The Strymon UltraViolet Vintage Vibe is a compact digital vibe pedal from Strymon, released in September 2023 and available now for $25912. A vibe pedal combines chorus and vibrato in one effect, and the UltraViolet takes its inspiration from the circuit that started it all: the original '60s-era Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe, the optical effect associated with the psychedelic guitar sound of that decade2.
Where the original units were one-trick machines, Strymon built the UltraViolet around an all-new digital vibe algorithm, described as a meticulous recreation of "the classic optical vibe circuit"2. Strymon co-founder Pete Celi says the pedal was developed after extensive study of vintage units1. The result is a small-form-factor pedal with three modes, stereo I/O, full MIDI and 300 presets, positioned as part of Strymon's 2023 push into compact pedals alongside the Cloudburst Ambient Reverb and Brig dBucket Delay234.
The controls: Speed, Intensity, Volume and mode
The front panel keeps things simple: three dials controlling Speed, Intensity and Volume, a sole footswitch, and two toggle switches12. One toggle moves between the three modes, and the other selects from a trio of bias settings, Low, Mid and High, which fine-tune the effect's response14.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets the rate of the vibe effect1 |
| Intensity | Sets the depth of the effect, with an expanded range at slow speeds14 |
| Volume | Sets the output level1 |
| Mode toggle | Switches between Chorus (50% wet), Blend (30% wet) and Vibrato (100% wet)24 |
| Bias toggle | Selects Low, Mid or High bias to fine-tune the effect's response14 |
| Footswitch | A sole footswitch for bypass2 |
The three modes cover the two classic vibe sounds plus a new option. Chorus runs at 50% wet, the familiar vibe setting where the modulated signal is mixed with the dry signal. Vibrato runs at 100% wet, a pure pitch wobble with no dry signal. Blend sits between them at 30% wet, a setting Strymon added beyond the two traditional modes4. At slow speeds, the intensity range has been expanded beyond that of traditional vibe circuits, giving more depth control than the originals offered4.
Connections: stereo, MIDI and expression
For a compact pedal, the UltraViolet is well connected. The TRS stereo input and output in a dual mono configuration means it can be placed at any point in a pedal chain, and it carries a stereo signal for players running two amps or a stereo rig4.
- Stereo I/O: TRS stereo input and output, dual mono configuration4
- MIDI: Full MIDI implementation with 300 available preset locations, including TRS MIDI4
- Expression: An expression pedal input, controlling Speed by default3
The expression input is more flexible than most. A player can connect an expression pedal for control over any combination of knobs in any direction, so speed and intensity could be swept together, or one knob could run backwards while another increases3. The pedal also has USB-C connectivity2.
Where it came from
The UltraViolet is Strymon's take on the Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe, the Japanese optical effect from the 1960s whose sound defined psychedelic guitar. Strymon co-founder Pete Celi, the company's DSP designer, says the UltraViolet was developed after extensive study of vintage units1. Guitar World noted that Strymon continued its small form factor renaissance with the pedal, following the Cloudburst Ambient Reverb and Brig dBucket Delay earlier in 202323. It arrives in a compact enclosure in the same style as the Cloudburst1.
What reviewers said
Reaction at launch centered on how the pedal compares to both the original units and the boutique recreations. Pedal of the Day's review was broadly positive about the company's track record4:
"these guys continue to make some of the greatest effects units in existence, and the Ultraviolet keeps that streak alive"4
Pedal of the Day4
Strymon's own people made the strongest claims about its sound. Sean Halley, Strymon's Head of Marketing, said the pedal "can do so much more than the originals could", and called it "the very first digital vibe I've ever heard that sounds this big"6. He also said it has "all of the low frequency girth that the best pricey boutique big-box pedal versions have", in a package small enough to fit on any board3. Pete Celi's take was similar on versatility:
"It can totally do the hyper-authentic '60s thing, but it can do a bunch of other stuff that makes it much more versatile than the original units."6
Pete Celi, Strymon co-founder6
Those statements come from Strymon itself, so a player comparing the UltraViolet against analog Uni-Vibe recreations like the Fulltone MDV3, the JHS Pedals Unicorn V2 or the Sabbadius Funky Vibe will want to weigh them accordingly. What the coverage agrees on is the package: authentic '60s voicing, three modes, expanded slow-speed intensity, stereo I/O and full MIDI in a compact enclosure, at $2591246.
Videos
Andertons Music Co
Pete Thorn
strymon
News
Questions
Is the Strymon UltraViolet analog or digital?
It is digital. The UltraViolet runs an all-new vibe algorithm that Strymon describes as a meticulous recreation of the classic optical vibe circuit, the design behind the original '60s-era Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe. Strymon co-founder Pete Celi says it was developed after extensive study of vintage units.
Does the UltraViolet work in stereo?
Yes. It has a TRS stereo input and output in a dual mono configuration, which means it can sit anywhere in a pedal chain and carry a stereo signal through. Reviewers noted this alongside its MIDI connectivity as part of its full-featured I/O for a compact pedal.
How many presets does the UltraViolet hold?
It offers 300 available preset locations, accessed through full MIDI implementation that includes TRS MIDI. That makes it ready for a MIDI rig despite its small footprint, with room for far more stored settings than a typical three-knob vibe pedal.
What does the expression pedal control on the UltraViolet?
An expression pedal can be assigned to control any combination of knobs, in any direction, so a player can sweep speed and intensity together or run one backwards. Out of the box, the expression pedal controls Speed.
Who designed the Strymon UltraViolet?
Strymon co-founder Pete Celi, the company's DSP designer, is credited with the UltraViolet's development. He says it was created after extensive study of vintage units, and that it can do the authentic '60s thing while being much more versatile than the originals.
Sources (6)
- “It can totally do the hyper-authentic '60s thing, but it can do a bunch of otherstuff that makes it much more versatile”: Strymon puts “gooey wobble” on the menu with the UltraViolet Vintage Vibe, MusicRadar, 2023-09-26
- Strymon unveils new UltraViolet Vintage Vibe pedal, Guitar.com, 2023-09-28
- Strymon Releases the UltraViolet Vintage Vibe, Premier Guitar, 2023-09-26
- Strymon Ultraviolet Vintage Vibe, Pedal of the Day, 2023-09-26
- “Let 'er rip”: Eventide's new Riptide pedal puts iconic Uni-Vibe tones and “legendary overdrives” into one convenient stompbox, Guitar World, 2023-10-12
- “It can do so much more than the originals could”: Strymon gives the iconic Uni-Vibe a 21st century twist with the compact and affordable UltraViolet Vintage Vibe, Guitar World, 2023-09-26
