The SolidGoldFX Athena Vibra-Phase is a compact effects pedal built around a two-stage phase effect with pitch-altering vibrato, aimed at the classic Uni-Vibe tones of the late 1960s. It was released in 2019 by the Montreal-based maker, whose Greek mythology naming runs through its range, and it was built in Canada12.
The Athena has been replaced. In February 2024 SolidGoldFX announced the Aurras Optical Vibraphase, a modern Uni-Vibe-style pedal that the maker describes as meeting the legacy of its predecessor, the Athena Vibraphase34.
What it does
The Athena takes the two-stage approach: SolidGoldFX built it from two stages of its Apollo phaser and voiced it toward a Uni-Vibe, the sweeping, throbbing modulation sound associated with late-'60s psychedelic guitar1. gearnews.com described it as a two-stage phase effect with leanings toward those classic Univibe tones, and its reviewer found the sound appealing: "This new variation sounds lovely to my ears, nice and 'chewy'."2 Delicious Audio's product page described the pedal as perfectly voiced to hold court with the rest of your effects and your instrument's natural tone, calling it highly musical and dynamic1.
It sits among the broader family of Uni-Vibe-style and vibrato pedals, a field that includes everything from the Dunlop Rotovibe to the JHS Pedals Unicorn V2 and the DryBell Vibe Machine V-2.
The controls
The front panel is simple: three knobs and two toggle switches3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets the rate of the modulation1 |
| Depth | Sets modulation depth1 |
| Level (Output Level) | Output level, with an extra boost available when required12 |
| Mode toggle | Blends between different levels of wet signal, from a little to a lot; one position sets manual mode1 |
| Color toggle | Three levels of intensity, described by Delicious Audio as pushing the Uni-Vibe character into overdrive, giving a high, medium or low amount of throb1 |
With the Mode switch set to the right, the Athena is in manual mode. There, an optional expression pedal connected with a TRS cable gives hands-free control over the LFO speed, letting you manipulate the sweep of the phase in real time with your foot12. For players who want that kind of control, an expression pedal is the only accessory the pedal asks for.
Bypass and format
The pedal is true bypass, a point gearnews.com's reviewer highlighted along with its small format2. Guitar Pedal X noted in a later piece that the Athena's text did not mention optical components or opto-isolators, a detail that distinguishes it from the optical circuit of its successor3.
Videos
SolidGoldFX | Diamond Pedals
AndyDemos
Patrick Hunter
Sources (4)
- SolidGoldFX Athena Vibra-Phase, Delicious Audio, 2019-03-20
- Groovy, man! SolidGoldFX's Athena Vibra-Phase pedal is inspired by 1960s Uni-Vibe, gearnews.com, 2019-03-25
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-02-23
- SolidGoldFX Aurras Optical Vibraphase Pedal, SolidGoldFX
