The Dunlop Authentic Hendrix '69 Uni-Vibe is a chorus/vibrato pedal in an MXR mini housing, part of the Authentic Hendrix '69 Psych Series that Dunlop launched at Summer NAMM 201912. It is a downsized take on the Shin-ei Uni-Vibe, the vintage unit Jimi Hendrix used from 1969 to 1970, and it offers a choice between vibrato and chorus via a front-panel switch3.
Guitar World described what it does in plain terms: it delivers "the classic chorusy, Leslie-sounding goodness used by Jimi Hendrix in an MXR mini housing"2. The series was one of four MXR-sized micro pedals downsizing Hendrix's Fuzz Face, Octavio, Uni-Vibe and Band Of Gypsys fuzz circuits4.
The Authentic Hendrix '69 Psych Series is discontinued. Guitar World reported in 2023 that the pedals "are, however, now discontinued"5. Its successor, the Authentic Hendrix '68 Shrine Series Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato, is itself listed by Dunlop as a legacy product no longer in production3.
Chorus and vibrato in a mini pedal
The '69 Uni-Vibe puts both halves of the Uni-Vibe effect in one small box. In chorus mode the effect mixes the modulated signal with the dry signal for the thick, swirling wash the original Shin-ei unit was known for; in vibrato mode only the pitch-modulated signal passes through. Guitar.com's reviewer, Richard Purvis, confirmed that "it offers a choice between vibrato and chorus"1.
The pedal belongs to a four-pedal collection Dunlop built around circuits from Hendrix's era. MusicRadar's editor Michael Astley-Brown noted that "The four Authentic Hendrix '69 Psych Series offerings downsize Jimi's iconic Fuzz Face, Octavio, Uni-Vibe and Band Of Gypsys" circuits4, and Guitar.com called the line "a new collection of MXR-sized micro pedals"6. Each carried custom psychedelic artwork designed by UK-based designer ILOVEDUST, tapping into Hendrix's visual aesthetic5.
The controls
Guitar.com's review listed the control set as Level, Speed and Depth knobs plus a chorus/vibe switch1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the effect's overall volume7 |
| Speed | Sets the sweep rate of the modulation7 |
| Depth | Sets the intensity of the modulation1 |
| Chorus/vibe switch | Selects between chorus mode and vibrato mode7 |
The pedal also carried the series' modern appointments: a status LED, true-bypass switching and a 9-volt power jack2.
History: the Shin-ei roots and the '68 Shrine Series
The circuit this pedal traces back to is the Shin-ei Uni-Vibe, the vintage Japanese unit Hendrix used from 1969 to 197013. MusicRadar's Uni-Vibe history notes that "Dunlop bought the rights to the Uni-Vibe name, and the MXR M68 claims to be a faithful reproduction of the original"8, which is the lineage the '69 Psych Series and later the MXR M68 Uni-Vibe share.
The timeline of Dunlop's Hendrix Uni-Vibe pedals:
What reviewers said
Guitar.com reviewed the '69 Uni-Vibe alongside its three series siblings in November 2019. Richard Purvis gave it an 8/10 verdict1:
"This teeny box pumps out full-size Uni-Vibe modulation"
He placed the four circuits in their historical context, noting they "remain rooted in the 60s stompboxes that were such a big part of Jimi's tone," with the Uni-Vibe tracing to the Shin-ei original1. The review also noted the mini pedals were based on Dunlop's four full-size Authentic Hendrix pedals, products approved by Jimi's estate1.
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Questions
What circuit is the Dunlop Authentic Hendrix '69 Uni-Vibe based on?
It is based on the Shin-ei Uni-Vibe, the vintage Japanese unit Jimi Hendrix used from 1969 to 1970. Guitar.com's reviewer placed it among the four '69 Psych Series circuits rooted in the 60s stompboxes that were a big part of Hendrix's tone, alongside the Dallas-Arbiter Fuzz Face and the Roger Mayer Octavia.
Does the Hendrix '69 Uni-Vibe do both chorus and vibrato?
Yes. It is a chorus/vibrato pedal with a chorus/vibe switch, so a player can choose between the two modes. Guitar World described it as delivering the classic chorusy, Leslie-sounding goodness used by Jimi Hendrix in an MXR mini housing.
Is the Authentic Hendrix '69 Psych Series discontinued?
Yes. Guitar World reported in 2023 that the '69 Psych Series pedals are now discontinued. They were announced at Summer NAMM 2019 and became available beginning in September of that year.
What is the difference between the '69 Psych Series and the '68 Shrine Series Uni-Vibe?
The '69 Psych Series Uni-Vibe (JHW3) was one of four MXR-sized micro pedals with psychedelic custom artwork by UK designer ILOVEDUST. The '68 Shrine Series Uni-Vibe that followed is effectively a downsized MXR M68 Uni-Vibe with Shrine Auditorium poster artwork, and it too is now out of production.
Sources (8)
- Review: Dunlop Authentic Hendrix ’69 Psych Series Pedals, Guitar.com, 2019-11-12
- Summer NAMM 2019: Dunlop Introduces Four New Jimi Hendrix Mini Pedals, Dimebag Darrell and Gary Clark Jr. Wahs, Guitar World, 2019-07-19
- AUTHENTIC HENDRIX™ '68 SHRINE SERIES UNI-VIBE® CHORUS/VIBRATO, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Summer NAMM 2019: Dunlop debuts 4 Authentic Hendrix mini pedals, plus new Gary Clark Jr. and Dimebag Cry Baby wahs, MusicRadar, 2019-07-19
- Dunlop honors Jimi Hendrix's iconic effects with Authentic Hendrix '68 Shrine mini pedals, Guitar World, 2023-02-02
- Six of the best pedals from Summer NAMM 2019, Guitar.com, 2019-07-22
- JHMS3.pdf, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com), 2023
- The FX files: Uni-Vibe, MusicRadar, 2019-04-10
