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Phaser, Rotary, or Univibe?

#22
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!
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Just my 2c…
Hmm.. for That JPJ effect as well as Chris Squire’s earlier works: Starship Trooper .. I’d look at a multi effect box and choose Tremelo over phaser, flanger, rotary or ‘ vibe effects .
 
#24
logdrum said:
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.
Click to expand...

What model Leslie is that? The most desirable, the 147/145s (or 122 if you have a Hammond) tend to go way upwards of $1,000.
 
#27
I own a Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone and couldn't be happier. It's by far the most versatile analog phaser around, there will be a sound in there that you like.
And you'll have no trouble selling it if you don't.

I'd suggest that turning the depth up to max, Mix to 12.00, speed with the tap tempo and feedback about 01:00, on the LT phaser setting, will give you the choppy sound off Heartbreaker.

Peace,
SoundSupport
 
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#28
For Leslie sounds on guitar I use a TC Electronic Vibraclone, it’s decent, nothing too special but cheap and not significantly worse-sounding than pedals that cost three or four times as much. I would buy a used H&K Rotosphere to replace it if I could find one at a decent price but until I find that then the TC is good enough for now. I’ve never really used it on bass though, only really used the slow setting on held fuzz bass notes for soundscape type stuff, I mainly use it on guitar for Beatle-y arpeggio parts.

edit - the TC only has a mono output so if you need stereo outs to get the sound you’re looking for, this won’t get you there.
 
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#29
RayWithFlats said:
For Leslie sounds on guitar I use a TC Electronic Vibraclone, it’s decent, nothing too special but cheap and not significantly worse-sounding than pedals that cost three or four times as much. I would buy a used H&K Rotosphere to replace it if I could find one at a decent price but until I find that then the TC is good enough for now. I’ve never really used it on bass though, only really used the slow setting on held fuzz bass notes for soundscape type stuff, I mainly use it on guitar for Beatle-y arpeggio parts.

edit - the TC only has a mono output so if you need stereo outs to get the sound you’re looking for, this won’t get you there.
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The Rotosphere is a quirky handful. I have a Mk II, but haven't tried it on bass.
 
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#31
The Strymon Lex is an excellent Leslie pedal. I’ve not tried it on bass.Listening to the track in my car, I hear the vibe you are talking about. It sounds more like tremolo to me. Phasers or vibes do not really hit the mark as far as Leslies go. So if you want Leslie, you should go for that type of pedal. But I’d try a cheap tremolo first. ( Tuna Melt fits the bill)
Also consider to two amps, with one dry and the other with trem. Just a thought.
 
#32
RayWithFlats said:
I’d be using it almost exclusively on guitar if I got one, I’m not a big fan of modulation effects on bass except for textural parts. I’m a sucker for valve-powered pedals though, and H&K seem like they make quality gear.
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The Rotosphere sounds pretty good on guitar, and I especially prefer its chorale to the Mini Vent II (along with its ramping). The buffered bypass is quite colored, so you may want to consider putting it in a loop. A blender works for that, plus allows one to dial it down. The Rotosphere runs on 12vac. It can be noisy. And it's huge.

Even with those downsides, perhaps every rotary freak should give it a listen. Or maybe not, as in some areas it arguably shames most other Leslie sims. If you're someone like Warren Haynes, you just let the roadies deal with the logistics.

FWIW, I bought mine years ago from an ambient bassist. For recording, he'd run it first in his chain and build sounds from there. Judging from his recordings, this unconventional approach worked great — although it generally didn't come across as rotary.
 
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#34
The Zoom B3 has a univibe model, I've used that before and it sounded good. There's the Zoom MSb60 if you want something smaller.
Otherwise you could try stacking two phasers, onle slow and one quick, that also sounds very leslie-esque.
 
#35
I have a TCE Helix. My old late 70s Phase 90 died and needed something. Ended up with a Helix because is very flexible and the TonePrint aspect adds extra value. I believe there is a Univibe "patch" (not what they call it). How will it replicates it I don't know. May not work for you, but it is worth considering if you haven't already. It's so very tweakable. You can literally have three phasers in that one pedal at all times. More with the phone app. I haven't got it to sound exactly like my phase 90, but fortunately a TB friend fixed the 90 and it's arriving back today!
 
#36
soundsupport1 said:
I own a Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone and couldn't be happier. It's by far the most versatile analog phaser around, there will be a sound in there that you like.
And you'll have no trouble selling it if you don't.

I'd suggest that turning the depth up to max, Mix to 12.00, speed with the tap tempo and feedback about 01:00, on the LT phaser setting, will give you the choppy sound off Heartbreaker.

Peace,
SoundSupport
Click to expand...

saw your post, picked up a used specimen from reverb and what a nice sounding thing it is.
lotsa usable sounds and works amazingly well with bass.
thanks for the recommendation.
 
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#38
mrm56 said:
saw your post, picked up a used specimen from reverb and what a nice sounding thing it is.
lotsa usable sounds and works amazingly well with bass.
thanks for the recommendation.
Click to expand...
yaaay!

You're the second person on here that I've recommended the cyclone to who has then gone and bought it and been happy with the results.
That company is going to have to start giving me a taste of their profits soon.

It is a lovely pedal, though. Glad you like it.

Peace,
SoundSupport
 
#40
My favorites in univibe territory were the Fulltone Deja-2 (not the white MDV-2, the huge one with separate on/off switch and dedicated AC power cord) and the BBE Soul Vibe. And then of course the ever classic Phase 90, which I like a little better because univibes tend to get 'humpy' instead of 'swirly'.
 

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