Throb Tremolo

Mark M's modified Schaller Tremolo circuit. A worthy update of a chassic chopper that refines the fought edges and makes it, well... pretty super.

From soft, subtle wobble to outright chop, this is a pretty versatile circuit.

The speed range has been increased with the addition of a switch to flip between Fast and Slow modes.

The kit is supplied with vertical-mount pots which have round shafts, so you'll need set-screw fitting knobs.

Note: the flashing bypass indicator LED function is not compatible with the OptoPuss bypass system.

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 and vertical-mount pots. Please choose appropriate knobs.

Inspired by: Schaller Tremelo

Difficulty: Medium

PCB size: 50 x 40mm

Knobs required: 2

Enclosure: 1590B

Direct-Connect compatible (4-way)

Download INSTRUCTION PDF

Product Code: Throb

Brand: Pedal Parts

Weight: 130.0g

Product Condition: New

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

£26.40 inc. tax

£22.00 ex. tax

? Tax based on United Kingdom.

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Customer Reviews

9 review(s) posted (write review)

Close to the original
"A friend asked me if i can fix some problems with his Schaller Tremolo. OK, i build for my own fx-pedals, so i looked if i can help him. There wasn t big problems. Only a ground problem, the input jack had a short to ground connection. Fixed and it worked well. Wonderfull Sound. So i looked if i can find some information about this tremolo. And fuzzdog appears! Ordered, build, Sound. OK, it doesn t sound the same. The Throb has 2N5088 transistors, the original uses BC 170 and BC 109. And the pots work a little different. The dwell pot works like a level pot. The Sound of the original is warmer and wider. But the throb is a great pedal! I recommend this pedal every tremolo lover! A happy Michael
" Michael Barth - 22 January 2022

Great trem
"Nice easy build (apart from mixing up a connection on stereo pot) and great sounding trem. I would agree with a subtle coloration of the 'dry' sound but nothing crazy. The speed dial has a bit of bunching at the end of the clockwise turn. The depth/dwell dial goes from barely there flicker to a deep chop. It's worth mentioning that this dial widens the dip-to-dry ratio as well as blending in the effect. Overall, a good build and lovely versatile effect for not much dolla, thanks fuzzdawg." Thomas - 13 December 2018

Perfect
"Have made several kits and was looking for something I did not have on my board so thought why not give this tremolo a go. Not the sort of thing you use all the time but when you need it sounds marvellous. Sounds superb with my hollow body Gretsch. Thumbs up to Fuzzdog." Mick - 08 October 2017

cool versatile trem
"This was my very first pedal build. The instructions were very good and I did like the look and feel of the board (I have a few more kits from several suppliers now). The sound is extremely tasty. You can dial in slow and deep swirl and wobble and choppy sounds as well. Always the pedal delivers a very three dimensional, organic tremolo effect. It definitely does something to the frequency response, seems to give a more transparent midrange. Moreso in the fast mode than in the slow. First I thought it d be the buffer effect, when turning on a pedal and getting the wires capacity out of the sound... but it acts and feels different to that. I tested and even an already buffered signal is getting much more freshness. That s cool. I tried it, turning the potis all the way down, so the tremolo effect is barely audible. It does something to your tone a bit like compressor... but the most transparent, sweetest comp to get anywhere on the planet. I am thinking about getting another one for using one just that way instead of a buffer and/or compressor. No kidding. It s that good. By the way - the tremolo ain t bad either... (though - and that might be a little of a downside - it doesn t get all that fast, seems like a little bit missing for absolute swirl - but it can get reeeaaaaaaallllllllly slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow)" zwiefldraader - 25 August 2016

Amazing.
"Always wanted a decent Tremolo and after the disappointing time I had with a EHX Worm (1st Edition - jack of all trades - master of none?!!?) which ended in the flogging of the useless POS. Easy to build; Even my wrong handed soldering skills which resulted in a fault didn't stop me from finally fixing it (reflowing fixed it - duh). Soundwise; this pedal is everything the EHX didn't do. Thick throbbing trem. I could of saved myself 100 a few years ago if this had existed. i get to pick it up in my quiet moments and say to myself "I built that", I am complete. I want more. Seriously considering getting the Green Muff clone and flogging my Russian 90's beast to some poor fool. Mr Dog, I salute you - this pedal is both easy to build and sounds f kin awesome." Adam. - 31 March 2015

Fantastic Trem
"This was my 4th or 5th Fuzzdog kit and is probably my favourite. It's a lovely build that produced a very musical tremolo." Chris Haye - 14 January 2015

Excellent result !
"Bought this as my first project. instructions was good and customer service was superb. Assembly went fine and it sounded very nice indeed. Will buy more kits for sure. Site and kits highly recommended!" Espen Westbye - 27 December 2014

Throbtastic
"This one really is a stonker. Really, really easy build, and the holes for the pot wires are exactly in line with the pot lugs, so the inside is nice and neat with no wires trailing about. Hanging the board from the switch is another neat touch. The attention to detail on these latest PCBs is superb, and they are excellent quality. The trem itself is great. The controls are useful throughout their range and the flashing rate LED is the icing on the cake." John Roberts - 24 June 2013

Lovely warm throb...throb...throb....
"This is a really nice warm sounding tremolo. Goes from fairly slow to a lovely fast chop (my personal fav way of using trem) at the flick of a switch. Sounds really 'organic' and 'natural' and all that corksniffing descriptive stuff. Doesn't sound really false and obvious like some other tremolos out there. Definitely going to find itself on my pedalboard. Easy kit to follow as usual!" Simon - 23 April 2013