The Eastwood BB-03 Blue Vibe is a compact chorus/vibrato pedal built around the sound of the 1960s Uni-Vibe, the swirling modulation effect associated with Jimi Hendrix. Delicious Audio describes it as "a simple 3-knob take on Jimi Hendrix's favorite modulation effect", and the pedal carries that association openly: "The BLUE VIBE contains all the classic 60s Hendrix sounds, so much so that this pedal was very nearly called DOLLY DAGGER"1. It is a digital circuit, mono in and mono out, with true bypass switching, and it was unveiled in early 2022 as one of six pedals in Eastwood's Black Box line1.
What it does
The Blue Vibe covers the two faces of the Uni-Vibe design through a toggle switch. In Chorus mode, Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio describes "slow swooshing Chorus sounds... through to the Leslie/Rotary style sounds with faster SPEED settings", the rotating-speaker character that players reach for on songs like the Hendrix classics the pedal references1. In Vibrato mode, the effect is "subtle pitch modulation that can go from slow and dreamy to fast and shimmery"1. If you are new to the difference, a chorus blends a detuned copy of the signal with the dry one, while a vibrato bends the pitch itself; our Vibrato Pedals page covers that side in more depth.
The controls
The pedal keeps things to three knobs and a mode toggle:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets modulation rate, from slow swirls to fast rotary-style sounds1 |
| Color | Chorus mode only; changes the phase relationship of the effected signal against the dry signal1 |
| Center | Alters the balance of the sweep2 |
| Toggle | Selects Chorus or Vibrato mode1 |
The Color knob is the one that needs a note:
The Color control only works in Chorus mode. Switch to Vibrato and it does nothing, since there is no dry signal to phase against.
The Center control is the unusual one. Delicious Audio's Uni-Vibe buying guide calls it "an interesting 'Center' control for altering the balance of the sweep", and the same guide confirms the pedal has a "Standard expression pedal input"2. That puts it in line with the wider field: "Many modern Univibe pedals offer compatibility with expression pedals, allowing the guitarist to control parameters such as speed or depth in real time", as tru-fi.com's history of the Uni-Vibe puts it3. Our Expression Pedals page explains how that hookup works.
Where it sits
The Uni-Vibe family has grown well past the original circuit, and Delicious Audio's guide to Uni-Vibe pedals places the Blue Vibe among the compact, simplified takes on the effect1. Eastwood's own Black Box line also shows the design being pushed further: the related Buzzing Bugs BB03 Lo-Fi Chorus "combines classic Chorus and Vibrato with Bitcrushing and Lo-Fi, Modulation, and Reverb tones", according to Guitar Pedal X's review, adding controls such as Room, Mix and Age on top of the chorus/vibrato core4. Players who want the classic swirl without the extra ambience features are the Blue Vibe's natural audience.
Videos
Eastwood Guitars
Eastwood Guitars
AndyDemos
Questions
Is the Eastwood Blue Vibe true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's product page for the BB-03 Blue Vibe lists the bypass as True Bypass, so the pedal takes itself fully out of the signal path when switched off. The pedal runs a mono audio path and is powered from a 9V supply, which is not included with the pedal.
Does the Eastwood Blue Vibe come with a power supply?
No. The pedal runs on 9V power, and Delicious Audio's listing notes that the power supply is not included. You will need your own 9V supply or a spot on your pedalboard power brick to run it.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Eastwood Blue Vibe?
Yes. The Blue Vibe has a standard expression pedal input, which Delicious Audio's Uni-Vibe buying guide highlights alongside its Center control for altering the balance of the sweep. This follows a broader trend, as many modern Uni-Vibe pedals offer expression pedal compatibility for real-time control of parameters such as speed or depth.
Is the Eastwood Blue Vibe mono or stereo?
The Blue Vibe is a mono pedal. Delicious Audio's product page lists its audio as Mono, so it takes a mono input and delivers a mono output, which suits a standard single-amp pedalboard setup.
What does the Color knob do on the Blue Vibe?
The Color control only works in Chorus mode. It changes the phase relationship of the effected chorus signal in relation to the dry signal, which shapes the character of the chorus effect. In Vibrato mode the knob has no function.
Sources (4)
- New Pedal: Eastwood BB-03 Blue Vibe, Delicious Audio, 2022-05-16
- The 9 Best Uni-Vibe Pedals In 2024: A Guide To UniVibe Clones, Delicious Audio (delicious-audio.com), 2024-02-16
- The Swirl Start of the Univibe vintage guitar pedal, tru-fi.com
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-03-20
