Finding the best vibrato pedals that will give your guitar that unique vibe effect isn’t that easy. In this review, we will compare the most popular vibrato/rotary guitar effects pedals on the market, so you can figure out which one is right for you and your pedalboard.
Before we look at any pedals, here are a few things you might want to consider before you add a Vibe pedal to your collection.
- Number of sound wave controls
- Ease of controllably
- Versatility – are there multiple modes?
- Pedalboard size – will it fit?
Let’s take a look at some of the top-rated vibrato guitar pedals on the market today!
Click Below to Compare the Best Vibe Guitar Effects Pedals in 2020
Contents
- 1 Click Below to Compare the Best Vibe Guitar Effects Pedals in 2020
- 1.1 JHS Unicorn V2 Analog Uni-vibe Guitar Effects Pedal
- 1.2 TC Electronic Shaker Vibrato Pedal
- 1.3 Dunlop M68 Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato
- 1.4 Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe Guitar Effect Pedal
- 1.5 ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky Vexter Series Chorus Vibrato Guitar Pedal
- 1.6 TC Electronic Viscous Vibe Pedal
- 1.7 EarthQuaker The Depths Optical Vibe Circuit Effects Pedal
- 1.8 DigiTech Ventura-vibe Rotary/Vibrato Pedal
- 1.9 Boss VB-2W Waza Craft Vibrato Pedal
- 1.10 Donner Guitar Modulation Effect Pedal
- 1.11 Behringer Ultra Vibrato UV300 Classic Vibrato Effects Pedal
Here is a list of the best vibe effects pedals on the market today that will make your rig scream!
- JHS Unicorn V2 Analog Uni-vibe Guitar Effects Pedal
- TC Electronic Shaker Vibrato Pedal
- Dunlop M68 Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato
- Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe Guitar Effect Pedal
- ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky Vexter Series Chorus Vibrato Guitar Pedal
- TC Electronic Viscous Vibe Pedal
- EarthQuaker The Depths Optical Vibe Circuit Effects Pedal
- DigiTech Ventura-vibe Rotary/Vibrato Pedal
- Boss VB-2W Waza Craft Vibrato Pedal
- Donner Guitar Modulation Effect Pedal
- Behringer Ultra Vibrato UV300 Classic Vibrato Effects Pedal
JHS Unicorn V2 Analog Uni-vibe Guitar Effects Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
If you are looking for the classic, vintage vibe tones pedal, but with a tap tempo feature, you might be interested in JHS Unicorn V2. The pedal has full analog circuitry with photocell resistor for modulation, that quality, vintage sound.
The pedal has four control knobs: Volume, Speed, Ratio, and Depth.
In the center of the pedal, you can find a dry/wet switch, that lets you choose between a Uni-vibe effect (dry), and full Vibrato (wet). There are two footswitches on the box. The one on the left is on/off and the one on the right is a Tap Tempo. There is also an option to install external expression pedal or a tap/tempo footswitch with the input on the right panel of the pedal. The Led light above the tap tempo footswitch shows the pulses of the effect.
Pros and Highlights
- Hand-built – This says a lot, right? The JHS pedals are handcrafted, in their pedal laboratory in Kansas City
- Versatile – This pedal is very versatile, with the dry/wet function, and the four control knobs
you can get all the vibes that you dreamed of - Easy to use – Easy as it can get!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Pricey – This is maybe not the most expensive Vibrato pedal, but there are way cheaper options too! However, the quality of this pedal will justify the price.
Bottom line
Classic, vintage Uni-Vibe sound with modern features likes tap tempo, and input for an expression… What can one player want more?
The JHS Unicorn V2 is a great, handcrafted, versatile Vibrato pedal.
TC Electronic Shaker Vibrato Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
TC Electronic Shaker Vibrato is not just another Vibrato pedal, the company paired the old and the new technology together, making this unit perfect for shaking up your tone with an enormous amount of control over the sound.
The pedal has four control knobs on the front panel: Speed, Depth, Rise Time, and Tone.
The feature that makes this pedal special is the three-way toggle switch in the center of the control knobs. The three modes you can access with the switch are Vibrato, Toneprint mode, and Latch.
With the “Vibrato” you get the classic vibrato pedal. The Toneprint mode allows you to download pre-made presets from your PC, with the USB connection of course.
The Latch mode is what makes this pedal unique and great for live performances. This mode works only when you are holding down the switch, and what happens is that the vibrato is coming as fast as you set the Rise Time control knob. This mode creates an effect similar to the “Leslie” speaker sound that can be found in the Hammond organs.
Pros and Highlights
- Flexible – The three modes along with the four control knobs, give a ton of versatility and flexibility for live playing. The Toneprint mode is probably the future of guitar pedals!
- Latch Mode – With the Latch mode you can use that sweet vibrato only on the spots you want to, with a very small effort!
- High quality – The sound of this pedal is incredible!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons
Bottom line
The TC Electronic Shaker is a top-notch, high-quality pedal. It is sturdily-built; it is pretty affordable and very versatile. Definitely one of the best Vibrato pedals ever!
Dunlop M68 Uni-Vibe Chorus/Vibrato
Specs, features, and benefits
The Dunlop M68 Uni-Vibe pretty much has the same classic sound as the original Univox Uni-Vibe from the sixties. However, Dunlop made sure that this pedal is going to be compact and sturdy built. The circuitry is analog, and this is why the sound of this unit is so sweet.
The pedal has three control knobs on it: Speed, Level, and Depth.
And a push-button for choosing between Chorus, and Vibrato sound. The pedal is very compact and sturdy built.
Pros and Highlights
- Analog! – Driven by FET transistors, the M68 Uni-Vibe the great Vibrato sound from the sixties and seventies, that can be heard in the playing of Hendrix, Gilmour etc.
- Compact, sturdy built – The pedal is a good fit for a pedalboard, and it’s built very sturdily;
- Affordable – This pedal won’t break the bank, and having in mind the sound you will get, it’s pretty cheap!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Poor Chorus effect – Well, some players love it; don’t like the chorus effect on this pedal at all. However, the Vibrato is great! And that’s why this pedal is on the “Top Vibrato Pedals” list.
Bottom line
Great pedal, fully analog and compact. The control knobs are very nice; they let you have control over your Vibrato/Chorus effect. Versatile as this pedal is, it is very simple to use. Also, it’s pretty affordable, and many players keep it all the time on their pedalboard.
Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe Guitar Effect Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
The Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe is built with the same parts as the original Univibe from the sixties. It’s a hand-built pedal, true-bypass, very easy to operate Vibrato pedal. One of the best clones of the classic Uni-vibe. The pedal has two control knobs: Intensity and Speed. And a footswitch. The casing of this unit is pretty stiff and has some interesting print on it.
It can be powered by a power adapter or nine-volt battery.
Pros and Highlights
- Easy to operate – There are only two control knobs on the pedal, making it one of the easiest to-use pedals ever!
- Affordable – The pedal is reasonably priced
- Sturdy construction
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Tone suck – The pedal tends to cut off the highs and mids, and boosts the lows when engaged.
Bottom line
Some players love the Micro Vibe, while others think that the pedal is just a bad copy of the Uni-vibe. Many players reported tone loss, highs and mids loss actually, and that is pretty bad. However, we suggest that you should try it… Many people absolutely love the swirls of this unit, and you might join their club too. Our suggestion, try it before you buy it!
ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky Vexter Series Chorus Vibrato Guitar Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
The ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky is made to emulate the old Lo-Fi Loop Junky with some cool new features. The circuitry of the pedal is fully analog and has a pretty unique sound. The pedal has five control knobs: Volume, Tone, Comp/Lo-fi, Depth, and Speed.
Above the control knobs, in the right, you can find a three-way toggle switch. The switch lets the player choose from Sine, Triangle, or Square waveform.
ZVEX is known for delivering high-quality pedals, and this is the case with this unit too!
Pros and Highlights
- Unique, Inspirational – If you are into shaping unique guitar sounds, ZVEX Instant Lo-Fi Junky is probably the right choice for you!
- High-quality – ZVEX is well known for high-quality products
- Versatile – This pedal offers a lot. You will be amazed how many different soundscapes can come out of such a small box
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Not your ordinary Vibrato pedal – You might get overwhelmed with the sounds this unit can provide, and even confused. The Instant Lo-fi Junky is a very versatile pedal, and the classic Vibrato can be achieved with some time messing with it. However, if you are not ready for it, and you are not ready for the versatility this pedal has, keep on reading the list.
Bottom line
The ZVEX Instant Lo-fi Junky is a great, versatile pedal. It’s a high quality, very versatile one, and it will make you fall in love if you are into lo-fi, unique guitar pedals.
However, this is not for someone who wants the classic Vibrato guitar pedal, as it offers much more than that. However, this is a great quality pedal and does exactly what it stands for.
TC Electronic Viscous Vibe Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
The TC Electronic Viscous Vibe, just like most of the pedals in this list, is basically made to reproduce the tone of the original Shin-Ei Uni-Vibe from the sixties. However, this pedal is much more than that.
First of all, the Viscous Vibe gives you the option to choose between True or Buffered Bypass. This can make a huge amount of difference in the world of pedals. Most of the pedals nowadays are not giving you this option. You can choose between stereo or mono inputs and outputs on the Viscous Vibe.
The pedal has three control knobs: Intensity, Speed, and Volume.
It also has a three-way toggle switch that lets you choose from Chorus, Toneprint, or Vibrato mode. The Toneprint mode is basically a feature with which you can download a preset with the Toneprint software from TC-Electronics. There you can find a ton of presets made by a bunch of world-famous guitar players. You can even use the Toneprint software with your cellphone.
Another interesting feature is, when you press & hold the footswitch, the speed of the effect will increase.
Also, for tone-freaks, it is very important to say that your signal coming in the pedal can be untouched coming out. It can only pass the effect. This can be set with an internal DIP switch.
Pros and Highlights
- Versatile – This pedal offers a lot of features. This is probably the most versatile Vibrato pedal ever
- Compact design – The pedal is very pedalboard-friendly
- Affordable – This pedal offers so much, and still is on the cheaper spectrum of Vibrato pedals.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons – Even if the Vibrato and Chorus modes don’t work for your ear, you still have the Toneprint feature. You can use it with your cellphone!
Bottom line
The TC Electronic Viscous Vibe pedal is truly a great one. It offers a ton of features. It’s a very compact, versatile, sturdy built, and modern Vibrato pedal. The price is very reasonable too!
EarthQuaker The Depths Optical Vibe Circuit Effects Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
Earthquaker sure did a good job with their take on the classic Uni-Vibe pedal tones. The circuitry of the pedal is packed up with a flashing lamp and four photocell sensors, that will give you one of the sweetest pulses ever.
The Depths has five control knobs on the board: Intensity, Rate, Level, Voice, and Throb. Playing with the knobs, you can achieve any Vibrato sound you ever fantasized about.
From the classic Uni-Vibe to more intense one, The Depths has got your back.
This pedal can be used with different instruments other than guitars too! Just plug & play your bass, organ, synth, or whatever! The pedal is powered by 9V or 18V power adapter. Did you know that the voltage can make a change in your sound too?
Pros and Highlights
- Full Analog – I don’t know about you, but this is a huge deal for me!!! The analog circuitry will assure you have the best vibes sound quality
- Hand-built – Earthquaker produce every pedal with a big amount of care, testing their products and everything
- Versatile – The pedal offers a lot of control to the player with the control knobs. You can even choose what kind of adapter you want to plug in… Works beautifully with other instruments than guitar too!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Lack of expression pedal – I would say this is not a con, but many players are looking for the
on-foot control of the rate – just like on the original Uni-Vibe pedal
Bottom line
Earthquaker is a widely known company for its high-quality products. The Depths is truly a pedal of high quality and versatility. The analog circuit in The Depths makes some of the sweetest vibe sounds ever. However, some players are still looking for an expression pedal, which The Depths lacks. It is best for the players who want to set their vibes with the whole song in their mind.
DigiTech Ventura-vibe Rotary/Vibrato Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
The versatility of the Ventura-vibe by Digitech is amazing! In fact, this pedal goes all the way, from the classic vintage vibrato to some of the most intense warbles out there.
There are five control knobs on the pedal available: Speed, Depth, Mix, and the stacked Tone/Drive. Right above them is the three-way switch, that lets the player choose from a vintage, modern, or rotary mode.
The footswitch on the pedal other than an on/off switch can be used to ramp up/down the speed of the effect. The pedal is true bypass and has both mono and stereo inputs/outputs.
Digitech even provides a “stomplock”, to assure that your knob tweaks won’t move from gig to gig.
Pros and Highlights
- Versatile – The Digitech Ventura-vibe is one of the most versatile Vibrato pedals
- Sturdy – The pedal feels like it’s bulletproof, and the stomplock provides even more safety
- Affordable – This pedal is pretty affordable in comparison with the other Vibrato pedals and still provides a high-quality performance
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Digital – This might not be a con or a flaw, but if you ask me, I would always go for the analog. However, this might not be a concern for you. Many people love digital over analog, and the Ventura Vibe is surely a great pedal!
Bottom line
The Digitech Ventura Vibe is truly one of the greatest Vibrato pedals ever made! Bravo Digitech! Well, all the versatility this pedal has, it’s amazing… It’s sturdily built and looks awesome. On top of that, it comes for a really reasonable price.
Boss VB-2W Waza Craft Vibrato Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
It’s hard to make a “Top pedals” list without including the top bestseller in the guitar pedals world. The VB-2W has a full analog circuitry and is a recreation of the original Boss VB-2 pedal from the eighties.
The pedal is featuring three control knobs: Rate, Depth, and Rise Time, and an additional switch knob for choosing from Latch, Bypass, or Unlatch footswitch mode.
Beneath the three control knobs, there is an additional mini two-way switch for choosing between Standard and Custom mode. Common for Boss pedals, the VB-2W pedal is made to last for decades. The pedal also has an input for an additional expression pedal.
Pros and Highlights
- Versatile!!!
- Made to last – This is not uncommon for Boss pedals
- Full analog circuitry – This is why the Boss VB-2W sounds so beautiful.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Pricey – The quality and versatility this pedal provides will justify the price. Still, some of the players will find this pedal pricey. There are cheaper options too!
Bottom line
The Boss VB-2W is a sturdy-built, versatile Vibrato pedal, with full analog circuitry and a beautiful sound. Some players think it’s a bit overpriced, but the sound quality you will get with this pedal is priceless.
Donner Guitar Modulation Effect Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
This little pedal is a true monster when it comes to versatility. The pedal has seven modes, which you can pick with the big control knob in the center of the pedal. Chorus A, Chorus B, Phaser, Tremolo, Rotary, Vibrato, and Flanger modes are available.
Amazing right?
It also has three small control knobs, Level, Depth, and Rate. The pedal is a true bypass. It comes for an incredibly low cost. If you are a beginner in the modulation guitar effects, and you don’t want to break the bank, this pedal might be your best choice.
Pros and Highlights
- Low Cost – This pedal is amazingly cheap for what it can do!
- Versatile – Yes, the pedal has seven modes!
- Great built – The pedal is built pretty sturdily.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Oh, well… – This pedal is pretty cheap, and for the price, you get a lot. Of course, not every effect on this pedal sounds amazing, but hey, who knows, maybe you’ll like it.
Bottom line
This pedal is on the cheaper spectrum of this list, and still, it provides some interesting effects. Most of the players like tremolo and the chorus the best. If you are a newbie in the guitar world, this pedal probably suits you well. It has some interesting effects you can play with, and won’t break the bank.
Behringer Ultra Vibrato UV300 Classic Vibrato Effects Pedal
Specs, features, and benefits
The Behringer Ultra Vibrato UV300 is the winner in the competition of the cheapest Vibrato pedals on this list. It is amazing how many players are satisfied with this pedal. It’s pretty versatile too. It runs on Behringer power adapter or 9V battery.
The pedal has three control knobs: Rise, Rate, and Depth. And three modes: Unlatch, Bypass, and Latch.
Pros and Highlights
- Cheap! – This pedal is so cheap… It has the price of like a pizza or something
- Great for beginners – Want a different sound? Do you want to get in modulation guitar effects?
Behringer UV300 is the thing for you! - Versatile – This pedal is pretty versatile. Tweak around the knobs to take advantage of your desired sound.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Cheap made – Although it offers a lot for the price, this pedal is not the highest quality one.
Bottom line
Great for beginners/newbies in the guitar world. If you are a player that wants to rock in his bedroom, not break the bank, and still have some modulation effect, the Behringer UV300 is here for you. If you are a professional, think twice and read this list again. 🙂
What We Recommend and Why
We highly recommend trying a bunch of pedals from this list, and deciding what suits you best. However, we must recommend the best one in this section. The JHS Unicorn V2 deserves this place. It’s analog, it’s versatile, compact and sounds great. You could easily fall in love with this pedal. It has a tap tempo feature and an input for an expression pedal.
It’s a bit pricier, but the quality in sound and performance you’ll get is priceless.
