The Pigtronix Moon Pool is a mini pedal that combines two modulation effects in one small, pedalboard-friendly enclosure: a 4-stage, VCA-based phaser and a variable bias tremolo1. Pigtronix calls it the Tremvelope Phaser, and a three-way toggle lets you run either effect on its own or both together1. It was announced in January 2021 as part of a trio of space-themed mini pedals alongside the Constellator analog delay and the Space Rip synth pedal, and went on sale that February at $17923.
What it does to your sound
The Moon Pool is an analog 4-stage phase shifter and bias tremolo with independent speed controls for each effect1. The two can be run independently or in series4. The tremolo is a bias design, which Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen described as having "a rounded throbby pulse," and he found the two effects combined produce a range of ethereal modulations, some with rhythms that play off each other2.
"We preferred the bias tremolo's rounded throbby pulse to the phaser's more workmanlike nature, but their combined texture yields a range of ethereal modulations, some with rhythms that play off each other."
Because the phaser is VCA-based, its phase shifting can respond to how hard you play, which is where the "tremvelope" idea comes in: the envelope of your picking can drive the modulation15.
The controls
The Moon Pool keeps its control set small, in keeping with its mini format1. Here is what each control does:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth | Sets the intensity of both the phaser and tremolo1 |
| Sensitivity | Sets the overall sensitivity of the dynamics response2 |
| Trem / Phase toggle (three-way) | Up = tremolo engaged, Center = both engaged, Down = phaser engaged1 |
| Dynamics switch (Trem) | Three-way switch setting how the tremolo responds to dynamics: no response, or an increase or decrease of speed with harder playing2 |
| Bypass footswitch | Switches the effect in and out2 |
Connections are a standard input and a standard output2. Each effect also has its own speed control, so the two rates can be set independently and, in the combined setting, set against each other1.
The Moon Pool has no battery option and runs only from a 9V DC adaptor, which is not included. Plan on a pedalboard power supply rather than a battery clip2.
Where it came from
Guitar World notes that the Moon Pool harks back to the first Pigtronix pedal, the Envelope Phaser, which was unveiled at the 2004 NAMM Show as the Envelope Phase Shifter2. That lineage shows in the Moon Pool's dynamics-responsive design: the original Envelope Phaser put envelope control at the center of the phasing, and the Moon Pool's Sensitivity control and Dynamics switch carry the same idea into a mini format2.
Pigtronix itself dates back to around 2004, with a 2014 press release marking the company's 10-year anniversary6. The company is based in New York and built its early reputation on hand-built pedals789. After roughly six years of United States production, Pigtronix moved its pedal building back to China, a shift Guitar.com's Richard Purvis noted may help keep prices down; the Moon Pool is a product of that Chinese production102.
The Moon Pool arrived as one of three space-themed mini pedals announced in January 2021, alongside the Constellator analog delay and the Space Rip synth pedal2. At the time of the announcement there was no official release date, but by February 2021 GuitarPlayer reported all three were available now for $179 each113. Pedal of the Day later described the Moon Pool as part of Pigtronix's newly released lineup of small, pedalboard-friendly pedals12.
What reviewers said
Guitar World's review highlighted the pedal's compact, pedalboard-friendly format as a strength2. The reviewer's overall impression favored the tremolo side over the phaser on its own, while finding the combined setting the most rewarding territory2. When GuitarPlayer reviewed the mini range in July 2021, the Moon Pool was not available for review at the time of writing, so its early coverage came from the announcement and later write-ups13.
How it fits on a board
The Moon Pool's compact size takes up little real estate, and its true bypass switching means it stays out of the signal path when off2. For a player weighing a combined modulation pedal against separate phaser and tremolo boxes, the Moon Pool's pitch is the center toggle position: both effects at once, with independent speeds, in the space of one mini pedal1.
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Questions
Does the Pigtronix Moon Pool run on a battery?
No. The Moon Pool has no battery option and runs from a 9V DC adaptor, which is not supplied with the pedal. You will need a standard 9V center-negative style pedal power supply or daisy chain to power it on your board.
Can the Moon Pool run phaser and tremolo at the same time?
Yes. A three-way Trem/Phase toggle selects tremolo only (up), phaser only (down), or both effects engaged at once (center). Reviewers found the combined setting produces a range of ethereal modulations, some with rhythms that play off each other.
How many stages is the Moon Pool phaser?
The phaser section is a 4-stage, VCA-based design. That is fewer stages than many classic phasers, which gives it a subtler sweep, and the VCA approach means the phase shifting can respond to your playing dynamics via the Sensitivity control.
Where is the Pigtronix Moon Pool made?
The Moon Pool is made in China. Pigtronix, a New York based company, had built pedals in the United States for about six years before moving production back to China, a shift that may help keep its prices down.
Sources (13)
- Pigtronix Moon Pool Tremvelope Phaser, Delicious Audio, 2021-12-30
- Pigtronix Moon Pool Tremvelope Phaser review, Guitar World, 2022-01-14
- Pigtronix Goes Cosmic with New Space Rip, Moon Pool, Constellator Mini-Pedals, GuitarPlayer, 2021-02-05
- NAMM 2021: Pigtronix goes interstellar with the Space Rip, Constellator and Moon Pool, Guitar.com, 2021-01-18
- Guitar Phaser Pedal Types: JFET, Optical, OTA, and Others, Function f(x), 2022-03-18
- Pigtronix Launches Echolution 2 & Deluxe Models, Premier Guitar, 2014-01-15
- Pigtronix Echolution 3 Multi-Tap Stereo Delay, Delicious Audio, 2023-06-19
- Pigtronix Echolution 2 Ultra Pro And Filter Pro, Delicious Audio, 2016-01-06
- Pigtronix Has Unveiled the Rototron, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2014-01-30
- Review: Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Germanium Gold Micro, Bob Weir's Real Deal & Ringmaster, Guitar.com, 2019-01-10
- NAMM 2021: New Pigtronix pedals: Space Rip, Constellator and Moon Pool, gearnews.com, 2021-01-18
- Pigtronix Moon Pool Tremvelope Phaser, Pedal of the Day, 2021-09-15
- Pigtronix Constellator and Space Rip Review, GuitarPlayer, 2021-07-22
