The Red Witch Medusa Chorus Tremolo is an analog modulation pedal from Red Witch that puts a chorus unit and a tremolo unit in the same enclosure, plus a third mode, Chorustrem, where the chorus modulation pulses at the same rate as the tremolo throb1. Red Witch describes the result as "Swirling Chorus! Pulsing Trem! Inspiring Chorus-trem!"1. It is built around the original MN3007 BBD (bucket brigade device) chip, the classic analog approach to chorus, and Red Witch calls the pedal 100% analog1.
The Medusa first appeared in 2003 as a small batch of 73 hand-made units, was discontinued for seven years, and was reissued in 2010 after several hundred emails from players asking for its return1. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in 2016 and called it "a truly special modulation pedal"2.
The three modes
The Guise knob is a three-position selector choosing between the pedal's modes2:
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Chorus | Analog chorus using the MN3007 BBD1 |
| Tremolo | Volume throb, with depth set by Magnitude2 |
| Chorustrem | Chorus modulation pulses at the same rate as the tremolo throb1 |
The Chorustrem mode is what sets the Medusa apart from a pedal that simply stacks the two effects. Red Witch describes it as "a totally unique function, chorustrem, where the chorus modulation pulses at the same rate as the tremolos throb"1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that "Ben and Red Witch have created an entirely new beast of an effect"2.
The controls
The Medusa has four knobs and one footswitch. The lone footswitch turns the pedal on or off2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Velocity | Sets the chorus speed, and the rise and fall of the tremolo, depending on the selected mode2 |
| Guise | Three-position mode selector: Chorus, Tremolo or Chorustrem2 |
| Bathos | Chorus depth, from a slight, subtle hint to deep and brooding2 |
| Magnitude | Tremolo depth, with the sweet spot at 12:00, squashed trem to the left and disappearing trem to the right2 |
| Iridescence | Gives the chorus its flavor, from crisp and sharp to shimmery and subtle to lo-fi, beefy and swampy sounds2 |
Because Velocity is shared between modes, the chorus speed and the tremolo rate are not set independently. In Chorustrem mode that shared control is what locks the two modulations to the same pulse1.
Power, bypass and connections
The Medusa runs on a 9 volt battery or a DC 9 volt wall wart, drawing 49mA1. Pedal of the Day also noted it runs on a 9VDC regulated supply, "for easy inclusion on a pedalboard using one main power source"2. It is true bypass, which the reviewer found meant "there's never any signal degradation or tone sucking of any kind present" when the pedal is off2.
For connections, the pedal has a stereo output, which Pedal of the Day described as "stereo outputs jacks for a huge, full sound when running it in a two-amp setup"2. There is also an expression pedal output1.
The Medusa is listed as sold out on Red Witch's product page as of October 20261. The original 2003 run was only 73 hand-made units, and the pedal was discontinued for seven years before the 2010 reissue, so availability has long depended on small runs1.
Where it came from
The Medusa was originally made in a small batch of 73 hand-made units in 20031. After seven years discontinued, Red Witch decided to reissue it in 2010, a decision the maker says came as a result of several hundred emails from players requesting its return1. Red Witch positions it as offering "the unique functionality of a chorus unit and tremolo unit in the same enclosure"1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Medusa in 2016, with the review unit sent by Red Witch Pedals2. The reviewer called it "a truly special modulation pedal" and praised the true bypass wiring for leaving the tone untouched when bypassed2. The review highlighted the range of the Iridescence control, from crisp and sharp chorus through shimmery and subtle to lo-fi, beefy and swampy sounds, and the stereo outputs for a two-amp setup2.
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Questions
Is the Red Witch Medusa true bypass?
Yes. Red Witch lists the Medusa as true bypass, and Pedal of the Day's review noted that with its true bypass wiring there is no signal degradation or tone loss when the pedal is switched off.
Can the Medusa run on a battery?
Yes. Red Witch specifies power from a 9 volt battery or a DC 9 volt wall wart. A 2016 review also described it running on a 9VDC regulated supply, which suits a powered pedalboard.
Is the Red Witch Medusa Chorus Tremolo analog?
Yes. Red Witch describes the Medusa as 100% analog, built around the original MN3007 BBD chip, the same bucket brigade device used in classic analog chorus designs.
What is the chorus-trem effect on the Medusa?
Chorustrem is the Medusa's third mode, where the chorus modulation pulses at the same rate as the tremolo throb. Instead of two separate effects stacked, the two modulations lock together for a single moving, breathing sound.
Does the Medusa have stereo outputs?
Yes. Red Witch lists a stereo output, and Pedal of the Day described stereo output jacks giving a huge, full sound when running the pedal into a two-amp setup.
Is the Red Witch Medusa still in production?
The Medusa is currently listed as sold out on Red Witch's product page. The original 2003 run was a small batch of 73 hand-made units, and after seven years discontinued it was reissued in 2010 following player requests.
Sources (2)
- Medusa Chorus Tremolo, Red Witch Pedals
- Red Witch Pedals Medusa Chorus/Tremolo, Pedal of the Day, 2016-06-28
