The EarthQuaker Hummingbird is a tremolo that takes its sawtooth-wave chop from vintage “repeat percussion” circuits. These are the kind that were built into old Valco and Vox amps. Most temolos today use a smooth sine wave.
The sawtooth gives it a sharper, more percussive character across a wide speed range, from classic shimmering pulse to a synth-like chop and on into near ring-modulator territory.
It delivers everything from a classic 50s tremolo to a synthy, delay-like chop. Push it a bit more and you are nearly in ring mod territory.
A Different Kind of Tremolo
Most modern tremolo pedals use a smooth sine wave.
The Hummingbird uses a sawtooth wave instead, giving it a sharper, choppier character reminiscent of vintage amp-built-in “repeat percussion” circuits rather than a standard modern trem.
At slower speeds you get that classic, shimmering vintage pulse, but wind the Rate up and it moves through a synth-like, delay-adjacent chop. Push it further and it edges into territory that starts to resemble ring mod.
Combined with multiple speed ranges and an expression input for real-time control, it covers considerably more ground than a typical single-voice tremolo.
Key Features
- Sawtooth-wave repeat percussion tremolo, inspired by vintage Valco and Vox circuits
- Multiple speed ranges, covering classic vintage shimmer through to ultra-fast and choppy
- Flexi-Switch footswitch: standard latching or momentary operation
- Expression pedal input for real-time rate control
- Top-mounted jacks (new in V4)
- Silent soft-touch switching, eliminating pops and clicks
Controls
- Depth: sets the intensity of the tremolo effect
- Rate: sets the speed of the tremolo, across ranges selecteable by the mode switch
- Mode: Switch: Modes 1 (slow), 2 (mid-tempo) or 3 (fast)
- Expression input: allows real-time control of Rate via an expression pedal
- Flexi-Switch footswitch: tap for standard latching on/off; hold for momentary operation
Power
Runs on a standard 9V DC centre-negative supply. Current draw 18mA
Who Is This For
Worth a look if you want a tremolo with real character rather than a smooth, generic sine-wave pulse . It’s particularly good layered with fuzz or octave pedals for percussive, textured tones.
Watch The EarthQuaker Hummingbird It Action
FAQs
It’s a choppy, sawtooth-wave repeat percussion tremolo, modelled on vintage Valco and Vox-style circuits, covering everything from classic ’50s shimmer to near ring-modulator speeds.
A standard 9V DC centre-negative supply and requires 18mA. almost any decent power supply will delivery this
We’re confirming this detail and will update this answer shortly.
Top-mounted jacks and additional speed range options, over V2’s side jacks and two-speed range. The Flexi-Switch footswitch also gives both latching and momentary operation.
Yes, it has an expression input for controlling the tremolo’s rate in real time.
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