Boss TR-2 Tremolo

Couldn't be easier. Wave adjustments give more control over tonality. Rate speeds are adequate for anyone's needs (no need to go any slower or faster). This unit has not been tampered with, but it is an older unit (going to guess around 93 or so).

I am currently using an early (aluminum lined) Sliverface Twin w/ a '98 American Tele converted to a '92 Tele Plus (red-blue lace sensor).

I don't hear the noise that everyone seems to be talking about (tried my fender Lead III guitar as well). Perhaps it is the patch cables people are using/dying battery/wallwart/poor grounding/etc? I'll give you my setup so maybe we can iron things out here:

Guitar - TU2 Tuner - Digitech Whammy IV - Crowther Hotcake - SD1 Overdrive - Small Stone RI w/true bypass - DOD 460 Minichorus - TR2 Tremolo - DD5 Delay - AMP

All of the pedals, with the exception of the 1100 mAmp eater Whammy pedal, run off of a single International 1000 mAmp wall-wart. All cables used are Pro-Co 6" patch cables (with the exception of a few point-to-point connectors from boss to boss pedal).

Even when i run guitar-tremolo-amp with, I've yet to hear this "hiss" or "noise" everyone speaks about. I compared this tremolo to my amp's built in vibrato... Obviously, tube vibrato has warmth and body that can't compare to the TR-2. You would want use the tube vibrato in a studio session. But for the love of god, nobody is going to notice if you're using the built in vibrato on your amp or a TR-2 pedal live. By the time the bass starts, that subtle "warmth" you would have heard will be gone. Besides, after your amp is run through the SM-57 and into the PA...

Case Closed. It does everything I need it to and has never failed to perform.

Of course. Has been working flawlessly for 10 years.

I have no clue. Never needed to. Besides, the parts are user-servicable if you have any know-how on electronics.

I give it a 7 1/2-8. Yes, it's not a tube vibrato... Yeah, there is no compensation for volume drop. But it does what it claims to do. Sounds and has worked wonders for me. No noise, no problems.

This is a simple unit (like most BOSS stuff).

A nice tremolo sound, even extreme settings produce usable sounds. But It's a one-trick-pony, pulsating throbs are not possible. The worst thing: It's rather noisy, because it hisses no matter where you turn the knobs. I think that is because it's all analog and cheap trannies, resistors and such are used? The DD-5 or PH-3 for example, are dead silent, but this here is really annoying...

At least it's rather dependable!

I wouldn't buy it again. I've got a high class rig and don't want to ruin the overall sound with hiss and noise. I've got me a Mayer VoodooVibe instead, which is all analog but so silent, it plays like a dream. I know the comparison is unfair, but compared to the VoodooVibe the TR-2 plain sucks.

easy to use in theory. only 3 knobs. but it took my a bit of tweaking to get a useable sound.

using a squier fat tele into a laney lc15 all-tube amp. the volume is a bit low on this pedal. i dont gig though so it doesnt bother me. it is not noisy. at least not with my setup. i didnt like it at first, but after 30 min of knob twiddling... i'm sold. do not buy one new though. go used. not worth 90 bucks.

it is a boss pedal man. i think the army is throwing these at bad guys as we speak(type). jokes aside, it is a very dependable device.

good solid pedal. send it to Robert Keeley www.robertkeeley.com if you want to upgrade it to a perfect 10. he adds a volume knob and makes the tone much better.

Three knobs. Unless one has excessive brain damage, stumps for arms and/or no hearing ability, it shouldn't really be hard to figure this one out.

I'm using this little green machine between a CIJ Jazzmaster, a Hendrix Wah, a Marshall Jackhammer and a Hiwatt Studio/Stage head.
Noise? In yer head that is. This particular unit is silent as a sniper. The only annoying thing is the volume drop, which seems inherent in tremolo's but still bugs me sometimes. Not enough to replace it with a more expensive brand though.

I have a slight feeling this thing will outlive me.

I won't even try.

I play everything from the Beatles through Pearl Jam to Aphex Twin. I've been playing for 4 years now. My impressive gear list can be found under "Sound Quality". If this pedal were stolen, I wouldn't run to the store and get a new one, but I'd want a new tremolo eventually. Maybe I'd buy this one again. Maybe I wouldn't.
I love that it does what it should do. I hate the volume drop. My favourite feature is that it makes makes your signal louder and softer in a certain tempo. I tend to like that in tremolo's.
I compared this one to a few others that either were more expensive or had less features than this one. The TR-2 was the perfect middle road. I wish it had a volume knob and wouldn't be 170 bucks as a result of that though.

Conclusion: it's a nice tremolo for people like me who don't totally rely on tremolo but still like to have the effect available sometimes. A 7 seems in place here.

Thank you for your patience. That's all folks!

very easy. Everyt boss pedal with only three knobs is very easy to understand and get a good sound out of.

...well, it will give you what you want... good tremolo. The little knob allows you to decide whether you want a smoother or choppier tremolo, which I like. But in the end, especially when you're playing with other people, with the depth on full, I can barely hear it. I don't even use it anymore. I think people would be better off improving their skills with a tremolo bar. After all, your fingers make you a good musician, not some silly effects pedal such as this one.

boss = tank

don't use it

it will give you a great tremolo sound, but it is weak and somewhat useless. You're better off improving your skills with a tremolo bar.

I play a Les Paul Standard, Am Standard Strat, Les Paul Studio through a Fender Blues Deluxe. I was looking for a good tremolo and I like Boss pedals in general. I like the sound of the TR-2 but like a lot of folks, was bugged by the volume drop. I have a Boss CE-2 Chorus that was modded by Robert Keeley and I loved what he did with that pedal so I ordered a new Modded TR-2 Directly from him. His mod adds a volume control to the pedal so not only is volume loss not a problem you can turn the Depth down all the way and use the TR-2 for a boost that really fattens up the sound. Great tremolo sound and dead quiet.

I haven't used it long enough or hard enough to know. But it's a Boss!

I've not needed to deal directly with Boss because I've had no problems with any of my Boss pedals. I ordered it direct from Robert Keeley and had it within three days...amazing. He's also very pleasant to work with and answers his email personally and promptly!

I play rock and blues and it works wonderfully in those styles. I've been playing 34 years. If I lost it I would be crushed...and would promptly order another from Keeley.

Its got 3 knobs so no problem at all - plenty of range

I love this pedal - its very easy to get a wide range of tremlo sounds from gentrle vibrato to harsh volume cuts - works well either in front or behind the FX loop.

Works particualry well after a distortion pedal (eg and OD-3)
Have a listen to it on one of our tracks (about 30 seconds in)
http://www.revealonline.co.uk/downloads/04-Reveal-Downpour_EP-All_Your_Lies.mp3

Ive never noticed any noise at all - compared to other trem effects I've tried (Line 6 MM4) its just easy to get a top sound out of it

I gig it every week with no problems - its Boss innit!

New rang em

Go and try it out - if you want a good trem effect just get it :-)

Gareth
REVEAL
http://www.revealonline.co.uk

Three knobs. You can't do nothing wrong with it. If you've got two ears on your head you'll get "your" sound out of it quite fast.

I use a Rickenbacker-replica with two Semour Duncan-Pickups that blows everything away. I bought this replica because it just felt right. It was so damn good to play. But the pickups sucked. So I replaced them by the Duncans. Man! The sound now is just. My favourite guitar.
My fx-setup: Guitar - BOSS TU2 - Ibanez Stereo Chorus - Ibanez FL 301 Flanger - BOSS Tr-2 Tremolo - ProCo Turbo Rat - Dunlop Cry Baby - Amp.
My Amp: Peavey Bandit 112 (the old, not the new)

I've read most of the entries about the TR-2 posted here. And the problems with the noize of it. Man. I just can say: If you get noize out of it you're doing something wrong. I don't know WHAT you're doing wrong but it's obvious.
I love the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' clean sounds and the BOSS TR-2 does well.

I use BOSS pedals for ages. None ever broke.

Never dealt with them.

I'm very satisfied with this pedal. It does a good job. I guess there are better tremolos you can buy. But not for that money. I tested a Marshall-Tremolo pedal (abt.80,--EUR) but I didn't like its sound.

It's easy to use - just 3 pots. Wish it had a volume pot also...

I use a '52 RI Tele, '67 Gretsch Anniversary, Rickenbacker 350 and some others through a Fender Vibroking, Budda Stringmaster and a Matschless DC30. Some of my pedals are the MJM London Fuzz, Fulltone Fulldrive 2, Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe, EH Deluxe Memory Man and lots of others.

I think the sound this little puppy produces is quite alright. Not great, but ok. A little lame and bland maybe, nothing to get excited about.

This is the story: I got my Voodoo Vibe, which has a Chorus (Uni-Vibe), Vibrato and a Tremolo setting. But you have to change the settings to go from Uni-Vibe to Tremolo, which is too complicated in a live situation.
So I thought about getting an extra tremolo and got the TR-2, because it didn't take up much place on my board and in the end it's just a simple tremolo, isn't it?
Boy, was I wrong: The TR-2 can't even touch the Tremolo setting of the Voodoo Vibe. The Voodoo Vibe can do all sorts of tremolo from subtle to pulse and is absolutely noiseless. The TR-2 can't do the pulse thing and is very hissy.
I gave it to someone who can't tell the difference between a TS-808 and a Metal Zone ;-)

I like Boss pedals because they are small and reliable. I don't think this pedal would be an exception.

Never dealt with them.

I make music as long as I can remember. I don't like flashy high gain shit but pure tone coming from your heart and your hands. All it needs is a simple guitar and a simple tube amp. Less is more. But some pedals can do the job (not to interfere but to improve).
The TR-2 was the first Boss pedal that let me down on this. If it is engaged, there is a volume drop and a very annoying hiss. The trem effect is ok, but nothing spectacular.
If you want something extraordinary get yourself a Voodoo Vibe, Fulltone Supa Trem or a Prescription Throb.
If you just want a great pedal get yourself the EH Pulsar, which is in the same pice league as the TR-2. Compared to this, the TR-2 is a joke and won't even come close...

Like most Boss pedals, this one this one is easy to handle.

The effect sound is decent. Though it's not a Fender Tremolo (mislabeled as Vibrato), of course.

But it is a rather noisy pedal, making it absolutely useless for studio dates. Maybe the other who don't complain about the hissing are deaf already...

It's a Boss.

Do they have customer support?

I'm a pro since more than 15 years. Started in cover bands and got quickly adopted to the local studio and session player scene.

Over the years I've played all kinds of equipment, you name it - I've had it. For most studio jobs, the guitar is taped without fx at all, which are brought in later in the mix (Rocktron Replifex, TC G-Major and other 19" racks). But for sessions, live gigs and such, I prefer the old stompers.

I've got a great array of vintage EH and MXR gear, but most often I use simple Boss pedals. They are very reliable, easy to handle, sound good and are very silent. My favourite Boss pedals at the moment are the OD-3, PH-3, DD-3, TU-2 and a modified BD-2. I really wanted to like this pedal because I need a tremolo effect. But I just couldn't use it because of the noise it produced. It was noisier than all my other pedals together. Exchanged it and got a Voodoo Labs Trem instead and am very glad I dead. Believe me, the Voodoo Lab eats the TR-2 for breakfast...