The R WEAVER FX Violet Vibe Chorus Vibrato is a Uni-Vibe style pedal offering both chorus and vibrato in one box. It is built on the circuitry from a pair of 1968 Univibes, with what Pedal of the Day calls a full size exact circuit board layout, meaning the board follows the original's arrangement rather than shrinking or reworking it1. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio describes it as "a Vibe based on a great sounding 1968 Univibe" and "an authentic replica with exact layout circuit board"2.
The controls
The Violet Vibe keeps the control set of the original Uni-Vibe, which carried a Chorus/Vibrato selector switch on the 1968 pedal4. On the Violet Vibe:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mode selection | Chooses between Chorus and Vibrato modes1 |
| Level | Output level1 |
| Intensity | Depth of the modulation1 |
| Speed | Rate of the modulation; the knob is big and placed so it can be turned with your foot mid-song1 |
On the Speed control, Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that "The Speed knob is big, and placed perfectly for you to move with your foot if need be as well," which matters for players who ride the speed of a vibe live the way the original was played1.
Sound and what reviewers said
Pedal of the Day describes the pedal's output as "Bright chorus and swirling, psychedelic vibrato sounds pour out, with a wide spectrum of tonal qualities to choose from," and calls it "this purple beauty oozes classic and vintage tones"1. De Gregorio, writing on the Delicious Audio product page, says "It's got the killer Univibe throb and swirl"2.
The reviewer's verdict at Pedal of the Day:
"If you're looking for a beautiful re-creation of a classic piece of gear heard on countless recordings for decades, the..."
Power
Delicious Audio's Uni-Vibe buying guide spells out the power requirement: "It runs on 18vdc center negative"3. That is a higher voltage than many compact pedals take, so plan your board's power around it before adding the Violet Vibe.
Videos
Mike Hermans
Pedal of the Day
Anthony Campbell
Questions
What voltage does the R Weaver Violet Vibe need?
The Violet Vibe runs on 18V DC center negative power. Both Pedal of the Day's review and Delicious Audio's Uni-Vibe buying guide give the same figure, so an 18V supply is required rather than the 9V that most pedals use. That rules out many daisy chain setups, so plan your power supply accordingly.
Does the Violet Vibe have both chorus and vibrato?
Yes. The pedal offers Chorus and Vibrato modes, selected the same way the original Uni-Vibe did with a Chorus/Vibrato selector switch. Alongside the mode selection it carries Level, Intensity and Speed controls, covering the two sounds the original pedal was known for.
Is the Violet Vibe a Uni-Vibe clone?
It is a faithful replica rather than a loose interpretation. Delicious Audio describes it as a Vibe based on a great sounding 1968 Univibe, and Pedal of the Day notes it is built on the circuitry from a pair of 1968 Univibes with a full size exact circuit board layout.
What does the Intensity knob do on the Violet Vibe?
Intensity is one of the three knobs on the pedal, alongside Level and Speed. On a Uni-Vibe style circuit the Intensity control sets how strong the modulation effect is, while Speed sets how fast it pulses and Level sets the output volume.
Sources (4)
- R WEAVER FX Violet Vibe Chorus Vibrato, Pedal of the Day, 2021-09-11
- R Weaver FX Violet Vibe, Delicious Audio, 2022-09-15
- The 9 Best Uni-Vibe Pedals In 2024: A Guide To UniVibe Clones, Delicious Audio (delicious-audio.com), 2024-02-16
- What was the original univibe effect?, Strymon, 2015-06-30