The TC Electronic Tailspin is a compact vibrato pedal from TC Electronic, part of the company's line of affordable stompboxes12. Vibrato modulates the pitch of your signal up and down, and the Tailspin does this with an analog circuit rather than digital processing2.
What it does
The Tailspin gives your guitar a wobbling, pitch-modulated character, from a slow sway to a fast quiver. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that both the Speed and Depth controls have expansive range, so a player can set the effect anywhere from subtle movement to deep, seasick pitch swings2.
The reviewer placed the pedal in a lineage of inexpensive analog vibrato, noting that "Ridiculously inexpensive analog vibrato has been a reality since TC's parent company Behringer built the UV300 Ultra Vib"2. TC Electronic's parent company is Behringer, whose Behringer UV300 Ultra Vibrato covers similar ground at a budget price.
On sound, the reviewer found the Tailspin "delivers many of the quivering undersea tones favored by Boss VB-2 fans", comparing it to the sought-after Boss VB-2. The trade-off is dimensionality: it "lacks deep dimensionality to simulate Leslie sounds but delivers appealing variations on those textures"2. Players chasing true rotary-speaker character may want a dedicated vibe pedal such as the Fulltone MDV3 or DryBell Vibe Machine V-2 instead.
"the Tailspin delivers many of the quivering undersea tones favored by Boss VB-2 fans"
Build and noise
The Tailspin uses a bent metal enclosure, and Premier Guitar's reviewer found its robust construction makes it "an altogether more appealing proposition" than cheaper alternatives2. The reviewer also noted the pedal is relatively quiet for an analog circuit, a point worth noting since analog vibrato designs can sometimes add background noise2.
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Questions
Is the TC Electronic Tailspin analog or digital?
The Tailspin is an analog vibrato pedal. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted it is relatively quiet for an analog circuit, and that inexpensive analog vibrato has existed since TC's parent company Behringer built the UV300 Ultra Vibrato.
What controls does the TC Electronic Tailspin have?
It has two knobs: Speed and Depth. Premier Guitar's reviewer found both controls have expansive range, so you can dial in anything from a slow, subtle wobble to fast, deep pitch modulation.
Can the Tailspin do Leslie-style rotary sounds?
Not fully. Premier Guitar's reviewer found it lacks the deep dimensionality needed to simulate Leslie sounds, though it delivers appealing variations on those textures, along with the quivering undersea tones Boss VB-2 fans favor.
Sources (2)
- TAILSPIN VIBRATO, TC Electronic
- Quick Hit: TC Electronic Tailspin Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-01-29
