The Monkey Riot FX Rippletron is a handmade modulation pedal that combines phaser, vibrato and tremolo in one box. Guitar.com's reviewer, Cillian Breathnach, describes it as inspired by the DOD Vibrothang, "a unique combo of phase, vibrato and tremolo," and rated it 8 out of 10, calling it "an intriguing revival of an old DOD oddity with neat artwork, versatile controls and a unique combination of modulation effects"1. It sits in the wider field of vibrato pedals as a combo unit rather than a straight vibrato, in the same spirit as the DOD Vibrothang it revives.
The controls
The Rippletron has one master LFO speed control, plus depth, wave and filter controls, which tweak the intensity of the vibrato, tremolo and phase aspects respectively1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | The speed of the LFO, ranging from helicopter-landing flutter to languishing sweeps1 |
| Depth | Tied to the intensity of both the pitch and the volume modulation, from barely noticeable to a decent amount of wobble1 |
| Wave | Adjusts the severity of the tremolo's shape, from choppy and aggressive at full to amplitude modulation basically removed at minimum1 |
| Filter | Adds a resonant, phasing aspect to the modulation, adding a pleasing tilt to the EQ as the LFO cycles at maximum settings1 |
The speed control is tied to a pulsing red LED, which the reviewer welcomed as giving an immediate visual cue of the LFO speed1.
A revival of the DOD Vibrothang
The original DOD Vibrothang is relatively attainable second-hand, according to Guitar.com, so players have a choice between hunting the original and buying this revival1. The Rippletron's circuit sits on an old-school through-hole board, which the reviewer found very neatly done, and its bypass is "an old-school hardwired true-bypass switch, not a soft-switching relay"1.
"With neat artwork, versatile controls and a unique combination of modulation effects, the Rippletron is an intriguing revival of an old DOD oddity."
The enclosure carries sharply-done screen printing with a Great Wave-esque design evoking dark, swirling waters1.
What it sounds like
Guitar.com's overall impression was that the Rippletron is "extremely musical and restrained," adding dynamic movement without overtaking your playing1. The reviewer also found that the wave control, combined with subtle pitch modulation, lets you dial in sounds quite reminiscent of a rotary speaker effect, which places it near rotary-style pedals like the Dunlop Rotovibe as well as straight vibrato units1.
Where to find one
The Rippletron is sold via NotPedals.com, a marketplace Guitar.com describes as unique for small-run, handmade boutique pedals1.
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Monkey Riot Pedals
Monkey Riot Pedals
Monkey Riot Pedals
Questions
What is the Monkey Riot FX Rippletron based on?
The Rippletron is inspired by the DOD Vibrothang, a pedal Guitar.com describes as a unique combination of phase, vibrato and tremolo. Monkey Riot FX has revived that circuit in a handmade boutique pedal, with a master LFO speed control plus depth, wave and filter controls that shape the intensity of the vibrato, tremolo and phase aspects respectively.
Is the Rippletron true bypass?
Yes. Guitar.com's reviewer found the Rippletron uses an old-school hardwired true-bypass switch rather than a soft-switching relay, and that its circuit sits on an old-school through-hole board that is very neatly done.
Does the Rippletron sound like a rotary speaker?
It can get close. Guitar.com notes that the wave control, combined with subtle pitch modulation, lets you dial in sounds quite reminiscent of a rotary speaker effect. The reviewer's overall impression was of a pedal that is extremely musical and restrained, adding dynamic movement without overtaking your playing.
Where can you buy the Monkey Riot FX Rippletron?
The Rippletron is sold via NotPedals.com, which Guitar.com describes as a unique marketplace for small-run, handmade boutique pedals. The original DOD Vibrothang, meanwhile, is relatively attainable second-hand, according to the same review.
Sources (1)
- Monkey Riot Pedals Rippletron review: a gorgeous blend, Guitar.com, 2025-10-27
