Rotary vs Univibe and small options?

stickyfiddle · August 2023

As titled - looking at options for something swirly for the gigging pedalboard. Ideally the size of a standard MXR or thereabouts.

First... what is the practical difference between Rotary and Univibe? I understand the history (actual Leslie speakers, univibe trying to copy them but failing but still being great, then better rotary pedals popping up later), but how does that translate to pedal sounds I can buy now?!

I had an MXR Univibe a few years ago and quite enjoyed that, and I have a Small Stone which is ace but is a phaser. I'm aware of the Micro Vents as TPS-Mick has used often in their vids. I also keep seeing the Grobert Lux Vibe on YouTube and that looks ace but is a little big when I'm meant to play bass most of the time.

Any wisdom, guidance etc is very welcome. Also any key records to reference for each of them?

digitalkettle · August 2023

Univibe sounds like this in my head:

digitalkettle · August 2023

...and rotary (at 1:07):

digitalkettle · August 2023

I got a Mini Vent II. For me, rotary has to be used ramping between the different speeds...that's where the magic is

koss59 · August 2023

I love leslie and phaser on records.
Unlike Digitalkettle I’m not as fussed (although it is great ) of the ramping between speeds but I love the slow speeds.
Listen to Barnstorm by Joe Walsh or Diamonds and Debris by Cry Of Love for something more modern.

I now have the micro vent but the Lex is good too.

gatheredinsong · August 2023

Focusing on 'MXR sized' I doubt you can go wrong with the Micro Vent. For non-rotary swirls, Skreddy Swirl? Mint Green Mini Vibe?

Neilybob · August 2023

Try a Digitech Ventura Vibe. Does rotary and univibe and a third option. Ram up available by holding down the foot switch. Has level, drive, mix, tone and depth. Love mine.

https://guitar.com/reviews/digitech-ventura-vibe-review/

ElectricXII · August 2023

I've had a Neo Mini Vent II on my board for years. For guitar tones, I use it for chorus and tremelo (when I'm not playing an amp that has tremelo), but mostly I use it with an EHX C9 for organ emulation. I think it's the best, reasonably compact, Leslie emulator out there. It'll do stereo too which is awesome with two amps, but I don't use stereo playing live.

Cranky · August 2023

I like the JHS Univibe pedal, the blue one with the unicorn on it. Sufficiently trippy.

normula1 · August 2023

The Neo stuff is brilliant. I have a mini Vent and a full fat Ventilator 2 which is awesome as it is huge.

TimmyO · August 2023

When I had a Lex I loved the ramping - and definitely over used it just cos I loved hearing it :-)

Lately I’ve been using the JHS Emperor (which is neither of the things you’re asking about) because when you tap in a fast tempo it sounds swirly and somewhat rotary, and when you tap a slow tempo it’s more of a general slow modulation.

I’d definitely try a Vent though if I could

stickyfiddle · August 2023

Ta - will do some listening.

I'm guessing the HX already has both sounds built in so I should probably start there before I do anything else.

My instinct is the Univibe is what I want but all the best regarded ones of those seem to come in big boxes

digitalkettle · August 2023

stickyfiddle said:

My instinct is the Univibe is what I want but all the best regarded ones of those seem to come in big boxes

The Vibe Machine is not to be sniffed at.

stickyfiddle · August 2023

digitalkettle said:

stickyfiddle said:

My instinct is the Univibe is what I want but all the best regarded ones of those seem to come in big boxes

The Vibe Machine is not to be sniffed at.

Yeah I saw that but haven't watched any vids yet. I like that you can add a rate control via tap or expression if you want

EDIT: ok the first 40 seconds of the Pete Thorn vid are inevitably incredible...

soma1975 · August 2023

The vibe machine 3 can do a decent Leslie impression with the ramping via an expression pedal or tap switch.

Its univibe tones are good enough for a few songs in a set but not in my opinion on the tier of the big box units if it is a core part of your sound.

It's very tweakable but this is a curse more than a blessing because you always think you can make it sounder better then you tweak then you lose your settings then you spend an age just getting back to those settings.

I just sold my third one (had 2x V3s and previously a.v2) as I kept on thinking I had the solution for its use.

dickieguitar · August 2023

I know you can't trust Wikipedia, but it does say on the Uni-Vibe entry there that the whole 'trying to sound like a Leslie' thing is a myth.

Which would explain why a Uni-Vibe sounds absolutely shit-all like a Leslie.

roberty · August 2023

dickieguitar said:

I know you can't trust Wikipedia, but it does say on the Uni-Vibe entry there that the whole 'trying to sound like a Leslie' thing is a myth.

Which would explain why a Uni-Vibe sounds absolutely shit-all like a Leslie.

The story goes the Japanese inventor wanted something that approximated the sound of medium wave radio fading in and out of reception

JohnPerry · August 2023

Lex sounds fab in stereo set slow

BintyTwanger77 · August 2023

Love the Jam Retrovibe, can’t remember whether it was the Mk2 or Mk3 I tried, but my favourite univibe.

Rotary-wise, I’ve heard the new V2 Strymon Lex is excellent.

Majorscale · August 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

Love the Jam Retrovibe, can’t remember whether it was the Mk2 or Mk3 I tried, but my favourite univibe.

Rotary-wise, I’ve heard the new V2 Strymon Lex is excellent.

Wouldn’t matter, they both sound exactly the same. The difference is in the footswitch and expression pedal compatibility…

The Retrovibe is a fab vibe and compact too. One of my favourites, although I’m currently using the (huge) Gypsy Vibe.

NickB · August 2023

In all honesty I think the HX Stomp will cover your needs. Especially as it has the effects loop so you can put your drives before the vibe. With the HX rotary settings I find them too bass heavy and use the 10 band eq block to make them more usable.

Fez · August 2023

I quite like the TC Viscous vibe sounds close and the toneprints give you loads of options though TBH I just use the stock setting. Small footprint and won't break the bank.

Dumodal · August 2023

The Strymon Lex V2 sounds awesome and I really enjoyed playing with it has s lot of options too, the size is medium general Strymon size thought.

TheBigDipper · August 2023

The best Vibe I've used for the Trower sound is a Fulltone Deja Vibe in front of an overdrive, but they're expensive, large and heavy. The TC Viscous Vibe on a Plethora was pretty good, so I'd expect the stand-alone pedal to be at least as good. I like the Vibe on my Mobius but haven't managed to dial in a decent Trower sound with it (and my own songs don't need a Vibe, so I'm not stressing about it). I seem to remember the Vibe on an HX Effects being pretty decent, too. But if you can afford the money and boardspace for a Deja Vibe...... ;-)