The Dunlop Uni-Vibe is a chorus/vibrato effect that emulates the sound of a rotating speaker cabinet. Tru-Fi describes the original circuit as "a unique phase-shifting effect that simulates the sound of a rotating speaker or Leslie cabinet"1, and That Pedal Show calls it "a device for electronically emulating the sound of a rotating speaker cabinet"2. Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. owns the Uni-Vibe name as a registered trademark34, and builds the effect across several product lines, from the compact MXR Uni-Vibe to the Dunlop UV1SC Uni-Vibe Stereo Chorus and the Authentic Hendrix series units.
What It Does
Under the hood, the Uni-Vibe is not a conventional chorus. Function f(x)'s technical analysis of phaser types identifies the Dunlop Univibe as "an optical phaser with no dry signal"5. That Pedal Show characterizes the design as "that most venerable multi-stage-phase-shifter-with-external-treadle-operated-speed-controller… the Uni-Vibe!"2. With no dry signal mixed back in, the whole note moves through the phase-shifting stages, which is what separates the vibe sound from a standard phaser or chorus.
RockBoard's page for the Dunlop UV1SC Uni-Vibe Stereo Chorus says the unit "produces all the air, phasey rotating-speaker sound in two dimensions within a small, rugged package"6.
How reviewers describe the sound
Guitar.com's Richard Purvis, reviewing the Dunlop Authentic Hendrix '69 Uni-Vibe, found its chorus mode to be the essence of the effect7:
"an insistently pulsing, not-quite-whining throb that sounds almost like a phaser but with a dash of Leslie and harmonic"7
Pedal of the Day's Mike B, reviewing the Dunlop MXR Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato, a compact recreation of the classic Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe, wrote that "the MXR team somehow managed to get all the lush, gooey, shimmery ton[e]" of the original into the smaller format8.
Controls and Versions
The Authentic Hendrix '68 Shrine Series Uni-Vibe, announced in February 2023 as part of a four-pedal mini series priced at $149 each, features three control knobs dictating Speed, Level and Depth9.
| Version | Controls | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Authentic Hendrix '68 Shrine Series Uni-Vibe | Speed, Level, Depth | Mini pedal, $149, announced February 20239 |
| Dunlop UV1SC Uni-Vibe Stereo Chorus | Stereo chorus/vibrato | "Air, phasey rotating-speaker sound in two dimensions"6 |
| Dunlop MXR Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato | Chorus/vibrato modes | Compact recreation of the Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe8 |
| Authentic Hendrix '69 Uni-Vibe | Chorus/vibrato modes | Mini Psych Series pedal, reviewed November 20197 |
The Uni-Vibe circuit traces back to the classic Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe, which the MXR team aimed to recreate in compact form8. Dunlop's Hendrix line, including the Uni-Vibe, was demonstrated in a 2017 video test by Andy from ProGuitarShop/ToneReport10.
Videos
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ProGuitarShopDemos
AskAGuitarPro
News
Sources (10)
- The Swirl Start of the Univibe vintage guitar pedal, tru-fi.com
- That Pedal Show, That Pedal Show, 2017-02-24
- VIBERATOR Stereo Uni-Vibe, Dawner Prince Electronics
- Retro Corner: Uni-Vibe, Delicious Audio, 2012-11-21
- Guitar Phaser Pedal Types: JFET, Optical, OTA, and Others, Function f(x), 2022-03-18
- UV1SC Uni-Vibe Stereo Chorus by Dunlop, RockBoard (rockboard.de), 2026
- Review: Dunlop Authentic Hendrix ’69 Psych Series Pedals, Guitar.com, 2019-11-12
- Dunlop MXR Uni-Vibe Chorus / Vibrato, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2014-12-20
- Dunlop honors Jimi Hendrix's iconic effects with Authentic Hendrix '68 Shrine mini pedals, Guitar World, 2023-02-02
- Dunlop Gypsy Fuzz And Uni-vibe Hendrix Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2017-08-03
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
