Trem setting tips

So before I even ask let me say that I'm using the Trem on my Delta Blues 210 but I figured I'd post this in here due to the fact that so many trem users use a pedal.

I was wondering if any of you had any tips on getting the trem to be in time with the song? My drummer plays to a click track so I'd like to be able to set the trem perfectly in time with the song but it's proving to be easier said then done. I only have "intensity" and "speed" knobs. I tried setting the intensity really high then adjusting speed, this worked somewhat but then when I lowered the intensity it changed the spead :twisted: :grin: am I missing something about trem? I'd like to use it to just add a little flutter to the sound on some slower/intense type songs.

Any tips/input is greatly appreciated :cool:

I never sync with song tempos, just twiddle roughly to match the sort of atmosphere. Exact synching is a bit too much like dance music for my taste.

You won't get your amp to do it without some major surgery. It's a pretty specific requirement. I'd look for a trem pedal that may have a tap tempo function, or maybe look for a synth module with an external trigger. Good luck.

I have Seymour Duncan Shape Shifter with tap tempo and it is fantastic. However, I've found that setting the ratio to 1:3 and tapping the tempo works much better than being in sync with an even ratio. Exactly in, and only throbbing on the beat was a bit much for me, but this way its in, but doesn't sound like dance music.

Thanks for the help! After playing around a bit I realized I wasn't looking for "on beat" but rather "in time" so that the swells weren't totally unrelated to the song. I agree that a 1:3 ratio is nice, I can't get exact with just knobs but that sounds about right.

Thanks!

I never sync with song tempos, just twiddle roughly to match the sort of atmosphere. Exact synching is a bit too much like dance music for my taste.

I agree. I purposely set the trem so it isn't in sync. Syncing just seems kind of boring to me. I do try to sync if I am using filter effects, though.

PJ

It also helps to not use too heavy intensity unless you know it will work. It is really hard to get it exactly right, unless you are the one that starts the song. No fun to commit and then you have the wrong speed with heavy intensity. I try to have one or 2 settings in memory for slow and upbeat and back off the intensity. Then you have a cushion and a more natural trem that is not too dominating. If it's going well you can always reach over and tweak.

Tap-tempo is nice to have, too. If your bpms are programed in or written down for each song and your drummers' are the same bpms you would still run into some off-sync by the nature of the beast. Also just play a chord if you're in trouble, and then reach over and mess with it before the next chord comes.

This is a good thread, and it's always been a tough one for me with the negative-feedback tube tremolo, which can be unpredictable sometimes.