Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo

The Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo is a tremolo pedal from the Italian maker Dophix, built around an optical circuit rather than a digital one. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in October 2022, describes it as "a full analogue optical [tremolo] with versatile regulations, tap tempo and modulation controls"¹. At its core, "an internal analogue oscillator that controls an high quality photodiode producing the tremolo"¹. In an optical tremolo, that light-controlled element is what modulates the guitar's volume, the classic approach behind many tremolo pedals.

How it works and what it does to your tone

Because the tremolo is produced by an oscillator controlling a photodiode, the audio path is modulated optically. The review says this lets "Galileo's tremolo effect be very natural, without any distortion of the input signal"¹. In other words, the reviewer found the pedal leaves the guitar's basic tone alone and applies only the volume movement of the tremolo.

The controls: Tap Speed, Speed Mod, Shift and Up-Down modes

The Galileo's speed controls go beyond a single rate knob:

• Tap tempo: tap in the rate you want, with modulation controls alongside¹
• Tap Speed: multiplies the current rate by either 1x, 2x or 3x¹
• Speed Mod: controls the speed modulation¹
• Shift mode: moves the speed of the oscillator 2 times, then goes back to normal¹
• Up-Down mode: increases and decreases the speed following a sine wave¹

The two modulation modes give the rate itself some movement. Shift produces a temporary double-time jump before returning to the set speed, while Up-Down sweeps the speed smoothly in a sine pattern. Between tap tempo, the 1x/2x/3x multiplier and these modes, the reviewer found "a lot of options" for shaping the tremolo's rhythm¹.

What reviewers said

Pedal of the Day reviewed the Galileo on 12 October 2022 and came away calling it "a pedal of theirs with a lot of options and a ton of tone"¹. The same review praised the build: "built like an absolute tank, ready for the studio, practice room or worldwide tour right out of the box"¹.

Premier Guitar's reviewer came away with a favorable view of the Galileo, calling it "a pedal of theirs with a lot of options and a ton of tone"². The same review praised the build, describing it as "built like an absolute tank, ready for the studio, practice room or worldwide tour right out of the box"².

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