which TREMOLO pedal for my Rhodes ?

[clusterchord]

ive got a '75 rhodes stage 73 mk1, and i'm looking to get close to stereo suitcase tremolo sound as i can, without actually plunking down 300+ for a Speakeasy suitcase clone. tho i will if i must. been listening to some demos, and narrowed it down to following three pedals: Dunlop/MXR M-159, EHX Stereo Pulsar or used BOSS PN-2 from early 90s.. but im open to other suggestions too.

anyone got experience with these, or opinions on the subject id really appreciate it. flexibility in waveform setting and warmth is desirable. what i'd like to avoid is volume drop on engage, like Boss TR-2 reportedly has, or excessive noise - there's enough of that coming from the Rhodes itself.



thanks

[Sexor]

This is a very interesting topic, as I am in the exact same situation with my mk1 stage.

I'm thinking about the Boss tremolo/pan, which I would probably get, if I wasn't in my current state of "don't buy ANYTHING"

[nadafarms]

you guys should just get moogfooger ring mods. they work as a sort of tremelo and also sound freakin amazing on a rhodes as ring mod!

[clusterchord]

i was thinking about that, listening to copilot fx android...

besides classic suitcase, id love to have some serious mangling pedal too... copilot orbit and antenna2 also sound phenomenal..


however, i really need that stereo ping pong thing going on.. and nether moog or copilot ring mods have stereo, afaik..

[nadafarms]

copilot is cheap and sounds good but there is always a droning oscillator you can't get rid of when using the rind mod. Totally a deal breaker for me.

[tallowwaters]

Alesis Ampliton all the way.

[space6oy]

Alesis Ampliton all the way.

it IS an awesome little effect. it's stereo panning is sweet.

[kvnvk]

Alesis Ampliton all the way.

it IS an awesome little effect. it's stereo panning is sweet.

yep, quite versatile units when it comes to tremelo/pan effects.

[Blue Monster 65]

If you're just looking for tremolo, then there are loads of boutique pedals out there to look at, too.

Of the three you've listed, Cluster, I would have to say I liked the MXR the least. It's been years since I played with it, though, so perhaps they've made some minute changes to it's circuitry? All three performed OK as I remember, but none really nailed the sound I was looking for.

I must admit, though, I'm a trem junkie! I have it on A LOT when I'm playing guitar (along with the ever-present reverb). It's that swampy throb that just makes it for me.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you may want to bite the bullet and spend the money on the Speakeasy. That would nail it and, unless you're going to be satisfied with something slightly less (again, in my opinion - you may prefer the sound of these pedals and why not?), I think you're going to be dissatisfied 'til you get "that sound."

There are also plenty of schematics for easy-to-build pedals out there, so you could (with a bit of work) build your own unit that would incorporate both tremolo and vibrato or different versions of each, going at the same time, etc. etc.

Scott

[Clavier]

Well, along the same lines as Scott, I'm going to say why not go all the way and buy a set of Super Satellites or an FR7054 Suitcase, or even Leslie 60s? I haven't tried many pedals myself, but the reports I've heard from people I know who have been down that road, were underwhelming.

[spookyman]

I'm allmost in the same situation like you Tom...i have a 1975 Stage Piano mk1 seventythree. And i like the sound of the suitecase. But a suitecase has an very high price tag actually, and are not easy to find, in good shape.

So i began with the stereo Pulsar. It was not bad, it has a lot of possibilities, but i had a gain loss with this pedal, and the speed was not easy so set between the left and right channel, it's never 50/50 (in therm of duration) it's more something like 60/40, not a perfect equal stereo paning.

Last year, i bought the new MXR Pedal, directly in the USA, it's a lot cheaper than in Europe. And for the price i payed, it's really good. The MXR boost the sound, no volume loss, and the paning is really good.

I can mail you 2 small sound samples if you want. PM me your e-mail adress and i will send you in the next days. Ok ?

You can also give a look to this preamp & tremolo rack :



You also have sound example on this page :

Jens Lüpke Preamp-tremolo

It's an external rack solution, that sounds very very good (to my ears)

Another solution, if you prefer everything in your stage piano, it's the Quadrapuss from Vintagevibe.



With the Quadrapuss, you have a stereo classic tremolo, the Dyno My Piano EQ, Small Stone Phaser circuitery, all in one rail. The price is correct (650$), when you think all what you have.

More informations here :

Vintage Vibe Quadrapuss

I have the Stage Vibe preamp (mono tremolo) from them, and i'm very happy.

Major key also had once a project for such a tremolo + preamp, but i'm not sure that it was once produced in serie.



But it looks great...

Theses are some other solution you could buy.

Hope it helps a little bit !