Keeley TR2 - vs - Semaphore - vs - Tremulator

[New2Teles]

Hi everyone,
I'm currently on the search for a new tremolo pedal (my old Boss is on the verge of biting the dust). I've been looking around, and the three previously mentioned units all seem to get great reviews. Anyone have any input on them? Or want to recommend something even better?

Basically, I need a trem that can do a decent "replica" of a Fender Princeton-y thang, but with a little bit more versatility. My dilemma...
I know that the Demeter Trem is supposedly a very high quality Fender trem copy, but the screwdriver depth adjustment throws me a bit, and there's no master volume, which the other two have (and I would really prefer).
The Semaphore probably has more controls than I really need, but it's supposed to sound great.
The Keeley seems to have everything I want, but after using a TR2 for so long and never having been thrilled with it, I am nervous (although I generally love Keeley stuff).

The only other requirement I have is it must be quiet - I mainly play Jazz/Blues and I really don't want to introduce any more noise to my signal if possible. Generally my pedals are kept to a minimum: an OD, volume pedal and a couple of delays.

Any help would make me love you forever etc.

[dalandan]

if you're happy with your TR2, get a new one! or a keeley would be basically the same with adjustable volume.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Not one of your options, but i have to say, i LOVE my EHX Pulsar !

[hannigan]

I have been enjoying the semaphore for several weeks now,
Cant go wrong getting that , versatile , quiet, nice sounding.

[New2Teles]

Thanks for the replies. I think the Semaphore is edging into the lead.

Originally Posted by SirJackdeFuzz

Not one of your options, but i have to say, i LOVE my EHX Pulsar !

I have seen some good things about the Pulsar - is it noisy? I like Ehx stuff, but some of them seem to add a lot of hum.

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Originally Posted by New2Teles

I have seen some good things about the Pulsar - is it noisy? I like Ehx stuff, but some of them seem to add a lot of hum.

My XO-size box is deff not noisy at all . . . i am very happy with mine, as i hate pedals that adds even the smallest amount of hummm, hisss, or any other unwanted sounds that should not be there.

[weiner71]

I have been on the search for a new trem as well. Have you tried the fulltone supratrem? all the ones above i have been looking at, in addition to the fulltone

[New2Teles]

Good to hear the Pulsar's quiet - there are quite a few Ehx stockists in London, so I will definitely give one a whirl, thanks SirJack!

Weiner71, I have seen some great reviews of the Fulltone but their pedals are relatively difficult to find in shops here, even in Denmark Street. I have found a couple of sites here in the UK that stock them so maybe I will have to broaden my horizons a little. They appear to be very highly regarded.

[tazzboy]

Get a voodoo lab tremolo.

[pinkspider]

Originally Posted by hannigan

I have been enjoying the semaphore for several weeks now,
Cant go wrong getting that , versatile , quiet, nice sounding.

+1
I'm also enjoying the semaphore for several weeks now, still finding new sounds out of it every now and then. The shape control is very useful and I like how I can do really slow volume swells with it.

[New2Teles]

Just as a follow-up, I got the Keeley. Why?
1) I got a nice price on it . Also, it's totally, as-the-grave quiet. Flexible, nice sounding, easy to use. Very impressed. I'm actually more impressed with this than any other of Keeley's Boss "updates." Even his Blues Driver. Which I think kills.
2) The Semaphore had too much stuff on it. I couldn't really see what I was doing. I am something of a neanderthal, so put a little box with a lot of little knobs in front me and I will twiddle with all of them, rather than play. I will also break them. It's a very nice sounding unit, though.
3) The Demeter was the nicest sounding of the units I tried. If I were to use a trem solely for recording, it'd be this. Hands down. Internal trim pot is as annoying in real life as it is on a spec sheet. Even with a screwdriver access.
4) I tried three Pulsar's. All of them hummed, so I gave up. They're cool, though. Probably a bit too oddball for my use, though. They also sounded great with a lot of gain.
5) I really didn't like the sound of the Voodoo Lab. Seemed to add too much compression and I lost some highs.
6) I couldn't find a Fulltone anywhere except online.


All in all, I was pretty impressed with every unit I tried. I know I wanted it for a very particular application, so bear my comments in mind. Thanks for all your help!

[winny pooh]

I have a demeter, but don't buy it. James Demeter seems to have decided that for the benefit of all of us he has to use an obscure annoying power jack. On the basis of such obvious silliness I have not decided to buy any more demeter stuff.