Top 5 Best Tremolo Pedals Under $100 (April 2024)

What Is A Tremolo Pedal?

Before you go out and buy your first one, you should know what it does and what type of effect it creates.

All tremolo pedals work in the same basic way: they change the rate at which notes are played. They do this by sending the signal from the guitar to the pedal at the same frequency as the note, then creating a pitch shift with a fixed amount of pitch-shifting.

A harmonic tremolo pedal is a tool that modulates a guitars original sound. It does this by altering the volume of the guitars sound. It increases and decreases the sound again and again, resulting in the desired effect.

Their typical function is to emulate the real-world effects of a regular harmonically based, pedal-driven guitar solo. It's typical for them to have 3 controls: Rate, depth and a speed control that can be used to change the frequency of the effect produced. Some are capable of multiple outputs on each signal. Producing effects ranging from rumbling tremolo effect, to lush pure-sounding harmonics.

Tremolos are some of the most prolific and iconic sounds known to come from an electric guitar. They can have variable or preset rates of effect. Some are easy to use and some offer total control. It all depends on whether you want a hands on or hands off approach.

What Do They Do?

The main job of the tremolo pedal is to double back and forth a signal with half, quarter, eighth, three quarter or full stops in between. This allows for the whole body of a note or phrase to be open for processing and manipulation.

Think of it as a transformer or a little computer that can alter the voltage level of a signal in your guitar. In effect, your guitar will sound a bit like an electric saw, as you control the voltage signal of your guitar with the external control knob, it can shape how the saw chops or slices a note.

Some just add or reduce vibrato to the guitar signal, while others can process the signal before it enters the effect pedal. Others let you choose how much the signal oscillates or range of the effect. And then there are controllers that go beyond those effects, as they come with features that let you control the pitch and volume of the signal.

How Do They Work?

A Tremolo pedal is able to create this modulation effects by simply varying the volume levels resulting in a rhythmic change. This change is repeated at a rapid rate. The equivalent of you manually turning your volume control up and down in rapid succession, again and again and again.

One things for sure, they don't all sound the same. Some devices alter your tones waveform while others have more complex features. These features vary from model to model however the indication of 'enhanced features' is usually by the device having several control knobs. Having 2 dials or less usually means it is quite simplistic in design and therefore easy to use. Some have 4 or more controls and these usually have more modes and choices to hand.

Some pedals come with an expression pedal attachment. Or can be connected to an expression pedal to manage the rate, volume or depth controls of the effect.

How Do Guitarists Use Them?

It is a rare guitar player that does not use a tremolo pedal at some point. Some use them all the time, some use them for certain genres. And some use them only a handful of times. So why do guitarists use them? Generally, guitarist use them for adding a variety of characteristics to their guitar tones.

One of the great advantages of using one is the introduction of a more “controlled” or “smooth” wobble to the sound. The trick with these devices is the transition. Whilst using a loud attack will give an aggressive tone. Smoothing out the transient will give a more mellow sound with an overall smoothness to it. The quicker the transition the “crisper” or “slightly-wobblier” the transient is.

Choosing The Right One

Despite many models being made to the same standard and getting similar notes in their presets, there are no universal values for each one. Not all brands have the same capabilities and some have developed incredibly sophisticated ranges to match their tech. Some even have tricks up their sleeves like mini stompbox controls.

Where Should It Be Placed?

Generally, if you intend on using a tremolo pedal you should leave it in the chain alongside the active bass, bass boost, tone or sustain pedal. Generally, a bass boost adds body and drive to a guitar, so is perfect for making those two tones blend together. Adding movement, weight and depth to the guitar is a key effect that makes sense to place alongside an effect that adds movement.

It will often appear alongside a chorus and delay. This way it is good to place it in the chain but not the loop, to avoid it overlapping with other effects.

The Different Types Available

Triangle-Wave

A triangle-wave pedal is a great addition to anyone's pedalboard. It is useful for not just altering the speed of a note, but also changing its pitch. They are a great way to add a more authentic sound to your guitar. Particularly when you want to add a bit of extra flair to your playing. It utilizes a triangle waveform for its effect.

A triangle wave is a type of waveform that travels from top to bottom and back to the same point. This can be a great addition to your setups. As it makes your guitar sound bigger, deeper, with a bigger bottom end. This is perfect for those who want to pierce the depths of their sound with their playing. Or those who want to add more depth to their sound. What's great about this wave type is that it can be used in a variety of ways, and comes in at a low cost.

Sine-Wave

A Sine-Wave pedal is a monophonic (one-note) effect that produces a sweeping effect that is similar to that of a tremolo-equipped guitar. The effect is created by setting the amplitude of a sine wave to vary in proportion to the amplitude of the input signal, and then mixing these two signals to create the desired effect.

Sine wave, or trem-switching, effects give you a shimmering, metallic sweep to your guitar tone that's nothing short of spectacular. It's a simple effect that is intentionally different from other trem-switches out there, in that it does not produce a rhythmic effect like a regular pedal. Instead it produces a long, melodic "sine" wave. It's a cool, unique effect that has been used in various genres, from metal to pop.

Square-Wave

Square-wave pedals, also known as squares, started out as a source of odd, funky sounds for guitarists. But since the 80's they've become a staple in many music genres. This is due to their ability to create an array of tones, from subtle to all out raging. Most Square pedals can be divided into two categories: surf, where the pedal is a single square wave, or wave, where it has two square waves. Most splitter-type pedals are wave-type pedals, while most other types are single-square-wave-type pedals.

Phase-Shift

Phase-Shift tremolo pedals are great fun to play, but they can also be confusing to decipher. The concept behind a phase-shift is fairly simple-the idea is to shift the phase of a signal to the outside world.

It's what happens when you play a note on your guitar and as you go into your next note your guitar will automatically move in time with your note. This effect is always a bit unpredictable which is why it is not often used by professional musicians.

Volume Boost

Volume Boost pedals are a new and trendy type that have been around for a few years now. They are used to create effects, in which the volume of the output is changed on the fly in response to the speed of the input. Volume Boosts are powerful tools, capable of producing a wide range of effects, from that subtle tremolo sound to massive vibrato.

Things to Consider Before Making Your Choice

Pick Your Shred

Tremolo or vibrato pedals are often used in rock genres that are defined by a distorted guitar sound. Although great for shredding guitars, the further into the music you stray the more nuanced and subtle the effects pedals will have to be in order to provide any noticeable effect.

Avoid Frequent Reprogramming

If you often switch effects pedals on and off over the course of a tour or gig you can't be sure if it is calibrated correctly or not. A good way to avoid this is to pick a device that has a set pitch control. It's also important to balance the signal correctly.

Common Features

It's common for a tremolo pedal to have true bypass which is great. But only if you want the effect to stop immediately when you disengage. If you're looking for a subtle fade out, a buffered bypass would be more suitable.

They can vary greatly when it comes to the sound that each model is able to create. These devices alter your tone's waveform, but some models have only two dials. While others can have four or more. You can choose a model that has some basic waveforms such as square wave or sine wave or you can search for a model that has more complex features.

Tremolo Pedals - An Incredible Tool

Tremolo pedals are often used with electric guitars, but they can be used with any instrument or microphone input. They can also be used to give vocals.

The tremolo effect is achieved by varying the amplitude (volume) of the signal at a regular rate (usually between one and six cycles per second). They are widely used by guitarists to create a great sound. A tremolo pedal is an effect that creates the impression of a constantly fluctuating volume.

A tremolo pedal usually has two controls: one for speed and one for depth or intensity. The speed control determines how much the volume fluctuates while the depth control determines how much variation gets through to your amp. Tremolo pedals are mainly used by guitarists to create a pulsating effect. The tremolo pedal is an electronic device that alters the volume of the sound at a regular rate. Commonly used by guitarists to create a pulsating effect, tremolo pedals are electronic devices that alter the volume of the sound at a regular rate.

The Advantages of Using Tremolos

Tremolo is a technique for creating a repetitive variation in sound. Tremolo can be created by combining modulation with amplitude, frequency, or both modulation and amplitude. It is typically used to create a "throbbing" effect that mimics the sound of an actual tremolo instrument. They are great for adding depth, interest and character to music. Artists of all kinds use the tremolo to create different effects.

The Tremolos are plug-ins that can be used with any DAW. They are easy to use and offer great creative effects for artists who want to experiment with their music. They are a type of sound effect that is often used in music. Tremolos create a wavy sound that resembles an oscillating waveform.

Tremolo is a very common effect in guitar amps and electric pianos. It creates a repeating variation in volume with a rapid fluctuation in amplitude (volume). The tremolo effect can be achieved through various ways, such as using the tremolo bar on an electric guitar or by using an electronic effects unit or plug-in on a synthesizer or sampler.