The Mr. Black Black LTD. Phaser Vibe is a four-stage phase-shifter pedal that pushes well past a standard phaser. Mr. Black describes it as "offering countless shades of phase-shifting, Univibe-style chorusing and all the way up to true pitch-vibrato," all from one knob1. It was built as a limited run of 83 pieces, priced at $199.951.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sweeps from slow at the counter-clockwise end to fast at the clockwise limit, with an increased range of speeds over the original1 |
| Intensity | Retained from the original, with overlap beginning at about 3 o'clock and increasing to maximum1 |
| Chorus/Vibrato | Replaces the original's switch with a full 300 degrees of rotation, from phase-shifting through Univibe-style chorusing to true pitch vibrato1 |
Two departures from the original design are worth knowing. The Volume control is gone: Mr. Black says it was removed "in favor of simply balancing output levels"1. And the Chorus/Vibrato switch of the original becomes a continuous knob, which is what lets the pedal land anywhere between phaser and vibrato rather than sitting in one mode or the other1.
The pedal uses a mechanical true-bypass footswitch, so the circuit is completely out of the signal path when off1.
How it approaches the Univibe sound
The original Univibe, a footpedal-operated phase shifter for creating chorus and vibrato simulations for electric organ or guitar, used a four-stage phase-shift network with unique corner frequencies per stage12. It was originally designed as a simulation of a Leslie spinning speaker cabinet3. Mr. Black took a different route: rather than copying that topology, the design works by varying the relative phase of the LFOs driving each of the phase-shift networks1.
The result, per the maker, is a pedal that breaks away from typical phaser sounds and, when pushed, begins to mimic "the classic fluid, watery warble and throb" of the Univibe1. It is an original Jack Deville design, made after years of requests to Mr. Black to tackle the fickle and unique sound of the old-time Univibe1.
The Univibe itself has a long afterlife: MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen noted it "enjoyed only a relatively brief production run, and since its discontinuation there have been various attempts to revive" it by major and boutique manufacturers4. The Black LTD. Phaser Vibe is Mr. Black's own take on that territory, sitting alongside its other phasers such as the Mr. Black Twin-Lazers. For more on the effect type, see Phaser Pedals.
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Questions
Is the Mr. Black Black LTD. Phaser Vibe true bypass?
Yes. Mr. Black fitted the Black LTD. Phaser Vibe with a mechanical true-bypass footswitch, which lets the circuit be switched out completely when the pedal is off, so the guitar's signal passes through untouched until the effect is engaged again.
Does the Phaser Vibe have a volume knob?
No. Mr. Black removed the Volume control from the design, saying the pedal instead relies on simply balancing output levels internally. The controls on the pedal are the Speed knob, the Intensity knob, and the Chorus/Vibrato knob with its 300 degrees of rotation.
How many Black LTD. Phaser Vibe pedals were made?
The Black LTD. Phaser Vibe was built as a limited run of 83 pieces, according to Mr. Black's product page. It is a limited-edition pedal rather than a standard catalog item.
Is the Phaser Vibe a Univibe clone?
No. It is an original Jack Deville design that was made in response to requests to tackle the Univibe sound, but it takes a different circuit approach: instead of copying the original, it varies the relative phase of the LFOs driving each phase-shift network to move from phasing into Univibe-style chorus and vibrato.
What does the Chorus/Vibrato knob do?
It replaces the original's Chorus/Vibrato switch with a full 300 degrees of rotation. Sweeping it moves the pedal from phase-shifting, through Univibe-style chorusing, all the way up to true pitch vibrato, giving a continuous range of shades rather than two fixed modes.
Sources (4)
- Black LTD. Phaser Vibe, Mr. Black
- Retro Corner: Uni-Vibe, Delicious Audio, 2012-11-21
- Straylight Chorus Vibe / Univox Uni-Vibe®, Aion FX, 2024-07-04
- Korg Nuvibe review, MusicRadar, 2014-09-17
