Uni-Vibe

Shin-ei Uni-Vibe (c.1968)
once owned by Jimi Hendrix
(exhibited at Experience Music Project)

The Uni-Vibe (or UniVibe) is a footpedal-operated phaser or phase shifter for creating chorus and vibrato simulations for electric organ or guitar. It was introduced in the 1960s by Shin-ei, and was intended to emulate the "Doppler sound" of a Leslie speaker. Though not a very successful Leslie simulator, the Uni-Vibe has become an effect in its own right, putting its stamp on tracks like Robin Trower's "Bridge of Sighs", Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun" and Pink Floyd's "Breathe". The effect, though often associated with chorus, is in fact created through a staggered series of phasing filters, unlike the usually aligned filters of a normal phasing effect. Unlike most other phaser pedals, this is achieved without the use of op-amps.

rack mount modified Uni-Vibe (right mid) on David Gilmour's effects rack.
(exhibited at Expo Pink Floyd)

The Shin-ei Uni-Vibe was also sold as a Univox product.

"Uni-Vibe" is now a registered trademark of Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc..

Notable users of the Uni-Vibe are Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Trey Anastasio and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.

External links

• Technology of the Univibe