Chase Bliss Audio Gravitas Analog Tremolo

The last few months have been busy for Joel and the crew at Chase Bliss Audio. After releasing brand new versions of their staple pedals the Warped Vinyl and the Wombtone, they’ve now released a THIRD pedal in almost as many weeks, and it will shatter your expectations once again. Keeping with the theme of “best modulation gear on the planet”, we present you with the Gravitas Analog Tremolo.

As with the other Chase Bliss pedals, saying it’s daunting is merely a formality when opening the accompanying wooden box the Gravitas arrives in. The layout is the same as on the other 2 pedals, just with a couple different names to go with some of the knobs and switches. The Drive (Ramp) knob works like it does on the Warped Vinyl and Wombtone, acting as a drive control, but also working in conjunction with the external ramp dip switches on the top of the pedal, for an endless array of sonic textures. This knob also works together with the Volume control, which should be adjusted according to the level of the Drive, so the proper output levels are achieved. Tone is your basic EQ knob, but with a big, fat range. When centered, the EQ is flat and transparent, allowing your guitar’s tone to shine through. To the left, the low end becomes more present, creating dark and brooding textures; to the right, the high end is increased, making the tremolo brighter, sharper and a bit more crisp.

The Rate control is simply a speed knob, which can be set manually or with the Tap Tempo foot switch, key for improv and spontaneity during live performances. The first small switch on the Gravitas is the 1-2-4 (3-6-8) toggle, which plays a few different roles. In normal mode, this switch controls the tap divisions for the tremolo effect, but once you start flipping those dip switches, that’s where the fun really comes into play. Engaging the “Mode” switch allows you to alternate between a standard tremolo or a harmonic tremolo, or if you want to get really creative, switch to Both and see what sounds you can produce.

Up next, Depth controls the intensity of the effect, from slight to bold and powerful, while the Sway knob adjusts the overall waveform, going either up gradually and down quickly, or vice versa. The two toggle switches underneath these two knobs control the first and second stages of the wave modulation, respectively. Sine, Triangle and Square are the selectable waveforms available, and with 3 choices for each half of the wave, the possibilities of combinations are vast. There’s also a small toggle on the bottom between the two footswitches that allows you to recall your two favorite presets, depending on which position you place it.

Add to this a Tap/MIDI TRS jack, plus an Expression/CV jack, and you’ve got one of the most customizable and versatile tremolos that has ever been created. Built with the highest-quality standards and an amazing attention to detail, this all-analog signal path trem holds hours and hours of experimentation and sonic exploration inside it’s sophisticated and classy-looking gray enclosure. Once again, Joel and everyone at Chase Bliss Audio has come up with a truly innovative and ground-breaking pedal to wow us all, and set the bar for all future pedal builders to aspire to. Thanks to them for sending this awesome machine over for us to test out, we are already on the edge of our seats waiting to see what they’ve got in the works for us next!