The Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo is an Electro-Harmonix tremolo pedal. Close alternatives include the MXR Tremolo M305 and the One Control Tiger Lily Tremolo. It pairs well with the Hiwatt Custom DR20H and the Boss BD-2 Blues Driver.

Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo

Electro-Harmonix · pedal

The Electro-Harmonix Pulsar is a variable-speed tremolo pedal from Electro-Harmonix, delivering optical-style amplitude modulation tremolo with Rate, Depth, and Shape controls. The Shape control selects between different tremolo waveforms from smooth sine wave to sharp square wave chopping. The Pulsar provides studio-quality tremolo with a wide Rate range from gentle slow pulse through fast, machine-gun tremolo chop.

What stands out

  • “The Pulsar delivers variable-speed tremolo with waveform shape control for smooth sine through square-wave chopping, suited for classic rock, country, surf, and psychedelic players who want tremolo with waveform flexibility at EHX quality”

    — from the community notes

  • “The Shape control selects between different tremolo waveforms from smooth sine wave to sharp square wave chopping”

    — from the listing

  • “The Pulsar provides studio-quality tremolo with a wide Rate range from gentle slow pulse through fast, machine-gun tremolo chop”

    — from the listing

  • “Use-case wise it suits players who want adjustable-wave tremolo for a range of tremolo effects”

    — from the community notes

  • “Its standout strength is the variable waveform Shape control extending the tremolo range from sine through square wave”

    — from the community notes

Trade-offs

  • “In the signal chain tremolo sits after drive and before reverb”

    — from the community notes

  • tremolo
  • smooth
  • classic rock
  • studio
  • psychedelic
  • country
  • optical
  • surf

Genres the Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo is commonly used in

  • Classic Rock
  • Country
  • Indie
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Americana
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Blues
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo

Hiwatt Custom DR20H

Hiwatt

9% match

Hiwatt Custom DR20H's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes later in the signal chain

Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

Boss

7% match
$99.99via Reverb

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver's own full character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Catalinbread Giygas

Catalinbread

7% match
$185.11via Reverb

What Catalinbread Giygas brings here leans toward octave — that's worth building a pairing around

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Maxon AD-9 Pro Analog Delay

Maxon

5% match
$349via Reverb

Put Maxon AD-9 Pro Analog Delay after Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Meris LVX Delay

Meris

5% match

Keep Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo's smooth voice out front: Meris LVX Delay goes after Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed 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

Alternativessee all similar tone character →

MXR Tremolo M305

MXR

61% similarity
$178.90via Reverb

Shared character: features tap tempo, tremolo, smooth

One Control Tiger Lily Tremolo

One Control

59% similarity
$121.98via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, smooth, classic rock

KHART EFFECTS Tachpulse Tremolo

Khart Effects

59% similarity

Shared character: tremolo, smooth, overdrive

MayFly Audio Terrain Tremolo

Mayfly Audio

58% similarity
$149.16via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, smooth, overdrive

Lovepedal Babyface tremolo

Lovepedal

58% similarity
$79.99via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, smooth, overdrive

NativeAudio Rising Sun Tremolo

Nativeaudio

58% similarity
$225via Reverb

Shared character: features tap tempo, tremolo, classic rock

Cusack Music Tap-a-Whirl V4

Cusack Music

57% similarity
$300via Reverb

Shared character: features tap tempo, tremolo, reverb

MXR 305 Tremolo

MXR

56% similarity
$178.90via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, smooth, classic rock

Bookworm Effects Laughing Man Optical Tremolo V3

Bookworm Effects

56% similarity

Shared character: tremolo, reverb

Mooer Varimolo

Mooer

56% similarity
$57.05via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, smooth, overdrive

EarthQuaker Devices Hummingbird Repeat Percussions V3

EarthQuaker Devices

56% similarity
$179via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, classic rock

Universal Audio Flow Tremolo

Universal Audio

55% similarity
$114.67via Reverb

Shared character: tremolo, smooth, reverb

See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo?+

The closest matches in character are the MXR Tremolo M305, the One Control Tiger Lily Tremolo, the KHART EFFECTS Tachpulse Tremolo.

What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Pulsar Variable Speed Tremolo?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Hiwatt Custom DR20H, Boss BD-2 Blues Driver, Catalinbread Giygas — Hiwatt Custom DR20H's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying.

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