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

Stomp Audio Labs Releases the Waves

Stomp Audio Labs Releases the Waves

A modern tremolo, with tap tempo, three waveforms, hold mode, tempo subdivision, and waveform symmetry distortion.

Belo Horizonte, Brazil (September 19, 2016) -- We spent almost two years developing and testing this pedal, distilling all of our knowledge in electronics and programming, in order to make it sound as cool as it looks.

Waves is a modern tremolo, with tap tempo, three waveforms, hold mode, tempo subdivision and waveform symmetry distortion, that generates a multitude of different waveforms — All of this with the organic tone of an optical analog tremolo.

It has an organic tone, characteristic of an optical tremolo circuit. It is able to generate several wave forms, it can be controlled by an expression pedal and even has an stereo output, so you can make panning effects, opening endless creative possibilities.

The Waves has five knobs and a toggle switch. The switch selects the waveform within three positions: sine, triangular and square. The Shape control changes and distorts the waveform, generating sawtooth, ramp and distorted sine waves and even change the proportion of time that the sound is on, or cut on the square wave. With this combination, you get to create an infinite range of different types of tremolo. From a short well marked square wave tremolo, like a helicopter, passing through an increasing ramp wave, that resembles reverse delays, to even a subtle slightly distorted sine wave tremolo, just like the ol’ tube amps.

On top of all these features, the Waves has a ‘secret’ operation mode, the Hold mode. Usually when you step on the pedal bypass, it switches on the tremolo and is only shut down when you step again. But if you hold the tap tempo switch, it activates the Hold mode. Therefore, the effect is only activated when you hold the bypass pedal. So as soon as you take your foot off, it cuts the effect. That is, the pedal only works while you’re holding your foot onto it. It’s a very interesting feature, opening room for a lot of creative possibilities, and it is another creative tool in your sound arsenal, ideal to be used as a fast, momentary tremolo.

The Waves has a digital brain, but everything else, including the audio signal path is fully analog: The digital circuitry controls the tap tempo and logic, and the analog circuitry manipulates the guitar signal to generate the tremolo effect. The sound signal is never transformed into digital and the two circuits are separated by a custom optical component. All this to bring maximum flexibility without compromising in any way the sound. Lock, stock and barrel, what we get is flexibility, without ever compromising the tone.

Designed and built in Brazil headquarters, the Waves is shipping now. Suggested retail price is $230.00.

For more information:
Stomp Audio Labs

Halfway through the month, but the prizes keep coming! Enter Stompboxtober Day 14 for your chance to win a P-Split Stereo from Lehle!

Read MoreShow less

Mastodon's lead guitarist teams up with the Does It Doom creator Steve Reis to make a dream V come true with a sleek silverburst finish and alnico-V PAF humbuckers.

Woodrite Guitars, alongside with Dirty B himself, proudly presents the 'Dirty B' Signature Vagabond, a high-performance guitar that delivers on both craftsmanship and tone. The instrument's mahogany body and bound mahogany neck a repaired with a sleek Macassar ebony fingerboard, featuring distinctive custom "Mastogyph" inlays. Its silverburst finish adds to the guitar’s striking appearance, while stainless steel frets, Tonepros hardware, and Grover tuners provide the durability and precision expected in a professional-grade instrument.

Read MoreShow less

With its ability to dial in custom reverb, delay, and chorus settings without needing any extra equipment and intuitive looper and Bluetooth audio functions, the TAG3 C is designed to make it easier than ever to write, practice, and perform.

Read MoreShow less

Classic guitar face, courtesy of the author.

Ever watch a video of yourself playing guitar and wonder why you do “that thing” with your face?

When I was 16, my parents came to see me play in a bar. (Montana in the ’80s was pretty cavalier about the drinking age.) On a break, I sat with my parents, and my father said, “Boy, you really move your mouth a lot when you play. Why do you do that?”

Read MoreShow less