The Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo is a Dunlop tremolo pedal. Close alternatives include the Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo and the Mooer Trelicopter. It pairs well with the Marshall Super Bass and the 1976 Marshall 1959 Super Lead.
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop · pedal
The Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo is a vintage reissue tremolo pedal from Dunlop, recreating the optical tremolo circuit of the classic blue Univox Hi-Flier tremolo from the late 1960s. Optical tremolo circuits use an LDR (light-dependent resistor) for smooth, natural amplitude modulation with the rounded waveform character associated with vintage optical tremolo pedals. The Blue Hippo was a limited-production Dunlop reissue.
What stands out
“The Blue Hippo delivers vintage optical tremolo character inspired by the classic Univox Hi-Flier tremolo circuit, providing smooth, natural LDR amplitude modulation for players who want vintage optical tremolo warmth with Dunlop's reliabil…”
— from the community notes
“Use-case wise it suits players who want smooth vintage optical tremolo for surf, country, psychedelic, and classic rock”
— from the community notes
“The Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo is a vintage reissue tremolo pedal from Dunlop, recreating the optical tremolo circuit of the classic blue Univox Hi-Flier tremolo from the late 1960s”
— from the listing
“Optical tremolo circuits use an LDR (light-dependent resistor) for smooth, natural amplitude modulation with the rounded waveform character associated with vintage optical tremolo pedals”
— from the listing
“Strengths: Optical LDR tremolo circuit delivers smooth, rounded amplitude modulation associated with vintage optical tremolo character”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“In the signal chain tremolo sits after drive and before reverb”
— from the community notes
“The Blue Hippo was a limited-production Dunlop reissue”
— from the listing
- optical tremolo
- vintage
- smooth
- classic rock
- modulation
- warmth
- rounded waveform character
- optical
Genres the Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Country
Amps that pair well with the Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
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)
Marshall Super Bass's bright balances out the warm tone
Comes later in the signal chain
1976 Marshall 1959 Super Lead
Marshall
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, 1976 Marshall 1959 Super Lead answers back bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Laney Richter leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Mesa Boogie Subway D-350
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Mesa Boogie Subway D-350 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
PRS DG
PRS
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
PRS DG's bright balances out the warm tone
Vox MV50 Brian May
Vox
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Vox MV50 Brian May after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Fuchs ODH
Fuchs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans warm, Fuchs ODH answers back bright
Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Soldano
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo's bright balances out the warm tone
Pedals that stack with the Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Tech 21 SansAmp
Tech 21
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 Tech 21 SansAmp after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea
EarthQuaker Devices
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)
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Chase Bliss Automatone CXM 1978
Chase Bliss Audio
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Chase Bliss Automatone CXM 1978's pristine voice goes after Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo's own smooth character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb Pedal
pedal
14% 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 Neunaber Wet Mono Reverb Pedal after Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo — 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
Run Alchemy Audio HBE Detox EQ after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition
California Wub
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Run CALIFORNIA WUB Continuum EQ Galaxy Man Edition after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Free The Tone ARC-53M Audio Routing Controller
Free The Tone
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Free The Tone ARC-53M Audio Routing Controller answers back bright
Friedman Gold-72 Wah
Friedman
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Friedman Gold-72 Wah in front of Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo: a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo
Dophix
70% similarityShared character: modulation, warm, smooth
Mooer Trelicopter
Mooer
67% similarityShared character: modulation, smooth, vintage charm
BBE Tremor V2
Bbe
66% similarityShared character: live performances, smooth, reverb
J. Rockett Mr Moto
J Rockett
66% similarityShared character: modulation, smooth, vintage charm
Foxgear Pedals Knee Trembler Guy Pratt Signature
Foxgear
65% similarityShared character: modulation, smooth, classic rock
Red Witch Seven Sisters Eve Tremolo
Red Witch
64% similarityShared character: smooth, vintage charm, classic rock
Carl Martin Surf Trem V3
Carl Martin
62% similarityShared character: modulation, smooth, reverb
Artec SE-VTM Vintage Tremolo
Artec
62% similarityShared character: modulation, smooth, reverb
ThorpyFX Deep Oggin V2 Chorus/Vibrato
ThorpyFX
62% similarityShared character: warm, vintage charm, overdrive
Hot Box Pedals Tremolous Optical Tremolo
Hot Box Pedals
61% similarityShared character: modulation, smooth, overdrive
Arcade Audio Cheat Code
Arcade Audio
61% similarityShared character: modulation, smooth, reverb
Mad Professor Mellow Yellow Tremolo
Mad Professor
60% similarityShared character: smooth, vintage charm, overdrive
See all alternatives to the Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo?+
The closest matches in character are the Dophix Galileo Optical Tremolo, the Mooer Trelicopter, the BBE Tremor V2.
What pairs well with the Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Super Bass, 1976 Marshall 1959 Super Lead, Laney Richter — Marshall Super Bass's bright balances out the warm tone.