I’ve always been a huge fan of UniVibes. That mysterious haunting tone made famous by Hendrix, Trower and Gilmour is simply irresistible. However, the UniVibe’s large footprint is often a hassle for cramped pedal boards. The Dry Bell Vibe Machine promise to capture all the magic and lure of the classic tones with a few extras under the hood. All in a neat little box suitable for any pedal board. Here’s my review.
To say that I’m a fan of UniVibes is perhaps an understatement. I love them and can’t live without them. Machine Gun, Breathe, Bridge of Sighs… It doesn’t get any better that this. David Gilmour first started using UniVibes in early 1972 when Pink Floyd premiered and toured Eclipse – the suite that would later evolve into Dark Side of the Moon. Years later, the circuit was customized into a rack unit still featured in David’s rig.
The Vibe Machine is housed in a MXR-sized box with true bypass switching and 9V Boss-style adapter power feed. A smaller sized design allows the same four photocells opto-system of the original UniVibe to be fitted into a neat little box. By carefully testing and measuring the physics of the system, Dry Bell has come up with a pedal that’s quite impressive and unique.
The Vibe Machine is loaded with lots of cool features. It has two main controls for intensity, controlling the depth of the sweep, and speed. A mini toggle switch switches between vibrato and the more familiar chorus mode. A second toggle switch switches between bright and original mode. The original mode produces the same lo-fi throbbing sounds of the original UniVibe. The bright mode sets a higher input impedance, boosting the high mids and treble and creates a more dynamic tone that works especially well with low output single coils and large tone draining pedal boards.
Located on the side of the pedal there are three trim pots allowing you to adjust the symetry, the range of the intensity control and the master volume (reduce up to 4dB). There’s also a second input for expression pedal for controlling the speed just like on the original UniVibe. Any expression pedal will do (100 kOhm pot recommended). Inside the pedal there are two jumper switches. One switching between buffered or original Uni-Vibe output circuit and a second switch that sets the speed ramp for the expression pedal just like on a real Leslie.
I’ve lost count over how many different UniVibes I’ve played over the years. Some of them are very true to the original while others offer something different with more or less success. I must admit that I was a bit skeptic when I first heard about the Vibe Machine. Yet another clone cramped into a small box that didn’t live up to its name? Well, I was wrong. This is the real deal.
I’ve always preferred brighter sounding UniVibes. It works best for my setup. However, the original mode sounds incredibly open and lush and blends nicely with overdrives and more aggressive distortions. The bright mode is my favourite though. With the intensity at about noon the Vibe Machine will produce those huge Hendrix tones even on the lowest amp volume levels. Add a bit of tube gain and you’re on your way to Woodstock! As you can hear from the featured clip, the Vibe Machine also manages to stay focused and balanced even at the fastest speed rates.
The Vibe Machine is definitely one of the better UniVibes I’ve played and with its smaller footprint it will be welcomed with cheering applause to my pedal board. Whether you want Gilmour, Hendrix or just a great sounding vibe pedal, the Vibe Machine will deliver! Check out DryBell.Com for more details.
The Vibe Machine was tested for both stage and home setups with a Reeves Custom 50 and a Laney L20 with both single coils and humbuckers.
Hey Bjorn, great website. I cannot thank you enough for the advice you’ve provided about effects
I’ve got an old Fulltone Deja Vibe 2 & although it’s a great way to get the fabulous vibe sound, it’s a seriosly cumbersome thing (The transformer weighs more than it does). I’ve been curious about the MJM Sixties vibe for some time & so I’ve been wondering. Which has the better vibe sound; The Deja Vibe, the Sixties Vibe or the Vibe Machine? (I’d be looking for one that goes well with Silicon fuzzes & overdrives, as well as great cleans)
Many thanks for your help
[Thanks for your kind words! They're all great sounding units. I had a Deja some time ago but prefer the Moon Vibe and now the Vibe Machine. The 60s Vibe is also great but it lacks some of the new features on the Moon and Machine. I don't think the Deja sound as open as the three others but that's my personal opinion. It also depends on the rig. A bright sounding amp will make a fuzz+vibe combo sound horrible but a darker JTM/JCM Marshall or VOX will make it sound huge. The Vibe Machine is the first unit that I've tried that handles most gain units without getting thin but you also need to match this with the amp setting and add quite a bit of mid range. David's amp setting, which are fairly bright, only works on cleans and mild overdrives. Anyway, hard to tell all these apart but there you have my two cents. - Bjorn]
sounds great ! a bit pricey though….
whats a good budget vibe?
[Check out the Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe and the Love Pedal Pickle Vibe. Neither are true UniVibes to the circuit but they sound very nice. It's also worth checkiong out the MXR Custom Shop Phase 45 and Dunlop RotoVibe for similar sounds. - Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, nice review! That is definitely a nice sounding vibe. I have been in the market lately for a new vibe so this is a timely review as well. I have a Fulltone Dejavibe 2 (the huge one with the footpedal) and although it’s a great vibe, it is rather large for my pedal board. I have been looking at the newer/smaller chassis MJM sixties vibe for a little bit but now I am intrigued by this pedal. How would you compare it to the MJM?
[The Vibe Machine and Moon Vibe are perhaps my favourites with the 60s on a close second place. Compared to the Moon and Machine the 60s is pretty much stripped for extras, which is kind of the idea I guess. A straight clone. Personally I like the extra features and the bright mode on the Machine is especially cool. I also think the Machine sounds a bit more open and dynamic, compared to the 60s and it also has a deeper throb on lower settings. - Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
How is the strength of the throb on slow settings?? This is where I find most vibes fall short. The only vibe I’ve ever found that does that well is the FoxRox Aquavibe, and with the exemption of the Vibe Machine, I have tried them all.
Tony
[I think it does a very good job. For the slow setting I sat the intensity at about noon but past two o'clock it produces a very deep and pronounced throb/sweep. The bright mode also adds to the depth. - Bjorn]
Hi bjorn! Great review as always.
How is it compared to the mojo vibe?
[To be honest I don't think the Mojo is up there with the Moon Vibe nor the Vibe Machine. I'm sure many will disagree and they're all UniVibes so I guess it's like choosing between apples and oranges. The Vibe Machine sounds much more open and dynamic I think and it also has a few extra features, which are very nice. - Bjorn]
Bjorn, Thanks for the review, it sounds like a great pedal but the price tag was a bit of a shocker. It still puts it in line with the other boutique vibes…guess I had hoped for a $200 price tag not a $300. If I didn’t already have a great Sweetsound Ultravibe II, I might consider the Dry Bell though it is nice to have the separately located large speed knob for on the fly foot adjustment without having to add an exp pedal.
The tones are nice…
Cheers
[Well, apart from the ridiculously overpriced overdrive and distortion boutiques, a UniVibe is actually both costly and takes a lot of time to build. One thing is to make a photocell opto system but very few makers take the time to fine tune and test the circuit. A small boutique company also makes pedal on a very small scale, which means higher production costs. Anyway, $300 for a pedal is a lot but in this case I would say that it's well worth it and justified... just my two cents. - Bjorn]
it would be nice to a/b this pedal with moon vibe or similar.
[I think you'll find them very similar. Hard to tell them apart and I love them both. I've been commenting to others here that the Vibe Machine does sound a bit more open and dynamic... at least on my rig. Anyway, they're very similar. - Bjorn]
Wow Bjorn, a must have pedal! I was thinking back the other day, and realized that my very first pedal, (It was more like a large Tank!) was a univox Univibe. I learned bridge of sighs, and being a new guitarist, was always proud that I could sound exactly like Trower with the one pedal, and an old Silvertone tube amp, and my lovely first guitar, an SG copy, called an Ampeg Super Stud. Wish I still had both the guitar, and the Univibe. I will have this peda; soon I hope!
Peace, Love, and Gilmourish, Uncle Ebb
[You should have kept that old gem. They're worth a small fortune now :) Cheers! - Bjorn]
Hi, Bjoern,
Great review as always – thank you very much!
As you have reviewed the Electronic Orange Moon Vibe a couple of months ago, I am now pretty unsure which one to choose. Could you please let me know which one you prefer and which one may sound closest to the originial? Both are great units -actually I had alreadey decided to choose the Electronic Orange Moon Vibe, but they will come out with a version later this year, so I have not yet ordered. And now there is obviously an alternative….
Thanks a lot inadvance,
Best regards
Thomas
[Right now I would say the Vibe Machine. Both pedals are very good and probably my two favourite UniVibes but the Vibe Machine, in addition to the smaller footprint, does sound a bit more open and dynamic. It also go a few cool features that the Moon Vibe doesn't have. Anyway, love them both and they're very similar. Pepsi and Coke :) - Bjorn]
That sounds pretty cool!
I guess you’ll have to update the Buyer’s Gear Guide soon… :)
Cheers.
[Indeed :) - Bjorn]
very cool review, bjorn, thanks for the clips, too, I agree this box sounds like the real thing, love your tones, especially your take on “the blue”…. cheers man, bernhard
[Thanks a lot! - Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, hope you’re doing great!
Thanks again for sharing! I was looking for a univibe so the timing is great! How would you compare this one with the Moon-vibe? From the clips I heard so far the Moon-vibe seemed a little better?
Which one would you pick if you had only one choice?
Thanks so much!
[Well, it's the same effect so it's like choosing between Pepsi and Coke I guess. I love the Moon Vibe and use it a lot. I like the bright mode on the Vibe Machine as it makes the vibe tone sound a bit more open and dynamic. I don't know... both are very good but the Vibe Machine wins I guess not least because it fits nicely onto the pedal board. Cheers! - Bjorn]
Lovely demo – I would take a serious look at this if I had not just bought a Tech 21 Rotochoir to help with my DSotM Tones. I would also like to know your opinion of the TC Electronic Vortex Flanger for those Wall tones as compared to the EHEM that is.
A
[It's quite OK but I think it resembles MXR and the more modern sounding flangers that the Mistress. - Bjorn]
great pedal, pricey pricey pricey though!! what about the univibe from dunlop (not the stereo) or the Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe? there are tons of vibes out in the market for less…the BBE is another option though i dunno if got the four photocells like the Voodoo Lab.
Nice review..Cheers!!
[Well, it is pricey but there are many reasons for it as I've explained in another comment here. There are cheaper alternatives but I don't think you should confuse the quality and tone of the Vibe Machine, Moon Vibe, Deja etc with the Micro Vibe, BBE etc. These are OK but nothing more. The reason is that a UniVibe is very much an "organic" pedal... if I can use that term about electronics. A lot of care goes into creating the perfect photocell opto system and that will cost a little extra. - Bjorn]
Great version of Any Colour You Like Bjorn! I have allways loved that tone, its allways been a goal of mine to get that sweet funky sound so I guess after my keely bd2 gets here ill have to save up for one of these. Did you try the expression pedal with this or did you just use the controlls on the pedal? Also how dose this pedal interact with overdrives like the bd2 and distortions like the Musket? Any problems using a muff with it on a mild setting?
Thanks a ton for all the time and effort you put into keeping all of us Gilmour tone freaks up to date on the best quality gear.
Cheers!
-Dave
[Thanks Dave! I didn't test the expression pedal since I don't have one at the moment. The VM works nicely with the BD2 but you need to be careful with treble. Be sure to set your amp up for a warm clean tone with lots of mids and moderate treble. Keep the BD2 fairly dark and boost the volume a little to enhance the mids in your tone. UniVibes rarely sound good with too much distortions and with Muffs they either sound harsh if there's too much treble or you get these wild oscillation sounds, which are cool but perhaps more Hendrix than Gilmour :) - Bjorn]
Thanks for the tip with the bd2, im really looking forward to playing with it but im going to have to use my Ibanez RG350dx now because my Fender FSR strat was stolen out of my car today, hopefully the police can catch whoever busted my window out and took my strat that I saved and saved up money by eating nothing but ramen noodles for 3 months to buy with a dg20 set with it. I mean who would be low enoufh to steal the guitar ive allways dreamed about, hoped for, and wanted sence I was a kid? Im sorry for cluttering up the thread Bjorn, im just really sad because my Gilmour inspired strat is probally gone forever. So to all my other Gilmour fans and Gilmourish.com community never take your eyes off your gear for a second, take your guitar into the store with you like I should have.
Once again Bjorn im sorry for messing up your thread but I just needed to vent.
Thanks for everything Bjorn, Gilmourish.com has been my #1 website for a long time, without it I’d never have learned so much, and gotten inspired again to keep playing because with your help i finally got the tone I wanted but couldn’t quite get.
Thank you Bjorn and the Gilmourish family for your help,
Cheers everyone!
-Dave
[Oh, that's just too bad! I'm very sorry to hear this. Hopefully they'll find it but I guess chances are small. Wish you the best of luck! - Bjorn]
Didn’t know where to post this, so I figured this would be the first thing seen. Yesterday I stopped by tom’s shop to see how close my Strat was to being finished. While ther, I mentioned i was going to stop at Sam Ash to pick up 2 new 12AX7′s for the TSA30, but Tom said he had them, and would give them to me at cost, which is $9.00, instead of $14.00. He only had two JJ ecc83 s’, and a Sovtek 12AX7, and I took them, and after installing them, the amp made a really loud, and awful sound. I had put the Sovtek, in position 3, which is the only preamp tube after the EQ, the other two are right after the input, before it gets to the EQ, and output section. I decided to try that one first, it being the odd man out, and replaced it with the original chinese tube. The amp is now working, but it now has a pronouced hiss, even if nothing is plugged in. it is quiet with the master volume down, but the louder the master, the louder the hiss. I am going to go buy 3 new JJ 12 AX 7, or ecc83s, and see what happens, but I think the amp is going to the shop! Any ideas Stephen Ford? Ibanez has a 5 year warranty, and I called them before I replaced the tubes on the 15, just to make sure it wouldn’t affect the warranty, but I feel a little ripped off. The 15H has chasis mounted tube sockets, and so I assumed the 30 did too, but I found out yesterday that they are PCB mounted, and while many amps are that way these days, it still scares me. I hope the noise is a tube, but I think that bad Sovtek did something very bad, or the PCB mouted sockets are already an issue, and one of them moved, and is grounding on something. This is mostly venting, but if anyone has an idea about what occured, I’d appreciate your comments.
Thanks Bjorn, the new fonts in this comment area are much easier on my old eyes!
Peace, Love, and Gilmourish, Uncle Ebb
Hi folks, I went and got 3 new JJ preamp tubes, which in itself is a bit confusing. The JJ marked 12AX7 on the label, and the tube, is marked ecc83 s on the end panel of the box. They are eveidently the same tube, but I also found that the offending tube, which caused the problem in the first place was a Ruby 12AX7, which is also a JJecc83 s. The TSA’s with two preamp tubes, the 15h, and 15 combo, have two Electa output tubes, and two 12AX7′s marked only with the tube3, and made in China, while the 30 has the chinese pres in 1 & 2, and the Ruby/JJ 12AX7/ecc83 in posistion 3, which like I said is the tube that is after the EQs, while the cheapos are in the two right after the input. When reading about tubes, it says the JJ ecc83 s/ 12AX7XXX is a great high gain tube, and is a great tube for Marshalls, and Heavy Metal, but I think this is the tube you use Bjorn? I notice that even with the pronounced hiss/hum, changing the tubes in the 30 to all JJ’s, I can now get more cklean headroom, and I don’t notice a volume drop, but alas the hiss/hum is unbearable, and the amp is definitely on it’s way to New Jersey for God knows how long. As much money as I’ve spent at Sam Ash this year, and the fact that both amps have had tube issues, and now thios, within the first 20 hours of playing time, and the fact that it was a bit misleading that the 15 has chasis mounted sockets, and the 30 PCB mounted sockets, I am going to at least try to get a new amp out of them, or my money back. I’ve had it less than six months, and rarly have used it, becuse the 15 is loud enough at home. Onnce again, just venting, but it is a bit depressing to find an amp that does everything you want, only to be hassled by this issue. It all started when I heard a very loud honk when I turned it on, and the bad tube was then replaced, but the hiss was there even though that very scary honk was gone. I have heard that honk before, When My Early 80′s 100 watt Laney Lead Pro Died! So The fcat it even still works, is at least somewhat encouraging!
Peace , Love, And God I hope I get this straight quickly!
Well Bjorn I have an update, they caught the guy who stole my strat and busted my window out but alas the guitar is gone… My insurance is paying for the window but told me they will only pay for the amount of the orignal guitar, not the dg20 emgs and the 7.25 nitrocellulose vintage neck so im out a total of 500$, but atleast ill beable to buy another strat with the 499$ theyre giving me for the guitar. I just dont understand why they wont cover the cost for the upgrades I made…well anyways thanks for the kind words Bjorn and soon ill be replacing my vox with either a Hiwatt clone or a Reeves once ive replaced the guitar+pickups+neck. Oh and my bd2 keely finally got here and you were right it really is a great transparent booster for my Musket, and an amazing od! I couldnt be happier with the combo, cant wait to hear em with the DG20s! Thanks a ton for all the advice, if not for all your hard work with Gilmourish I wouldn’t have known about all the amazing gear youve reviewed.
Cheers!
-Dave
[Thanks for your kind words Dave! Glad to hear that you got most of your money back. - Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, thanks for the info. Im 99% convinced on the vibe machine now, but I was wondering that since there is no volume knob on the pedal, if it suffers from the infamous vibe volume drop when on? Cheers
[No, it pretty much unity with the bypassed signal. The bright mode also gives you slight volume boost of a couple of dBs... - Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn,
did you get a chance to put a hand on the Jam RetroVibe? How does it compare to the Drybell? I must admit your review makes me really think about getting the Drybell even though I had the Jam on my wishlist for a very long time now… :)
[I haven't had a chance to try it out yet so I can't really comment on that. What I can say though is that the Vibe Machine has more features and therefore it's perhaps a more versatile unit. - Bjorn]
off topic … but i just discovered a one-man-shop in great britain who sells used fender guitars made in japan. if somebody is looking for a 57 strat in black or a 62 tele in sunburst … take a look:
http://www.fareastguitars.co.uk/usedguitars.htm
this should not be a kind of advertising – i am not related with mr. blackman in any way.
[Thanks for the tip, Martin! - Bjorn]
Great review, Bjorn!
What is the signal chain you are using the viddy?
[Thanks! Guitar > Vibe Machine > Fulltone OCD > amp mic'ed and fed into Logic with delays and reverb added and a low cut below 130kHz. - Bjorn]
new vibe mate!!!
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/hendrix-70-univibe
[Doesn't say whether this is a photocell system or digital... - Bjorn]
all are analog..the fuzz is a bc108 silicon, like the mxr 108 / buffer or the hendrix fuzz..dsotm sounds!!…i reckon the u-vibe is one photocell (like the danelectro or voodoo lab) worth the shot to try em cheers!!!
Hey Bjorn, you finally got me sold on that one! I forgot about the RetroVibe and just ordered my Drybell ;) Hope this will cover all my needs for vintage sounds, but am pretty confident…
Thanks for all your nice reviews, it is really helping narrowing our choices and discovering new products.
[I think you'll be very pleased! - Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn, just received my Drybell this morning :)
Have a quick question though as I am not so familiar with the UniVibe: past halfway on the intensity knob, I can hear bass frequencies being produced at the rate set up with the Speed knob, even when no input… Pretty similar to a heartbeat actually. Is it normal and part of the vibe design?
Thanks a lot.
[Congrats! There is a noticeable low end throb when you increase the intensity and rate together. A UniVibe is not like a phaser where the frequency is more or less linear. On a UniVibe, you need to adjust the intensity when you increase or decrease the rate, depending on what tones you want. - Bjorn]
Been using my Vibe Machine regularily since March and absolutely love it. Gonna stay on my board for a long time I’m sure. In response to the comment about volume, there’s a trimpot for that so you can either boost it a little or just keep it at unity. As far as the bass frequencies go, yeah I had some issues with that as well but playing around with the trimpots a bit took care of that (make sure you photograph or mark the original settings first though if you want to go back). Not overly ecstatic about the buffer, but other than that it’s pretty much the Chuck Norris of vibe pedals as far as I’m concerned.
Some news?
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/hendrix-70-univibe
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/eric-johnson-signature-fuzz-face
http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/electronics/dunlop-electronics
Who knows?
some ideias for a review! Cheers
[Yeah, they sound very promising :) - Bjorn]
Again interesting ,mouth watering review till you gt to the price, scary if your just playing in your bedroom. can you produce this tone with a phaser, chorus and delay,or is that to complicated.
how about the soul vibe or the anniversary release of the Dunlop Jimi Hendrix pedal. Is there maybe a cheap version that approachs these sounds, the Danelectro chicken salad, or vibe pedals are supposed to sound like univibes, but not to my ears.
Yep too many questions.
[There are different versions of all pedals and while some vibes are closer to the original, some offer different tones. The Vibe Machine produce those vintage tones but you can get similar tones with cheaper models like the Lovepedal Pickle Vibe, VoodooLab Micro Vibe and, I guess, the new Hendrix, although I haven't tried that one yet. You can also get fairly close with phasers but chorus and flanger is something else. - Bjorn]
Hi Bjorn, Need your permission to let people know I have a large version of the MJM 60′s Vibe Pedal for sale on Ebay for $179 plus $30 shipping, for those who want an authentic vibe tone true to the original, without paying $300 plus. Do you have a section where I am allowed to post this? It’s a great sounding pedal, but needed the extra rack space. Regards, Paul
[I don't have a "for sale" section but I'll approve this post and maybe someone sees it. Great pedal! - Bjorn]
Yes, it looks like a very interesting Vibe, although I have to say that while I haven’t tried the Jam pedals Retro Vibe , the jetcity youtube clip of that pedal sounds the best to my ears, especially for that Hendrix sound.
[I haven't had the chance to try that out yet but it does sound promising. - Bjorn]
Hey Bjorn,
First of all, thanks for all the wonderful info and amazing reviews. Have you ever tried this pedal http://www.fuzzbox.com/vibe-unit. Sounds promising for some Gilmourizing! Greetings from Costa Rica.
[Thank you, Fransisco! I haven't had the chance to try it yet but it sounds very promising. I'll check it out :) - Bjorn]
I wonder how it is compared to my Tube-Vibe. More authentic? Have you tried the effectrode?
[Just got the Effectrode actually but I haven't had the chance to explore it yet. What I like about the DryBell is that it blends very well with gain effects and it has a pronounced throb on the lower speed settings as well. - Bjorn]
It’s a pity …
Just when I decided to buy this pedal had saved the money, unfortunately the pedal may not be declared by a lower value(making me imposible to acquire, thanks customs).
It really seemed like a very nice piece to add to any pedalboard.
So sad, maybe i need to go for the throbak overdrive. Apples and oranges but really seems the best In their funtion.
[Sorry to hear but the ThroBak is an awesome booster/overdrive. - Bjorn]
JA JA JA
Same problem with them, maybe I am wrong… or i should have patience and look better on Ebay
But i just saw your new review, maybe that is the way.
My best wishes from Chile.
JAIME