The J. Rockett Audio Designs Josh Smith Dual Trem is an analog tremolo pedal built around two independent tremolo sections, each with its own Rate and Depth controls. It is voiced to capture the tremolo sounds of classic "Leo" style amplifiers, the amp-style tremolo sound many players associate with vintage Fender-type circuits. Alongside the two trem sections there is a global Boost control to compensate for volume loss or to act as a clean boost.1
The pedal is a collaboration between blues artist Josh Smith, J. Rockett Audio Designs and pedal designer Tim Jauernig, and it carries Smith's name.1
What it does: two tremolos in one box
The core idea is simple: instead of one tremolo with one setting, the Dual Trem gives you two completely separate tremolo sides, each with independent speed and depth controls. You can dial in two distinct trem settings and then switch between them or stack them, running both at once.1
Each side covers a wide range. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, described the range of the speed control this way2:
"The Speed control has a nice range, from uber-slow and subtle to a fast, Leslie-like spin2."
Depth goes from barely there to fully saturated pulsing:
"The Depth is nice as well, allowing you to go from just a smidge of trem up to a full-on, pulsing wave of sound2."
For a player, the practical benefit is being able to move between a slow, gentle pulse and a faster, deeper wobble without bending down to reset knobs, or layering the two sections for a more complex movement. Mike B summed up that switching advantage12:
"the JSDT takes care of that with ease, and then some."
If you are comparing tremolos, the dual-section approach is what sets this apart from single-trem pedals in the tremolo pedals category. J. Rockett has since also released the Mr. Moto Trem-Verb, which pairs tremolo with spring reverb in one enclosure12.
Design, controls and who uses it
The pedal was designed in conjunction with Josh Smith, Rockett Pedals and Tim Jauernig. Smith is a US blues guitarist, and the pedal is part of his signature collaboration with the company.23
The controls break down like this:
| Control | Section | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Each tremolo side | Sets tremolo speed, from very slow and subtle to a fast Leslie-like spin2 |
| Depth | Each tremolo side | Sets tremolo depth, from a small amount up to a full pulsing wave of sound2 |
| Boost | Global | Compensates for volume loss or acts as a clean boost1 |
The Boost deserves a note of its own. Because tremolo works by varying the signal's level, it can leave you quieter than your bypassed tone. Guitar.com's Chris Vinnicombe noted in his review of the pedal: "There's also a level boost to stop you disappearing in the mix."3 Used with the boost set low, it can also serve as a straightforward clean boost ahead of or after the trem sections.
The pedal is built in what Pedal of the Day called "a typically hardcore enclosure, like all their pedals," in line with the rest of the J. Rockett range.2
Power
The Josh Smith Dual Trem runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug, the standard arrangement for most pedalboard power supplies.1
Use a 9V DC center negative supply. Reversed polarity or an AC supply can damage a pedal, so match the plug type before powering up.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's Mike B reviewed the pedal in March 2015 and was taken with the two-section format: "Just the words 'Dual Tremolo' make it interesting, before you even see or hear it." He found the pedal solved a common tremolo complaint, the lack of options for switching or adjusting speeds on the fly, "with ease, and then some."2
Guitar.com's Chris Vinnicombe, reviewing the pedal in July 2015, credited the three-way collaboration behind it and highlighted the level boost as a practical addition for live playing.3
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
ProGuitarShopDemos
J. Rockett Audio Designs
Questions
Can you stack both tremolos on the Josh Smith Dual Trem at the same time?
Yes. The pedal lets you dial in two distinct tremolo settings and then either switch between them or stack them, so both tremolo sections run at once. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found this arrangement took care of switching and adjusting speeds on the fly with ease.
Is the J. Rockett Dual Trem analog?
Yes. J. Rockett Audio Designs lists the Josh Smith Dual Trem as an analog circuit on its product page. It is voiced to capture the tremolo sounds of classic Leo-style amplifiers, the Fender-type amp tremolo many players associate with the effect.
What power supply does the Josh Smith Dual Trem need?
The Josh Smith Dual Trem runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug, the standard pedalboard supply arrangement. Use a supply rated for the pedal rather than assuming a daisy chain will work, and check the maker's current draw figure when planning your board's power budget.
Can the Boost on the Dual Trem be used as a clean boost?
Yes. The pedal has a global Boost control that can be used to compensate for volume loss or to act as a clean boost. Guitar.com's review described it as a level boost to stop you disappearing in the mix.
Sources (3)
- Josh Smith Dual Trem by J. Rockett Audio Designs, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Josh Smith Dual Tremolo, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-03-14
- J Rockett Audio Designs Pedal Reviews, guitar.com, 2015-07-14
