Magic Vibes Tremolo

You can never have enough wobble on the board, so here's a nice optical trem to add to the arsenal, updated for your pleasure in 2024.

Supposedly very similar to the trem on a Magnatone amp (there isn't one at FuzzDog HQ to verify that - sorry!). What we do know is this gives a pleasing throb which ranges nicely from subtle to wob-wob, but doesn't get into choppy territory.

After much experimentation with different vactrols and LDR - LED 'roll your own' combinations, this kit works a treat with a high-intensity red LED and a LDR with very high 'dark' resistance. Would you expect anything less?

Board-mounted pots for minimal wiring and easy enclosure mounting.

If you want the PCB without parts there's a link for that at the bottom of the page.

Partial kit: PCB, all board-mounted components, pots.

Full kit: As above, plus footswitch and appropriate daughterboard/components for your selected bypass type (see Downloads section for details of those), jack sockets, DC socket, battery snap, hook-up wire, LED.

Enclosure (pre-drilled) is available as an option with full kits, and can take a battery if desired with footswitch positioned 22mm higher, closer to the controls. Knobs are not included.

Builds are only available with full kits including enclosure. Please choose appropriate knobs.

Inspired by: Magnavibe

Difficulty: Medium

PCB size: 50 x 25mm

Knobs required: 2

Enclosure: 1590B

Direct-Connect compatible (4-way)

Download INSTRUCTION PDF

Product Code: MagVibe

Product Condition: New

Kit type* Allow for battery?* Ribbon connector?* Pre-built (UK Only)?*

£27.60 inc. tax

£23.00 ex. tax

? Tax based on United Kingdom.

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Customer Reviews

3 review(s) posted (write review)

Wonderful Wobbliness
"I really like this circuit, it s pretty minimal in complexity which I think contributes to it s tonal transparency - always a big plus for me. What is does is give a lovely subtle vibrato / tremolo combination kind of thing. It doesn t go particularly slow and it s not like a uni vibe or chorus pedal simple pitch vibrato. It can do Lonnie Mack style 50s wobbliness but it also can add a movement to your sound that s great for clean ambient jazzy kinds of things and so much nicer than chorus. Can get a bit Floydy at higher speeds too. Great kit and delivery service from the fuzzy canine as always.
" David - 19 July 2023

MagicVibes
"Having built several FuzzDog pedals and so far this is the only circuit that's given real grief. On the first attempt I tried everything to make it work including some de-soldering and component changes. I reviewed and tested LDR's, pots, caps, power supply, grounding, etc, and finally after several hours (more like days) of fiddling it worked to some degree of use-ability but it was no where near right. I studied the circuit diagram (easy peasy, I thought) and attempted to go I down the route of spending a whole day making the hand wired version which to a measure of success did work a little better, but alas, it still wasn't worthy of a space on the board. The MagicVibe is the only project that I've ever had to bin and the only good that came from it is that I learned something and used the enclosure to house a FuzzDog C-Sound Tremolo which 'has and is proving to be absolutely fantastic. My low score on the C-Sound circuit is probably down to my own frustration and inability to build this pedal and get it right. I wont be making another attempt, so a big well done to those of you who have got this one to work well. Now see my review on the FuzzDog C-sound Tremolo.
" XcLeB - 28 November 2021

Reply From FuzzDog

Sorry to hear it didn't work out. We've never had any issues with this circuit at all. Maybe a silly question - you did try it covered/in the dark right?

Vintage Vibrato
"Nels Cline has one of these on his board so it must be good! This is not really a Tremolo, more a wobbly Vibrato, it sounds like the guitar on the Twin Peaks theme tune. Easy build, experimented with LDRs and LEDs (Use sockets), but Mr FuzzDogs recommendation was on the button. Great build, great tones, great kit." SonicBoom - 04 December 2015