The Wren and Cuff Sonder is an analog chorus and tremolo pedal with tap tempo control, introduced in December 2016 as the Newbury Park, California maker's first foray into modulation effects1. It puts both effects in one enclosure, with two Depth/Mix knobs that let you run them combined or on their own1.
How it works
The Sonder pairs a chorus with a tremolo, and the two Depth/Mix knobs are the heart of the layout: they allow using the two effects combined or separately1. On the tremolo side, a switch selects between sine- and square-wave settings2. Designer Matt Holl drew on classic amp and pedal tremolos as references: "the gently undulating tones of Fender brownface and blackface tremolo and the Demeter Tremulator were sonic touchstones"2.
Controls and footswitches
The pedal has two soft-relay footswitches, but they do not work the way two-switch pedals often do. Premier Guitar's reviewer explained the arrangement2:
"Only the left footswitch is a bypass, while the right footswitch doubles as a tap-tempo switch for tremolo rate and a means for switching between sine- and square-wave tremolo settings."
That means there is no individual footswitch bypass for each effect. To take either effect out of the mix, you zero the respective depth or mix control2. Players who switch chorus and tremolo independently mid-song will want to plan around that.
Power
You can run the pedal on 9V AC or 9V battery power, according to Premier Guitar's review2.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's 2021 review came down in favor of the pedal, listing as a pro its "Deep, rich modulation tones that interact seamlessly"2. Inside, the reviewer found "a clean and neatly populated printed circuit"2. On the designer's approach, the same review noted: "you'll understand how designer Matt seems single-minded about getting precisely the sound he wants"2.
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Questions
Is the Wren and Cuff Sonder analog or digital?
The Sonder is an analog pedal. Delicious Audio, covering its introduction, described it as a very flexible and creative analog chorus/tremolo pedal featuring tap tempo control. That makes it a modulation pedal in the analog tradition rather than a digital multi-effect, pairing a chorus circuit with a tremolo circuit in one enclosure.
Does the Sonder have tap tempo?
Yes. The Sonder features tap tempo control, and the right footswitch doubles as a tap-tempo switch for the tremolo rate. The same switch also toggles between sine- and square-wave tremolo settings, so the tap function is specific to the tremolo side of the pedal.
Can you use the chorus and tremolo separately on the Sonder?
Yes. The two Depth/Mix knobs allow the two effects to be used combined or separately. Note that there is no individual footswitch bypass for each effect: to take either effect out of the mix, you zero the respective depth or mix control, and only the left footswitch acts as a bypass.
Can the Sonder run on a battery?
Yes. According to Premier Guitar's review, you can run the pedal on 9V AC or 9V battery power, so a battery is an option alongside an AC adapter.
Who designed the Wren and Cuff Sonder?
The Sonder was designed by Matt Holl of Wren and Cuff. Premier Guitar's reviewer wrote that once you dig into the pedal, you understand how designer Matt seems single-minded about getting precisely the sound he wants.
Sources (2)
- Wren And Cuff Sonder, Delicious Audio, 2016-12-18
- Wren and Cuff Sonder Chorus/Tremolo Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-01-25
