The Foxgear Knee Trembler is an analog tremolo pedal from Foxgear, developed in collaboration with Guy Pratt, the bass player known for his work with Pink Floyd and many other artists. Foxgear unveiled it in December 2018 with a retail price of $891. It sits in the tremolo corner of the pedal world: the effect that rhythmically varies a note's volume, from a slow pulse to a hard chop.
What it does and how it sounds
The Knee Trembler's core feature is what Foxgear calls a special LFO, the circuit that shapes the speed and shape of the tremolo's rise and fall. Foxgear describes it as "designed to be fierce or smooth as you need," so the same pedal can cover a gentle, rolling pulse and a harder, more aggressive modulation1.
Pratt's own words in the announcement put it plainly:
"The Knee Trembler gives me the tremolo i need, fierce and precise every time"
The audio path is analog, built with non-SMD components, and Foxgear names the parts it uses: Wima capacitors, real Alpha 16mm pots, and non-plastic trimmers1.
Controls
The control layout is deliberately minimal. As Pratt put it in the announcement, the pedal has "very simple controls like speed, and intensity that let you control the attack and character of the tremolo"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets how fast the tremolo pulses |
| Intensity | Sets how deep the volume modulation reaches |
Together, the two knobs shape both the attack and the overall character of the effect1.
Build, size and power
The Knee Trembler is a tremolo pedal from Foxgear, listed at $891. Foxgear describes the need it was built around as "the need of a particular kind of tremolo," and quotes the player's verdict: "The Knee Trembler gives me the tremolo i need, fierce and precise every time"1.
It runs at 9V, the same as all other Foxgear pedals, so it fits a standard pedalboard power setup1.
The announcement gives the 9V requirement but no current draw figure, so check your supply's per-port output against Foxgear's own specifications before adding it to a daisy chain.
Videos
Foxgear Pedals
Martial Allart
Pedaltown
Questions
Is the Foxgear Knee Trembler true bypass?
Yes. Foxgear pedals use a true bypass circuit that includes Panasonic golden pin relays, according to the announcement material. That means the effect is removed from the signal path entirely when the pedal is off, with the relay handling the switching.
What power supply does the Foxgear Knee Trembler need?
The Knee Trembler runs at 9V, the same as all other Foxgear pedals, so it can share a standard pedalboard supply with the rest of a Foxgear-equipped board. No battery option or current draw figure was given in the announcement.
How much does the Foxgear Knee Trembler cost?
The retail price announced in December 2018 was $89.
What warranty comes with Foxgear pedals?
All Foxgear pedals, the Knee Trembler included, are covered by a full 5 Year warranty according to the company's announcement.
How big is the Foxgear Knee Trembler?
Pedals in the Foxgear Professional Compact series, which includes the Knee Trembler, measure 2.3 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches, with top mounted jacks that help them fit on crowded pedalboards.
Sources (1)
- Foxgear Presents the Guy Pratt Knee Trembler Tremolo, Premier Guitar, 2018-12-20