The Malekko Sneak Attack is an auto-swell volume pedal from Malekko Heavy Industry: instead of rocking a pedal with your foot, it automatically swells each note in, then fades it out, the way a player uses a volume knob for violin-like attacks. It can also be triggered manually, or run in a tremolo mode that cycles the swell continuously1.
At its core is an Attack/Decay envelope generator with separate length and curve controls for both the attack and decay segments1. It is a digitally controlled analog VCA pedal, built on Malekko's new digital pedal platform, with the audio path running through what launch coverage described as a very warm-sounding VCA analog compressor23.
Where it came from
The Sneak Attack was originally announced at NAMM 2015, where it was heavily hyped, but it never went on sale at that point4. It reappeared at NAMM 2016, and gearnews reported it should finally be available in March 2016, according to Malekko's website, with a recommended retail price of USD $189 and the Lil' Buddy companion switch at USD $354.
The released version differs slightly from the NAMM 2015 unit: gearnews noted a very slight visual difference and an extra input jack on the right-hand side, presumably for the Lil' Buddy4.
A 2026 B-stock listing from Godlyke described the unit as new-old-stock, played but showing little to no sign of wear, with the Lil' Buddy footswitch trigger and box included, priced at £146.00 GBP and sold out1.
The controls: attack, decay, curve and threshold
The envelope is shaped by two length knobs and two curve knobs, one pair for the attack segment and one for the decay3. The curve controls let you choose how each segment ramps, not just how long it lasts, which is what separates a natural-sounding swell from a linear one.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Attack length | Sets how long the swell into each note takes3 |
| Attack curve | Sets the shape of that swell3 |
| Decay length | Sets how long the fade-out takes3 |
| Decay curve | Sets the shape of the fade3 |
| Threshold | Adjusts the amount of compression; in tap tempo mode it multiplies the tempo by 1, 2, 3 or 432 |
| Volume/Depth | Sets output level, or depth in tremolo use43 |
The Threshold control's tempo multiplication is worth knowing: with tap tempo engaged, it divides or multiplies the tapped rate, so you can tap quarter notes and have the envelope run at faster subdivisions2.
Triggering: how the envelope fires
The envelope can be triggered or cycled in several ways1:
- the input signal, so each note you play fires a swell
- the built-in footswitch, for manual triggering (attack only in manual trigger mode)2
- the Lil' Buddy external footswitch
- an external clock or click track5
Adding the Lil' Buddy expands the feature set to include tap tempo and additional, unique control over the attack and decay4. One gearnews writer's view on the arrangement:
"It might have been better to combine this into one pedal in a slightly larger housing instead of having an up charge for a separate switch"4
As a tremolo
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Sneak Attack in December 2017 and framed it the other way around from its maker's auto-swell billing5:
"The Sneak Attack is essentially a tremolo pedal, but it is also so, so much more."5
In tremolo mode the same envelope cycles repeatedly, and because you control the attack and decay shapes rather than just a rate and depth, the pulsing can be far less regular than a conventional tremolo pedal. The reviewer's overall verdict135:
"One of the funner pedals we've recently had the privilege to review, the Sneak Attack/Lil' Buddy combo is a powerful sonic tool to use in numerous musical scenarios."5
Launch coverage also praised the build, describing rock-solid construction rounding out the feature set3.
How it compares
A conventional volume pedal, like an Ernie Ball VPJR or a Boss FV-500H, gives you continuous manual control but no automation. The Sneak Attack automates the swell and adds curve shaping, manual triggering and clock sync. Its closest current relative in concept is the Electro-Harmonix Pico Attack Decay, which offers a similar attack/decay envelope in a smaller enclosure. Because its VCA path also compresses, it overlaps with compressor pedals in how it evens out dynamics, with the Threshold knob setting how much.
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Questions
Is the Malekko Sneak Attack true bypass?
Yes. News coverage of the pedal at its 2016 launch described it as having true bypass switching, which the report noted was pretty much standard in modern stompboxes. With the effect off, your signal passes through without the circuit coloring it.
Is the Sneak Attack analog or digital?
It is a digitally controlled analog pedal. The audio path runs through an analog VCA, described as a very warm-sounding analog compressor circuit, while the envelope generation and timing are handled by Malekko's digital pedal platform. You get analog warmth with digital control precision.
Can the Sneak Attack be used as a tremolo?
Yes. Beyond auto-swell and manual triggering, the pedal has a tremolo mode in which the envelope cycles repeatedly to produce amplitude pulsing. Reviewers treated it as a tremolo pedal first and an envelope tool second, since the same attack, decay and curve controls shape the pulse.
Does the Sneak Attack come with the Lil' Buddy footswitch?
The Lil' Buddy was sold separately at launch, priced at USD $35 against the pedal's USD $189. Some later B-stock listings bundled the Lil' Buddy footswitch trigger and its box with the pedal, so it depends on the specific listing you are looking at.
Can the Sneak Attack sync to an external clock?
Yes. The envelope can be triggered or cycled from an external clock or click track, alongside the input signal, the built-in footswitch and the Lil' Buddy. With the Lil' Buddy connected you also get tap tempo, and the Threshold control multiplies that tempo by 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Sources (5)
- Malekko Sneak Attack w/ Lil' Buddy Footswitch (B-STOCK), Godlyke Distributing, Inc.
- Malekko Announces the Sneak Attack and Lil' Buddy, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-02-01
- New Pedals At NAMM: Malekko Sneak Attack Compressor With Tap Tempo, Delicious Audio, 2016-02-01
- Malekko new Sneak Attack and Lil Buddy Pedal to be finally released?, gearnews.com, 2016-02-01
- Malekko Heavy Industry Sneak Attack VCA Tremolo, Pedal of the Day, 2017-12-05
