The Fulltone Supa-Trem2 is a stereo tremolo pedal and auto-panner from Fulltone, announced on 26 June 2013. Where most "stereo" tremolos fake it with an inverted signal on the second output, the Supa-Trem2 is true stereo, with two inputs and two outputs built from two completely separate Supa-Trem circuits joined together1.
The result is a pedal that can do two jobs. Run it in phase and you get one massive throbbing tremolo across both outputs. Set the Phase Correlation knob full out of phase and the guitar pans between your two amps instead, with what Fulltone describes as a hint of naturally occurring harmonic phase-shift as the signal moves between them1.
The pedal grew out of the Supa-Trem1, which Fulltone's Mike Fuller called an extremely successful pedal for him over the previous 15 years1. The current version is sold as the Supa-Trem2 v2 on the Fulltone USA site, with shipping lead times listed on each product page2.
Two Supa-Trem circuits in one box
Fulltone's own account of the design is direct about where the pedal came from:
"I took two completely separate Supa-Trem circuits and joined them together!"
Mike Fuller, quoted in Premier Guitar's launch announcement1
The tone of the circuit comes from a JFET amplifier at its heart, inherited from the original Supa-Trem, and the pedal uses N.O.S. Fairchild 2N5484 JFETs on each input13. The tremolo action itself comes from the Fulltone Opto-1 photocell, which Fuller designed and had made for the pedal, with what he describes as the optimal resistance range and the correct rise and fall times1.
Because the outputs are hi-quality JFET buffers, Fulltone positions the Supa-Trem2 as the ideal device to place at the end of your chain: run cables as long as you want and use it as your amp splitter1.
Controls and waveforms
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tap Tempo footswitch | Sets the speed by tapping; range from over 6 seconds to pan between outputs up to speeds in excess of 200bpm1 |
| Waveform switch (3-way) | Sine, Square and Warble modes3 |
| Phase Correlation knob | Throws the outputs any degree in or out of phase with each other1 |
| Mix control | Blends the effect; turn it down and the pedal works as a clean boost1 |
| Volume control | Up to 15dB of available boost1 |
The three waveforms cover very different ground. The sine position is the standard pure sine wave for everyday gigs. The square position is a true square wave, which Fulltone describes as brutally abrupt and choppy at any speed with any amount of distortion, something the old Supa-Trems could not do1.
The third position is the one Fulltone is most proud of:
"Gave it a proprietary (yours-truly crafted) 'Warble' waveform that's not on ANY other tremolo. Inspired by the Leslie..1."
Mike Fuller, quoted in Premier Guitar's launch announcement1
Warble is inspired by Leslie speaker and vintage Univibe sounds, and Fulltone says it appears on no other tremolo pedal1.
Two extra functions sit under the footswitches. Holding the Tap Tempo switch down for three quarters of a second accesses Half-Speed and Double-Speed functionality, so you can halve or double your tapped tempo without re-tapping3. And with the Mix control turned down, the Volume control's 15dB of boost turns the pedal into a clean boost1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Supa-Trem2 in May 2020 and came away impressed. On the tap tempo range31:
"the Tap Tempo has the largest range I think we've ever seen in a tremolo pedal, going from taking a whopping SIX SECONDS"31
Pedal of the Day3
The same review noted the +15dB of boost on the Volume knob, the N.O.S. Fairchild 2N5484 JFETs on each input, and the enhanced-bypass design, and concluded that of Fulltone's pedals, "today's pedal of theirs might be our favorite one yet"3.
Where it sits in the Fulltone line
The Supa-Trem2 is the stereo flagship of a tremolo family. The original Supa-Trem ran for some 15 years before it, a pedal the maker calls extremely successful over that time1, and the Supa-Trem2 was announced as its stereo successor1. The Supa-Trem2 remains the one to choose if you want two amps, true stereo panning and the Phase Correlation knob.
Videos
Guitar Player Magazine
N Stuff Music
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Fulltone Supa-Trem2 true bypass?
No. The Supa-Trem2 uses what Pedal of the Day describes as an enhanced-bypass, because of its high-quality JFET buffered outputs. Those same buffered outputs are part of what lets it sit at the end of a chain and drive long cables to two amps, so the bypass design and the splitter role go hand in hand.
Can the Supa-Trem2 be used as a clean boost?
Yes. The Volume control carries 15dB of available boost, and if you turn the Mix control down the tremolo effect drops out of the picture and the pedal pulls double duty as a clean boost. Fulltone described it in the launch announcement as one of the finest clean boosts around.
How do you get half-speed or double-speed on the Supa-Trem2?
Hold down the Tap Tempo footswitch for about three quarters of a second. That accesses the Half-Speed and Double-Speed functions, so you can drop or double your tapped rate without re-tapping, which is handy for matching a feel change mid-song.
Can the Supa-Trem2 split a signal to two amps?
Yes. It has two inputs and two outputs in true stereo, and its hi-quality JFET buffered outputs mean you can place it at the end of your chain, run cables as long as you want and use it as an amp splitter, with the tremolo panning the guitar between the two amps.
What is the Warble mode on the Supa-Trem2?
Warble is a proprietary waveform Fulltone crafted for the Supa-Trem2, inspired by Leslie speaker and vintage Univibe sounds. It is the third position on the three-way Waveform switch alongside a pure sine wave and a true square wave, and Fulltone says it is not found on any other tremolo.
Sources (3)
- Fulltone Releases the Supa-Trem2, Premier Guitar, 2013-06-26
- Supa-Trem2 v2, Fulltone USA
- Fulltone Supa-Trem2 Stereo Tremolo / Auto-Panner, Pedal of the Day, 2020-05-28
