The Shin-ei U-915 Chorus/Vibrato Rack Module is a vibrato and chorus unit built for a 19-inch equipment rack rather than a pedalboard. Created by the Shin-ei Custom Shop, it is, in the maker's own words, "a 19\" rack mounted version of the Vibe-Bro with the addition of some module innovative and desirable flexibility"1. In other words, it takes the circuit and character of Shin-ei's Vibe-Bro 120V floor pedal and repackages it for rack use, with extra switching and speed options the pedal does not have.
The unit is a strict limited edition: Shin-ei states that only twenty units will be available for purchase1. The list price is $1,799.002.
A Vibe-Bro in a 19-inch rack
The Vibe-Bro pedal offers Chorus and Vibrato modes selected via a rare and original NOS Red/White Miyama switch3. It carries a list price of $699, with an optional footswitch from $199, both available in either Classic Black or Machine Gun Gray finish4. The pedal is also offered in a Vintage Black color option with a black Chorus/Vibrato switch5.
The U-915 carries the pedal's core controls over unchanged. Shin-ei lists the familiar features as the Bypass-Preamp switch, the Volume/Intensity controls, and the Chorus-Vibrato switch1. What the rack format adds is flexibility in how you switch and set the effect:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bypass-Preamp switch | Carried over from the Vibe-Bro1 |
| Volume/Intensity controls | Carried over from the Vibe-Bro1 |
| Chorus-Vibrato switch | Selects the two modes, as on the pedal1 |
| Fast and Slow controls | Two speed setting controls, labeled "Fast and Slow"1 |
| Vibe-Bro In/Out toggle | Front panel toggle switch to choose "Vibe-Bro In or Vibe-Bro Out"1 |
The heart of the unit lives in what Shin-ei describes as "an attractive high quality 19\" anodized aluminum enclosure"1. It is offered in either Vintage Black or San Antonio Silver1.
Remote control and switching
The most significant addition over the pedal is remote control. The U-915 includes two rear panel stereo switching jacks, and Shin-ei says of them1:
"These allow the user to control EVERY manual function REMOTELY"
Shin-ei product page1
External foot switches are not supplied, so a player wanting to change speed, mode, or bypass state from across the stage needs to provide their own switching hardware1. Combined with the front panel Vibe-Bro In/Out toggle, this gives the rack unit a switching arrangement the floor pedal cannot match: everything on the front panel can also be triggered from a footswitch at the back.
Power and configuration
The U-915 is available in 120V, 240V, 220V, and 100V (Japan) configurations, and the voltage must be specified at the time of ordering1. This is a mains-powered rack unit rather than a battery- or adapter-driven pedal, which is worth noting for players used to pedalboard power supplies.
International U-915 units are shipped without a C13 IEC wall cable, so buyers outside the unit's native region need a suitable mains cable1.
Shin-ei also lists capacitor VALUE options for the unit: .1uf 600VDC, .02uf 400VDC, and .05uf 400VDC1.
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Questions
What is the Shin-ei U-915?
The U-915 is a chorus/vibrato rack module created by the Shin-ei Custom Shop. It is a 19-inch rack mounted version of the Vibe-Bro pedal, housed in an anodized aluminum enclosure, with the Vibe-Bro's Bypass-Preamp switch, Volume/Intensity controls, and Chorus-Vibrato switch carried over, plus added rack-specific features. It is a limited edition of twenty units priced at $1,799.
How is the U-915 different from the Vibe-Bro pedal?
The U-915 puts the Vibe-Bro's chorus/vibrato circuit in a 19-inch rack chassis instead of a floor pedal enclosure. It adds two speed setting controls labeled Fast and Slow, a front panel toggle switch for Vibe-Bro In or Out, and two rear panel stereo switching jacks for remote control. It is also offered in different finishes: Vintage Black or San Antonio Silver.
Can the U-915 be controlled with a footswitch?
Yes. The U-915 has two rear panel stereo switching jacks that let you control every manual function remotely with external foot switches. The foot switches themselves are not supplied with the unit, so you need to provide your own.
What colors does the U-915 come in?
The U-915 is offered in either Vintage Black or San Antonio Silver. Both finishes are applied to the same 19-inch anodized aluminum enclosure.
What power voltages does the U-915 support?
The U-915 is available in 120V, 240V, 220V, and 100V (Japan) configurations, and you specify your voltage at the time of ordering. International units ship without a C13 IEC wall cable, so you need a mains cable suited to your region.
Sources (5)
- Shin-ei U-915 Chorus/Vibrato Rack Module, Shin-ei
- Shin-ei Vibe-Bro chorus/vibrato vintage Uni-Vibe speed control pedal, Shin-ei (shin-ei.com store)
- Shin-Ei Vibe-Bro Vintage Chorus-Vibrato, Pedal of the Day, 2016-08-01
- Shin-Ei Retro FX Vibe-Bro Chorus Vibrato pedal reissued, gearnews.com, 2016-05-24
- Shin-ei Vibe-Bro chorus/vibrato effects pedal,Uni-Vibe, Shin-ei
