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Mr. Black Pana-Trem
Photo: Mr Black

Mr. Black Pana-Trem

Tremolo
List price
$269.95
Key facts
TypeTrue-stereo harmonic tremolo and panner pedal1
MakerMr Black3
ModesPulser (standard) and Panner (ping-pong)1
Dimensions3.7" x 4.7"1
Power9VDC, pedal-board and daisy chain friendly, ~69mA draw1

The Mr. Black Pana-Trem is a true-stereo harmonic tremolo and panner pedal, offering standard and panning modes of operation in one compact box1. Where a conventional tremolo pedal simply raises and lowers the volume of your signal, the Pana-Trem can also bounce the sound between two amps in ping-pong fashion, and its Shift control lets you tune the character of the effect anywhere between standard tremolo and harmonic vibrato1.

MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen describes it as "a twin-footswitch true-stereo harmonic tremolo and panner," priced at £249 in the UK2. Delicious Audio, covering the pedal in 2018, called it "a Stereo Tremolo & harmonic vibrato with a bunch of trick up its sleeve"3.

A stereo harmonic tremolo and panner

The core of the pedal is a true-stereo circuit with two fully independent audio paths1. That architecture is what makes the Panner mode possible: instead of both channels fading together, the effect can move the sound between the left and right outputs, ping-pong style1.

The two modes of operation are:

  • Pulser: standard tremolo, the familiar rise and fall of volume1
  • Panner: ping-pong tremolo, bouncing the signal across the stereo field1

The Shift control is the tonal heart of the pedal. Mr Black describes it as giving "Standard Tremolo & Harmonic Vibrato as well as all shades in between tuned to user taste"1. In practice, that means you can dial in a classic amplitude tremolo, a harmonic vibrato in the style of the vintage brown-panel amps, or any blend of the two, and the pedal holds that setting wherever you leave the knob.

Each channel also carries a specially tuned "Sweet'ner" pre-amp, which conditions the signal in each independent audio path as it passes through the effect1.

The controls: Shift, modes and presets

Beyond the Shift control, the Pana-Trem stores one preset. A preset is saved by pressing the Save button, and activated or deactivated by holding the Tap-Tempo/Preset footswitch1. Delicious Audio's 2018 coverage noted the same scheme, with the preset recall triggered by the footswitch on the right3.

For 2026, Mr Black lists two updates to the pedal:

  • Brighter LEDs1
  • Soft touch footswitches1

Mr Black also sells B-stock units. While B-stock units have minor cosmetic defects, the internal components are the same as a standard pedal4.

Tap tempo and expression

The 2026 pedal's new soft-touch tap-tempo footswitch extends the LFO out to 30 seconds1, which covers everything from fast chop to very slow, ambient swells.

Units with a "TAP/EXP" input also accept an external tap-tempo switch: use a Normally Open momentary contact switch which grounds tip to sleeve, connected with a normal 1/4" patch cable1.

Expression control is unusually flexible. Any standard expression pedal can be assigned to any, or all, of the control knobs on the fly: connect the pedal to the EXP jack, then turn the desired control to the blue dot to assign it1. That means you could sweep the Shift control from tremolo to harmonic vibrato mid-song, or ride the speed knob with your foot, without bending down to re-patch anything.

Power: 9V, about 69mA

The Pana-Trem runs on industry standard 9VDC power that Mr Black describes as pedal-board and daisy chain friendly, with a current draw of about 69mA1. That draw is modest enough that the pedal shares comfortably with other 9V effects on a typical isolated or daisy-chain supply, and no special high-current output is needed.

Size and board placement

The enclosure measures 3.7" x 4.7", a compact footprint for a twin-footswitch stereo pedal1. Delicious Audio highlighted the same compact design in its 2018 coverage3, and the dimensions are unchanged on the current version.

Videos

Mr. Black Pana-Trem Basics
Jack Deville
Mr. Black Pana-Trem
Datachoir Sounds
Mr Black Pana-Trem - Stereo Tremolo & Harmonic Vibrato!
Tri Pedal Reviews

Questions

What is the difference between Pulser and Panner mode on the Pana-Trem?

Pulser is the standard tremolo mode, where the volume of the signal rises and falls. Panner is the ping-pong mode: with the pedal's two independent stereo audio paths, the effect bounces the sound between left and right outputs instead of simply fading it.

Does the Mr. Black Pana-Trem work in mono?

The pedal is built around a true-stereo circuit with two fully independent audio paths, and its Panner mode is designed around that stereo operation. Mr Black does not describe a dedicated mono operating mode on the product page.

What changed on the 2026 Pana-Trem?

New for 2026, the Pana-Trem gets brighter LEDs and soft touch footswitches. The soft-touch tap-tempo footswitch extends the LFO out to 30 seconds. B-stock units carry minor cosmetic defects only, with internal components the same as a standard pedal.

How big is the Mr. Black Pana-Trem?

The pedal has a compact enclosure measuring 3.7 by 4.7 inches, which keeps it practical on a crowded pedalboard alongside its two footswitches and control knobs.

What does the Sweet'ner pre-amp do on the Pana-Trem?

Each of the pedal's two channels has a specially tuned Sweet'ner pre-amp. Mr Black positions these as shaping the tone of each independent audio path as the signal passes through the effect.

Sources (4)
  1. Pana-Trem, Mr. Black
  2. Walrus Audio Monumental Harmonic Stereo Tremolo review, MusicRadar, 2024-09-23
  3. Mr Black Pana-Trem, Delicious Audio, 2018-05-02
  4. PanaTrem B-stock, Mr. Black

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