The BBE Sound Mind Bender is an analog vibrato/chorus pedal. Its Speed control adjusts how slow or fast the effect is1, and its circuit is built with 1% metal-film resistors and high-voltage poly caps1. A reviewer described it as "super-impressive for sound and build from such an inexpensive pedal (especially used)"1.
For a player, the appeal is having both vibrato and chorus in one box, plus the ability to dial in rotating-speaker style tones, all in an analog circuit with true hardwire bypass2.
What it does to your sound
The Mind Bender covers two related modulation effects in one pedal. In Chorus mode it thickens your tone with the doubled, shimmering sound chorus is known for; in Vibrato mode it modulates pitch only, for the wobbling, seasick character of a classic vibrato. MusicRadar also grouped rotating-speaker effects into what the pedal produces, sitting it next to BBE's Soul Vibe, a dedicated rotary emulation announced the same day2.
Guitar World described the range in broader terms when the MB-2 was reintroduced, saying the pedal "bends the sonic boundaries from gently pulsating to spacey ray gun effects"6. That puts the Mind Bender at the more experimental end of the chorus family as well as the subtle end.
Controls and switching
The control panel is simple. A Speed knob "obviously adjusts how slow or fast the effect is," as Pedal of the Day put it1. Delicious Audio's review adds that the pedal has vibrato/chorus and on/off footswitches with corresponding LEDs to indicate the active effect, even when the pedal is off5.
| Control or switch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed knob | Sets how slow or fast the modulation moves1 |
| Bypass footswitch | Turns the effect on and off1 |
| Mode footswitch | Toggles between Vibrato and Chorus1 |
| Mode LEDs | Show the active effect, even when the pedal is off5 |
The two-footswitch layout is the practical difference from most single-mode chorus pedals: you can flip from chorus to vibrato mid-song without bending down, and the LEDs tell you which mode is loaded before you stomp it15.
Vibrato versus chorus
The two modes are distinct effects. Chorus blends a modulated, slightly detuned copy of your signal with the dry signal, which reads as a thicker, wider tone. Vibrato modulates pitch without the dry signal, so the whole note wavers. The Mind Bender is an analog pedal, and it offers vibrato and chorus modes, selectable by a vibrato/chorus mode switch26.
Build and circuit
Pedal of the Day highlighted the construction, noting the pedal "features a beefy mil-spec circuit board" along with 1% metal-film resistors and high-voltage poly caps1. The MB-2 update was created by BBE's Paul Gagon6, and Delicious Audio noted the pedal received a Guitar Player platinum award5.
Who plays one
Published coverage of the Mind Bender has centered on its sound and build rather than on named players. The reviewer who covered it found it "super-impressive for sound and build from such an inexpensive pedal (especially used)"1, with the overall sound and build standing out in particular1.
What reviewers said
Reviews have been positive about the pedal's value. Pedal of the Day's verdict in November 20161:
"Super-impressive for sound and build from such an inexpensive pedal (especially used)"
The reviewer who covered the Mind Bender found it "super-impressive for sound and build from such an inexpensive pedal (especially used)"1, praising the overall sound and build in particular1. The review also noted the pedal's construction, including its 1% metal-film resistors and high-voltage poly caps1.
Videos
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Questions
Is the BBE Mind Bender true bypass?
Yes. Reviewers at Pedal of the Day, MusicRadar and Delicious Audio all describe the Mind Bender as having true hardwire bypass, so your dry signal passes through untouched when the effect is switched off.
What is the difference between the Mind Bender's vibrato and chorus modes?
Vibrato is a pitch-only modulation, while chorus mixes a modulated signal with your dry signal for a thicker, doubled sound. The Mind Bender offers both in one analog pedal, and a second footswitch toggles between them, so you can switch modes without turning the effect off.
Does the BBE Mind Bender have two footswitches?
Yes. One footswitch controls bypass, turning the effect on and off, and the other toggles between Vibrato and Chorus modes. Each has its own LED, and the mode LEDs stay lit even when the pedal is off, so you can see which mode is loaded.
Who has used the BBE Mind Bender?
Jake Cinninger of Umphrey's McGee has one on his board, shown in a 2015 Premier Guitar rig rundown. Pedal of the Day says that rundown is how they first heard of the pedal.
Sources (6)
- BBE Sound Mind Bender Vibrato Chorus, Pedal of the Day, 2016-11-14
- BBE Mind Bender and Soul Vibe pedals, MusicRadar, 2008-02-08
- BBE Mind Bender Vibrato Chorus, Pedal of the Day, 2016-11-10
- Mind Bender Vibrato/Chorus MB-2 by BBE, RockBoard PedalPedia (rockboard.de), 2026
- Oldies But Goldies: BBE Mind Bender MB 2 Vibrato/Chorus, Delicious Audio, 2015-04-09
- BBE Sound Reintroduces Mind Bender MB-2 Chorus/Vibrato Pedal, Guitar World, 2013-02-22
