The Soulful Pulse of the Vibe Pedal

Few guitar effects carry the same mystique and character as the vibe pedal. Born in the late 1960s with the legendary Uni-Vibe, its throbbing, asymmetrical modulation isn’t quite a phaser, not quite a chorus—yet it delivers a sound that’s unmistakably alive. Warm, chewy, and hypnotic, the vibe effect became the heartbeat of psychedelic rock and soulful blues tones.

From Hendrix’s fiery live jams to Robin Trower’s atmospheric solos and Gilmour’s spacious textures, the Uni-Vibe guitar effect has shaped decades of iconic sounds. What sets it apart is its ability to move from subtle, pulsing depth to full psychedelic swirl—always expressive, always dripping with vintage mojo.

Today’s vibe pedals keep that soulful character while adding more flexibility, letting players chase authentic vintage tones or reimagine the effect in modern, ambient soundscapes.

A Brief History of the Vibe Effect

The original Uni-Vibe was developed in the late 1960s to simulate the sound of a Leslie rotary speaker. But it ended up becoming something totally different: a phase-shifted, throbbing modulation that soon found its way onto the pedalboards of legends like Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, and David Gilmour.

Unlike standard phasers or choruses, the Vibe has an asymmetrical waveform and distinct low-end emphasis, giving it a pulsing, chewy texture that feels alive.

The Technology Behind Vibe Pedals

The Uni-Vibe effect was originally designed in the late 1960s to mimic the swirling sound of a rotary speaker. Instead, it created something entirely unique—a phase-based modulation with its own asymmetrical movement and low-end emphasis. This gave it the chewy, throbby pulse that guitarists quickly fell in love with.

Unlike a standard phaser pedal, which uses evenly spaced notches in the frequency spectrum, a vibe circuit relies on a custom optical design with uneven phase shifts. This makes the modulation feel more organic and unpredictable, closer to the way acoustic instruments naturally breathe and move.

Most vibe pedals also emphasize the low frequencies more than a typical phaser, giving the effect its signature warm and pulsing character. Combined with a waveform that isn’t perfectly symmetrical, this results in a modulation that feels alive—almost like it’s interacting with your playing rather than sitting on top of it.

Modern vibe pedals build on this legacy, offering greater depth control, waveform shaping, stereo spread, and expression pedal support—so guitarists can capture both the classic Uni-Vibe swirl and new, more experimental textures.

How It Works on ELIPSE

The Vibe zone is found at the far end of the MOOD knob’s range. It morphs the internal phase modulation toward an asymmetrical waveform and deeper sweep—mimicking the original Uni-Vibe while offering modern flexibility.

Key shaping controls:

• SPEED: Controls the pulse rate (slow = swirl, fast = rotary-like shimmer)

• DEPTH: Controls the depth of the sweep

• SHAPE: Affects the symmetry and feel of the modulation

• MIX: Blend wet/dry for subtle motion or full vibe immersion

• SWIRL: Adds harmonic saturation or a secondary phasing layer

Tip: Use an expression pedal to sweep SPEED or DEPTH in real time—perfect for ramping into solos.

Iconic Pedals and Sounds That Inspired This Zone

• Shin-ei Uni-Vibe – The original vibe circuit

• Fulltone Deja Vibe – Modern analog Uni-Vibe reissue

• DryBell Vibe Machine – Compact boutique vibe

• MXR Uni-Vibe – Classic tone in a modern format

• Jam Pedals RetroVibe – Vintage tone with added control

Artists Known for Using Vibe Tones

• Jimi Hendrix – “Machine Gun” (live at Fillmore East): The ultimate Uni-Vibe showcase, deep and throbbing.

• Robin Trower – “Bridge of Sighs”: Slow, saturated vibe modulation across the entire track.

• John Mayer – “Out of My Mind” (live): Vibe used for expressive blues solos with modern clarity.

• Marcus King – “Goodbye Carolina”: Warm, swirling vibe for soulful southern rock.

• Gary Clark Jr. – “When My Train Pulls In” (live): Thick vibe modulation for expressive phrasing.

Shape your Vibe tone with ELIPSE

To enter the Vibe zone, turn the MOOD knob fully clockwise.

Recommended Settings:

• MOOD: 4 to 5 o’clock (Vibe zone)

• SPEED: Slow for classic swirl, fast for pulse

• DEPTH: Medium to high

• SHAPE: Left of noon for vintage feel, right for sharper pulse

• MIX: Noon or slightly right for immersive movement

• SWIRL: Slightly right for a harmonically rich tail

🎛️ Want Hendrix swirl? SPEED low, DEPTH high, SHAPE triangle, MIX at noon.
🎛️ Want ambient vibe pad? SPEED slow, SWIRL right, MIX full, SHAPE sine.

🎥 Watch the Vibe effect in Action

Get the Vibe preset for the ELIPSE:

Tone Characteristics

Perfect for psychedelic blues, ambient guitar, indie ballads, neo-soul, or any solo that needs depth and vibe.

Pro Tips: Morph Between Vibe and Phaser

Since the Vibe zone is adjacent to Phaser on the MOOD knob, you can use expression pedal or MIDI to morph between the two—creating swells, transitions, or synced modulation builds that feel completely analog.

ELIPSE turns the classic Vibe into a living, breathing modulation tool.

Before you go back playing

• Download the Vibe Preset for ELIPSE
• Watch the full Tutorial to learn how to use the ELIPSE in depth
• Subscribe to Our Newsletter: Receive weekly tone tips and presets

• Explore the Kernom ELIPSE Product Page
• Discover the MOHO (Multi-Fuzz) and the RIDGE (Multi-Overdrive)

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