Zvex Tremolo Probe

This is a tremolo with a very interesting feature: the frequency of vibrato ... manual! It is by tapping the pedal we created the tremolo effect to the desired speed
Analog pedal, true bypass switch in at the top of the pedal
There is a volume knob which is actually a gain and a saturation adds to the original signal when pushed to the maximum
There are two fine adjustments in the pedal, that can change the way the pedal reacts when you tap on it (slight tremolo or big greasy hash)
Finally at the connection is simple: one IN, one OUT!
For cons: no entry :-( 9V battery is not very green .. only the pedal.

UTILIZATION

Very simple config
There is a notice in English, to read just for settings on the pedal. But if you not understand English, just turn the knob and see what it does!
I bought it not to be dependent on a fixed setting at the frequency of the tremolo. Sometimes in concert the original tempo of the song is not respected, or is it same variable, and there: farewell settings fixed. The a priori is more simple, you tap in rhythm with one foot and hop, your tremolo is rhythm. And it works pretty well! It is natural and as long as you have the rhythm is square.
Only downside: the higher the frequency, the more one seeks a more vibrato, more quickly you need to type the foot, and it's hard! Unless you are a drummer and have links with ball bearing is a little gallery!
Finally, we must imagine that the pedal has no moving parts, it's not like an expression pedal, this is the distance between your foot and the copper part that will cause the intensity of sound. We need a little train to find a playing position: heel on the ground, toe well raised, well opposite leg stable support

SOUND QUALITY

Bypass is transparent
Once activated the sound is respected, it is analog and it shows. Nothing frosty here the sound of your guitar is guaranteed.
At the beginning I heard a horrible BUZZ related to the internal oscillator, but I realized it was becaufe the part touched another copper cable.
In addition to the adjustment under the pedal, you can get a slight tremolo, a large hash, and playing the foot, you can even make interesting effects of volume, very slow to fast (depending on your ability to move your feet!)

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few weeks, two concerts at the moment and repeating.
What I like is the ability to actually control just the frequency of the tremolo, and to vary at will during a song. I also like the ability to adjust the intensity of the hash, the gain interesting, and depending on the distance of the foot, to play on the proportion of initial signal that passes.
This pedal is a bit like a physics experiment that we had a kid, or at Futuroscope ... still expected to have the hair rising on his head
What I like least is that you ensure that your cable (or the singer) does not place the pedal during the game, because it replaces your foot, and, ended tremolo, everything is back! I confess also have a little trouble with rhythms supported: ca 30 seconds passes, but two minutes, and it's cramp!
Q / P: Well it's expensive, but the pedal is nice (hand painted), well over the materials are beautiful, it is robust and very stable, sound is good ... short .. It's still a good pedal, then the price ...
I do it again this choice: I'm not sure to be the end of my quest for the perfect tremolo, I'll talk about later, after more concerts!

The Zvex Tremolo Probe is a strange craft: combining a volume pedal controlled by a theremin and pedal pre-amp, the Super Hard On (SHO said).
Simply put: it's a volume pedal with the lever has been replaced by a detector so sensitive it can act as a manual tremolo. The Theremin "captures" the variations of the radio frequency field created around him.

- Made and handpainted in the USA Zvex
- Theremin a sensor in the form of a copper plate, controlling the volume
- Sensitivity of the sensor configurable via a screw inside the pedal
- Potentiometer controlling the gain of the SHO
- Mechanical switch On / Bypass with LED
- 9V battery powered, but low power consumption

Everything is presented in a green cloth with red card and dice usual fantasies.

Manufacturing quality and flawless finish. Attention pedal very heavy.

UTILIZATION

Operation is simple and intuitive:
- A check for the SHO to boost the signal
- The mechanical switch On / Bypass
- Theremin plate to control the volume

That's all!
The sensor is sensitive, accurate and effective. It allows you to make a tremolo manual, which does not allow most of the usual flip-flops because of their inertia. Recall that the sensor is sensitive to any change in the frequency field, whatever its origin: the foot, hand, head, cables, ... For fast or jerky tremors, finger therefore the case with gaming effects that can be quite spectacular.

SOUND QUALITY

Well, it's a "simple" volume pedal. Let's say the bypass is really transparent and that the sound is perfectly fulfilled once the effect engaged. The boost of the SHO is of excellent quality, efficient and transparent too. What a good idea to have integrated (on all Probe elsewhere).
This pedal is ideal for sweeping and tremolos manuals, non-regular or quick jerky. For the simple volume based or fixed-speed tremolos, this pedal is not quite accurate.

OVERALL OPINION

Another great achievement of Zack Vex whose approach to the pedal easier still original.
This pedal will not replace your volume pedal or tremolo usual, but you will approach the volume of your guitar so unusual for gaming effects very effective, surprising even spectacular.

Are you ready yet to put that price?