The Fulltone Mini DejaVibe is a vibrato/chorus pedal built on the Uni-Vibe circuit, the swirling modulation effect associated with late-1960s psychedelic guitar. It comes in a pedalboard-sized enclosure, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that it "captures that sound almost perfectly, but in a nice, pedalboard-sized enclosure, and featuring a couple more modern upgrades" to the Uni-Vibe design1.
Delicious Audio describes it as a popular, 18-volt, re-engineered, smaller version of the original Deja-Vibe, a pedal that is now out of production and that, in Delicious Audio's words, "started the Uni-Vibe clone trend"2. A stereo version has also been available2.
Where it came from
The modes and controls
The Mini DejaVibe carries two mini-toggle switches: one selects Modern or Vintage, the other Vibrato or Chorus1. It also sports a good bit of volume control for any musical situation, in Pedal of the Day's words1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Vintage/Modern toggle | Vintage mode boasts darker, warmer tones reminiscent of the Uni-Vibe sounds of past classic decades; Modern features a bigger output boost and a bit of a brighter sound1 |
| Vibrato/Chorus toggle | Vibrato mode is more of a pitch-bending vibe sound; Chorus adds some phasing into the mix, to get those Jimi/Trower sounds1 |
| Volume | Volume control for any musical situation1 |
| LED | Pulses with the speed, letting you know what adjustments you need to make to match your tempo1 |
Delicious Audio describes the same voicing switch as a mini-toggle that switches between the original Uni-Vibe warmth and the "Modern" option, which it calls louder and brighter2.
"the Vintage mode, which boasts some darker, warmer tones reminiscent of the Uni-Vibe sounds of past classic decades"
Vibrato and Chorus, and how the design compares
The two mode names come straight from the Uni-Vibe design the Mini DejaVibe follows. On MXR's Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato, a comparable compact take on the effect, the maker explains the distinction: the VIBE switch selects either Chorus Mode, a dry signal mixed with pitch-shifted signal, or Vibrato Mode, only the pitch-shifted signal3. The MXR manual likewise notes the VIBE button toggles between default Chorus Mode and Vibrato Mode4. Guitar World reviewed the MXR M68 as a Uni-Vibe chorus and vibrato in a compact, Phase 90-size box5, which gives a sense of the Mini DejaVibe's neighborhood: both are small-footprint stompbox versions of the same classic circuit, with the Fulltone adding the Vintage/Modern voicing toggle and an 18-volt design21.
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Questions
Is the Fulltone Mini DejaVibe a Uni-Vibe clone?
It is a Uni-Vibe-style vibrato and chorus pedal, and Delicious Audio credits the original Deja-Vibe with starting the Uni-Vibe clone trend. The Mini DejaVibe is a re-engineered, smaller, 18-volt version of that now out-of-production pedal. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it captures the Uni-Vibe sound almost perfectly while adding modern upgrades.
What is the difference between Vibrato and Chorus mode on the Mini DejaVibe?
One mini-toggle selects between Vibrato and Chorus. Pedal of the Day describes the Vibrato mode as more of a pitch-bending vibe sound, while the Chorus aspect adds some phasing into the mix for the classic Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower style sounds. On a Uni-Vibe design generally, chorus mixes the dry signal with the pitch-shifted signal, while vibrato carries only the pitch-shifted signal.
What does Vintage mode do on the Mini DejaVibe?
Vintage mode boasts darker, warmer tones reminiscent of the Uni-Vibe sounds of past classic decades, according to Pedal of the Day. The Modern setting is its counterpart, with a bigger output boost and a slightly brighter sound. A mini-toggle switches between the two voicings.
What does the LED on the Mini DejaVibe show?
The LED pulses with the speed of the effect, letting you see the rate at a glance and judge what adjustments you need to make to match your tempo, as Pedal of the Day's reviewer described it.
Sources (5)
- Fulltone Mini DejaVibe Vibrato/Chorus, Pedal of the Day, 2015-05-13
- The 9 Best Uni-Vibe Pedals In 2024: A Guide To UniVibe Clones, Delicious Audio (delicious-audio.com), 2024-02-16
- MXR® UNI-VIBE® CHORUS/VIBRATO, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- M68.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2019
- Review: MXR M68 Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato Pedal, Guitar World, 2014-09-26
