The Diamond Pedals VIB1 is a dedicated pitch vibrato pedal: instead of wobbling your volume like a tremolo, it wobbles your pitch, using bucket brigade analog delay technology for true pitch-modulating vibrato1. It is not to be confused with a Uni-Vibe or a tremolo effect, as it is a true vibrato1. The insides are filled with all-analog circuitry, employing the MN3007 analog bucket brigade design1.
What makes it more flexible than a straight vibrato is the variable Chorus control, which blends dry signal with pitch-shifted signal, so the pedal can pull double duty as a chorus1. On That Pedal Show, Dan and Mick put it simply:
"it's a vibrato with a mix control so you can turn into a chorus"
The pedal runs in mono operation, is true bypass, and has an expression input for controlling speed or depth1. Reviewers have placed it in rare company: Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson calls the Diamond Pedals Vibrato "one of the true greats of that genre", alongside the Boss VB-23.
The controls
The original VIB1 keeps its controls simple: three knobs and two mini toggles, plus the expression input312.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate | Sets the speed of the effect1 |
| Depth | Sets the intensity of the effect1 |
| Volume | Sets the overall output of the Vibrato1 |
| Chorus | Blends dry signal with pitch-shifted signal1 |
| JAZZ toggle | Darkens the tone of the effect, offering a more vintage flavor1 |
| HIGH toggle | Switches to a higher depth range, for more extreme pitch-bent sounds1 |
There is also a special "magic-eye" bi-color LED that shows the vibrato LFO rate, even when the pedal is bypassed1. That is a practical touch: you can see how fast the wobble is set before you switch the effect on.
The compact reissue reshuffles this set. Its controls are Level, Speed, Chorus and Depth knobs, a Jazz EQ (High-Trim) switch, and a Hold footswitch for double speed3. The Jazz switch now has two different intensities rather than one: switch up is a very subtle high trim, switch down gives more trim, with a no-trim position in between3. The HIGH toggle of the original does not carry over. The Hold footswitch is a momentary or latching speed doubler that doubles the set speed of the vibrato3, which lets you jump to a faster wobble for a phrase and back without bending down.
Power and connections: 15V regulated
The original VIB1 is powered differently from most compact pedals. It can be run from the provided 18 to 24V adapter or from 18V pedalboard power supply outputs, and its power is internally regulated to 15V1.
The original VIB1 cannot run from a standard 9V supply. You need its 18 to 24V adapter or an 18V output from your pedalboard power supply, since the pedal regulates that input down to 15V internally1.
The compact reissue standardizes this. It uses a center-negative 9 to 18V DC input with a 2,1 mm connector, polarity and over-voltage protection, and a current draw of approximately 45mA3. The voltage you feed it changes its character: 18V gives more headroom, while 9V gives added color and warble3. Both versions run in mono, with no stereo operation1.
For speed and depth control on the fly, the expression input accepts an expression pedal for either parameter1.
From the original to the compact reissue
The original VIB1 earned its reputation over a long run. Guitar Pedal X notes that Diamond Pedals' original VIB1 and Boss's VB-2 are most likely historically the go-to vibrato units for most pro pedalboards, with a deep and loyal following3. The compact reissue, covered in full on its own page, brings back the sound and character of the original paired with improved modern features, in a pedalboard-friendly enclosure with top-mounted jacks, finished in purple sparkle3.
The headline change is inside. The reissue is built on NOS Panasonic MN3007 BBD chips, and Diamond Pedals secured enough of them for the first 800 units3. Beyond the chip, the reissue adds an updated Compandor design for increased clarity, less distortion and a lower noise floor3, all in a pedalboard-friendly enclosure with top-mounted jacks3.
Guitar Pedal X's verdict on the line is unambiguous:
"The Diamond Pedals Vibrato is one of the true greats of that genre - it really is that and the VB-2 flying the flag for"
Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the original equally capable across its range, delivering "a range of sounds from low and translucent to fat and pulsating"1:
"Not slouch in the modulation department here, folks, the Vibrato from Diamond Pedals will allow you to concur any music"
On That Pedal Show, Dan and Mick demoed the VIB1 alongside other modulation pedals, showing the mix control turning the vibrato into a chorus and the expression pedal sweeping speed and depth2.
For players comparing true-pitch vibrato pedals, the VIB1 sits among a small field of analog designs; see the vibrato pedals page for the wider range1.
Videos
EytschPi42
Pedal of the Day
Regent Sounds
Questions
Is the Diamond VIB1 Vibrato true bypass?
Yes. The original VIB1 is true bypass, and the compact reissue uses soft touch relay-based true bypass switching. The original also has a bi-color 'magic-eye' LED that shows the vibrato LFO rate even when the pedal is bypassed, so you can see the speed you are returning to.
Is the Diamond VIB1 analog or digital?
It is all-analog. Both the original and the compact reissue use bucket brigade analog delay circuitry for true pitch-modulating vibrato, based on the MN3007 bucket brigade chip. The first 800 units of the reissue use original NOS Panasonic MN3007 chips that Diamond Pedals secured for that run.
What power supply does the Diamond VIB1 need?
The original runs from a provided 18 to 24V adapter or from 18V pedalboard power supply outputs, and is internally regulated to 15V. The compact reissue takes a standard 9 to 18V DC center-negative 2.1mm supply at roughly 45mA, with polarity and over-voltage protection, giving more headroom at 18V or added color and warble at 9V.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Diamond VIB1?
Yes. The VIB1 has an expression input, and you can plug in an expression pedal to control vibrato speed or depth. That makes it possible to sweep the rate or the intensity of the wobble live with your foot while your hands stay on the guitar.
What does the Jazz switch do on the Diamond VIB1?
On the original, the JAZZ mini toggle darkens the tone of the effect for a more vintage flavor. On the compact reissue it becomes a Jazz EQ, or High-Trim, switch with two intensities: switch up is a very subtle high trim and switch down gives more trim, so you can roll off brightness in three steps including the no-trim center position.
Does the Diamond VIB1 work in stereo?
No. The VIB1 runs in mono operation. Players looking for a stereo pitch-modulation pedal would need to look elsewhere, as the Diamond's input and output arrangement is a single mono signal path.
Sources (3)
- Diamond Pedals VIB1 Vibrato, Pedal of the Day, 2019-08-17
- Union T&T Tour Bender, Fender MTG Tube Distortion, Diamond Vibrato, TC Hall Of Fame2x4, That Pedal Show (YouTube), 2019-08-27
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-05-16
