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Phaser, Rotary, or Univibe?

Acidic25

Acidic25

Feb 6, 2020
24
15
#1
Hello all,

I'm in the market for a new modulation pedal, and I'm thinking of getting either a phaser or a Univibe or even a rotary. I'm trying to get that throbby goodnees of John Paul Jones on "Heartbreaker." I know that he used a Leslie spinning speaker to achieve that and I'm thinking a Univibe would be a good bet to get that sound. However, around my local shops it seems that Univibes are quite scarce, and it seems that vibe demos online with bass are hard to find. So I decided to go to the shops anyways and see what I could gather.

First I tried the Julia from Walrus Audio. At first, I heard that chorus could get me close to a leslie sound, but after trying it, I found that it didn't give me that throb and the dcv control that usable. I kinda figured chorus wasn't the effect I was looking for anyway after I found a flanger didn't get the sound I was looking for.

I next tried a phase 95. The effect was definitely closer to what I was looking for, especially at with the phase 90 setting at higher rates. At lower rates, it seemed more swooshy with higher rates giving me more of a throb.

After, I tried the depths from EQD. This definitely gave me the throb I was looking for, but I found the phase 90 setting of the phase 95 to be more musical. Although, I thought the tweakability of the depths nice, especially for bass frequencies, it just seemed that the phase 90 gave me a more pleasing tone.

I then tried the Dunlop Rotovibe. I found the sound muddy with the effect less like a vibe and more like a tremolo. However, I really like the idea of this pedal, where the rate is controlled by the treadle.

So now I come to the forums looking for recommendations on phasers or univibes. I was looking at either the Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone. This phaser offers expression input as well as 4 modes that mimic the phase 45, phase 90, an EHX Small Stone, and the LoveTone Doppelganger. The second is a univibe, specifically the Fulltone Deja Vibe V3, which is built into a treadle. Another univibe I was looking at was the DLS Versa Vibe. Judging from the controls, it seems it like it would be a good choice with some good variability.

The other possibility is getting a rotary sim, which I haven't tried. Just by looking online, the three I was looking at were the Boss RT-20, the Danelectro Big Spender, and the DLS RotoSpin. From my understanding, a rotary is similar to a chorus which I already mentioned I'm not into.

I'm looking for something that sub $200 and preferably has an expression input, or at least can ramp between two speeds. Any suggestions are appreciated!
 
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#3
Sorry. Sub $200? Seriously, good luck. You sound pretty specific and demanding of your sound, and I applaud that. But you may have to stretch your budget a bit. The Strymon is a multi effect, so maybe that will help the price increase be more acceptable,

I don’t know of anything in your price range that would work. I have 2 large boards and a small one, so I’ve done some looking at the exact effect over the last 50 years.
 
#4
The two main components of the Leslie sound are delay and amplitude modulation (i.e. tremolo).

If you’re on a tight budget and already you own a delay and trem pedal, you might want to try combining those two effects and see if you can get close to the sound you’re after with them first before you spend money on a Univibe type pedal.

FWIW I’m familiar with Leslies thanks to a Hammond player I was in a band for several years with. And I’ve yet to hear any pedal that exactly captures that same mechanical Doppler modulation effect. And the ones that did at least come close to it were all fairly to very expensive. And as others have previously said, unfortunately, a budget of about $200 isn’t going to swing one of those.
 
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#5
The Strymon Mobius is an obvious choice, however I'm personally don't think it's mix options are particularly great on bass. It's chorus sounds are it's weakest. The Wampler Terraform is another great multi mod, cut from a similar cloth as the Mobius.
Personally, I would seriously consider a Source Audio Lunar. Smaller, cheaper and sonically superior. If you go diving through the SA community patches...there's pretty much every modulation you could wish for.
 
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#6
This is absolutely no help at all, but I once got to put my THD BiValve through a real Leslie rotary cab. There is simply no comparison with any fx pedal ever made. You can probably find a Leslie cab for way less than the cost of a Strymon, but it's not going to fit on a pedalboard...
 
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#9
Acidic25 said:
Hello all,

I'm in the market for a new modulation pedal, and I'm thinking of getting either a phaser or a Univibe or even a rotary. I'm trying to get that throbby goodnees of John Paul Jones on "Heartbreaker." I know that he used a Leslie spinning speaker to achieve that and I'm thinking a Univibe would be a good bet to get that sound. However, around my local shops it seems that Univibes are quite scarce, and it seems that vibe demos online with bass are hard to find. So I decided to go to the shops anyways and see what I could gather.

First I tried the Julia from Walrus Audio. At first, I heard that chorus could get me close to a leslie sound, but after trying it, I found that it didn't give me that throb and the dcv control that usable. I kinda figured chorus wasn't the effect I was looking for anyway after I found a flanger didn't get the sound I was looking for.

I next tried a phase 95. The effect was definitely closer to what I was looking for, especially at with the phase 90 setting at higher rates. At lower rates, it seemed more swooshy with higher rates giving me more of a throb.

After, I tried the depths from EQD. This definitely gave me the throb I was looking for, but I found the phase 90 setting of the phase 95 to be more musical. Although, I thought the tweakability of the depths nice, especially for bass frequencies, it just seemed that the phase 90 gave me a more pleasing tone.

I then tried the Dunlop Rotovibe. I found the sound muddy with the effect less like a vibe and more like a tremolo. However, I really like the idea of this pedal, where the rate is controlled by the treadle.

So now I come to the forums looking for recommendations on phasers or univibes. I was looking at either the Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone. This phaser offers expression input as well as 4 modes that mimic the phase 45, phase 90, an EHX Small Stone, and the LoveTone Doppelganger. The second is a univibe, specifically the Fulltone Deja Vibe V3, which is built into a treadle. Another univibe I was looking at was the DLS Versa Vibe. Judging from the controls, it seems it like it would be a good choice with some good variability.

The other possibility is getting a rotary sim, which I haven't tried. Just by looking online, the three I was looking at were the Boss RT-20, the Danelectro Big Spender, and the DLS RotoSpin. From my understanding, a rotary is similar to a chorus which I already mentioned I'm not into.

I'm looking for something that sub $200 and preferably has an expression input, or at least can ramp between two speeds. Any suggestions are appreciated!
Click to expand...
I haven't tried it, but you might look at the Source Audio Lunar Phaser. It's $169, takes an expression pedal (extra), and has a vibe setting. I mention this because I have a Phase 90-derived phaser that has a vibe setting, and I like that with bass. Mine doesn't sound exactly like a vibe, but I like it a bit more than the Phase 90 setting on bass. What mine is missing is expression capability. With that, it might be my choice for a one-and-done general swirly device.

Some flangers and some types of chorus can do a fairly good fast Leslie substitute. The problem with these and phasers is getting a decent slow (chorale) speed. That's kind of the final frontier for Leslie sims. A vibe isn't really a Leslie substitute, but a cool thing in its own right. You may not find a good vibe for under $200 unless used. The Drybell and Foxrox may be worth looking into.

My Mini Vent II is set up for guitar, so a bit subtle on bass, especially the chorale speed. I can set up another, bolder preset, but haven't yet. I think it sounds really nice, and different from the above, but it's still an imperfect Leslie sound — although one of the better ones. You gotta really want it as it's priced up there with some of the better vibes.
 
#10
I use the tc electronic Helix.

smallbassboard.jpg


It's not a leslie, but it does offer a thick phaser sound that works well with bass. Unlike most phasers, there is almost no loss of low frequency output. And I seem to remember it being pretty inexpensive.

Here's a sound sample:



I have a MXR univibe on my guitar board. I don't like it for bass.
 
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#12
Adagietto said:
I have a Phase 90-derived phaser that has a vibe setting, and I like that with bass. Mine doesn't sound exactly like a vibe, but I like it a bit more than the Phase 90 setting on bass. What mine is missing is expression capability. With that, it might be my choice for a one-and-done general swirly device
Click to expand...

That actually sounds like what I’m kind of looking for. What is it if I may ask?
 
#13
I really like the Phase 90.
Great at low speed to add some texture, and cool at fast speeds for a crazy effect,,, and you can change speed with your foot really easy.

EBS makes a tremolo pedal that has a filter term setting. It’s not choppy like a volume tremolo. Almost like a chorus - but without the pitch shifting. With a dirt pedal it might get you there.

also check out the EHX Lester K. It’s a proper Leslie sim. Tone can kind of thin out when used with a bass - but I think it’s a pretty true Leslie sound.
You can change the balance to favor the bass and that helps. It’s cool.

I’ve not really liked a univibe with bass
 
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#14
Acidic25 said:
That actually sounds like what I’m kind of looking for. What is it if I may ask?
Click to expand...
It's a VFE Enterprise (later, Tractor Beam) Phaser. They haven't been made in a while, but all the documentation needed to build one is here.

Here's the demo that convinced me to get my first one back in 2012 — for guitar. In part of the demo, Andy is playing a Reverend guitar. Nine years later, I'm using an Enterprise with my Reverend bass.

 
#16
For 150 more somebody local is selling a real Leslie. I actually know him - a fireman who is also a B3 player and restorer maybe I can get it for 300. This is the Leslie that cab take input from a preamp or bass amp out.

Okay sorry for being snarky but The Sound Motion amps (cheaper, more watts and lighter than a Leslie and also has a physical rotating speaker) are available used in many places and I've also seen them not being sold for much (you do have to go to a bigger city like LA, Bay Area, Seattle). The point is get the real rotating speaker and be done chasing that tone. The only other good Leslie sim is the Vert. Expensive and might as well get a Sound Motion amps. Or Leslie if you have the money.

Everything else just sounds like a Trem or Phaser, Vibrato or a maxed out chorus.

I have been spoiled by a real Leslie or a proper sim done by Hammond themselves, Vert or StudioLogic.
 
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#17
Adagietto said:
I haven't tried it, but you might look at the Source Audio Lunar Phaser. It's $169, takes an expression pedal (extra), and has a vibe setting. I mention this because I have a Phase 90-derived phaser that has a vibe setting, and I like that with bass. Mine doesn't sound exactly like a vibe, but I like it a bit more than the Phase 90 setting on bass. What mine is missing is expression capability. With that, it might be my choice for a one-and-done general swirly device.

Some flangers and some types of chorus can do a fairly good fast Leslie substitute. The problem with these and phasers is getting a decent slow (chorale) speed. That's kind of the final frontier for Leslie sims. A vibe isn't really a Leslie substitute, but a cool thing in its own right. You may not find a good vibe for under $200 unless used. The Drybell and Foxrox may be worth looking into.

My Mini Vent II is set up for guitar, so a bit subtle on bass, especially the chorale speed. I can set up another, bolder preset, but haven't yet. I think it sounds really nice, and different from the above, but it's still an imperfect Leslie sound — although one of the better ones. You gotta really want it as it's priced up there with some of the better vibes.
Click to expand...
After spending some time dialing in the Mini Vent II better for bass, I gotta say that phaser fits my taste a well as anything (I've also experimented with a a CE-2W chorus, a harmonic trem, and a flanger so far). Barring the need to get some specific tone, the phaser seems most versatile and pleasing to me on bass.The Dimension type of sound is pretty good too, but that's a different sort of thing. [Note that I'm new to bass and I haven't tried any of this in an ensemble setting.]

Recently I saw that Barefoot Buttons makes a thing called the Wingman. Maybe it's a good accessory for a pedal without expression control. It's only $10, so I may grab one.

PRODUCT-Wingman2_.png
 

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