Toneczar Powerglide

Toneczar Powerglide

The Toneczar Powerglide offers 2 optical Tremolo circuits in one pedal. Speed and depth can be controlled on both, and switched between. The speed at which it ramps from one speed to the other is controlled by the RAMP knob.

The Powerglide comes in 2 color options. Black or Polished. You can also get one built in mono or stereo. It can be powered with the supplied 18v Power Supply or a Voodoo Labs Power Supply with a Y Cable. See the Powerglide documentation for more information.

The pedal offers 3 different wave shapes. It is noted on all modes, that as the depth decreases, the volume increases. You can use the volume knob to compensate.

Black Mode - This is the smoothest and shallowest mode. Not necessarily a sine wave, it's more akin to the lump wave form with very little off time. This mode is smooth and subtle. The rise and fall on each side of the cycle is fairly even.

Black Mode - Various Depths

Brown Mode  - This is described as "swaying". This mode is indeed deeper, almost going to 0 volume when the depth is maxed out. The wave form is more lopsided, with a quicker rise, and longer fall.

This is not to be confused with Harmonic Tremolo found in amplifiers. There is no phase shifting or pitch warble going on here. This is strictly volume modulation, more akin to power tube bias Tremolos. There has been some confusion in the community regarding this, so I'm clearing that up now.

Brown Mode - Various Depths

Square - For your choppy needs. Square sounds beautiful on this pedal. It has a fairly even on/off ratio. But I think the reason this sounds so good is in the rise and fall, which is not an abrupt on/off, but is a bit rounded. This maintains your stutter, but gives a slightly smooth attack and decay which just sounds awesome.

Square Wave - Various Depths

To showcase the beginning and end of the square wave. I've used the lowest speed, and zoomed in on the wave form.

I cannot say that the Toneczar is like any other Trem pedal I've had the pleasure of playing. The waveforms used on the Black and Brown modes are pretty unique. Even square, with the subtle nuance is unique. It all sounds very good.

Some things to note.

When changing speeds with either the footswitch or by turning the speed knob, the RAMP time is still present. So when twiddling knobs, the speed does not always match your setting right when you change it. You have to wait for it to ramp up, or turn the ramp time down fully counter clockwise to minimize this effect.

Second, when using the ramp feature switching between the two tremolos, the only thing ramped is the speed. The depth is an instantaneous change. So to minimize and big depth jumps, for the smoothest transition, you'll want to keep your depth settings similar on both Tremolos.

The Toneczar boasts that it has NO audible ticking or thumping, and I have found this to be true in my testing.

The ramping feature is great and smooth.

Ultimately what I think sells you on this pedal is if you like the sounds, and you like the possibility of 2 different tremolo sounds, whether ramped or not. I think due to the unique wave forms, this pedal has earned a cult following, because it is simple and unique, and there isn't anything on the market that I know of that is super close to this design and quality.

It is pretty simple to use, and it sounds great.

Slowest Speed: 3360 ms/cycle      OR      17.86 BPM

Fastest Speed: 80      ms/cycle      OR      750    BPM
Also, Ed, who builds these pedals is a pleasure to work with.