The BBE Mind Bender MB-2 is an analog vibrato and chorus pedal: two modulation effects in one box, selectable between a vibrato mode and a chorus mode. Guitar World described it as "two pedals in one, with a Bucket Brigade Delay circuit serving supremely lush, warm chorus," which places it in the analog bucket-brigade tradition of chorus design rather than the digital one1. BBE reintroduced the pedal in February 2013 with a new metallic water blue finish and a psychedelic logo graphic1.
What it does for your sound
The MB-2 gives a player the two classic pitch-modulation effects from one pedal. In chorus mode, the bucket-brigade circuit doubles the signal with a slight detune and modulation for a thickened, widened sound; in vibrato mode, the same circuit bends the pitch of the whole signal. Guitar World's coverage of the reintroduction lists the pedal's core feature set1:
- Vibrato and chorus modes in one pedal
- Analog Bucket Brigade Delay circuit
- 1MEG Ohm input impedance
- 1K Ohm output impedance when engaged
- 1% metal-film resistors used for consistency between units
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Circuit | Analog, Bucket Brigade Delay1 |
| Modes | Vibrato, Chorus2 |
| Input impedance | 1MEG Ohms1 |
| Output impedance | 1K Ohms when engaged1 |
| Resistors | 1% metal-film1 |
| Power | 9V DC, center negative2 |
| Current draw | 200mA2 |
| Battery | Easy access battery compartment1 |
Power and practicalities
The pedal runs on 9V DC, center negative, and draws 200mA according to RockBoard's PedalPedia's product listing2. That current draw is worth noting before putting it on a daisy chain or a low-output power brick. An easy access battery compartment means it can also run on battery power1.
At 200mA, the MB-2 draws more current than many compact analog pedals. Check your power supply's per-output rating before sharing it with other pedals2.
The Mind Bender and the MB-2
The MB-2 is an updated version of the original BBE Mind Bender, as Vintage Guitar reported under the headline "BBE Updates Mind Bender Vibrato/Chorus"3. The updated version adds a military-spec circuit board, and the 2013 reintroduction brought the metallic water blue finish and psychedelic logo graphic13. Both versions are analog vibrato/chorus pedals.
| Original Mind Bender | Mind Bender MB-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Effect | Vibrato/Chorus3 | Vibrato/Chorus2 |
| Circuit | Analog3 | Analog, Bucket Brigade Delay1 |
| Circuit board | Standard | Military-spec3 |
| Finish | Original | Metallic water blue, psychedelic logo graphic1 |
Who uses it
Premier Guitar's 2015 rig rundown of Umphrey's McGee lists a BBE MB-2 Mind Bender vibrato/chorus in the band's gear, with the rundown crediting the pedal's use among the band's players, including Brendan Bayliss, Jake Cinninger and Ryan Stasik4.
Questions
Is the BBE Mind Bender MB-2 analog or digital?
The Mind Bender MB-2 is an analog pedal. Guitar World's report on its reintroduction describes a Bucket Brigade Delay circuit inside, serving what the magazine called supremely lush, warm chorus. Analog circuitry of this kind is the traditional approach to chorus and vibrato, and it is why the pedal appears among analog modulation effects rather than digital multi-effects units.
What power supply does the BBE MB-2 need?
The MB-2 runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug, the standard pedal supply format. It also has an easy access battery compartment, so it can be run on a battery as well as an adapter. Because it draws 200mA, a supply or daisy chain rated below that may not be adequate.
How much current does the MB-2 draw?
BBE's product listing gives a current draw of 200mA for the Mind Bender Vibrato/Chorus MB-2. That is higher than many compact analog pedals, so it is worth checking the rating of your power supply before adding it to a shared power brick or daisy chain.
What is the difference between the Mind Bender and the MB-2?
The MB-2 is an updated version of the original Mind Bender, as Vintage Guitar reported when BBE updated the Vibrato/Chorus. The reintroduced MB-2 arrived with a new metallic water blue finish and a psychedelic logo graphic, along with a military-spec circuit board. Both are analog vibrato and chorus pedals carrying the Mind Bender name.
Sources (4)
- BBE Sound Reintroduces Mind Bender MB-2 Chorus/Vibrato Pedal, Guitar World, 2013-02-22
- Mind Bender Vibrato/Chorus MB-2 by BBE, RockBoard PedalPedia (rockboard.de), 2026
- BBE Updates Mind Bender Vibrato/Chorus, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2013-03-08
- Rig Rundown: Umphrey's McGee 2015, Premier Guitar, 2015-02-18
