Univibe Shootout - MXR Uni-Vibe, Lovepedal Pickle Vibe & TC Electronic Viscous Vibe

[@FretFriendGWaL]

Viscous Vibe. Hardly ever on my board but if I need a vibe, I have it. It's so versatile and looks great...

[@TropicalFuzz]

Use the Vintage Vibe tone print, than edit with the editor on your computer: give 3db volume parameter boost and put Drive parameter on maximum (just give a little more midrange chewinees) and voilá, it sounds really like a vintage univibe.

[@MaxPaws]

I’ve owned all three of these pedals, and many more Vibes as well. The Pickle is the one that I keep on my board. Saying that, my Fulltone Stereo Deja Vibe has my favorite tone, but it’s a hugeASS pedal.

[@matteovrizzi]

thank you for the review. Finished it and bought the MXR.

[@vinniekay0967]

The ViscoVibe has the best depth, hands down! I bought the MXR first and still have it, never used it cause the week after, i got me the Viscous Vibe..

[@Ray-um3if]

Hi Dan, great comparison video, I liked the MXR right from the first shoot out and it was still my fav at the end. Love Univibe as an effect.

[@DanLeggatt]

I think the MXR isn’t quite dead on but I actually love it. I do need to try some more pricey ones I think just to see what I’m missing. However I don’t think my wallet will thank me 😂

[@khktgnk57]

Imo for the ''old school, three piece, guitar heavy'' style of playing the viscous vibe wins. Because of the stronger and asymetric throb, it just sounds more like the original units to me but it might not be the right choice if you want to use it for a decent colouring of your tone in a bigger band, rhythm playing etc

[@rodolfonaya7232]

Thank you very, very much for all your test. It was an excellent analysis and help me to choose one for me: MXR UNI VIBE. I heard sweeter than the other two. Thanks again

[@virtuososo]

I have the Viscous Vibe and dig it. The tone print allows the volume knob to be changed to a mix knob, which I find useful. Also, when you hold the footswitch it ramps up to a higher speed, then ramps back down on release - allowing Leslie type moves.

[@dalecopper3676]

P l ll by

[@TheToneLounge]

Are you running your vibe pedals before or after your distortion? The old school cats were sending their vibes through a cranked amp. Has a totally different feel compared to after drive pedals.

[@DanLeggatt]

Before, right into the front of the Marshall. Just like Jimi, except I’m no where near as cool 😂

[@TheToneLounge]

@@DanLeggatt none of us are lol

[@Bobby_twoshitz]

Do you know the pickle vibe has a internal DIP switch that adjust intensity

[@DenisSurette]

Good comparison. I own a LP Pickle Vibe. It sounds cool but like you say, it's very different to a Univibe. At 1st listen here, I found the TC Vibe sounded the most Hendrix-y, or the most authentic. I'll give it a 2nd go. Cheers

[@DanLeggatt]

Honestly I loved the Viscous when I got it but just couldn’t get it dialled quite right, especially live. However, I agree that it probably does sound the most Hendrixy, especially listening back.

[@jacobbrown1690]

Yea there are some amazing tone prints for the tc

[@mykelc205]

Mxr is the preferred choice on most boards between the 3.

[@ColeDrankWilly]

People tend to hate on the MXR vibe because they assume it is a cheap mass appeal gimmick because of the trademark name and it’s not a very adventurous find, but MXR did a really good job with this one. It got all the hate on KZbin comments when I was shopping for a vibe, but I leaned toward the MXR on every demo even tho I was kinda bias against it too!

[@DanLeggatt]

Agreed. It’s a shame they couldn’t do full photocell for it but I understand the reason they didn’t.

[@MaxPaws]

I don’t “hate” the MXR, but I definitely didn’t like it because of the sound, and sent it packing shortly after I bought it. I still have the Viscous because it’s one of those “I THINK I like it…” pedals. :-)

[@thorpenator9148]

I went down a vibe rabbit hole. Owned too many to list. The one I still have...and is very reasonable is EHX Cool Vibe.

[@DanLeggatt]

I’ll have to keep an eye out for one to try 👍

[@simonwest8338]

That MXR is properly chewy, and definitely gets my vote. Vibe for me is always one of those effects that I love as a texture in a track. I never actually choose it as one to play through though. Do you have anything similar with effects, where you like the sound of it or someone else's use of it but wouldn't choose to use it yourself?

[@DanLeggatt]

Oh man the list is massive 😂 always love the idea of a Whammy but every time I use it I sound like a drunk robot 😂 Rhythmic delay stuff, just never get it sounding good for me either, even with tap. Just sounds muddled. The list goes on.. I used to think I didn’t like vox amps but that’s recently been proved completely wrong 😂

[@RaisonBaby]

X -Vibe tone print is the setting for the viscous

[@bigstick5278]

Dan Electro Cool Cat Vibe for the low budget and Bob Sweet for the high end Vibe. Both have photocell setup.

[@jacobbrown1690]

Dan electro chicken salad is one of the best vibes

[@Terry3Gs]

Nice job on this ... the pickle i feel almost sounds like a flanger to me ... the dunlop to me is the best with that viscous vibe probly a close second.

[@DanLeggatt]

Thanks. I’m sure there are better vibes out there but I think all 3 are very cool. How authentic they are is another matter.

[@AndrewLewisHowe]

I use the Pickle Vibe on my gig board. My studio uni-vibes are the Dano CoolCat Vibe (a real photocell clone) and the Digitech Ventura. I have a Dunlop Stereo Univibe, but I actually prefer the Ventura over it for stereo uses. IMHO, the Dano is the best I have. I suspect the photocell is part of the magic, but Dano may have been pretty exact all-around when designing their clone. Another good cheapo is the Kokko Vibe. No, it's not a perfect clone by any means, but it does the trick at low cost. Like the Pickle Vibe, it has more of a thick lush phaser quality than exactly a univibe clone.

[@DanLeggatt]

I totally forgot I used to own one of those Danos! Yeah it was great. I only ended up getting rid because it actually made a lot of noise happen on my board. Like a constant pulsing sound. However this was a long time ago and I was much less experience so could have been more user error with regards to power supply etc.

[@AndrewLewisHowe]

@@DanLeggatt I think mine does the same. I've noticed that in a few mod pedals - the woosh of the cycle in the background.

[@mikejamieson419]

I have the kokko, is the pickle that much better?

[@AndrewLewisHowe]

@@mikejamieson419 I prefer the Pickle, but they're definitely close enough for live work and able to pull off the Trower thing.

[@wesmitchem825]

The danelectro cool cat vibe and chicken salad vibrato both are photocell univibes also the ehx good vibes and I'm pretty sure the mxr does have photocells and a bulb just like the Dunlop univibe I got the only one that's truly digital is the viscous vibe I got a digitech Ventura vibe that is digital as well but still sounds more authentic than my Dunlop univibe for some reason

[@rareform6747]

Love my two Marshall Origen's with MXR and Wah Master in front and all the reverbs delays in the Back *; ^ )*

[@JoeGreenRocks]

Even though the Pickle Vibe belongs to me I’ve gotta say the Uni-Vibe is winning it for me still. Great showdown though, all nice pedals.

[@DanLeggatt]

Let’s go and blow £400 on a univibe soon 😂 Just to see what it’s like

[@JoeGreenRocks]

@@DanLeggatt you know I love buying gear 😂

[@DanLeggatt]

@@JoeGreenRocks I can’t believe I never noticed 😂😂

[@Hugh_Manitee]

Viscous vibe steals the top end.

[@FrankNahtMusic]

There's another pedal, like the Viscous, that It have that vintage Tail?? Help me please 😢

[@stiffrichard2816]

Does the Pickle have any internal trim pots? I would think at least one.

[@organjoe]

Yes. Internal pot - I think it adjusts the depth.

[@RivasGuitar]

Yep, there's a trimpot inside

[@stephenfreeman834]

So.what one dose the best bridge of sighs Trower tone??

[@fromtheroottothefruit]

Peace,end good vibes is the way to go,4 cds photocells,expression port,a true unvibe clone....leaves those you have way behind,mxr own the name but THAT'S it just a fancy phaser it doesn't have photocells,so can't compete.

[@MrNeilfatmonkey]

I’ve just got rid of my Korg Nuvibe which was pretty authentic, plus I really like the sound of the univibe model on the helix. Of the three here I actually really like the Viscous Vibe, but if it’s not doing the thing you want, fair play. Have you ever tried the MXR phase 95? It’s my absolute favourite modulation pedal and well worth a go for those phase 90/45 tones plus the script versions.

[@DanLeggatt]

Man that NuVibe looks so cool but bloody massive 😂 Funny you say about the 95. I saw one for sale on Facebook the other day and got very tempted.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

The MXR gets my vote. I’ve gone off TC’s stuff. It’s as if they lack something…. Balls? But seriously, all the classic effects coloured the tone to an extent (chorus etc), and it’s what I look for in a pedal, as an 80’s child.

[@markinthemix6055]

Consider the Kemper vibe. Sounds as good as any of these.

[@DanLeggatt]

I personally don’t love the vibe sounds from the Kemper. Just sounds a bit too phasey for my taste. I can get close by combining a few blocks but then it limits what else I can get in a patch.

[@noworries12]

the TC seems to be pretty dull...perhaps you can change that in the app...the vibe sounds like a cheap China pedal and the MXR sounds best...very musically-plug and play

[@CentaurusRelax314]

It's unfortunate-uni-vibe seems to be the outlier in pedals, where you really need to spend $200-300+ to get 'the real thing.' You can maybe get there with a Fulltone, but i didn't want to go there. Otherwise, the Wilson Effects _Haze_ is well-regarded at not a ton(ne) of money. But, this cost thing: this is why i still don't have a uni-vibe, after months of research and deliberation. I eventually dismissed the idea, because i recognized i'd only want it to mess around with one or two songs.... I mean, after _Machine Gun_ and _Bridge of Sighs,_ that was about it for me. Not a very good Cost-Per-Strum factor. // I'm really surprised MXR didn't get this one 'right.' And that there's no Boss. Oh, yeah-there's a Moen Shaky Jimi that people speak highly of, though maybe that's in the context of its low price. I actually ordered the hideous thing from a sketchy piece of shit on ebay, but it arrived DOA, and i was so 'shaky' from the experience that i just gave up.

[@DanLeggatt]

Agree with you on the ‘cost per strum’ thing. I’d love a super fancy vibe at some point but it wouldn’t be a practical purchase for me right now. Maybe when I join a blues / rock band at some point!

[@Penno335]

MXR sounds best ..... that being said I have the T-Rex Viper and i've still not found anything better ... just my 2 pence worth.

[@DanLeggatt]

Might have to keep an eye out for one to try. Thanks for the tip 👍

[@bigstick5278]

Damn glad for the sub titles, thought Ozzy was talking in the beginning..

[@manthonyiovine]

Please don’t use the whammy, you can’t hear the effect correctly

[@metalmick]

Mxr👍

[@stoneheadz]

Folks if you want a real sound of the uni vibe by the electronics viscouse vibe put the Jack in in the stereo put not the mono it's a trick for shelling so guy put the jack by stereo input if you want the real sounds of Hendrix s or trower so don't us the in the mono input I have that viscouse vibe for never knew 3 years I figure out this years so I mean the viscouse is the best and don't us the tonprint is a crap thing ,ladies and gentlemen my excuses for my bad bad English

[@stratolestele7611]

It's a "decent" pedal. I had one, among the many vibes I've had over the past 25 years. I finally landed with my favorite (duh, that's why I ended my search), the MJM Sixties Vibe that uses the photo-cell architecture running at 18 volts. 'Is superb and is my final vibe pedal. Through my cranked plexi with a touch of delay (depending on the room I'm in) or if I'm using my '68 Super Reverb, but I like using the SR with my Leslie model 16. But the vibe sounds great straight into Super with the Leslie bypassed.

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

I'm out no fender stratocaster no watch

[@thepatriot4355]

First off you're not Authentic Hendrix used a fender Stratocaster 98% of the time and the other 2% it was a Sg.. not a Suhr guitar or anything else

[@DanLeggatt]

Not sure why you think I’m trying to be ‘authentic Hendrix’?! My only reference to him in the video is to give an idea of the type of vibe sound I’m after. I don’t play anything like him and don’t intend to 🤷‍♂️😂

[@jonathonfuqua6730]

Lol!!!

[@BCRSIX]

Also used a Flying-V sometimes.

[@gregorglasbruch6917]

For he does not play left handed this never could be authentic Hendrix.

[@richietownsend6737]

This was about the pedals, not Hendrix. Many other notable guitarists use Univibe. You’re welcome to grab your Strat and do your own Hendrix-centric Univibe demo videos. ☮️☮️