The Mr. Moto is a J Rockett Audio Designs stompbox that combines two vintage amplifier effects in one orange box: a tremolo and a spring reverb1. It arrived in 2018 as the latest pedal from the maker's lineup1, and it is now retired: the maker's site lists it among its retired pedals2. That makes it a used-market pedal today, but a straightforward one to understand.
The idea behind it is the classic pairing of tremolo and reverb that amplifiers built in more than five decades ago, the combination players associate with vintage amps3. Delicious Audio described the design intent as tone "inspired by those incredibly musical circuits found in those early amps"4. Where a vintage amp hides both effects behind shared controls, the Mr. Moto gives each its own knobs, and the two effects can be run independently or together24.
Tremolo and spring reverb in one pedal
The Mr. Moto is, in the words of the maker, "a very musical tremolo with a super lush spring reverb as well"2. On That Pedal Show, the hosts summed up its layout plainly: "this is a spring reverb one knob spring reverb and a three knob tremolo in one pedal"7. That is the whole architecture: three knobs for the tremolo, one for the reverb, one footswitch, and nothing else to learn.
A few points matter to a player comparing it against separate tremolo and reverb pedals:
- Both effects can be run independently or together24.
- With the Depth control all the way down, the pedal can be used for reverb only3.
- The tremolo ranges from a very subtle throb to a choppy rhythmic pulse2.
- There are no hidden switches, menu systems or programming required6.
Delicious Audio's 2023 roundup of reverb pedals with tremolo classified it as "a simple and musical analog/digital tremolo featuring two waveform options with fixed spring reverb"5. The "fixed" part is the key difference from a full-featured reverb pedal: the spring sound is what it is, with a single level control and no decay or tone shaping.
Guitar.com found the reverb "a lush, warm spring reverb that, when blended together with the tremolo, is handy if you're trying to emulate a vintage Fender amp"1. On That Pedal Show, the hosts noted the reverb's pre-delay and called its character "very drippy"7.
The controls: Wave, Depth, Speed and Verb
Four knobs do all the work. Gearnews described the overall philosophy at launch: "The Depth and Speed controls will control how much and how subtle your tremolo effect will be," while "a single Verb control lets you control the spring reverb"6.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Wave | Sweeps the tremolo waveform from smooth and subtle to choppy and dramatic61 |
| Depth | Sets how much tremolo effect there is; all the way down gives reverb only36 |
| Speed | Sets the tremolo speed36 |
| Verb | Controls the spring reverb level6 |
The Wave knob is the one control that sets the Mr. Moto apart from a basic two-knob tremolo. Gearnews explained that it "dials between either a Sine or Square wave, with the former being smoother and subtle, whereas the latter will be a lot choppier in its sweep"6. Guitar.com described the same sweep as going "from smooth and subtle triangle wave, to choppy and dramatic square wave, and all the shades in-between"1. In practice, low Wave settings give the gentle, amp-like pulse, while high settings give the hard on/off chop that surf and garage players use.
The Verb knob is simpler than it looks. Delicious Audio called it "just a volume control for the reverb"4. It sets how much of the fixed spring reverb is mixed in, nothing more.
Pedal of the Day suggested a starting point for players trying one: "Set the Depth to 2 O'clock, the Speed to 11 O'clock, reverb to 3 O'clock"3.
What reviewers said
Published reactions to the Mr. Moto were positive. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in 2022, praised both effects and the fact of their combination3:
"We love all the tonal aspects of this pedal, cheers to the crew at J. Rockett Audio Designs"3
Pedal of the Day, 20223
The same review described the tremolo's range as going "from a very subtle throb to a choppy rhythmic pulse, from lush beautiful tones to full on surf rock"3. On That Pedal Show, the hosts' reaction to the tremolo was short and enthusiastic: "great so good lover yep love that and so tiny"7.
The 2020 That Pedal Show video demonstrates the pedal's spring reverb and three-knob tremolo, with the hosts reacting to the tremolo sound and noting the reverb's pre-delay and drippy character7.
Price and availability
The Mr. Moto retailed for $199 when it launched in 20181, and Delicious Audio still listed it at $199 in its 2023 reverb buying guide5. The maker's B-stock listing showed a price of $159.202. Current pricing otherwise depends on the used market.
The maker's site carries a B-stock listing for the Mr. Moto at a reduced price2. Beyond that, anyone wanting one today is likely shopping the secondhand market, where condition and price vary.
Videos
J. Rockett Audio Designs
R.J. Ronquillo
Shawn Tubbs
Questions
Is the J Rockett Mr. Moto true bypass?
Yes. The maker's product page lists True Bypass Switching for the Mr. Moto, and Gearnews confirmed the same when the pedal was announced in 2018. With both effects off, the pedal passes your signal without coloring it.
What power supply does the Mr. Moto need?
It runs from an external 9-volt power supply, as Gearnews reported at launch. There are no hidden switches, menu systems or programming required, so a standard 9V pedal supply is all you need to run it.
Does the Mr. Moto take a battery?
The published information on the pedal describes only external 9-volt power, with no mention of a battery option. Plan on powering it from a 9V supply on your pedalboard rather than a battery.
What is the difference between the Wave settings on the Mr. Moto?
The Wave knob sweeps the tremolo's shape from a sine wave, which is smoother and more subtle, to a square wave, which is choppier and more dramatic, with all the shades in between. Guitar.com described it as going from smooth and subtle triangle-style throb to a choppy rhythmic pulse.
Is the J Rockett Mr. Moto still made?
No. The maker's site now lists the Mr. It was introduced in 2018 and has since been discontinued, so it is available only on the used market.
What did the Mr. Moto cost new?
It retailed for $199 when it launched in 2018, and Delicious Audio still listed it at $199 in a 2023 buying guide. The maker's B-stock listing showed a price of $159.20, but that stock is now gone.
Sources (7)
- J Rockett Audio Design rolls out the Mr Moto, Guitar.com, 2018-08-09
- Mr. Moto, J. Rockett Audio Designs, 2026-03-31
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Mr. Moto Tremolo Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2022-06-15
- J. Rockett Mr. Moto Trem-Verb, Delicious Audio, 2022-06-15
- Best Reverb Pedals With Tremolo In 2023, Delicious Audio (delicious-audio.com), 2023-05-11
- J Rockett Audio Design Mr Moto, gearnews.com, 2018-08-09
- Pedal Pal 800 V3, Foxrox Octron 3, J Rockett Mr Moto, Fender Lost Highway TPS Pedal Jams, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2020-03-24
