The Lovepedal Babyface Tremolo is a mini tremolo pedal, announced in September 2009 as the latest in Lovepedal's line of mini effects. It gives you three switchable waveforms, sine, sawtooth and square wave, with the depth and volume set by internal controls rather than top panel knobs. It shipped at a retail price of $1291.
A mini tremolo with three waveforms
Tremolo pedals vary the volume of your signal rhythmically, and the Babyface does it in three flavors selected by a waveform switch. MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen noted that it "gives you three different tremolo variations (sine, sawtooth and squarewave)"2.
The three settings, as Lovepedal described them at launch:
- Far left: a sine wave, the most common wave heard in many old blackface and brownface amplifiers, smooth and subtle on top1
- Middle: a sawtooth waveform, not quite a full square wave chop, almost a mixture of the sine and square waves1
- Far right: a full on square wave, which Lovepedal calls CHOP CITY, with absolutely no bleed, described as excellent with fuzz, overdrive and distortion1
Lovepedal also claimed the pedal's speed range runs "MUCH faster than [what] modern tremolo units offer," which matters if you want choppy, machine-gun tremolo effects rather than only slow, amplifier-style swells1.
Controls, power and switching
The top panel is deliberately simple: one speed knob and the waveform switch. Everything else is inside1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed knob | Varies the speed from very slow to very fast1 |
| Waveform switch | Selects sine, sawtooth or square wave1 |
| Internal depth control | Adjusts the depth in any waveform setting1 |
| Internal volume control | Adjusts the depth and feel in any waveform setting1 |
The depth and volume controls are internal, so changing them means opening the pedal. Set them where you want them and leave them; they are not for tweaking between songs.
Power comes from a 9VDC input power supply, and the pedal uses relay switching true bypass with an LED status indicator1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer framed the Babyface as a pedal for players who want one tremolo sound done well rather than a palette of presets: buy it "You're looking for that one greatsounding volume-modulation effect," and skip it if you need a number of different trem tones quickly3. MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen came down on the positive side too, writing that "If there's space on your 'board for a tremolo pedal (and at this size there ought to be), the Babyface is a good option"2.
Price and availability
The Babyface Tremolo was shipping at its September 2009 announcement, with a retail price of $1291. A later Premier Guitar review listed a street price of $139 in the United States3.
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Questions
Is the Lovepedal Babyface Tremolo true bypass?
Yes. Lovepedal equipped the Babyface Tremolo with relay switching true bypass, announced alongside its LED status indicator when the pedal shipped in 2009. True bypass switching means the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path when it is off, so it does not load down your guitar's tone when it is not in use.
Where is the depth control on the Babyface Tremolo?
The depth control is internal, not on the top panel. You open the pedal to reach it, and it adjusts the depth in any of the three waveform settings. An internal volume control sits alongside it, letting you increase or decrease the depth and feel in any setting.
What power supply does the Lovepedal Babyface Tremolo need?
The Babyface Tremolo runs on a 9VDC input power supply. Because it is a mini pedal, plan your board's power accordingly and use a supply that suits the pedal's requirements rather than assuming a battery option.
How much does the Lovepedal Babyface Tremolo cost?
The pedal retailed for $129 when it was announced in September 2009. A later Premier Guitar review listed a street price of $139 in the United States, so the price you pay may vary depending on where and when you buy.
Does the Babyface Tremolo work well with fuzz and overdrive?
Lovepedal says the far right waveform setting, a full on square wave the company calls CHOP CITY, has absolutely no bleed and is excellent with fuzz, overdrive and distortion. That makes the square wave setting the one to reach for when the tremolo sits after dirt pedals on your board.
Sources (3)
- Lovepedal Announces Babyface Tremolo, Premier Guitar, 2009-09-03
- Lovepedal Babyface Tremolo review, MusicRadar, 2013-07-25
- Lovepedal Echo Baby & More: Top Pedal Reviews, Premier Guitar, 2010-08-17