Pedal of the Week: Valco Five-O – Surf in a Box, or the Ultimate All-in-One Gig Rig?
The Valco Five-O combines independent "Brown Sound" overdrive, 4-wave analog tremolo, and spring-style reverb into one retro powerhouse.
Can we look past the surf rock cliches for a minute?
Yes, the Valco Five-O was conceived to give you that dripping, ocean-spray "surf in a box" tone (the name alone practically plays the Hawaii Five-O theme song). But writing this pedal off as a one-trick pony for Dick Dale enthusiasts would be a massive mistake. Brought to life by the retro-revivalists at Eastwood Guitars, this massive, Lovetone-inspired wedge houses an independent Overdrive, Tremolo, and Reverb.
Whether you’re looking to simplify your gigging board into a single enclosure or want to add a retro-flavored powerhouse to your current rig, the Valco Five-O demands your attention. Let's dive into what makes it tick.
The Breakdown: Three Classic Circuits in One
The layout is refreshingly simple. There are no menus to dive into or screens to squint at—just top-mounted jacks (perfect for pedalboards, though you might want right-angle cables) and three distinct sections.
I'm a total luddite and hate menus, screens, and anything I have to program, and so the simple one-knob-per-function is right up my street with this pedal. Having worked in tech and recording studios for many years, I can do programming, but in all honesty, I would much rather avoid it and get on with making music, so this is one of the key strengths of this stompbox for me.
1. The Drive: Plexi Power
Don't let the surf branding fool you; this is a feisty, "Brown Sound" style overdrive. Based on the Valco BloodBuzz (which draws inspiration from the legendary Lovetone Brown Source), it delivers a seriously satisfying, amp-like Plexi crunch.
- The Magic: The Tone control is highly interactive. Neutral at 12 o'clock, turning it clockwise rolls off bass for biting rhythm tones, while rolling it back tames the treble. Honestly, this circuit is good enough to be a standalone pedal.
2. The Tremolo: Bouncy and Versatile
Based on the Fulltone SupaTrem circuit, this analog tremolo is not for the faint of heart. It doesn't do "subtle" very well—it bounces like a basketball even with the Depth at 9 o'clock.
- The Magic: The 4-way rotary switch. You get Sine (smooth), Triangle, Square, and a unique "Short Square" (longer 'down' than 'up' sections for incredibly staccato, helicopter-style chops).
3. The Reverb: Splash and Drip
A digital emulation with an analog heart, this section gives you a spring-voiced core with a dash of plate thrown in. It splashes and shakes beautifully, nailing that 60s riot sound.
- The Magic: The PRE button. This is the Five-O's secret weapon. Pressing this amber-lit switch routes the Reverb to the front of your signal chain (Reverb -> Drive -> Tremolo). Hitting an overdriven amp with a washed-out reverb tail unlocks massive shoegaze textures and soaring, saturated lead tones.
Suggested Settings
Ready to plug in? Try these starting points to unlock the Five-O's potential:
The Waikiki Wipeout (Classic Surf)
- Drive: Off (or Vol unity, Drive 0, Tone 12 o'clock for a clean boost)
- Tremolo: Shape: Sine | Rate: 11 o'clock | Depth: 10 o'clock
- Reverb: PRE: Off | Size: 3 o'clock | Tone: 2 o'clock | Blend: 2 o'clock
The Brown Sound Bruiser (70s Rock)
- Drive: Vol: Unity | Drive: 3 o'clock | Tone: 1 o'clock (roll off a little bass)
- Tremolo: Off
- Reverb: PRE: Off | Size: 9 o'clock | Tone: 12 o'clock | Blend: 9 o'clock (just a touch of space)
The Shoegaze Wall of Sound (Ambient/Experimental)
- Drive: Vol: Unity | Drive: 1 o'clock | Tone: 11 o'clock
- Tremolo: Shape: Triangle | Rate: 9 o'clock | Depth: 12 o'clock
- Reverb: PRE: ON | Size: Max | Tone: 10 o'clock | Blend: 1 o'clock
The Verdict
The Valco Five-O is much more than the sum of its parts, thanks largely to excellent core circuits and the wildly inspiring "Pre" routing switch. However, it requires a commitment: it demands a lot of pedalboard real estate, and you have to be aware of its quirks.
I really love this pedal; however, it is really large, which might be an issue for some people. Bonus points for running off either a single 9-volt battery or a power supply, which means it can be my standalone one-pedal does all solution if needed.
If you like surf rock, psychobilly, shoegaze, ambient, or lo-fi, you need to check out this pedal. It'll do a whole lot more than those, of course, but they are where my tastes lean when using this effect unit.
Guitar Bomb Score - 5/5 (or 4.5/5 if you aren't a fan of huge stompboxes)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Incredible standalone overdrive tones. | Massive footprint (200 x 180 x 87mm). |
| The "PRE" switch unlocks massive ambient and shoegaze potential. | No master volume for the Reverb (high Blend settings can cause a perceived volume drop). |
| Excellent 4-wave tremolo versatility. | Combining heavy tremolo and reverb can cause an audible volume dip. |
| Top-mounted jacks and robust, analog-grounded construction. | At this price, you really need to want all three effects. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Valco Five-O true bypass?
Yes, it features independent true bypass footswitches for each of the three effects.
How is the pedal powered?
It takes a standard 9V center-negative power supply, or you can use a 9V battery. Accessing the battery is incredibly cool—you just grab a footswitch and flip the entire top cover open like a vintage sports car hood.
Why does my volume drop when I turn the Reverb up?
The Reverb section has a Wet/Dry Blend control rather than an output level knob. As you turn the blend up past noon, you are introducing more of the "wet" signal and effectively dialing back your dry signal, which can sound like a volume drop. This is especially noticeable if you stack it with deep tremolo settings.
What exactly does the 'PRE' button do?
Normally, standard pedal order dictates Drive -> Tremolo -> Reverb. The 'PRE' button flips this, placing the Reverb at the very start of the pedal's internal chain. Sending a long reverb trail into a distortion circuit creates a massive, explosive, and highly compressed wall of sound.
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