The Valco FX Five-O Drive Tremolo Reverb is a multi 3-in-1 pedal from Valco FX, containing independent Drive, Tremolo and Reverb sections. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in October 2021, suggested it can easily give a one-pedal setup at a gig or session, or add a whole host of extra sounds and versatility to an existing rig or pedalboard1. All three sections are housed in what the reviewer called a bombproof enclosure, described as big with incredible looks1.
What each section does
The drive section is based on the drive from the Valco BloodBuzz, but with increased gain. Pedal of the Day describes it as having a "Brown Sound" in its voicing and tonality, a natural sounding, amp-like overdrive circuit1. The reverb is spring voiced at its core but with added plate reverb, and the reviewer found it usable at all knob position extremes. The pedal was conceived originally for giving "surf in a box" tones in the manner of Dick Dale and The Ventures1.
The tremolo is an analog 4-wave design based on the original Fulltone SupaTrem circuit, with Rate and Depth controls1. For more on tremolo as an effect, see Tremolo Pedals; the drive side sits among Overdrive Pedals and the reverb among Reverb Pedals.
The controls
| Section | Control | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | Volume, Tone, Drive | Give a wide range of tones to choose from1 |
| Drive | Tone (detail) | EQ roll-off, neutral at 12 o'clock; adding high end rolls off bass frequencies, enabling "biting" rhythm and lead sounds1 |
| Tremolo | Rate, Depth | Standard speed and depth controls1 |
| Reverb | Size | Sets the decay time1 |
| Reverb | Tone | Adjusts the reverb effect's EQ1 |
| Reverb | Blend | Allows you to meld your wet/dry signals in harmony1 |
Tremolo waveforms
Four waveforms are available on the tremolo section1:
- Short square: allows for sharp, staccato sounds
- Sine: offers mellow, gentle sounds
- Triangle and square: round out the four available waveforms
The PRE function
The pedal's routing is its standout feature. As Pedal of the Day put it1:
"its secret weapon is the 'PRE' function, which allows you to route the Reverb section to the front of the FX chain (REV-DRIVE-TREM)"
That means the reverb can be placed before the drive, so the drive section works into a reverberated signal, an order some players prefer for certain surf and ambient textures1.
Construction
All active components are surface mounted, with PCBs and ribbon cables used throughout and no unreliable point-to-point wiring. The pedal is also lead and cadmium free in its construction (RoHS)1.
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Questions
What is the Valco Five-O drive section based on?
The drive section is based on the drive circuit from the Valco BloodBuzz, but with increased gain. Pedal of the Day describes its voicing as a 'Brown Sound' tonality, a natural sounding, amp-like overdrive. Its Volume, Tone and Drive controls are said to give a wide range of tones, with the Tone control rolling off EQ from a neutral point at 12 o'clock.
Is the Valco Five-O tremolo based on the Fulltone SupaTrem?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the tremolo section as an analog 4-wave tremolo based on the original Fulltone SupaTrem circuit, with Rate and Depth controls. Four waveforms are available: short square for sharp, staccato sounds, sine for mellow, gentle sounds, plus triangle and square.
Can the reverb go before the drive on the Valco Five-O?
Yes. The pedal's PRE function routes the reverb section to the front of the effects chain, giving a REV-DRIVE-TREM signal path instead of the usual order. Pedal of the Day called this the pedal's secret weapon.
Is the Valco Five-O analog?
The tremolo section is described as an analog 4-wave tremolo. The pedal is built with surface-mounted active components on PCBs connected by ribbon cables, in a lead and cadmium free (RoHS) construction.
Sources (1)
- Valco FX Five-O Drive Tremolo Reverb, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2021-10-22
