Robin – please clarify which specific control you are using when you “turned wide open”. (Are you referring to the “BLevel” control?)  And, are you using a “Gain” control or the “GTrim” option in this build? (It is noted in the build document NOT to use both the Gain pot AND the GTrim trimpot.)

Robin – considering Wilkie1’s response and a closer examination of the schematic, it appears that as Apollo Tremolo is designed, “unity gain” is its achieved standards. So, to directly answer your initial question, (and in concurrence with Wilkie1), “Yes – the circuit is designed to reach unity gain as a max.” The Apollo Tremolo is in no way a boost pedal; nor was it designed to “boost” the signal. To summarize, it sounds like your build is behaving as intended. Good job!

You are hearing the benefits of the buffered signal so you can hear that noticeable enhancement by using the Apollo Tremolo kill switch for your effect bypass. This is why keeping the pedal on all of the time and instead bypass the tremolo using the Kill Switch can be so beneficial. This is also why we did not adjust the GAIN of the buffer keeping your buffered signal the same as everything else so you may use it all of the time. It is not considered a boost of volume but a boost of great tone if you will which will actually vary greatly depending on how many feet of cable, quality of cable and the number of true bypass guitar pedals you use between your guitar and amp.