The CNZ Audio VTR-20 is a Cnz Audio tremolo pedal, currently around $44.99. Close alternatives include the Bookworm Effects Laughing Man Optical Tremolo V3 and the Blaxx BX-Tremolo. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark I and the Synergy SL2 Module.
CNZ Audio VTR-20
Cnz Audio · pedal
The CNZ Audio VTR-20 is a vintage-style tremolo pedal with three controls: Depth for the amplitude of the tremolo effect, Speed for the rate of oscillation, and Bias for adjusting the waveform shaping of the tremolo LFO. True bypass. Compact all-metal enclosure. The Bias control is a less common feature that allows players to adjust the asymmetry of the tremolo waveform for more vintage sag character or a more square-wave chop. Suited for country, surf rock, blues, and vintage rock styles.
- tremolo
- bypass
- surf
- country
- blues
- vintage
- rock
- reverb
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the CNZ Audio VTR-20 is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the CNZ Audio VTR-20
Mesa Boogie Mark I
Mesa Boogie
17% matchRun Mesa Boogie Mark I into that transparent platform and it finally gets some mid-forward
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Synergy SL2 Module gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Tweaker 88 Head's low gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Ceriatone 2202H gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman Jose LTD brings the high gain it's missing
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 gives it high gain to fill it with
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Bad Cat
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Bad Cat Lynx 50 brings the high gain it's missing
Pedals that stack with the CNZ Audio VTR-20
Suhr Rufus Reloaded
Suhr
20% matchInto a transparent tone, Suhr Rufus Reloaded brings the fuzzy it's missing
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
20% matchInto a transparent tone, JHS Smiley brings the fuzzy it's missing
T-Rex Reptile Delay
T Rex
8% matchPut T-Rex Reptile Delay after CNZ Audio VTR-20 in the signal chain, clear of CNZ Audio VTR-20's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Line 6 DL4 MkII
Line 6
8% matchKeep Line 6 DL4 MkII after CNZ Audio VTR-20 in the signal chain, clear of CNZ Audio VTR-20's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchInto CNZ Audio VTR-20, Tone City Dry Martini is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchFender Hammertone Overdrive is voiced for a clean amp's front end — CNZ Audio VTR-20 gives it exactly that
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
tonal matchAshdown Geezer Butler Signature's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and CNZ Audio VTR-20 delivers it
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
tonal matchInto CNZ Audio VTR-20, Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Cordovox TR-8
Cordovox
70% similarityShared character: overdrive_pedals, signal_chain, true_bypass
Black Rabbit Little Earthquakes
Black Rabbit
69% similarityShared character: overdrive_pedals, signal_chain, tremolo
Catalinbread StarCrash Valcoder
Catalinbread
69% similarityShared character: effect, tremolo, transparent
Universal Audio Flow Tremolo
Universal Audio
68% similarityShared character: true_bypass, tremolo, simple
Boffin FX Vibratron
Boffin Fx
68% similarityShared character: pedal, signal_chain, true_bypass
JHS Kodiak
JHS Pedals
68% similarityShared character: true_bypass, tremolo, transparent
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Bookworm Effects Laughing Man Optical Tremolo V3
Bookworm Effects
71% similarityShared character: effect, overdrive_pedals, tremolo
Blaxx BX-Tremolo
Blaxx
68% similarityShared character: effect, true_bypass, tremolo
Effects Bakery Uguisu Bread Tremolo
Effects Bakery
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo
Electro-Harmonix
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Surfy Industries SurfyTrem
Surfy Industries
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Supacoil FX Badalamenti Tremolo
Supacoil Fx
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the CNZ Audio VTR-20 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the CNZ Audio VTR-20?+
The closest matches in character are the Bookworm Effects Laughing Man Optical Tremolo V3, the Blaxx BX-Tremolo, the Effects Bakery Uguisu Bread Tremolo. Budget picks: Behringer UT100. Boutique upgrades: Cordovox TR-8, Black Rabbit Little Earthquakes, Catalinbread StarCrash Valcoder.
What pairs well with the CNZ Audio VTR-20?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark I, Synergy SL2 Module, Friedman BE-Mini Head — Run Mesa Boogie Mark I into that transparent platform and it finally gets some mid-forward.
How much does the CNZ Audio VTR-20 cost?+
Around $44.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).