The T-Rex Tapster is a tremolo pedal from Danish maker T-Rex. It is built on the company's Tremster tremolo pedal, combined with the tap tempo function T-Rex developed for its Replica delay, so the speed of the tremolo pulse can be set by tapping your foot in time with the music rather than turning a knob1.
T-Rex describes the result as a warm, vintage-sounding tone that brings out the best in your natural tone without adding artificial color, in an elegant, rugged enclosure built for a life on the road, finished in cherry red1. The reviewer's overall verdict called it "a warm, organic amp-style tremolo that's always in sync with your music"2.
A Tremster with tap tempo
The Tapster pairs the tone and simple layout of the original Tremster with tap tempo, which T-Rex pitched as letting you change the tempo of your tremolo pulse dynamically, on the fly3. Vintage Guitar reported the same idea at launch: the pedal allows the player to change the tempo of their tremolo pulse by tapping their foot4.
The tap tempo idea came from the T-Rex Replica delay, where the company had already added a Tap-Tempo switch to get you in time with your tune5. The Tapster applies that approach to the Tremster's amp-style tremolo sound. MusicRadar's earlier look at the Tremster described it as producing "a range of wonderfully vibesome vintage tremolo sounds that take their cue from Fender amps like the Twin"6, and the Tapster carries that circuit forward.
The controls
The Tapster keeps the Tremster's uncluttered approach. Premier Guitar's launch announcement described it as "this masterpiece of simplicity features four intuitive controls: Depth, Rate, Volume, and Subdivision"3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate (Speed) | Sets how fast the tremolo pulsates; with tap tempo, tapping your foot sets this instead37 |
| Depth | Adjusts the depth of the volume modulation8 |
| Volume | Lets you dial in a volume drop or boost when you kick the effect in2 |
| Subdivision switch | Chooses how the tremolo pulses relative to your taps: quarter notes, eighth notes, or eighth-note triplets1 |
| Tap tempo footswitch | Sets the tempo of the pulse by tapping in time1 |
Curwen found the pedal offered a useful range of speed and depth, and called out the volume control as a practical touch for matching levels when the effect comes on2. The subdivision options are the same note divisions the Replica delay offers on its repeats, quarter notes, triplets and dotted eighths, though the Tapster's switch lists quarter notes, eighth notes and eighth-note triplets1.
How it differs from the Tremster
The core difference is tempo control. The Tremster sets its speed with a knob and offers a Mode switch alongside volume, speed and depth controls7; the Tapster replaces that arrangement with the Rate knob, the Subdivision switch and the tap tempo footswitch782. Curwen put it directly: "The Tapster takes the T-Rex Tremster (£155) to another level by adding a tap tempo footswitch"2.
There is also a power difference worth noting. The Tremster draws only 7 mA at 9V DC7, while the Tapster draws 90 mA at 9V DC1, presumably because of the tap tempo circuitry. Both run on a 9V DC supply such as the T-Rex FuelTank17.
The Tapster's 90 mA draw is much higher than the Tremster's 7 mA. On a small isolated power supply with limited current per output, check that the output can deliver at least 90 mA1.
Power and practical details
The Tapster runs on a 9V DC supply through its DC jack, or on a 9V battery of the 6F22 type with a listed battery life of 30 to 60 minutes1. For pedalboard use the DC jack is the practical choice. The input impedance is higher than 1M Ohm at 1KHz and the output impedance lower than 1K Ohm at 1KHz, with a maximum input signal of 3V p-p1, figures consistent with placing it anywhere in a signal chain without loading guitar pickups.
The enclosure is the same size as the T-Rex Replica delay, 100 x 55 x 120 mm including knobs, and T-Rex describes it as an elegant, rugged design built for a life on the road, finished in cherry red1.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review was positive. Curwen found the speed and depth ranges useful, valued the volume control for level matching, and concluded: "The Tapster is a warm, organic amp-style tremolo that's always in sync with your music."2
Videos
Premier Guitar
T-Rex Effects
Goldmusicsrl
Questions
Does the T-Rex Tapster run on a battery?
Yes. The Tapster takes a 9V battery of the 6F22 type, and T-Rex lists battery life at 30 to 60 minutes. It also has a 9V DC jack for a power supply such as the T-Rex FuelTank, drawing 90 mA at 9V DC, which is the practical option for regular pedalboard use.
What is the difference between the T-Rex Tapster and the Tremster?
The Tapster is built on the Tremster tremolo circuit but adds a tap tempo footswitch, borrowed from the T-Rex Replica delay, so you can set the tremolo speed by tapping your foot in time with the music. The Tremster sets its speed only with a knob. MusicRadar's reviewer described the Tapster as taking the Tremster to another level.
Can the Tapster tremolo sync to eighth-note triplets?
Yes. The Subdivision switch lets you choose how the tremolo pulses relative to your taps, in quarter notes, eighth notes, or eighth-note triplets. Tap the tempo with your foot and the pulse follows the selected subdivision.
How big is the T-Rex Tapster?
T-Rex lists the pedal at 100 x 55 x 120 mm including knobs, which is about 3.9 x 2.2 x 4.7 inches, the same footprint as the Replica delay. Weight is 0.420 kg, or 14.8 oz, excluding packaging.
Sources (8)
- → T-REX EFFECTS ← Pedals for guitar and bass players!, T-Rex Effects
- T-Rex Tapster tremolo review, MusicRadar, 2012-11-08
- T-Rex Launches New Guitar Pedals at Summer NAMM 2012, Premier Guitar, 2012-06-15
- T-Rex Introduces New Delay, Reverb, Tremolo pedals, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2012-06-07
- → T-REX EFFECTS ← Pedals for guitar and bass players!, T-Rex Effects
- 'This excellent amp-inspired tremolo from the Danes can also be used for something else entirely', MusicRadar, 2024-04-03
- → T-REX EFFECTS ← Pedals for guitar and bass players!, T-Rex Effects
- → T-REX EFFECTS ← Pedals for guitar and bass players!, T-Rex Effects
