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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
 Posted - 04/03/2009 : 17:33:37
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So DeFrag & I are looking for a Univibe.
If you go on the gear page (mysteriously down for the last day or so) there are dozens of univibe threads.
I thought I�d start one of our own and see what everyone comes up with. Here are a list of great candidates.
Dunlop Uni-Vibe
Fulltone MDV-2
Fuzzbox Vibe Unit
Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe
Sweet Sound UltraVibe
KR Musical Products Megavibe
MJM Sixties Vibe Pedal
Fox Electronics AquaVibe
EDIT: also going to add this great list of additions.
There are more but these are some really good ones to get us started.
At the top of my list are the last three: Aquavibe, MJM 60�s Vibe and currently #1 is the KR Small Megavibe.
I really like the Aqua and Small MV b/c of the small footprint. The Aqua can use a Boss type plug for power but the Small MV cannot 12v I think.
All three, and many on this list, are clones of the original circuit. But from what I understand, there wasn't a lot of consistency with the units or repairs of the units so there is a bit of a sliding scale when it comes to nailing the exact tone of a vintage univibe.
Discuss�
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Edited by - zestystrat on 04/14/2009 01:03:22 |
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MullyFX
Gold Member
Germany
753 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2009 : 17:37:52
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out of these I'd go with the Fulltone MDV-2
I own a Micro Vibe myself though. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2009 : 18:06:09
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The Fulltone MDV-2 sits at the top of my list.
The Dunlop Uni-Vibe is the industry standard of the classic vibe sound as Dunlop holds the official license & uses the original circuitry. The Fulltone Mini-DejaVibe sports a unique Vintage/Modern switch & I believe its stereo capable.
The Fuzzbox Vibe Unit actually won the Guitar Player Magazine Uni-Vibe shootout http://www.fuzzbox.com/vibe_review.htm
The Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe sports an excellent feature-set & is the most configurable & versatile unit on the market today. It includes true-bypass or buffered outputs with the expression jack.
The Fox Electronics AquaVibe seemed absolutley lush to my ears & I very much love its construction with its old-school knobs & strong case. Fox says the I/O jacks are stereo for "uniform tension" whatever that means. It can either be balanced connections or true left/right. Clarification is requisite. Check out the gut shots on their page.
The Sweet Sound UltraVibe is currently out of production but sounds to be a player. I know little about the KR Musical Products Megavibe but it looks ok. The MJM Sixties Vibe Pedal looks alright too. Voodoo Labs makes a MicroVibe that's acceptable.
Here's a link for you that compares a few of the aforementioned units:
http://www.gear-vault.com/uni-vibe-inspired-effects-pedals/ |
Edited by - DeFrag on 04/03/2009 18:46:59 |
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 04/03/2009 : 19:08:06
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Interesting read.
The problem is in 11/08, when this was written, all of the above mentioned options were available. It seems a little incomplete since the ones listed are all very popular and with the exception of the RMVV all can be bought and auditioned at Guitar center.
There is a review of the MJM on http://www.gilmourish.com/?p=237
I also would suggest checking out the clips on the megavibe listed above - also on youtube. To me both have that very liquid sound.
The Aquavibe has a few trim pots to tweak a modern sound. I have heard some say it's too tweakable, too many options...if that is possible.
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Edited by - zestystrat on 04/03/2009 19:22:07 |
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Leeroyfunk
Silver Member
United Kingdom
400 Posts |
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zerksies
Double Platinum Member
USA
3406 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2009 : 01:40:38
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| i like the dunlop |
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Sixbladeknife
Bronze Member
69 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 10:18:12
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| The Danelectro Chicken Salad is an excellent sounding univibe clone on the cheap (despite its billing as a vibrato which its not), but has a flimsy build w/ terribly small knobs. However, it's very easily rehoused. A good friend of mine had a Sweetsound Mojo Vibe and sold it after he acquired the Chicken Salad, its that good sounding... |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 10:46:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Sixbladeknife
The Danelectro Chicken Salad is an excellent sounding univibe clone on the cheap (despite its billing as a vibrato which its not), but has a flimsy build w/ terribly small knobs. However, it's very easily rehoused. A good friend of mine had a Sweetsound Mojo Vibe and sold it after he acquired the Chicken Salad, its that good sounding...
I have to agree that Chicken salad sounds very good as a vibe-pedal, it�s impossible to believe that this plastic piece of �shit� can sound so good.
I have modded mine according to the mods suggested on various sites, adjusting the trim pot and add a piece of aluminium foil in the housing for the LED/photocells. The last one does less, the first one is really easy and makes most difference.
I also have the Cool Cat Vibe, this is also a good pedal with much higher build quality (metal and true bypass). But sound wise I think Chicken salad is more vibe-like.
As the Salad is not manufactured anymore get one when you have the chance, they�re often really cheap.
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The_Doc
Gold Member
United Kingdom
509 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2009 : 00:03:26
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I've just picked up a Chicken Salad for c. �15 and big thanks for the tip folks - it's much appreciated. I've been looking for another variation on the Univibe sound for a while. 
I've got a couple of others not mentioned here and I'll see how the compare:
Fulltone - Mini Deja Vibe (mono version) (altho' I guess that's close to the MDV-2?)
Moen - Shaky Jimi Vibrato
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MullyFX
Gold Member
Germany
753 Posts |
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jaymzHal
Silver Member
United Kingdom
297 Posts |
Posted - 04/12/2009 : 01:41:07
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| I might check out the chicken salad as well, thanks for the tip! |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2009 : 01:24:33
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Stay away from the Cool Cat Vibe. If the input to it is even moderately hot it will overload and sound terrible. The input buffer design seems to be right on the limit. The vibe itself is mundane.
Fortunately, I picked mine up really cheaply on sale so putting it into the "get rid of this sometime" pile was pretty easy.
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Edited by - Laurie on 04/14/2009 01:24:51 |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2009 : 09:27:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
Stay away from the Cool Cat Vibe. If the input to it is even moderately hot it will overload and sound terrible. The input buffer design seems to be right on the limit. The vibe itself is mundane.
Fortunately, I picked mine up really cheaply on sale so putting it into the "get rid of this sometime" pile was pretty easy.
I have to agree on this, Cool Cat Vibe overloads easy even if it�s first in the chain (recommended).
I prefer Chicken Salad (with the trim pot mod) much more than the Vibe, the sound is much better even if one doesn�t take the overload thing into account.
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zestystrat
Silver Member
USA
283 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2009 : 17:36:35
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I have basically decided.
I have my name on the lists for both the Aquavibe & the KR Small Megavibe...whichever comes up 1st, thats the one.
That said I think it's am 11 month wait for the AV and 12 weeks or more for the SMV. So looks like I'm getting a Small Megavibe.
Who knows, I may wind up picking up the AV too if I'm not thrilled with the SMV
I may pick up a Chicken Salad or Micro Vibe (if I find a deal) in the meantime.
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2009 : 04:17:44
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Just picked up a NOS Chicken Salad for $15. It's OK... Worth $15 for sure.
I guess I've just been spoiled by my Vibrolux reissue Fender. Nothing in a pedal that I've heard so far comes close to the tube vibe in the amp.
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2009 : 07:03:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Laurie
Just picked up a NOS Chicken Salad for $15. It's OK... Worth $15 for sure.
I guess I've just been spoiled by my Vibrolux reissue Fender. Nothing in a pedal that I've heard so far comes close to the tube vibe in the amp.
Search the internet for adjusting the trim pot, that makes a huge diffrence.
Here is one source:
http://www.regiscoyne.com/tech/CS_mods/ |
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Topic |
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The Ultimate Univibe Showdown Thread
