tremolo pedals of 2024. The effect can be an excellent addition to your pedalboard if you're looking to add more texture to your riffs and chords. The market is flooded with options, so make sure to do your research before making your purchase!
We hope our guide demystified the tremolo effect for you! Below is a recap of all the pedals mentioned in our blog post.
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Pedal |
Price |
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$195.00 |
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$190.00 |
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$149.00 |
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$300.00 |
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$209.00 |
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$159.00 |
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$179.00 |
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$209.00 |
You can check these and many other pedals in our store!
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