The T-Rex Gull is a wah-wah pedal, the Danish maker's own take on the wah-wah format, with three voices: two distinct wah sounds, a light wah suited to clean guitars and rhythm parts and a heavier one, plus a dual-filter yoy-yoy effect. It sits in the wider family of wah pedals and filter pedals, and it was shown to press as the Gull Triple Voice Wah at Musikmesse 20111.
The controls and modes
The Gull's controls are an on/off footswitch, a Boost function, a Slope knob and a wah mode switch1. MusicRadar's Musikmesse report listed the same set as Pedal, Mode, Slope, Boost and Hotspot controls3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| On/off | Switches the effect in and out |
| Boost | Sets a higher volume for the output signal when the pedal is kicked into action1 |
| Slope | Shapes the character of the wah/yoy sweep1 |
| Wah mode switch | Selects between the three voices: Wah, Classic and Yoy Yoy1 |
| Hotspot button | Gives the option of slowing the onset of the effect and using the whole pedal to wah with1 |
The three voices are the heart of the pedal. T-Rex describes two distinct wah-wah sounds, a light wah for clean guitars and rhythm parts and a heavy one, and then the yoy-yoy: "Yoy-yoy is a basically a wah effect with an ultra-high-frequency sweep soaring overhead. It's an incredibly rich sound."1 MusicRadar's 2011 press coverage called it a "unique dual-filter yoy-yoy effect"3.
The Hotspot button is the pedal's answer to a common wah complaint, that the effect only lives in part of the treadle's travel. T-Rex says it "gives you the option of slowing the onset of the effect and using the whole pedal to 'wah' with"1. Premier Guitar's reviewer, though, found that "the first half of the sweep on the foot pedal produced little-to-no audible change in tone, even with adjustments to the" Hotspot, with the wah filter only really kicking in past the halfway point of the sweep2.
How it works: no wah pot
Where a conventional wah uses a potentiometer geared to the treadle, the Gull does not. As Premier Guitar's review puts it: "The Gull has no wah potentiometer, instead, the treadle is equipped with a magnet."2 The filter itself is built from custom-made twin coils, which T-Rex describes as the analog filter parts of the circuit1.
Power and connections
The Gull runs on 9V DC, with T-Rex naming its own FuelTank supply, and draws 40 mA at 9V DC1. It also takes a 9V 6F22 battery, with a listed battery life of 4 to 6 hours1. Externally there is an input jack, an output jack and a 9V DC jack1. Input impedance is higher than 1M Ohm at 1KHz and output impedance is lower than 1K Ohm at 1KHz; the maximum input signal is 3V p-p1.
At 40 mA the Gull draws more current than many wah pedals, so a low-output daisy-chain output may not be enough; T-Rex names its own 9V DC FuelTank as the supply1.
Design and what reviewers said
The pedal's look has a specific reference: T-Rex says it is inspired by the vintage Mercedes 300SL Gull Wing car, a detail Premier Guitar's review repeats12. The reviewer described "the matte grey bronze/nickel casing with a red rubber foot traction pad" as making "for a handsome looking pedal"2.
On the sound, the same review's main reservation was the sweep response: little-to-no audible change in tone through the first half of the treadle's travel, even with Hotspot adjustments, with the filter arriving past the halfway point2.
Videos
Premier Guitar
T-Rex Effects
Brett Kingman
Questions
Does the T-Rex Gull run on a battery?
Yes. The Gull takes a 9V battery of the 6F22 type, and T-Rex lists battery life at 4 to 6 hours. It can also be powered from a 9V DC supply such as the T-Rex FuelTank, drawing 40 mA at 9V DC.
What is the yoy-yoy mode on the T-Rex Gull?
Yoy-yoy is the Gull's third voice, a dual-filter effect described by T-Rex as basically a wah with an ultra-high-frequency sweep soaring overhead, producing what the maker calls an incredibly rich sound. MusicRadar's 2011 press coverage called it a unique dual-filter yoy-yoy effect.
What does the Hotspot button do?
The Hotspot button gives the option of slowing the onset of the effect and using the whole pedal to wah with, in other words an altered response from the treadle. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the first half of the sweep still produced little-to-no audible change in tone even with Hotspot adjustments.
Why is the T-Rex Gull named after a car?
T-Rex says the pedal's design is inspired by the vintage Mercedes 300SL Gull Wing car, a point both the maker's product page and Premier Guitar's review make.
Does the T-Rex Gull use a wah potentiometer?
No. Premier Guitar's review notes that the Gull has no wah potentiometer; instead, the treadle is equipped with a magnet, which senses the pedal's position.
Sources (3)
- → T-REX EFFECTS ← Pedals for guitar and bass players!, T-Rex Effects
- T-Rex Gull Wah Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-10-24
- Musikmesse 2011: T-Rex reveals five new pedals, MusicRadar, 2011-04-07