Tru-Fi's Vintage 60's style Ultra Tremolo has a beautifully elegant texture to its output
Based on the 60’s Kent Tremolo Pedal - essentially a re-badge of the Schaller Tremolo, the Tru-Fi Ultra Tremolo has a fairly unique sound signature. I heard something I really liked in the YouTube demo and sound samples, while I’m always suspicious of Modulation pedals that come without a Level control.
The nature of LFO Modulations is that you get a noticeable drop in volume as the signal climbs and dips in alternating fashion. To counteract volume drop, lots of tremolos employ a preamp circuit. This sort of Volume Drop issue also exists for the Boss TR-2 Tremolo, while I have a modded version of that with an additional volume circuit / control - meaning that I can bring it back up to, and extend it well beyond unity values.
The Tru-Fi Ultra Tremolo has no such facility, but for my purposes it kind of really needs it - while as volume-drops go - this one is not too bad really, maybe not optimal - but it mostly work out fine.
I typically like Depth fairly cranked for the most flavoursome of outputs, while on this Ultar Tremolo the voicing gets darker as well as more intensive as you dial it up - so it turns out that the ideal Depth for optimal texture and tonality is around Noon. You would ideally want it more cranked up then that, but I don’t like the darker profile it takes as you increase the Depth beyond the mid-way point.
I can operate the dual Speed Range toggle-switch with my toe, and while ideally I would want the Slow side at 9 o’c speed - it works well also too have that dial in the middle too for both varieties. So it’s pretty much middle-middle that works best for this Tremolo - while I really do think it could do with one more control - on the volume side at least!
Controls - Speed, Depth, Speed Range : Fast / Slow.
I still really love how it sounds overall - it's kinda sorta like a really subtle harmonic tremolo, but not really that either - it sits somewhere between a vintage Amplitude type and a a harmonic tremolo - while it is no where near the textural impact of my long-term favourite JAM Pedals Harmonious Monk. The Harmonic Tremolo of the Harmonious Monk is almost at Uni-Vibe levels of impact and complexity. While the Ultra Tremolo carries a much more subtler harmonic style signature sound. It's a tremolo of distinct character and harmonic subtlety.
I'm glad to have it in my Tremolo Capsule Collection - as it is very much a distinct voicing - but not entirely at the level of flavour I was expecting. I might seek to have it modified to bring its output to unity levels!
This pedal was acquired from Joe's Pedals, and is my 4th Tru-Fi pedal I have acquired from Joe. After the Ghost Vibe, Two-Face Fuzz (Dual Fuzz Face), and Dizzy Buzz Fuzz (Buzzaround). The Ultra Tremolo retails for £199 @ Joe's Pedals, and is $199 from the Tru-Fi Webstore.
My next Tru-Fi will likely be the very recent Zonked Machine - as soon as Joe manages to get some of those in stock - I believe it's still fairly early days for that variety - there's not even a proper reference picture yet for that pedal on the Tru-Fi Website! I will also be getting the Tru-Fi Super Fuzz at some stage - where I think I will then have covered off most of my favourites from that range!
Joe's just had his biggest all-time Tru-Fi Restock - I don't think any dealer has a bigger selection - while alas some of those have gone already, including the ever popular Colordriver 18V - if you want one of those - you really need to let Joe know in advance - so he can order more in - those always go incredibly quickly - most everything else is in stock, but may not be by the time you get to this article!
Alas still only the one demo available for this pedal - as used previously on this site!
Demos
12 Degrees of Saturation 2023 Compact Edition
