That second life ended in 2021. On 29 June 2021, Shin-ei announced via Instagram that it would cease production of every pedal in its catalog, including the Uni-Vibe and Vibe-Bro, effective immediately, with remaining stock sold through its dealer network and website2.
Shin-ei ended pedal production in June 2021. Its website store pages have continued to list remaining stock, and as of 25 October 2026 the 1960's Uni-Vibe Vintage Speed Control Foot Pedal was shown as back in stock and shipping at $498.004.
The story: from Honey to Shin-Ei
The original company began as Honey, which soon became Shin-Ei, and by 1968 Shin-Ei was the dominant Japanese pedal maker of its day1. Its vintage output included the fuzzes that players still chase today: Coda Effects notes of the Companion Fuzz that "the original is of course not produced any more (and reaches crazy prices on ebay)," and the same is true of the Univox Super Fuzz, whose production was stopped6.
The Jesus and Mary Chain's William Reid is a noted user of original Shin-Ei pedals. In a 2019 interview he described the realities of keeping them working7:
"Since then, we've got people to open them up, make them more solid inside, and fix whatever makes them vulnerable."
He also said the band had people open the pedals up to make them more solid inside7.
The revival under Bob Feldman
The modern Shin-ei was a Texan brand owned by Bob Feldman, who signed the 2021 closing announcement2. Its business was reproducing the original circuits: the Vibe-2 Speed Control Foot Pedal is "an exact reproduction of the vintage 'Double Rubber' style foot controllers that came with the first year Uni-Vibe" models made in 19688, and the Vibe-2 itself accommodates that optional vintage-style speed control pedal9. One of the very last pedals out of the shop was a special Vibe-Bro built for Joe Bonamassa, with a picture of him on the cover2.
Prices from the Shin-ei store, as listed on 25 October 2026:
| Product | Price (US) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe-Bro (U.S. 120V-only version) | $1,295.00 | Chorus-vibrato pedal10 |
| 1960's Uni-Vibe Vintage Speed Control Foot Pedal | $498.00 | Back in stock as of 25 October 20264 |
| Vibe-2 | $298.00 | Accepts optional Vibe-2 Speed Control Foot Pedal910 |
What Shin-ei is known for: reproductions and the Astron brand
The revived company's catalog centerd on faithful reproductions. Its offerings included:
- The revival of the iconic vintage Astron brand alongside its Shin-ei reproductions11.
- The Vibe-Bro reissue, used by players including Kenny Wayne-Shepherd and Eric Johnson12.
- The Not So B1G 1 Pre Amp Gain Booster, covered by a two-year warranty from Shin-ei LLC5.
- The vintage Shin-ei designs themselves: Feldman acquired the trademarks of the vintage Japanese brand in 2016 and revived many of its classic designs.
Related pages on this site cover the Shin-ei/Univox Uni-Vibe, the Shin-ei Vibe-Bro, the Shin-ei Vibe-2, and the Shin-ei Astron FY-6 Super Fuzz.
Support and warranty
Shin-ei LLC offered a two-year warranty on the Not So B1G 1 Preamp Gain Booster to the original purchaser, with no warranty on preowned units sold on the secondary market5. One warning applies to the vibe pedals. The maker states that using a speed control foot pedal other than an official Shin-ei Vibe-2 Speed Control Pedal:
"WILL MORE THAN LIKELY DAMAGE THE UNIT AND WILL VOID THE WARRANTY!!"
The range (29)
Questions
Is Shin-ei still making pedals?
No. On 29 June 2021 Shin-ei announced via Instagram that it was ceasing production of all pedals in its catalogue, including the Uni-Vibe and Vibe-Bro, effective immediately. Remaining stock was to be sold through its dealer network and website, and some store pages still showed items in stock as of late 2026.
Why did Shin-ei close?
The company said it had reached an age where it wanted to spend more time playing guitar than building pedals for friends to play. Gearnews reported the Texan brand cited wanting to concentrate on playing the guitar as the reason for ending production.
Who owned the revived Shin-ei?
Bob Feldman. He signed the 2021 closing announcement, which ended with thanks for the love from Bob Feldman, and he ran the revived Texas-based company, formally Shin-ei LLC, which offered the warranty on its pedals.
Were original Shin-Ei pedals made in Japan?
Yes. The original company grew out of a Japanese maker called Honey and by 1968 Shin-Ei had become, in JHS Pedals' words, the guitar pedal powerhouse of Japan. Its vintage speed control pedals were built for 1960s and 70s Uni-Vibe units.
Can I still buy new Shin-ei pedals?
Production ended in 2021, but remaining stock has continued to sell through the Shin-ei website. As of 25 October 2026 the store listed the 1960's Uni-Vibe Vintage Speed Control Foot Pedal as back in stock and shipping at $498.00.
Sources (12)
- SUPREME - JHS Pedals, JHS Pedals
- Shin-ei announces it is shutting down pedal production, gearnews.com, 2021-06-29
- Animal Factory Amplification Chemical Burn Fuzz, Pedal of the Day, 2016-01-22
- Shin-ei Vibe-Bro chorus/vibrato vintage Uni-Vibe speed control pedal, Shin-ei (shin-ei.com store)
- Not So B1G 1 Preamp Gain Boost Pedal, Shin-ei
- Coda Effects, Coda Effects, 2015-08
- Interviewing William Reid, Stompbox Book, 2019-04-14
- Shin-ei Vibe-2 chorus/vibrato effects pedal, shin-ei.com
- Vibe-2 Chrous Vibrato, Shin-ei
- Screaming Sister 8ctave Boost pedal, Shin-ei
- Astron FY-6 Super Fuzz, shin-ei.com
- Shin-Ei Retro FX Vibe-Bro Chorus Vibrato pedal reissued, gearnews.com, 2016-05-24