J. Rockett Audio Designs Mr. Moto

SOUND:
Mr. Moto is one sweet ride if you want an easy-to-use tremolo and reverb combination, as demonstrated in the YouTube video below:



There are a number of impressive aspects to Rockett Pedal’s Mr. Moto, but what cannot be ignored is how natural the tremolo sounds, as though it’s a part of the original signal as opposed to it altering the signal. A bonus is that you’re able to adjust the Wave from a Sine to a Square and any combination between. This means you can achieve anything from a soft dreamy wave to a choppy and more aggressive pulse. And if that’s not enough, Rockett Pedals didn’t forget to include an excellent sounding Reverb, which goes so well with tremolo (particularly if you’re trying to re-create that famous 1960s surf sound). The Reverb is not extensive, such as a spacey or canyon type quality, but offers enough depth to satisfy any sense of The Ventures’ nostalgia. And you can use the tremolo or reverb independently.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:
For $199 USD you get a solid buy with Rockett Pedal’s Mr. Moto. First, the construction is super solid and hefty, and the ‘Speedswitch’ inside allows you to plug in a new switch if the old one malfunctions (no soldering required). Second, you get two pedals in one – a tremolo and a reverb – either of which can work independently or together. Third, both the tremolo and reverb are very natural and clear sounding – the electronics are superb. Fourth, you can select how smooth or choppy you want the wave, from pure Sine to pure Square or anything between (Mr. Moto morphes extremely well from one end of the spectrum to the other). The diversity of Mr. Moto is exceptional because of all these factors, making it ideal for 1960s Surf music, but also ambient Pink Floyd type compositions. If you enjoy playing slow to moderate melodic guitar, then you must have a good tremolo pedal in the mix, and Mr. Moto is a perfect solution.

EASE OF USE:
Tremolos are fairly easy to operate, although there typically is a wide range of potential results. Depth controls how much of the effect is in the mix, whereas Speed controls how rapid the guitar signal switches from ‘on’ to ‘off’ (which is how a tremolo works). You could have a rapid Speed, yet have the Depth rather low and barely notice the effect, like a slight tremor in the sound. Conversely, a slow Speed and high Depth can produce some very dramatic wave-like results. To add to the complexity and results you’re after, the Wave knob on Mr. Moto indicates how aggressive you want the pulse, from a very subtle and smooth Sine Wave to a very choppy Square Wave and anything between (although not cut in stone, some very atmospheric or ambient music usual applies gentle Sine-type Waves, whereas more upbeat ‘Surf’ music likely would embrace a Wave that is more Square or somewhere in the middle). Once you have this figured out, you then determine how much Reverb (if any) you want. The Verb on Mr. Moto is audible about quarter-way up and obvious half-way. As you turn the dial all the way you get some great reverb depth (e.g., Hall reverb) with a lot of clarity (definitely not a muddy-sounding reverb). A nice feature is that you can use the Reverb without the Tremolo and vice versa, making this a two-function pedal.

RELIABILITY & DURABILITY:
Things were made better in years ago – thicker metal, heavier construction and designed to last. Cars definitely come to mind with their chrome bumpers and solid steel bodies, and Mr. Moto is no different. Unusually heavy for a pedal, there’s no lack of steel in this effect. There are four plastic knobs (Depth, Speed, Wave and Verb) with a cream retro vibe that feel very smooth and of high-quality when turning. The footswitch has a very solid ‘click,’ also signifying solid construction and high-quality. The footswitch in this pedal (as with many other Rockett Pedals) has a ‘Speedswitch’ installed, which means when you remove the cover you can pop out one switch mechanism and plug in a new one… no re-wiring required… definitely a bonus for touring musicians since there is no soldering required if you need to make a last minute repair. All cable inputs (power, TS in/out) are located in the back, which saves on pedal board space and potential strain from a stomping foot. It operates on a standard 9V DC 2.1mm tip jack power supply (neither the manual nor the company’s website indicates the mA power draw, but I presume it’s not that much).