The Anasounds Ages Harmonic Tremolo is a compact harmonic tremolo pedal from the French maker Anasounds. It takes on a sound players know under several names: Univibe, harmonic vibrato, harmonic tremolo. Instead of simply pulsing the volume of the whole signal the way a standard tremolo pedal does, a harmonic tremolo works on the harmonic content of the note, and Pedal of the Day describes the motion these pedals produce as "somewhat livelier, adding a hypnotic edge and thickness to your tone"1.
Guitar World's Peter Hodgson calls it "Anasounds' take on a sound that you might know under one of a number of names: Univibe, har[monic tremolo]" and judges that "The Ages sounds like a great Univibe-style effect, but that's only the beginning of it: once you start messing around wi[th the Attack Detector]" the effect becomes part of what you play overall2.
Controls and Trimpot Mode
The front panel is straightforward. Guitar World lists "four knobs (output volume, tone, depth and rhythm subdivision) along with a Tap Tempo footswitch for easily" setting the speed2. A tone control is unusual here: Hodgson notes "The inclusion of a tone control is a neat idea that you don't often find on pedals of this type"2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output volume | Sets the pedal's output level2 |
| Tone | Shapes the tone, rare on pedals of this type2 |
| Depth | Sets the intensity of the effect2 |
| Rhythm subdivision | Sets how the effect divides the beat2 |
| Tap Tempo footswitch | Sets the effect speed2 |
| Bypass switch | Held down, opens Trimpot Mode1 |
Beneath the surface sits Trimpot Mode. Pedal of the Day explains that you "hold down the Bypass switch until it turns blue to access Trimpot Mode"1. In that mode the Tone control changes character: it "becomes Envelop (yes, spelled like that), which acts as an Attack detector"1. That means the effect responds to your picking attack, which is what Hodgson is pointing at when he says the Attack Detector "opens up a whole new world of interactivity, making the effect part of what you play overall"2.
Trimpot Mode changes what the Tone knob does. In normal use it is a tone control; with the Bypass switch held until it turns blue, the same knob becomes Envelop, the Attack detector1.
Expression input
The Ages carries an eighth-inch TRS jack for use with the Spinner expression pedal, which Anasounds also makes. Hodgson notes that "Each of these pedals has a little eighth-inch TRS jack for use with the Spinner expression pedal," so the Ages can be controlled by foot alongside its knobs and switches2. For more on how expression pedals work with effects, see Expression Pedals.
Where it sits in the range
Anasounds builds several tremolo-family pedals. The Ages is the harmonic tremolo of the lineup; the company also offers the Anasounds Trémolo, an optical tremolo, and the Anasounds Sliver, which was later renamed TREMOLO. Pedal of the Day calls the Ages "a monster of a pedal, in compact form" and judges it a stand-out harmonic tremolo1.
Videos
Anasounds
Tone Factory
Jake Cloudchair
Questions
What is the difference between harmonic tremolo and regular tremolo?
A regular tremolo raises and lowers the overall volume of your signal. A harmonic tremolo, like the one in the Anasounds Ages, works on the harmonic content of the sound instead, in the Univibe tradition. Pedal of the Day describes the motion these pedals produce as somewhat livelier, adding a hypnotic edge and thickness to your tone rather than a simple volume pulse.
Does the Anasounds Ages have tap tempo?
Yes. Guitar World's Peter Hodgson notes that the Ages has a Tap Tempo footswitch for setting the effect speed, alongside four knobs covering output volume, tone, depth and rhythm subdivision.
Can I use an expression pedal with the Anasounds Ages?
Yes. The Ages has an eighth-inch TRS jack for use with the Spinner expression pedal, which Anasounds also makes. Guitar World's Peter Hodgson points out that each pedal in the company's range has one of these jacks.
What does the Envelop control do on the Anasounds Ages?
Envelop, spelled that way by Anasounds, is what the Tone control becomes in Trimpot Mode. Pedal of the Day explains that it acts as an Attack detector, so the effect responds to how hard you play rather than only to the knob settings.
How do you access Trimpot Mode on the Anasounds Ages?
Hold down the Bypass switch until it turns blue, according to Pedal of the Day. In Trimpot Mode the Tone control becomes Envelop, an Attack detector, giving you deeper control over how the effect behaves.
Sources (2)
- Anasounds Ages Harmonic Tremolo, Pedal of the Day, 2020-07-23
- Anasounds Spinner, Ages and Sliver Pedals review, Guitar World, 2020-10-14
