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I am looking for advice on tremolo pedals. I am a huge fan of the hard chopping, helicopter-like tremolo. I am aware of the Earthquaker Hummingbird, what other recommendations do you have that get into similar territory?

The Hummingbird is based on the Vox Repeat Percussion. The Source Audio Vertigo can do the RP sound and a lot more.

If you want something sharp, most trems have a basic square wave (dirt+square wave modulation= dirty, hard-edged chop).

If you want versatility, I like the Empress Tremolo 2 a lot. For something exotic, there's the Cusack Tap-a-Trem (fairly cheap secondhand).

Also, the current Goatkeeper (Malekko) handles sequenced/gated/chopped sounds.

(..and if you own any Line 6 multi-pedals from the last several years--M5, M9, HX Stomp, Helix, there's a Goatkeeper algo. I think it's just called Pattern Trem, and it's percussive/gated/choppy.)

One I’ve got my eye on is the Sonuus Voluum. Along with the obvious volume pedal function, among many other functions, it has a trem that can do a lot of tricky waveforms and can chop hard. It’s not going to add extra euphonic faerie dust like the “amp-like” boregasms often do, but I’m looking for the wiggle and can bring my own tone, thanks.

If you want the repeater sound I'd just suggest a repeater clone!

In terms of other options for things that can chop hard, the zvex one really chops. Not why I bought it as much as size/features but it's nice to have the option, not all trems I've tried have felt quite as choppy even on square mode. Not to just recommend the thing I have as "the best" just throwing it on the option pile

I know a lot of people like the seymour duncan trem. it has a pulse width knob which is essential for chop in my experience

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I completely forgot that Malekko is making a version of the Goatkeeper, that is right up my alley. The Zvex Sonar is also very intriguing. Now to try and find them locally to test them out.

If anyone has any further suggestions I am all ears!

I got the Idiotbox Flash Stutter for a super simple momentary chopper, but find myself wishing it had a soft switch instead of the hard-snapping 3pdt. Expression control would also be preferable for simple on/off of the chop, but my exp treadles are always in use for other shit already, so I wanted something with its own control.

Ottobit Jr. is not a trem by any stretch, but it is my my crazy-choppy robo effect of choice nowadays. So much funs in that thing. It won't do a steady continuous chop, but the touch-activated sequences and stuttering and shit is just great.

If it bleeds, we can kill it.

My favorite trem is the one on Fairfield ring mod pedal. For hard chop the earthquaker is good but a little less interesting to me musically.

My favorite trem is the one on Fairfield ring mod pedal. For hard chop the earthquaker is good but a little less interesting to me musically.

Yeah the randy sounds extremely nice...

qersty wrote:I know a lot of people like the seymour duncan trem. it has a pulse width knob which is essential for chop in my experience

Zvex does this too and I agree it's very nice for dialling in choppy sounds.

I like randy too but i like it more for swooshy sounds than choppy sounds. albeit it does a decent sonic boom

qersty wrote:I know a lot of people like the seymour duncan trem. it has a pulse width knob which is essential for chop in my experience

Yes, the control is great, don't know why but I never liked the sound of the thing.. damned phase control or something

For a simple hard square the boss trem does well. a lot of fun can be had with: Octave > hard square trem > envelope filter