![Mojo copy]() | Mojo copy
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let me just brief you on all things 'vibey'. The Uni-Vibe as used by Hendrix (listen to 'Machine Gun'), Robin Trower, Stevie Ray and a host of other guitarists is at its heart, a phaser pedal. It uses a different approach than your basic phase 90 type pedal to get its sound such as transistors instead of op-amps and a lamp and LDR's (light dependant resistors) to control the pulsing throb of the phase effect. So even though the Uni-Vibe is a phaser, these design differences really do separate its sound from your normal phaser pedal and it's these differences that boutique builders have been trying to replicate for years.
The Clone War
With the boutique versions plugged into a single 12" combo, the differences were reasonably mild, but with an old 100 watt Marshall plugged into a 4x12" turned up to the pleasure/pain threshold, we suddenly heard what separated the original from most of the clones.
With the original every time the phase cycles, the bottom end of the vibe effect thumps you in the chest like a fist. The Mojo Vibe was the only other vibe to replicate this quality almost exactly. Its lush and buttery phase tone has all the qualities and character of the original Uni-Vibe in a package about ¼ of the size.
It also has an expression pedal input so you can plug any sort of passive expression pedal in and control the speed of the effect in real time. No place on your board for an expression pedal? No big deal, as the speed knob is the largest knob I've ever seen on a pedal and is easily controlled with your foot.
How much should I pay?
You can buy these new in the USA for $299. By the time it gets here with shipping and duty, you're looking the ugly side of £200. Second hand price really isn't going to be much different as they're sought after and known world wide as 'the one to own'. But you need to compare this to the price of an original Uni-Vibe which now goes for well over £1000.
Bob Sweet the man behind Sweet Sound Electronics recently lost his battle with cancer but the word is that the company will continue for the forseable future. Bob's attention to detail was phenomenal, with the build quality as good as you're ever going to see, but even if it came in plastic box with dodgy wiring and a suspect circuit board, it sounds so good that I'd still recommend you find one.
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