The Guyatone VT-X Flip Tremolo is a tube-powered tremolo pedal, the first offering in Guyatone's Flip series when it debuted in 19991. Instead of the usual solid-state LFO driving an optical or transistor gain cell, the VT-X puts a single shock-mounted 12AX7WA tube at the heart of the circuit, which Godlyke's listing says was created from painstaking analysis of vintage tube amplifiers2. The result, as the maker describes it, is a warm, thick, throbbing tremolo that solid-state circuits just can't match, running from painfully slow, spongy pulses up to vibrant, shimmering warbles2.
Controls
The VT-X keeps its control layout close to a vintage amp's tremolo section, with three knobs and a range switch21:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets the rate of the tremolo pulse2 |
| Intensity | Sets the depth, or degree, of the tremolo effect2 |
| Tone | Shapes the voice of the effect2 |
| Slow/Fast range switch | Selects the overall speed range1 |
| Emphasis function | An additional shaping function noted by GuitarPlayer1 |
GuitarPlayer's write-up, by Rod Brakes and Art Thompson, describes the VT-X as "a fat-sounding, tube-powered tremolo that offers a wide range of trem speed"1.
Power and connections
The tube is the reason for the power arrangement. Godlyke's listing says the single, shock-mounted 12AX7WA draws power from an external 12V DC power adapter, eliminating transformer hum and grounding problems2. GuitarPlayer's review describes the pedal as powered by a 12-volt AC adapter1, so the two sources disagree on whether the supply is DC or AC; either way, a dedicated 12V supply is required.
This unit was sold as B-stock: the pedal is in excellent condition, tested and working, with the box included, and all B-stock sales are final2.
Connections are straightforward: a normal input and dual outputs. Godlyke describes the dual outputs as allowing true stereo imaging by panning the tremolo effect between two amplifiers, so one output can feed each amp in a two-amp rig2. The pedal also carries an effect LED indicator, and Godlyke pairs that with the electronic silent switching as making the VT-X ideal for live or studio performance2. The chassis is a rugged-yet-portable 1/16-inch-thick steel enclosure, which the maker says is built to handle a lifetime of use and abuse2.
History of the Flip Series VT-X
The VT-X Vintage Tremolo was the first offering in Guyatone's Flip series, debuting in 199921. Guyatone later offered other tremolos in its range, including the Guyatone VTm5 Veri Trem, the Guyatone Ultrem and the Guyatone Ultrem Optical Tremolo, all of which are solid-state designs in the wider field of tremolo pedals.
The pedal is no longer in current production: Godlyke's listing for it is a B-stock unit, described as in excellent condition with the box included and tested and working, and it is sold out. All B-stock sales on that listing were final2.
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Questions
Does the Guyatone VT-X need a 12V power supply?
Yes. The VT-X runs from an external 12V power adapter and has no battery option. Godlyke's listing describes it as drawing power from an external 12V DC adapter, while GuitarPlayer's review describes it as powered by a 12-volt AC adapter, so the two sources disagree on the exact type. Either way, a dedicated 12V supply is required, and the tube circuit rules out a standard 9V pedalboard supply.
Can the VT-X Flip Tremolo run on a battery?
No. The pedal draws power from an external 12V adapter only, with no battery compartment. The adapter also feeds the single 12AX7WA tube inside, which Godlyke says eliminates transformer hum and grounding problems compared with designs that run a tube heater from a battery or shared supply.
Is the Guyatone VT-X true bypass?
The VT-X uses electronic silent switching rather than mechanical true bypass. Godlyke's listing pairs that switching with an effect LED indicator and describes the pedal as ideal for live or studio performance, meaning the effect is switched in and out electronically rather than with a hardwired mechanical switch.
What tube does the Guyatone VT-X use?
The VT-X uses a single 12AX7WA tube, shock-mounted inside the chassis. The tube is what gives the pedal its tube-powered character, and it runs from the external 12V adapter rather than a high-voltage supply inside the pedal.
Can the VT-X Flip Tremolo be used in stereo with two amps?
Yes. The VT-X has dual outputs, and Godlyke describes them as allowing true stereo imaging by panning the tremolo effect between two amplifiers. Run one output to each amp and the pulsing effect moves between the two, which is a classic stereo tremolo setup.
Sources (2)
- The Best Guitar Effects Pedals of All Time, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2021-06-25
- GUYATONE VT-X Flip Tremolo pedal (B-STOCK), Godlyke Distributing, Inc.
