Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

NAMM - ToadWorks PipeLine Tremolo & Fat City Demos

PG's Rebecca Dirks is On Location in Anaheim, CA, for the 2010 NAMM Show where she visits the ToadWorks USA Effects booth. In this segment, we get to see and hear from two of their newest pedals -- the PipeLine Harmonic Vibrato/Tremolo pedal and the Fat City Dual Overdrive. Amplitude modulation, otherwise known as tremolo, is arguably the first 'overt' guitar effect. Amplifiers with built-in tremolo began appearing by the late 40's, and became standard equipment by the late 50's. The first major style of music to adopt tremolo as it's own was surf music - groups like the Del-Tones, the Ventures and the Chantays combined tremolo with reverb to create the definitive surf guitar sound. In 1961, the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company released a complex variation on the tremolo effect known commonly as harmonic vibrato. While not technically vibrato (frequency modulation), this new take on tremolo created an effect vaguely reminiscent of a rotating speaker. Due to it's complexity and cost, this form of tremolo was short lived, and no adequate substitute existed - until now. ToadWorks Fat City is a Professional Series effect pedal consisting of two unique overdrive circuits, as well as an independently switchable boost. The overdrive has been designed to emulate classic tube amplifier sounds, and each overdrive circuit can be engaged separately or in combination, thus creating the unique "Fat City" sound. The clean boost is re-routable via a mini toggle switch located directly above the boost pot. This allows you to place the boost in front of, or after the overdrive circuits, and it's all True Bypass.



PG's Rebecca Dirks is On Location in Anaheim, CA, for the 2010 NAMM Show where she visits the ToadWorks USA Effects booth. In this segment, we get to see and hear from two of their newest pedals -- the PipeLine Harmonic Vibrato/Tremolo pedal and the Fat City Dual Overdrive.

Amplitude modulation, otherwise known as tremolo, is arguably the first 'overt' guitar effect. Amplifiers with built-in tremolo began appearing by the late 40's, and became standard equipment by the late 50's. The first major style of music to adopt tremolo as it's own was surf music - groups like the Del-Tones, the Ventures and the Chantays combined tremolo with reverb to create the definitive surf guitar sound.

In 1961, the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company released a complex variation on the tremolo effect known commonly as harmonic vibrato. While not technically vibrato (frequency modulation), this new take on tremolo created an effect vaguely reminiscent of a rotating speaker. Due to it's complexity and cost, this form of tremolo was short lived, and no adequate substitute existed - until now.

ToadWorks Fat City is a Professional Series effect pedal consisting of two unique overdrive circuits, as well as an independently switchable boost. The overdrive has been designed to emulate classic tube amplifier sounds, and each overdrive circuit can be engaged separately or in combination, thus creating the unique "Fat City" sound.

The clean boost is re-routable via a mini toggle switch located directly above the boost pot. This allows you to place the boost in front of, or after the overdrive circuits, and it's all True Bypass.