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Author Topic:  Tremolo question
Jim Ives


From:
Los Angeles, California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Apr 2004 11:52 am    
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Does anybody use tremolo (effects rack or pedal) when they play? I experimented with it a little bit but was unable to get a sound I liked.
Thanks,
-Jim

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Mullen D-10
Sho-Bud Pro II D-10
Boss RV3
Fulltone Full-Drive II
Evans FET 500
Peavey Nashville 1000
Vox wah-wah pedal



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Bill Crook

 

From:
Goodlettsville, TN , Spending my kid's inheritance
Post  Posted 22 Apr 2004 12:02 pm    
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It's not used much now-a-days.
Most players have found the "Leslie" effect is more pleaseing to the ear.



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Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 22 Apr 2004 7:35 pm    
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My experience is that electronic tremolo sounds artificial. Usually accomplished by sinusoidally varying the bias on the output tubes (at least on the old Fender amps in the 60's). A Leslie amp does tremolo mechanically, by spinning the speaker. More natural & pleasing, if you like tremolo. Out of 283 tunes in the Ray Price box set I think Jimmy Day used it once.
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Michael Johnstone


From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
Post  Posted 22 Apr 2004 11:22 pm    
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I use it occasionally with my Stringmaster in extended dobro G tuning to get "Duane Eddy","spagetti western" and "surf & spy" sounds. It can be very effective if used sparingly.Lately I get it with a Digitech RP6 multi FX guitar pedalboard thru a souped-up Fender Blues DeVille w/2-12s. I set up so the foot pedal controls the trem speed.It's very important that the trem speed have something to do w/the song tempo. -MJ-
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 6:17 am    
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Believe it or not, I still have my Dearmond tremolo unit that consisted of shaking a glob of mercury back and forth to get the tremolo effect. Am I getting long in the tooth or what?
Erv
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Jay Fagerlie


From:
Lotus, California, USA
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 6:53 am    
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From what I understand, tremolo is a volume change, and the Leslie is actually a phase shift device. The phase shift is caused by the signal having a rotating point source that bounces off of surfaces causing delays and reflections that are picked up by your ears resulting in a "comb filter" effect. To my ears, tremolo and Leslie sound completly different. YMMV

Jay
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 7:40 am    
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I think that the "tremolo" effect went out of vogue about the same time as running boards on automobiles.

The electronic Leslie (or "chorus" effect) is a far more popular and enhancing effect, as is a delay/reverb.
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Jerry Overstreet


From:
Louisville Ky
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 8:19 am    
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I use the Dano trem box as per Michael's
reply and on other retro stuff, but not brave enough to try it on steel...rather on standard 6 string guitar. My old Silvertone 1482 has a tremolo circuit I use too. I also use a Bigsby on all my electrics, even the Tele. I just love the effects available using these tools.
If that puts me out of vogue, sobeit.
'Course I'm not a real guitar player, but I have impersonated one on occasion
The tremolo effect has resurfaced somewhat in modern music, tho.
Try it, you might like it!
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Tony Dingus

 

From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 11:09 am    
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Sonny Garrish can be heard using one occasionaly and very tastful I think.
Tony
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Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 12:32 pm    
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Erv - I still have one of those old units also. If I remember correctly, it's a small metal box with one clear knob on the front of it. My uncle gave it to me back in the 1960's.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 1:38 pm    
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Lee,
I think you're right! I think you could vary the speed of the tremolo by cranking on the knob. If I remember right, it was kind of noisy.
Erv
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Michael Holland


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 2:03 pm    
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The Demeter Tremulator is excellent and I have one on my guitar pedal board along with a TC Electronics Chorus/Flange and an Option 5 Destination Rotation. Each has its own unique sound. I don't like to use any modulation effects on steel.
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John McGann

 

From:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2004 3:45 pm    
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The Diaz Tremodillo is a great unit if you can find it...and of course the old Fender amps had great sounding ones built in!
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