uni vibe or chorus?

yo man · June 5th, 2008, 04:13 PM

hey guys ;is there a huge difference between these two?saw someone playin one on"you tube"and thought...wonder if i can "kinda" get that sound from my boss chorus?or is this a stupid question ;having never owned a univibe.are they usful playin in a classic rock band?worth the investment?they're kinda pricey..ya know ? ..thanks!!

Radspin · June 5th, 2008, 09:01 PM

I have an old Boss CE-2 chorus pedal and it's a good, useful effect. That said, it doesn't come close to sounding like my Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe, which I think is outstanding. It really does that swooshy Trower and Hendrix "Machine Gun" sound really well, and I think it's a more musical-sounding effect than the CE-2, with much more personality. The Micro Vibe cost me $150 and was worth every penny to me. I know there are more expensive units out there, and I only compared the Micro Vibe to the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe, which I also liked (at almost twice the price).

biker joe · June 5th, 2008, 10:32 PM

I think there is a bunch of overlap between univibe, chorus, and phase 90 effects. Still, each has there niche, and I can't seem to give up on any one. I have a Chorus Ensmble, Deja 'Vibe, and Script Phase 90, and each one has their place. If I was to keep one, it would either be the vibe or the phase 90. Note, that I think the micro-vibe is close to the deja-vibe but the new dunlop box phase 90s are not anything like the old script ones (Except for the handwired one). My chorus has a vibe setting but if I want that trower/hendrix tone, it doesn't come close to the vibe. Likewise, I think I can get the vibe to sound like a phase 90, but if I really want to nail the EVH or Gilmore wish you were here tone, I need to have that script p90. Funny thing, I don't think the vibe or p90 can replicate the chorus all that well but I would still give up the chorus before the other two. I think I've contradicted myself too many times in this post. Basically I'm saying yes, I think you do need to add a vibe effect to go along with the chorus.

TeleBrew · June 6th, 2008, 12:12 AM

I used to have a Phase 90 and a chorus pedal, but got rid of them both when I got my Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe. I've found it much more useful than either of the latter pedals. But to each his own; there's something to be said for all three.

But I doubt I'll ever get another chorus pedal. It sounds artificial to me, where the Uni Vibe has a more organic sound, for lack of a better word. Or a warmer sound. To second bikerjoe, you won't be able to replicate a vibe w/a chorus, and vice-versa.

Phase 90 is its own animal, but is kind of useless beyond 12:00, as far as I'm concerned.

Jenix · June 6th, 2008, 12:19 AM

www.bossarea.com has settings for the chorus pedals to achieve certain affects.

JimiBryant · June 6th, 2008, 12:45 AM

each a different animal.. I quite like a bit of chorus on one amp in a
dual-amp setup and phasors are cool but kind of a one-trick pony
(speaking for myself) but a Univibe is my favorite! I like the Fulltone
and especially my prototype Micro-Vibe from Bob Sweet!

vanguard · June 6th, 2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeleBrew

Phase 90 is its own animal, but is kind of useless beyond 12:00, as far as I'm concerned.

it's funny you say that. i think the phase 90 is useless under 12:00. before 12, it's got the "cheese" factor. after , it sounds like a great leslie of sorts.

CLAZ · June 6th, 2008, 12:27 PM

simply to me...

vibe pedals are for the Hendrix-Trower type sounds fat swooshy hippy phase tones etc etc...

Phase 90 is for funk and outlaw country

chorus should be used for leslie speaker simulation only as it is the least amount of CHHEEESE to me....

I prefer modulation on delay instead for slowish contemperary sounds....

Claz

vanguard · June 6th, 2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CLAZ

simply to me...

vibe pedals are for the Hendrix-Trower type sounds fat swooshy hippy phase tones etc etc...

Phase 90 is for funk and outlaw country

chorus should be used for leslie speaker simulation only as it is the least amount of CHHEEESE to me....

I prefer modulation on delay instead for slowish contemperary sounds....

Claz

word. this is sound advice. delay and true pitch vibrato are the only modulation i really like. all the others seem to have some degree of cheesiness.

TeleBrew · June 6th, 2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanguard

it's funny you say that. i think the phase 90 is useless under 12:00. before 12, it's got the "cheese" factor. after , it sounds like a great leslie of sorts.

I always preferred the slow swoosh of the Phase 90 to the warbly stuff you get beyond 12:00. I found a much more useable range of tones with the Micro Vibe. As far as "cheese factor" I assume you're referring to the Van Halen-type of stuff? Yeah, it definitely nails that sound!

ramseybella · June 8th, 2008, 01:14 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/MOEN-SHAKY-JIMI-...QQcmdZViewItem

I can’t say enough about this Pedal from China, for the price it blows away Dunlop Univibe.
I pulled mine out tonight as I just bought a Fuzz Face clone on Ebay and put this pedal to the test together and I have to say Jimi and Early Trower to the T.
The sound clips speak for themselves.

epimetheus81 · June 8th, 2008, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramseybella

http://cgi.ebay.com/MOEN-SHAKY-JIMI-...QQcmdZViewItem

I can’t say enough about this Pedal from China, for the price it blows away Dunlop Univibe.
I pulled mine out tonight as I just bought a Fuzz Face clone on Ebay and put this pedal to the test together and I have to say Jimi and Early Trower to the T.
The sound clips speak for themselves.

The clips on this thing sound pretty good, and the price is certainly fair. I was considering a Micro Vibe, but I'd be interested if anyone else has had experience with it. The harmony-central reviews are pretty glowing.

ramseybella · June 9th, 2008, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epimetheus81

The clips on this thing sound pretty good, and the price is certainly fair. I was considering a Micro Vibe, but I'd be interested if anyone else has had experience with it. The harmony-central reviews are pretty glowing.

They have LED’s and sensors on the circuit board controlling the timing and they are wide open to light, I put black electrical tape around each LED and sensor to isolate stray light from interfering with each other as they are close together, and this proved to make this well built cheap little pedal sound perfect.
I just bought another used one for a back up.
I had a Voodoo lab Micro vibe once and I didn't like it I also own a Prescription Electronics Vibe Unit it is sweet although the Shaky Jimi does not come close to the Prescription Electronics, it to me sounds way better than the Dunlop or Voodoo Lab.

epimetheus81 · June 9th, 2008, 03:37 PM

I've seen a lot of mention of that mod. Is it difficult to do at all? I don't really have a lot of experience tinkering with the guts of my gear.

ramseybella · June 9th, 2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epimetheus81

I've seen a lot of mention of that mod. Is it difficult to do at all? I don't really have a lot of experience tinkering with the guts of my gear.

Not that hard just look at the issue and go for it.

epimetheus81 · June 10th, 2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramseybella

Not that hard just look at the issue and go for it.

Solid. I actually pulled the trigger on a reasonably priced microvibe today. One of these days, I'm going to get the cajones to start doing simple mods.

Tim Bowen · June 10th, 2008, 02:10 AM

I had a Dunlop Univibe with a foot speed controller for a while. It was really cool, but my material has never really supported the blues rock/Hendrix/Trower thing too heavily, so it found limited use and was ultimately sold. The Univibe sound is sort of complex and multi-dimensional; lots of swooshies, and with a dual amp rig, lots of movement is possible across the stereo field, if the vibe box has dual outs. For those seeking subtle modulation, it might tend to impose itself a bit much. For anyone that happens to have a phaser and a tremolo on board, a reasonably convincing "poor man's Univibe" can be obtained by combining the two and putzing around with the settings a bit.

As a guy that overused chorus pedals ad nauseum in the 80's, I'm well aware of the cheese factor that slow rate chorus circuits can impart. I use a slow rate chorus for, well, the choruses of one tune live, currently. I mostly use chorus pedals for faster rate fake Leslie approximations (and there's better choices than chorus pedals, it just happens to be what I use). Nonetheless, when a tune really screams for a slow chorus, nothing else will really do... not a trem, not a phaser, not a flanger (unless we're talking the beautiful shimmer of old Electro Harmonix boxes). Modulation is something that I mostly use sparingly anymore. My boards have space for one wiggler, either a trem or a chorus.

Big Lug · June 11th, 2008, 08:31 PM

I think it depends on how particular you are.

If I was recording and wanted a univibe sound I'd use a univibe. Likewise, if I was wanting a chorus sound I'd use one.

If I was in a prominent touring band I'd also use the real thing to get the sound I was after.

Having said that, in venues the majority of us play in--you know, bars--it is likely no one in the audience could care less if you used a chorus on, say, the lead solo on "Good Times Bad Times" rather then a leslie or univibe. I personally use a chorus--a Maxon CS505 modded with true bypass--for anything that calls for some form of modulation (well, it doesn't quite do the tremelo thing for me). Nonetheless, the single pedal works for me. No one has complained yet.

Just my humble opinion. Of course YMMV and I do respect that.

epimetheus81 · June 15th, 2008, 12:45 AM

I got the micro vibe today! Haven't had much time to play with it since it came late and i'm working on my last graded paper until my Exams and Dissertation (Whoo!). Right now my set up is dirt-chorus-flange-MV-trem-delay. We'll see if that changes or not. Think it should?

epimetheus81 · June 15th, 2008, 12:46 AM

Sidenote/Subquestion: Where's Yo Man and what'd he decide to do?

June 5th, 2008, 04:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
yo man TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: collingswood nj Age: 54 Posts: 27	uni vibe or chorus? hey guys ;is there a huge difference between these two?saw someone playin one on"you tube"and thought...wonder if i can "kinda" get that sound from my boss chorus?or is this a stupid question ;having never owned a univibe.are they usful playin in a classic rock band?worth the investment?they're kinda pricey..ya know ? ..thanks!!

June 6th, 2008, 12:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
TeleBrew Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kittredge, Colorado Age: 36 Posts: 878	I used to have a Phase 90 and a chorus pedal, but got rid of them both when I got my Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe. I've found it much more useful than either of the latter pedals. But to each his own; there's something to be said for all three. But I doubt I'll ever get another chorus pedal. It sounds artificial to me, where the Uni Vibe has a more organic sound, for lack of a better word. Or a warmer sound. To second bikerjoe, you won't be able to replicate a vibe w/a chorus, and vice-versa. Phase 90 is its own animal, but is kind of useless beyond 12:00, as far as I'm concerned. __________________ "Where do you fit in pthtttpt magazine?" - Pete Townshend

June 6th, 2008, 12:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jenix Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Illinois State University Age: 19 Posts: 303	www.bossarea.com has settings for the chorus pedals to achieve certain affects. __________________ USA Ovation * (Big Baby Taylor - SOLD) MIM Telecaster * Vox AC15CC Takamine Classical G series Martin 000C-16RGTE Aura Some people sing in the shower, I play guitar...

June 6th, 2008, 12:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
JimiBryant Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Chicago that toddlin' town Age: 46 Posts: 1,842	each a different animal.. I quite like a bit of chorus on one amp in a dual-amp setup and phasors are cool but kind of a one-trick pony (speaking for myself) but a Univibe is my favorite! I like the Fulltone and especially my prototype Micro-Vibe from Bob Sweet! __________________ *we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun.*

June 6th, 2008, 12:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
CLAZ Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 164	simply to me... vibe pedals are for the Hendrix-Trower type sounds fat swooshy hippy phase tones etc etc... Phase 90 is for funk and outlaw country chorus should be used for leslie speaker simulation only as it is the least amount of CHHEEESE to me.... I prefer modulation on delay instead for slowish contemperary sounds.... Claz __________________ C'mon

June 5th, 2008, 09:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Radspin Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: East Northport, NY Age: 53 Posts: 241	I have an old Boss CE-2 chorus pedal and it's a good, useful effect. That said, it doesn't come close to sounding like my Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe, which I think is outstanding. It really does that swooshy Trower and Hendrix "Machine Gun" sound really well, and I think it's a more musical-sounding effect than the CE-2, with much more personality. The Micro Vibe cost me $150 and was worth every penny to me. I know there are more expensive units out there, and I only compared the Micro Vibe to the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe, which I also liked (at almost twice the price).

June 5th, 2008, 10:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
biker joe Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 296	I think there is a bunch of overlap between univibe, chorus, and phase 90 effects. Still, each has there niche, and I can't seem to give up on any one. I have a Chorus Ensmble, Deja 'Vibe, and Script Phase 90, and each one has their place. If I was to keep one, it would either be the vibe or the phase 90. Note, that I think the micro-vibe is close to the deja-vibe but the new dunlop box phase 90s are not anything like the old script ones (Except for the handwired one). My chorus has a vibe setting but if I want that trower/hendrix tone, it doesn't come close to the vibe. Likewise, I think I can get the vibe to sound like a phase 90, but if I really want to nail the EVH or Gilmore wish you were here tone, I need to have that script p90. Funny thing, I don't think the vibe or p90 can replicate the chorus all that well but I would still give up the chorus before the other two. I think I've contradicted myself too many times in this post. Basically I'm saying yes, I think you do need to add a vibe effect to go along with the chorus.

June 8th, 2008, 01:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
ramseybella Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Santa Fe New Mexico Posts: 1,044 48 Photos	http://cgi.ebay.com/MOEN-SHAKY-JIMI-...QQcmdZViewItem I can’t say enough about this Pedal from China, for the price it blows away Dunlop Univibe. I pulled mine out tonight as I just bought a Fuzz Face clone on Ebay and put this pedal to the test together and I have to say Jimi and Early Trower to the T. The sound clips speak for themselves. Last edited by ramseybella; June 8th, 2008 at 07:56 AM.

June 9th, 2008, 03:37 PM	#14 (permalink)
epimetheus81 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, Il Age: 27 Posts: 76	I've seen a lot of mention of that mod. Is it difficult to do at all? I don't really have a lot of experience tinkering with the guts of my gear.

June 10th, 2008, 02:10 AM	#17 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 48 Posts: 3,319	I had a Dunlop Univibe with a foot speed controller for a while. It was really cool, but my material has never really supported the blues rock/Hendrix/Trower thing too heavily, so it found limited use and was ultimately sold. The Univibe sound is sort of complex and multi-dimensional; lots of swooshies, and with a dual amp rig, lots of movement is possible across the stereo field, if the vibe box has dual outs. For those seeking subtle modulation, it might tend to impose itself a bit much. For anyone that happens to have a phaser and a tremolo on board, a reasonably convincing "poor man's Univibe" can be obtained by combining the two and putzing around with the settings a bit. As a guy that overused chorus pedals ad nauseum in the 80's, I'm well aware of the cheese factor that slow rate chorus circuits can impart. I use a slow rate chorus for, well, the choruses of one tune live, currently. I mostly use chorus pedals for faster rate fake Leslie approximations (and there's better choices than chorus pedals, it just happens to be what I use). Nonetheless, when a tune really screams for a slow chorus, nothing else will really do... not a trem, not a phaser, not a flanger (unless we're talking the beautiful shimmer of old Electro Harmonix boxes). Modulation is something that I mostly use sparingly anymore. My boards have space for one wiggler, either a trem or a chorus. __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

June 11th, 2008, 08:31 PM	#18 (permalink)
Big Lug Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lower Mainland, the Great White North Posts: 617	univibe or chorus? I think it depends on how particular you are. If I was recording and wanted a univibe sound I'd use a univibe. Likewise, if I was wanting a chorus sound I'd use one. If I was in a prominent touring band I'd also use the real thing to get the sound I was after. Having said that, in venues the majority of us play in--you know, bars--it is likely no one in the audience could care less if you used a chorus on, say, the lead solo on "Good Times Bad Times" rather then a leslie or univibe. I personally use a chorus--a Maxon CS505 modded with true bypass--for anything that calls for some form of modulation (well, it doesn't quite do the tremelo thing for me). Nonetheless, the single pedal works for me. No one has complained yet. Just my humble opinion. Of course YMMV and I do respect that. __________________ "Set my compass North I've got winter in my blood." Robbie Robertson

June 15th, 2008, 12:45 AM	#19 (permalink)
epimetheus81 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, Il Age: 27 Posts: 76	I got the micro vibe today! Haven't had much time to play with it since it came late and i'm working on my last graded paper until my Exams and Dissertation (Whoo!). Right now my set up is dirt-chorus-flange-MV-trem-delay. We'll see if that changes or not. Think it should?

June 15th, 2008, 12:46 AM	#20 (permalink)
epimetheus81 TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago, Il Age: 27 Posts: 76	Sidenote/Subquestion: Where's Yo Man and what'd he decide to do?