Boss TR-2 Tremolo

Easy enough if you read the manual and consider the sample settings (most of which are nice). One should always read the manual, unless it's a Volume pedal or something. I've seen people discard great products like Trademark60 amp because they couldn't get a nice sound out of 'em, because they didn't bother to R.F.M. ("read the freakin' manual") Some of the knobs' effects are not right away obvious, if you haven't used a tremolo before, so try different settings.

No noise detected. The sounds are "warm", some of them vintage-like, although I don't understand how it can be warm, when it just varies your volume? :-) This could become a part of my sound. I try not to overuse it though. This is not just sound coloration like chorus or reverb, but an effect with an element of rhythm like delay. You can have from obvious "in your face" vintage like sounds to subtle vibrato (the sample setting is called Electric Piano and it's a nice one)

another Boss pedal

I play rock and TR-2 finds use in some songs. I'll keep exploring it. You could guess it sounds nice with chorus, reverb, etc. I usually use it with clean. Try with distortion, it could be good. Again, like other Boss pedals I rated it gets a 9 for being expensive.

The pedal is rather intuitive. Look for previous entries for more about this.

Alright, this where I must chime in on this pedal. If you have never heard a tube-based tremolo circuit if you might want to compare this pedal to those old Fenders. However, in all honesty, this pedal sounds nothing at all like an old Fender blackface or silverface. Considering then what is the purpose of this pedal, the rating of it will depend on your expectations and benchmarks for this pedal. Comparing it to other stompboxes, the boss is rather good. One can get a good range of sounds that sound rather nice. I've played the Jim Dunlop and like the boss much better. It's more natural sounding. But if you looking for Fender amp tremolo quality, one will not find it here. This pedal can not touch my princeton reverb's tremolo circuit. Yet it might not even be fair to expect this much out of a stompbox. I just mention this because many people posting are comparing it to blackface fenders. Comparing it against other boxes, the boss would probably get a 7, against an absolute benchmark, probably a 5. Another large niggle I had with this box is the lack of gain with the effect on. When using the effect one will notice a small volume drop. I found this very annoying. For what it is, it's not bad.

Hmmm, might it be time to rabble on how this is Boss pedal and if I threw it at a Mack truck I would ruin the truck 'cuz it's a Boss. Yes, it's very well made, thank you. Most of you on this site know enough about Boss pedals.

Would I buy it again? Probably not, I'm actually trying to sell it now. If you find one used for around 75 dollars, you might want to consider it. At the 100 dollar going price, this pedal doesn't really do it for me. Unfortunately, I have a certain sound in my head(built-in amp tremolo) and this pedal really didn't do it. If you have an amp you really like and want to add the occasional tremolo effect, you definitely should consider this pedal. I find the old Fender tremolo to be an absolutely beautiful sound and I just couldn't compromise on that sound. If you're considering this pedal, just keep in mind what you're expecting. Right now there are a number of tremolo pedals on the market, so look around. This pedal did not blow me away. Voodoo Lab makes a pedal in this price range that one really ought to consider before buying this one.

This was very easy, 3 knobs: Rate, Depth, and "Wave". The manual clearly explains the function of everything. (Typical Boss)

I play a 1962 Fender Jazzmaster which is right in with lots of tremolo and reverb. I have a Fender Deluxe 112 amp. It sounds great with that guitar/amp combo. I usually go right to the amp after the TR-2 it's like I own a big old Twin Reverb. Awesome! Nice Duane Eddy type gentle vibrato, all the way up to psychadelic a la Tommy James' "Crimson and Clover". It is a little noisy when the amp is at lower volumes, I've never seen that before but it is not at all offensive.

I've had it only a few weeks, but I'm sure it will hold up like any Boss effect which in my experience is very good. To me, I'd rather spend the $100 for this effect as opposed to $1000 for a reissue Fender Twin Reverb. It really does sound like vintage Fender tremolo or "vibrato" as the Fender amps say.

I have never dealt with them so I can't really say from my experience.

I play 50's and 60's rock both instrumental and non. I've been playing for about 10 years and own all Fender stuff, the Jazzmaster and a '68 Strat. I am the former owner of a couple of vintage Fender tube amps with their "vibrato" feature. This works really well with all my equipment and after playing this I am sorry that I actually bought those Fender amps, I could have saved a lot of money and my back carrying them to gigs when all i had to do was bring this little green box and plug it in! I would definatley buy another TR-2, it neither helps or hinders my music it complements my music. My favorite feature is that it sounds like vintage Fender Vibrato. If you want that vintage sound of tremolo from late 50's and all through 60's rock and don't have a lot of money to drop on big Fender tube amps get one of these, plug in and ride the wave!!

Extremely easy to use. Anyone could figure it out in two minutes. I didn't even bother looking at the manual.

My Setup: Rick 620 w/vintage SC's into Boss TU-2 tuner, BD-2, TR-2, OD-3, NS-2 into Peavey Studio Pro 112. Oh my! Shades of Duane Eddy! I plugged it into my chain, adjusted everything to 12:00, broke into "Rebel Rouser" and just grinned from ear to ear! Also excellent on the beginning of "Born on the Boyou" by CCR. No noise at all.

Huh!

Never dealt with them, don't plan on it. Boss is the Maytag of effects pedals!

Gosh, I really love this pedal. I haven't had an amp with tremelo in years and it feels just great to hear it again. I've been playing for the last 35 years, but haven't done much in the last 15. This effect sounds at least as good if not better than the tremelo on my old Fender Blac-face amp (can't remember which model, my folks sold it on me when I was in the navy)! I am a recent convert to the use of pedals. I had always been an amp distortion/effects man. I am now completely sold on their practicality and flexibility. All of my pedals are Boss, and I've been so impressed that I'm sure I won't buy any other kind. I'm not going to buy any more for a while, as I have a new Mesa Blue Angel on order and want to wait and see how my pedals react to it. I really can't think of any others I'd buy right now anyway. For my style of music, (Country/country rock, vintage rock) I've got about everything I need. Would I buy it again? Were the Beatles a half-way decent band? I might not use it often, but it's such a refreshing sound compared to what you hear in alot of music nowadays, I know people will enjoy hearing it again. I know I did! I don't even mind the puke-green color!

The boss tremolo is like all boss pedals, easy to use. The manual gives you tips for settings and helps out pretty. Just by experimenting, different sounds can be dialed up with ease. With just three knobs, one for rate, one for wave and one for depth, the pedal is pretty basic, and not to complex.

The tremolo has a pretty good sound. My father has a fender deluxe reverb amp, and I prefer this boss tremolo to the amps tremolo. I think the boss tremolo is a little more versatile. The only thing is like phasers and flangers I feel that the tremolo can't be apllied as much as distortion, delay, and wah. I like to use the tremolo with other pedals, because I think by itself, it can get pretty dull. I love running it with distortion for example. I have a rickenbacker 330 running into a fender hot rod deluxe. I prefer the tremolo to my boss flanger, as I think the tremolo can be used more in a band setting.As tremolo's go I think the boss does well. I remember being in a guitar store once and some guy was trying out a really expensive tremolo unit. I think my boss pedal sounded better than unit he was playing ( sorry i don't remember the brand) I like using the tremolo pedal and it has a good sound to it. It is just hard sometimes finding a place to apply the tremolo.

boss pedals are reliable. no problem here

never dealt with them

I play melodic guitar rock, and this pedal is fun. It has a smooth sound and the pedal isn't noisy. I like to use it with one ore more effects on, as that is what works best for me. I think by itself the tremolo can get old. If you are looking for a pedal that duplicates the old fender tremolo, I think this pedal comes close.If it was lost, I might not get it again only because, I really don't need. The tremolo isn't as important in the effects range as my delay, distortion, and wah. I got the pedal at price at 72 dollars, I don't think is worth much more to me than that, only because it is limiting. All in all I think it is pretty good pedal and a great pedal for one looking for a tremolo at a reasonable price

Easy to use. just 3 knobs, rate, depth and waveform. You can get anything from an almost imperceptable shimmer to on-off effect types. Its getting a 9 only because I don't give 10's

My setup is not particularly straight forward.. The tr-2 is part of my quite substantial pedalboard along with a 2 Rats, Dod grunge pedal, Danelectro echo and chorus pedals going through an ls-2 line selector. I use an epiphone les paul standard with seth lover pickups or fender jaguar going into a trace elliot 100w amp or a Marshall 1959 head and 4x12. The sound is bloody good. When on bypass this thing is silent. It does exactly what you'd expect it to and I think that is probably one of the most important things in a pedal. ONLY ONE MAJOR BAD POINT... This thing seems to eat batteries so a power supply is probably a bonus.

Very reliable. I gig with it regularly, I must admit, I do have a whole spare pedalboard but that goes without saying, all my pedals are duplicated. Would I use it without backup ? Probably, if I had to. It is however not as well built as Rat pedals.......But what is ?

God knows

It is something I use in very few songs, but when used it works, and works well.

This is Boss's "classic tremelo" stomp box. Besides the eternally familiar "Speed" and "Depth" controls, it also has a waveform control that is very effective in altering the "attack" of the sound. Manual gives some very good suggestions for starters.

I use the unit the same way almost anyone does - in lieu of an amp "Tremelo", which disappeared from almost all amps - save the classic Fender designs - in the early '70's, probably in favor of the then-hot "Chorus" control. It's dead quiet in the "off" position, (though it should be noted that like many stomp boxes, once you plug a jack into the "in" port, it's "on" - even if you haven't activated it. Good to remember as far as your battery life goes). I run it through a Crate amp to get the '60's instrumental/surf sound, and there is no other description for it - it's perfect in that regard. It could fool Fender's own mother: Creamy, silky smooth, and exactly what you are hoping for before you hear it the first time (not many things you can say THAT about!). Boss tells you that the "on" light will dim when the battery is going, and they are right. Be aware that the battery goes in a nose dive - when that light starts to dim, get a new one in there pronto. This doesn't apply if you are using an adaptor, but who screws with those when an alkaline 9 Volt lasts for months?

Reliability? Think Master padlocks. All Boss pedals I've seen fit this category. Always have a fresh, spare 9 volt around, though. If the battery dies completely while you are using the unit, it begins a steady "chirp - chirp - chirp" through your speakers until the battery is replaced, though!

No experience there.

My salad days on electric guitar were the '60's, when *everyone* had a Fender (or Vox) amp, and the sound of Leo Fender's tremelo circuits is burned into my brain. THIS IS THAT SOUND. Add to that the excellent workmanship, and high reliability. The sole things I do not like are the side-mounted jacks, (I prefer top mounts), and it's painted the most god-awful shade of snot green you ever saw, but those are minor quibbles at best. You want trem? THIS IS THE ONE, FRIEND!

It's very simple to use. It has controls for rate, depth and wave on the top with a large on/off pedal. I didn't get a manual: I had a choice of getting a new one off an unused demo board for $69 or one in the box with all the papers for $89. The box and papers weren't worth $20 to me.

I'm currently using a Tele and a Rick 360 through a Carvin 100W solid state. I was seriously considering buying a tube amp (Deluxe Reverb, Vibrolux, or maybe a Vox) with vibrato/tremolo just to get that sound again. I "grew up" with a Gretsch and a '64 Fender Tremolux when I started playing back in the mid 60's. We did some surf music along with the other garage band stuff, so I used the tremolo. I still like the sound. I read the other reviews here and thought I'd give it a try... it's well worth every penny. Great lush, shimering tremolo with good controls to vary the effect. It cured my desire to spend the big bucks on the Fender or Vox. It's quiet, warm and sweet sounding. With this pedal, my Dano Daddy-O, and my Korg processor I get all the sounds I want out of my little Carvin.

I haven't had it long enough to make a valid evaluation of reliability. But it seems well made.

This was the missing piece in the mix for the sounds I like. It saved me a lot of money possibly replacing an amp that I'm otherwise happy with. I would definitely buy it again - even if I had to pay more for it.

It's very easy to use. You just have to use the examples in the manual and of you go. Sounds brilliant. If you want to make your own tones, there are only 3 knobs to play with so it's fairly easy.

I'm using a Peavey Classic combo and have a really clean tone. Together with the pedal it sometimes sounds really really close to my dad's old Fender amps. Never ever use it with distortion, certainly not with a tube amp because what a tremolo does is mainly altering the volume and it will sound like sh$# with tube distortion. Hey no noise at all with this one.

IT'S A BOSS. Skipped this part!

And this one to!!!

I was looking for a good tremelo, one like the one on the old Fender amps and to be honest I think I found it in this pedal.

Not much to it, 3 knobs. I found the sweepable wave knob much more versatile than the preset selections on my BOSS PN-2.

I a/b' d this pedal in the music store with my BOSS PN-2 and a more expensive Dunlop TS-1 stereo tremolo pedal. The PN-2 sounded quite "mechanical" compared to the new TR-2 and the Dunlop pedal. The Dunlop pedal sounded great, but it made the signal level drop just a bit when turned on. The TR-2 sounded a little warmer than the Dunlop pedal, and was dead silent when turned off. (so was the Dunlop) if I were interested in the stereo feature, I would have bought the Dunlop, but the TR-2 had great character and was a tad warmer. The old PN-2 sounded too thin compared to either of the new pedals. The only noise was some very, very, faint pulsing "swish" when the pedal was on but no signal was present. I have found that ALL tremolo pedals tend to do this, however the TR-2's noise was not noticable when playing.

I have never taken backup effects to a gig because I can't afford that many pedals!!, but I have owned BOSS products in the past and have had absoloutely no problems with them.

I have never called BOSS specifically, but I have dealt with Roland (their parent company) and was extremely satisfied with the way they helped me get a software upgrade for a sequencer -for free!

Since I did compare this thing to other similar products, I can say that I believe the product performed well- within it's limits. The wave shape knob that was also included on the Dunlop TS-1, is a great feature. Some other more expensive Trem. pedals don't have it, and for me, it is very important to creating a unique sound or emulating a wide variety of others. This thing also fits into a pedalboard nicely, the Dunlop is an unwieldly beast (size-wise)