The Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo is an Artec tremolo pedal, currently around $67.12. Close alternatives include the Carl Martin Surf Trem V3 and the Mooer Trelicopter. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head and the Milkman Sound Creamer 20W Combo.

Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Artec · pedal

The Artec SE-VTM is an analog optical tremolo pedal from South Korean manufacturer Artec. The optical device circuit provides traditional tremolo without the noise floor elevation of transistor-switched designs. A Zero-Width Mode activates automatically via a Low Level Sensor when there is minimal input, muting LFO noise during rests to prevent audible oscillation bleed between notes. DC 9V, 8mA active / 4mA bypass, 75.5W x 115.5H x 47.5D mm, 290g. Part of the Artec SE budget series alongside the RSV-3 Resovibe.

What stands out

  • “the optical device circuit provides traditional tremolo”

    — from the listing

  • “Standout strength: the optical circuit and Zero-Width Mode together produce smooth tremolo tone and a quiet noise floor during rests, a combination uncommon at budget prices”

    — from the community notes

  • “Tone: clean vintage optical tremolo with smooth natural volume modulation distinct from the choppy output of cheaper transistor-switched designs”

    — from the community notes

  • “The SE-VTM applies Artec engineering care to making tremolo both musical and quiet”

    — from the reviews

  • “Use case: blues, country, and vintage-rock guitarists who want authentic tremolo”

    — from the community notes

Trade-offs

  • “muting lfo noise during rests to”

    — from the listing

  • “Signal-chain interaction: traditionally placed after drive pedals and before reverb for classic surf or tweed tremolo tones; the Zero-Width Mode makes it practical wherever silence between notes is important”

    — from the community notes

  • optical
  • smooth
  • optical tremolo
  • modulation
  • quiet
  • tremolo
  • vintage
  • clean
$67.12View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 25, 2026

Genres the Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo is commonly used in

Amps that pair well with the Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head

amplifier

27% match
$1666via Reverb

Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head leans toward transparent, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes later in the signal chain

Milkman Sound Creamer 20W Combo

Milkman Sound

27% match
$3449via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)

What Milkman Sound Creamer 20W Combo brings here leans toward full — that's worth building a pairing around

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module

Synergy

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Synergy SL2 Module after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt

Mesa Boogie

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo in the chain

Egnater Tweaker 88 Head

Egnater

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Egnater Tweaker 88 Head goes after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo in the chain

Ceriatone 2202H

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Ceriatone 2202H after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Carol-Ann OD-2R

Carol Ann

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Carol-Ann OD-2R goes after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo in the chain

Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H

Marshall

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H goes after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo in the chain

Pedals that stack with the Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2

Electro-Harmonix

17% match
$114.30via Reverb

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)

Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2 leans toward fuzzy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Wren and Cuff Box of War OG

Wren And Cuff

17% match
$298.33via Reverb

Wren and Cuff Box of War OG's own full character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay

Electro-Harmonix

7% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Run Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Strymon BigSky

Strymon

7% match
$679via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Keep Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo's smooth voice out front: Strymon BigSky goes after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo in the signal chain so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2

Dr Scientist

tonal match
$204.36via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 in front of Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Warm Audio Jet Phaser

Warm Audio

tonal match
$109.01via Reverb

Warm Audio Jet Phaser belongs after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo, since modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set

Donner Big Mouth Distortion

Donner

tonal match
$29.95via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Put Donner Big Mouth Distortion in front of Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Demon FX Gladiator Double Preamp Just

Demon Fx

tonal match
$64.88via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Demon FX Gladiator Double Preamp Just after Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo

Cheaper alternatives

Arcade Audio Cheat Code

Arcade Audio

66% similarity
$29.95via Reverb

Shared character: true bypass, tremolo, modulation

Behringer UT300

Behringer

92% similarity
$28.90via Reverb

similar tone character

Boutique & premium upgrades

Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo

Dophix

66% similarity
$215.33via Reverb

Shared character: natural, modulation, smooth

Universal Audio Flow Tremolo

Universal Audio

61% similarity
$114.67via Reverb

Shared character: true bypass, tremolo, smooth

JHS Tidewater Tremolo

JHS Pedals

61% similarity
$124.86via Reverb

Shared character: true bypass, tremolo, modulation

J. Rockett Mr Moto

J Rockett

61% similarity
$169via Reverb

Shared character: modulation, smooth, vintage charm

Mu-Tron Tremu-Tron Optical Tremolo

Mu Tron

59% similarity
$189via Reverb

Shared character: natural, smooth

Mad Professor Mellow Yellow Tremolo

Mad Professor

59% similarity
$169via Reverb

Shared character: smooth, vintage charm

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Carl Martin Surf Trem V3

Carl Martin

70% similarity
$76.06via Reverb

Shared character: blues players, tremolo, modulation

Mooer Trelicopter

Mooer

69% similarity

Shared character: noise, true bypass, natural

Artec RSV-3 Resovibe

Artec

65% similarity

Shared character: blues players, noise, true bypass

BBE Tremor V2

Bbe

64% similarity

Shared character: blues players, true bypass, smooth

Hot Box Pedals Tremolous Optical Tremolo

Hot Box Pedals

64% similarity

Shared character: tremolo, natural, modulation

Red Witch Seven Sisters Eve Tremolo

Red Witch

63% similarity
$64via Reverb

Shared character: natural, smooth, vintage charm

See all alternatives to the Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo?+

The closest matches in character are the Carl Martin Surf Trem V3, the Mooer Trelicopter, the Artec RSV-3 Resovibe. Budget picks: Arcade Audio Cheat Code, Behringer UT300. Boutique upgrades: Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo, Universal Audio Flow Tremolo, JHS Tidewater Tremolo.

What pairs well with the Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head, Milkman Sound Creamer 20W Combo, Synergy SL2 Module — Mesa Boogie Lone Star Head leans toward transparent, and that's a real, usable character to pair with.

How much does the Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo cost?+

Around $67.12 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).

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