The Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 is a Cusack Music tremolo pedal, currently around $249. Close alternatives include the MXR M159 Stereo Tremolo and the Chase Bliss Gravitas. It pairs well with the Marshall Super Bass and the Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head.
Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2
Cusack Music · pedal
The Cusack Music Tap-A-Whirl V2 is an analog tremolo pedal with built-in tap tempo, 24 preset waveforms, and optional stereo output. The analog audio path produces warm tremolo modulation while the digital tap tempo and waveform selection provide comprehensive control. Version 2 of the Tap-A-Whirl design. Boutique American construction from Cusack Music. Suited for players who need comprehensive tap-tempo analog tremolo with multiple waveform options.
What stands out
“The analog audio path produces warm tremolo modulation while the digital tap tempo and waveform selection provide comprehensive control”
— from the listing
“Analog audio path ensures warm, organic tremolo modulation character”
— from the reviews
“The Tap-A-Whirl V2 delivers 24 analog tremolo waveforms with tap tempo in a boutique design that keeps the audio path fully analog while using digital control for waveform selection and tap tempo synchronization”
— from the community notes
“its standout weakness is the boutique pricing above simpler tap tempo tremolo alternatives”
— from the community notes
“The Cusack Music Tap-A-Whirl V2 is an analog tremolo pedal with built-in tap tempo, 24 preset waveforms, and optional stereo output”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“boutique american construction from cusack music”
— from the listing
“In the signal chain tremolo sits after drive and before reverb”
— from the community notes
- tremolo
- modulation
- digital
- organic
- warm
- stereo
- analog audio path
- tap tempo
Good for
- Live
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 is commonly used in
- Alternative Rock
- Indie
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Ambient
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Experimental
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Run Marshall Super Bass after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head
Vox
23% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans warm, Laney Richter answers back bright
Mesa Boogie Subway D-350
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie Subway D-350's bright balances out the warm tone
PRS DG
PRS
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run PRS DG after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Vox MV50 Brian May
Vox
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Vox MV50 Brian May's bright balances out the warm tone
Fuchs ODH
Fuchs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Fuchs ODH leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Soldano
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Pedals that stack with the Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea
EarthQuaker Devices
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Where this leans warm, EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea answers back bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Run Catalinbread Galileo after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Chase Bliss Automatone CXM 1978
Chase Bliss Audio
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Chase Bliss Automatone CXM 1978 after Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay
Boss
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Boss RV-3 Digital Reverb/Delay after Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Alchemy Audio HBE Detox EQ
Alchemy Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Alchemy Audio HBE Detox EQ's bright balances out the warm tone
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition's bright balances out the warm tone
Free The Tone ARC-53M Audio Routing Controller
Free The Tone
tonal matchFree The Tone ARC-53M Audio Routing Controller leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Friedman Gold-72 Wah
Friedman
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Friedman Gold-72 Wah goes in front of Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 — a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Cheaper alternatives
Red Witch Ivy
Red Witch
66% similarityShared character: tremolo, modulation, warm
Dreadbox Treminator
Dreadbox
62% similarityShared character: tremolo, modulation, alternative
Modtone Harmonic Tremor Pulsating Tremolo
Modtone
61% similarityShared character: tremolo, modulation, alternative
Carl Martin Surf Trem V3
Carl Martin
60% similarityShared character: tremolo, digital, modulation
Audiocade Stereo Pendulum Harmonic Panning Tremolo
Audiocade
59% similarityShared character: stereo, tremolo, modulation
MXR Tremolo M305
MXR
58% similarityShared character: features tap tempo, tremolo, modulation
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR M159 Stereo Tremolo
MXR
64% similarityShared character: stereo, tremolo, alternative
Chase Bliss Gravitas
Chase Bliss Audio
63% similarityShared character: features tap tempo, tremolo, digital
Source Audio Vertigo
Source Audio
57% similarityShared character: tremolo, modulation, overdrive
Bookworm Effects Laughing Man Optical Tremolo V3
Bookworm Effects
55% similarityShared character: tremolo, reverb
Walrus Audio Fundamental Series Tremolo
Walrus Audio
54% similarityShared character: tremolo, digital
Cusack Music Tap-A-Whirl V3
Cusack Music
99% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR M159 Stereo Tremolo, the Chase Bliss Gravitas, the Source Audio Vertigo. Budget picks: Red Witch Ivy, Dreadbox Treminator, Modtone Harmonic Tremor Pulsating Tremolo. Boutique upgrades: Carl Martin TremO'vibe.
What pairs well with the Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Super Bass, Vox AC15CH Custom 15W Head, Laney Richter — Run Marshall Super Bass after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright.
How much does the Cusack Music Tap A Whirl V2 cost?+
Around $249 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).