The OPFXS Electric Vibe is an analog phaser/vibrato pedal from OPFXS, a maker based in La Spezia, Italy. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio describes it as "an analog phaser/vibrato pedal which combines the classic vibe tones with additional unique feature," and its headline trick is an envelope follower that lets the modulation respond to how hard you play1.
Electronically, the pedal is inspired by the Uni-Vibe circuit and uses a similar optical system to modulate the signal. For background: the original Uni-Vibe is technically a four-stage phaser, but because its phase shifting is done optically, with light-dependent resistors around a pulsating lightbulb rather than in the feedback loop of a conventional phaser, it behaves and sounds like its own category of effect, producing chorus and vibrato character for guitar23.
The controls
The Electric Vibe packs a lot of control into a single footswitch pedal. The main knobs and switches work like this1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level, Speed, Depth knobs | Control the LFO |
| WAVE switch | Selects one of three LFO waves: SINE, TRIANGLE or PULSE |
| DRY ON/OFF toggle | Selects the mode: phaser with DRY ON, vibrato with DRY OFF |
| Envelope Speed and Depth toggles | Activate the interaction of the envelope with the LFO's Speed and Depth |
| FUNCTION micro-switch | Accesses the secondary functions of DECAY and ENVELOPE LEVEL, and inverts the ENVELOPE ramp |
| Funct(ion) push knob | Reaches those alternative controls to set the Envelope Decay and Level |
| Footswitch | True bypass, with a blue LED indicator |
The envelope interaction is what sets this pedal apart from a standard vibrato or Uni-Vibe clone. When the envelope functions are engaged, Delicious Audio reports you can get "dynamic responsive modulation which accurately follows string picking and chord strumming intensity," so the speed and depth of the sweep move with your playing rather than running free1.
One more LFO detail worth knowing: the SINE wave is, by default, triggered by the input signal for modulation that stays in time with your playing, and that triggering can be turned off if you prefer a free-running sweep1.
Auxiliary input: expression, tap tempo and more
A single multi-function auxiliary input handles external control. Depending on how an internal DIP switch is set, it accepts an expression pedal, a momentary switch for tap tempo, a momentary or latching bypass switch, or a control voltage1. That means tap tempo and expression control are there, but only with the right switch or pedal connected and the DIP switch configured for that job.
Power, bypass and availability
The pedal runs from a standard 9-volt DC input and uses a true bypass onboard footswitch1. Premier Guitar reported in December 2022 that the Electric Vibe carries a price of €195 and that it is available at select retailers and directly from the OPFXS online store2.
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Questions
Is the OPFXS Electric Vibe true bypass?
Yes. The pedal has a true bypass onboard footswitch with a blue LED indicator, according to Delicious Audio's write-up of the pedal. That means the effect is removed entirely from the signal path when the pedal is off, so it can sit on a board without loading down your guitar's signal when disengaged.
Does the OPFXS Electric Vibe have tap tempo?
Yes, but not from the onboard footswitch. Tap tempo is accessed by connecting a momentary switch to the pedal's auxiliary input. That same multi-function input can instead take an expression pedal, a momentary or latching bypass switch, or a control voltage, with the selection made by an internal DIP switch.
Can I use an expression pedal with the OPFXS Electric Vibe?
Yes. An expression pedal can be connected to the auxiliary input. The input is multi-function: depending on how the internal DIP switch is set, it accepts an expression pedal, a momentary tap tempo switch, a momentary or latching bypass switch, or a control voltage.
What power does the OPFXS Electric Vibe need?
The Electric Vibe runs from a standard 9-volt DC input, as described by Delicious Audio. No battery option or current draw figure is given for the pedal, so plan your power supply accordingly.
How much does the OPFXS Electric Vibe cost?
Premier Guitar reported in December 2022 that the Electric Vibe carries a price of €195. The pedal is available at select retailers and directly from the OPFXS online store.
Sources (3)
- OPFXS Electric Vibe Phaser/Vibrato, Delicious Audio, 2025-01-13
- OPFXS Unveils the Electric Vibe, Premier Guitar, 2022-12-13
- J Rockett Uni-Verb review, Guitar World, 2022-11-01