UNI VIBEZ

[popvulture]

Hellos--

I've kinda stayed away from Univibes for years, basically because Hendrix is great, but sounding like him is not. (IMO)

That said, lately I've been wanting a bit of what they can offer--I particularly like the slow warbly sound, and I'm into the idea of being able to control it with an exp pedal when needed.

I have a WVMKII and a Retro-Sonic Chorus, both of which can sorta get into that territory--obviously both insanely great pedals, but not exactly what I'm looking for this time.

I played a Fulltone MDV-3 and thought it was pretty cool--I especially liked the chewy sounds I could get with the Chorus. The fact that it's in an exp housing = big bonus. Not sure it's the one though.

What else should I check out? A friend of mine had an Auralux King Trem, but those things seem to be pretty scarce. This is one area where I don't have much experience, so suggest away.

Thanx!!!

[Chankgeez]

Don't really have much experience with the UniVibes and the only one I've played recently was the Black Cat (which sounded really excellent).

Worth a listen.

[popvulture]

That sounds and looks pretty great... need to see if I can try one out somewhere

[popvulture]

See, this is the same sort of thing that I was getting out of the MDV (which also brags about using an authentic circuit), that chewiness in the Chorus setting. It sounds much more like phase. This is really what's always been a bit mystifying about the whole univibe concept for me.

I mean... It's not exactly a mystery. The chorus just sounds like phase. But still. Aliens.

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, the chorus in a Uni-Vibe is actually more closely related to a phaser.

[Ugly Nora]

I have a Castledine Supra Vibe which I like. A lot of internet "experts" consider this one of the more authentic sounding ones out there, so you can have bragging rights over at TGP if that turns you on. Like Chankgeez, I don't have much experience with UniVibes, so I only know that I enjoy it, and not how well it compares to others.

It does have expression control, but you either need to buy their proprietary controller (which is like $200 with the exchange rate), or I believe he can tell you how to make your own/modify an existing expression pedal if you want. Here is 2 short videos I made using it:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n5gD_azVw0[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DShVTWSmv8[/youtube]


I also have a DLS Versa Vibe which is pretty cool too but I believe it is more of its own thing, as opposed to trying to sound exactly like a UniVibe. It has a "Bass Throb" knob which is pretty cool to bring the throbiness. I saw one for sale on Reverb. Here is a silly video I made that features it:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkzGDJgbK5U[/youtube]

[popvulture]

Excellent! Thank you!

[echorec]

I've got no interest in doing the Hendrix/Trower/SRV thing either, but I like psychedelic sounds and pulsing, slow-creeping throb for string synths and desktop devices.

To me the coolest pedals in this area are the Aquavibe, Dawner Prince Viberator, and the Bearfoot FX Mini Vibe.

Aquavibe: $240 new with discount code, has exp jack + internal trim pots (seldom available used)
Viberator: $240 new with discount code, has exp jack (seldom available used)
Beaftoot Mini Vibe (standard and slow models): $265 street, but some dealers allow for discount codes. has no exp jack (used they can go as low as $170-200)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNzRAMa6fuY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypcxHoaQmmM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZggW1QstGI

[Casavettes]

Tractor beam has a cool univibe setting

[stratobuc]

The MJM Sixties Vibe is an excellent choice for the classic Univibe tone. It gets as close to an original as any I've heard. Foxroxx Aquavibe is also very good, and board friendly at 9v and small footprint. It gets an authentic tone, but doesn't nail it like the Sixties Vibe does. There are so many vibe choices now. I just ordered a Mojo Beam from VFE, we'll see if that can do the job.

[Pepe]

The best UniVibe sound that I have come across is that of the Hotone ROTO. I didn't like the Rocktron Vertigo Vibe (I had two of them with 10 years between the two purchases and both times I sold it again quickly afterwards) and the UniVibe mode in the BOSS RT-20 is not that good that I would play this mode regularly. But the ROTO really nails the sound that I like - and it also works great with an organ! Look/hear here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKKoUCmmNhs[/youtube]

[oldangelmidnight]

Does Earthquaker Depths do univibe?

[popvulture]

Does Earthquaker Depths do univibe?

I wanna say yes, but if not that one, I'm pretty sure one of their pedals covers Uni tones.

[popvulture]

Awesome suggestions, y'all—thanks a ton. I need to get out and play a couple, but based on the videos, the ones that caught my attention the most were the Black Cat and the Dawner Prince. Luckily a shop in Austin carries both, so I can go A/B.

[Tristan]

Just in case you didn't find it yet, we had a topic about this a while back which might have some useful info:
viewtopic.php?f=149&t=41113