The Carl Martin Surf Trem is a straightforward, vintage-inspired tremolo pedal: it raises and lowers your volume in a repeating cycle, the way the trem circuits built into tube amps of the 1950s and 60s did. Carl Martin says it voiced the pedal "to capture the unmistakable tremolo character of classic tube amps from the 50s and 60s," and kept it to two knobs, Speed and Depth, just like those old amp panels1. There are no modes, no presets and no waveform switch: the waveform is fixed as a smooth sine and triangle blend1.
The pedal is a current product sold through Carl Martin's dealer network2. It is an analog design built around an opto-coupler circuit, the same core trem circuit Carl Martin developed for its larger TremO'Vibe tremolo and vibrato pedal1.
A vintage amp-style tremolo
Tremolo is a cyclical variation of volume controlled by a low frequency oscillator, and the Surf Trem simplifies the whole effect to that one job3. RockBoard's PedalPedia entry for the original Surftrem V1 describes its circuit lineage as "just like the trem circuit on our vintage Fenders and Ampegs," meaning it aims at the smooth, amp-built wobble players associate with surf and vintage rock, rather than the choppy or shapeable tremolos of more feature-heavy pedals3.
The fixed waveform is part of that character. Carl Martin states plainly that there is no waveform knob, and that the smooth sine and triangle blend is voiced like vintage amp tremolos1. For a player who wants one classic tremolo sound rather than a menu of them, that is the whole point of the pedal.
MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen reviewed the 2018 compact version and summed it up in one line4:
"No bells and whistles - simply vintage amp-style tremolo elegantly presented."
The controls: Speed and Depth
The Surf Trem has the simplest of control options, providing just Speed and Depth knobs4. Each does exactly what its name says:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Controls the speed of the oscillation, how fast the volume rises and falls3 |
| Depth | Controls how much of the effect is in your guitar signal, from subtle shimmer to deep chop3 |
Carl Martin describes the two-knob operation as matching original vintage tube amplifiers, which makes it easy to dial in tremolo sounds quickly2. Delicious Audio's coverage of the compact version made the same point: with Speed and Depth controls, it is easy to quickly dial in the tone you want5. A single bypass footswitch engages or bypasses the effect1.
The older wide-box version also had an internal trim for level; Carl Martin notes it is not certain the small Vintage Series version carries the same trim1.
Power and connections
Power comes from a 9V battery or an AC adapter, which is not included2. The pedal also has a 9V DC center-negative power input13, so it will run on a standard pedalboard power supply. Current draw is low, listed at 12mA for the V13, and Carl Martin highlights the low current draw as a feature of the pedal generally1. That draw is gentle enough that a battery is a realistic option for players who do not want to run a power supply.
Connections are minimal: one 1/4" input jack and an output jack that sends the signal to the next device or amp21. On the compact Vintage Series version the jacks are on top of the pedal rather than the sides, which saves horizontal space on a pedalboard1.
The 2018 edition and onward is true bypass, but earlier big-box versions were buffered1. If you are buying used and true bypass matters to your signal chain, check which enclosure the pedal is in before you buy.
Versions: the big box and the compact Vintage Series
The Surf Trem has existed in two main forms. The original Surftrem V1 was a wider big-box pedal13. For 2018, announced around NAMM, Carl Martin redesigned it into a compact anodized aluminum enclosure as part of its refreshed Vintage Series, with the stated goal of making the pedals more pedalboard-friendly15. Delicious Audio described the new version as an anodized case with a smaller footprint that still offered the same tones as the original5.
| Big-box V1 | Compact Vintage Series (2018 onward) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bypass | Buffered1 | True bypass1 |
| Enclosure | Wide box1 | Small anodized aluminum, lightweight, die-cast1 |
| Jacks | Side-mounted | On top1 |
| Internal level trim | Yes1 | Not confirmed1 |
The current pedal is built in a rugged die-cast enclosure with a compact footprint1, and it remains part of the Vintage Series line alongside pedals such as the TremO'Vibe.
Relation to the TremO'Vibe
The Surf Trem is not a stripped-down TremO'Vibe in every respect, but the two share their heart. Carl Martin says the Surf Trem is built around the same core trem circuit developed for the CM TremO'Vibe, using an opto-coupler design1. The TremO'Vibe itself is an analog two-in-one pedal combining a tremolo and a true vibrato, with independent controls for each, designed to replicate authentic tube vibrato6. Carl Martin positions it as suitable for guitar, bass, keyboard or other electronic instruments6. The Surf Trem takes just the tremolo half of that idea and puts it in a smaller, simpler box.
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Questions
Is the Carl Martin Surf Trem true bypass?
The 2018 edition and onward, which is the small anodized aluminum Vintage Series version, is true bypass. Earlier big-box versions were buffered, so a used original Surf Trem will not be true bypass. Both versions switch the effect in and out with a single bypass footswitch.
Does the Carl Martin Surf Trem take a battery?
Yes. Carl Martin specifies power as a 9V battery or an AC adapter, and the pedal also has a 9V DC center-negative power input. The adapter is not included with the pedal. Current draw is low, listed at 12mA for the earlier version.
Is the Surf Trem the same circuit as the Carl Martin TremO'Vibe?
Not the same pedal, but the same core. Carl Martin says the Surf Trem is built around the same core trem circuit developed for the CM TremO'Vibe, using an opto-coupler design. The TremO'Vibe is the larger two-in-one pedal that adds a true vibrato with its own independent controls.
Is the Carl Martin Surf Trem analog?
Yes. The Surf Trem is an analog tremolo pedal, and the TremO'Vibe circuit it derives from is analog as well. There are no digital modes or presets: the waveform is fixed, a smooth sine and triangle blend voiced like vintage amp tremolos.
Sources (6)
- Surf Trem, Carl Martin, 2026
- Surf Trem, carlmartin.com, 2026
- Surftrem V1 by Carl Martin, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Carl Martin Surf Trem 2018 review, MusicRadar, 2018-10-26
- Carl Martin Surf Trem (compact Version), Delicious Audio, 2019-01-31
- Trem O' Vibe, Carl Martin (carlmartin.com), 2026
