The Dophix Galileo is a full analog optical tremolo pedal made in Italy. Dophix describes it as "a full analogue optical tremolo with versatile regulations, tap tempo and modulation controls"1. In an optical tremolo, the pulsing of the effect is done with light rather than a mechanical or digital element: the heart of the Galileo is an internal analog oscillator that controls a high quality photodiode, and that photodiode produces the tremolo1. Pedal of the Day's review says this design lets the tremolo be "very natural, without any distortion of the input signal"2.
The controls: GO and TAP footswitches, speed and tap tempo
The Galileo is built around two true-bypass footswitches, GO and TAP1. GO activates the tremolo effect, and when it is off the input is bypassed directly to the output jack; a blue LED lights when the pedal is on1. TAP handles tap tempo, which is connected to the speed control13.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GO footswitch | Activates the tremolo; when off, input is bypassed straight to the output jack; blue LED when on1 |
| TAP footswitch | Tap tempo, connected to the speed control13 |
| Tap Speed | Multiplies the current rate by 1x, 2x or 3x2 |
| Speed Mod | Controls the speed modulation2 |
| SPEED knob | Sets how the speed shifts during modulation: at minimum the speed duplicates after each oscillator repetition, at maximum after 8 repetitions, with mid positions setting 1 to 8 repetitions linearly (4 at mid)1 |
The TAP LED changes color to show what the pedal is doing. Delicious Audio's product page, from when the pedal was announced in November 2021, lays the colors out34:
- Blue: the tremolo oscillator is running in manual mode4
- Red: the configuration is about the tap, the pedal is attaching to the tapped tempo34
- Green: the pedal is matched with the tapped tempo34
- Green plus red: during speed modulation4
The SPEED knob's modulation behavior and the oscillator's maximum period are described differently in different places on Dophix's own page, so treat the extremes of the speed modulation range as something to explore by ear rather than a fixed specification.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Galileo in October 2022 and found the range wide: "With tremolo speeds up to 1 second, the range of [modulation] here is wide"2. The review highlights the 1x, 2x and 3x rate multiplication and the Shift and Up-Down speed modulation modes as the pedal's distinguishing features2.
Dophix describes the Galileo as "a full analogue optical tremolo with versatile regulations, tap tempo and modulation controls"1.
Price and a namesake
One point of confusion worth clearing up: Catalinbread also sells a pedal called the Galileo, a different product designed around Brian May's sound, listed at $170 by Guitar.com in 20245. It is not related to the Dophix Galileo covered here. For more on the effect type itself, see Tremolo Pedals, and Dophix's other pedals include the Dophix GIOCONDA.
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Questions
Is the Dophix Galileo true bypass?
Yes. Dophix says the Galileo is provided with two true-bypass footswitches, GO and TAP. With the GO footswitch off, the input is bypassed directly to the output jack, so the pedal stays out of the signal path when it is not in use.
How much does the Dophix Galileo cost?
Dophix's own product page lists the Galileo at 400 euros, with the page also showing a 390 euro figure, so the two listings disagree. In 2022, a Premier Guitar demo video from the NAMM show gave a US price of $399.99 for the tremolo.
Where is the Dophix Galileo made?
The Galileo is made in Italy. Delicious Audio, covering the pedal when it was announced in 2021, described it as an Italian optical tremolo with a host of versatile features.
What do the TAP LED colors mean on the Dophix Galileo?
According to Delicious Audio, the TAP LED blinks blue when the tremolo oscillator is running in manual mode, red while the pedal is attaching to the tapped tempo, green when it is matched to the tapped speed, and green plus red during speed modulation.
How big is the Dophix Galileo?
Dophix lists the Galileo at 12 x 9 x 4 cm and a weight of 0.444 kg, which puts it in compact, pedalboard-friendly territory.
Sources (5)
- GALILEO optical tremolo, Dophix (www.dophix.com)
- Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo, Pedal of the Day, 2022-10-12
- Dophix Galileo, Michelangelo, Dante, Nettuno, David, Perseo, Leonardo & Vitruviano Demos, Premier Guitar, 2022-06-05
- New Pedal: Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo, Delicious Audio, 2021-11-16
- Brian May reveals the amp-in-a-box that best captures his signature Queen tone, Guitar.com, 2024-06-14
