The Wondertow is a combination pedal from Bleak District Electric that puts an overdrive and a tremolo together on one board, with a Tap Tempo switch for the tremolo section and a Wave control that steps between sine, square and saw shapes1. The maker describes the pedal's character at low settings: "You can get some really cool sort of lo-fi fluttery effects by setting each of those segments relatively low", textures that sit under the playing rather than taking over1.
What it does
The three effects are served by three vertical control columns, one per section. Each effect can be dialled out entirely: the drive via its Gain control, the tremolo via Depth, and the reverb via Mix, and there is a Reverb Bypass switch for cutting the reverb out quickly1. That means the pedal can work as a straight overdrive, a tremolo-and-reverb pairing, or any combination in between.
The reverb section is built around a Belton Brick, an integrated circuit that lets builders make digital reverbs in a compact pedal, which is how the spring-style sound is achieved without a physical spring tank12.
Karlsson also noted a use for the extremes of the controls: "You can get some really cool sort of lo-fi fluttery effects by setting each of those segments relatively low1."
The controls
| Section | Control | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Overdrive | Gain | Sets the drive amount; at minimum it dials the drive out1 |
| Overdrive | Master Volume | Output level for the drive section1 |
| Overdrive | Master Bypass | Bypasses the overdrive section1 |
| Tremolo | Rate | Tremolo speed1 |
| Tremolo | Wave | Switch selects Sine, Square or Saw waveforms1 |
| Tremolo | Depth | Tremolo intensity; at minimum it dials the tremolo out1 |
| Tremolo | Tap Tempo | Sets tremolo speed by tapping1 |
| Reverb | Mix | Reverb level; at minimum it dials the reverb out1 |
| Reverb | Reverb Bypass | Switch to bypass the reverb1 |
Where it sits
Reverb and tremolo together have a history as paired effects. As Karlsson put it: "Reverb and Tremolo have always been interesting bedfellows - as most easily illustrated by the Strymon Flint, and Keeley" Verb o Trem. He frames the Wondertow as another intriguing addition to that company, with the overdrive section as its distinguishing extra1. If you are comparing pedals of this kind, the tremolo and reverb type pages cover the wider field, and the overdrive page covers the drive side on its own.
Videos
Bleak District Electric
Nick Rees
Signal Path
Questions
Can you use the Wondertow reverb and tremolo without the overdrive?
Yes. Each of the three sections can be dialled out on its own: the overdrive via its Gain control, the tremolo via its Depth control, and the reverb via its Mix control. There is also a dedicated Reverb Bypass switch, and a Master Bypass for the overdrive section, so the tremolo and reverb can run on their own with the drive stage out of the picture.
What tremolo waveforms does the Bleak District Wondertow have?
The tremolo section has a Wave switch with three settings: Sine, Square and Saw. Rate and Depth knobs shape the speed and intensity, and a Tap Tempo control lets you set the speed in time with the music rather than turning a knob by ear.
Is the Wondertow reverb based on a Belton Brick?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X describes the reverb section as a Belton Brick spring-style reverb. The Belton Brick is an integrated circuit that lets pedal builders create digital reverbs, which is how compact pedals achieve a spring-style sound without a physical spring tank.
How does the Wondertow compare to the Strymon Flint?
Guitar Pedal X places the Wondertow alongside the Strymon Flint and the Keeley Verb o Trem as examples of pedals that pair reverb and tremolo, noting that reverb and tremolo have always been interesting bedfellows. The Wondertow adds an overdrive section on top of that pairing.
How much does the Bleak District Electric Wondertow cost?
Guitar Pedal X lists the Wondertow at £245 and equivalent, sold through the Bleak District Electric webstore, as of its April 2025 launch coverage.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-04-25
- Coda Effects, Coda Effects (www.coda-effects.com), 2015-04
