Let's talk about the Tremolessence rate control...

[Ryan]

Guys, we gotta have a chat about the Trem rate control... let me tell you the tale of it..

To get a really wide range of rate on a single pot that is low enough value to work well with an expression pedal I use an opto-coupler setup, an LED shining on a special resistor that can be really wide range.

The first 100 or so Trems were made with a ready made vactrol, a VTL5C3, and if you have one of those in your pedal you have a pretty smooth rate control from slow to fast, the knob turns fairly evenly and nicely, no sweat. (This chat won't really apply to you guys, blue sparkle boxes)

Those vactrols are expensive and kinda rare/hard to get though, and for the audio path I have to hand-roll two opto-couplers anyway, so I started doing the rate opto-coupler with the same parts that I use for the audio signal, an API photocell and a crazy bright LED. It had the benefit of widening the rate range, it went even faster and slower than the vactrol and I was pretty happy about that since I love the extreme ranges.

It had a downside though, the rate control was a lot more touchy/sensitive/awkward... bunched up in a way that made it hard to dial in a medium rate. I experimented with every value and taper of pot there is, different LEDs, different LDRs, and I just couldn't get it perfect, so I decided it was just a foible of the pedal and something to be lived with. A necessary compromise to get such a wide range of rates. Seeing the pedal in use by another person made me see just how tough to use it is and it really didn't sit right with me.

So now I've got a solution that spreads the range out nicely without compromising any of the extreme settings. It takes some rewiring, a tapering resistor, and a trimpot, so it's not a DIY fix, but I'd like to fix up everybody's Trem that has an awkward rate control.

TL;DR:

If you have a Tremolessence with an awkward rate knob, as in it goes from too fast to too slow too quickly and it's hard to dial in a medium rate, I want you to send it to me so I can make it right for you. I'll cover the shipping both ways. ryan@drscientist.ca to make the arrangements.

Really sorry for the inconvenience of it all, I know that's a pain in the butt and I should have got it right in the first place. *apologies*

[Muse FTW]

This is why Dr. Scientist is the best pedal company around.
Even when something goes wrong, you guys fix it up right away.
Can't wait for the next batch of finishes to come out.

[9520575]

about having to be away from my trem

to know there is such great customer service

I'm sorry I was the catalyst for this...

[Jero]

Seriously. Recognize, people, THAT's customer service.

[sylnau]

Best customer services ever...

[hclapp219]

Seriously. Recognize, people, THAT's customer service.

For realz. Other builders would have tried to spin this as a feature. "Go from slow to fast with the slightest turn of a knob! Just what you lazy assholes want!"

[sylnau]

Seriously. Recognize, people, THAT's customer service.

For realz. Other builders would have tried to spin this as a feature. "Go from slow to fast with the slightest turn of a knob! Just what you lazy assholes want!"

And some builder don't return email at all.

[fuzzmax]

thumbs up for Ryan shipping covered both ways!!! you don't see that often even when its a company issue.

[oinkbanana]

trouble dialing in a sweet spot because of the tight range - get a bigger knob!

[Eric!]

I don't have a Tremolessence with the normal rate knob. Can I have one?

[Ryan]

OK I've got lots of you gents covered and thank you again for being so darn understanding!

Jon and Gary and Ian, your new Trems are modded and in the mail tomorrow!

[t-rey]

Best. Customer. Service. Ever.

On a related note I have a minty fresh blue Tremolessence with the original rate knob (which has recently become very rare/hard to find/desireable/toanz/etc ect) that is absolutely full of mojo and rareness that can be yours for the low low price of $17,000.00

[9520575]

Best. Customer. Service. Ever.

On a related note I have a minty fresh blue Tremolessence with the original rate knob (which has recently become very rare/hard to find/desireable/toanz/etc ect) that is absolutely full of mojo and rareness that can be yours for the low low price of $17,000.00

I'd be stupid not to buy it

[thezeng]

Hey Ryan,
thanks for being such a champ about this. I was going to bring this up, but i didn't know if the situation would be solved with using an expression pedal or not.
I'll be in contact with you about it soon.

In all seriousness it's not such a problem if you take the time to carefully dial in the right speed. The pot is out of accidental kicking reach too so it isn't too bad.

[Ryan]

Ok gents, got lots of you guys' pedals en route and I'm looking forward to tuning them up, thanks again!