
Uni-Vibe sounds and beyond!
Intoxicating, addictive, and ultra-elastic Uni-Vibe, phase, chorus, and tremolo soundsāmany that sound super unique. Great range in controls. High quality.
No capacity for onboard presets.
$259
Strymon UltraViolet
strymon.net
Modulation effects are an enduring source of new hooks and riffs. But while I hear loads of vibrato, tasty tremolo, and chorus in a lot of contemporary guitar music, I donāt encounter much in the way of Uni-Vibe-style tones. I guess I can understand why. Used unimaginatively, Uni-Vibe sounds probably seem a bit loadedāinextricably bound up in the heavy psych swirl of Hendrix and Pink Floyd.
Remove those contexts and preconceptions, though, and a Uni-Vibe-style effect can surpriseāparticularly when it takes advantage of digital processing to stretch the Uni-Vibe envelope. Strymonās new UltraViolet gracefully uses the DSP advantage to expand the Uni-Vibe templateās potentialāconjuring swimming-in-bubblegum swirl that feels authentically analog and can dwell comfortably in sound spheres outside the psych-rock canon.
Streamlined Straight Line to Psycho Swish
Even at their most complex, Strymon pedals are cool studies in approachable digital pedal design. More recently, though, Strymon started dabbling in more compact, streamlined stomps. Used here, that design philosophy gives the UltraViolet a fluid functionality suited to its rich, gooey voice.
There are modulation stars elsewhere in the Strymon line. The multi-modulating Mobius and the yummy harmonic tremolo on the popular Flint tremolo and reverb are each marked by a beautiful, perceptible depth in the modulations. That complexity is very evident in the UltraViolet, and its elegant control array makes it fun to explore those intricacies.
The sensitivity and interactivity in the most basic controlsāspeed, intensity, and volume (which puts up to 4 dB of boost at your disposal)ācreate a rich palette of possible sounds. Strymon made cool tweaks to these controls, too. Specifically, they increased the range of the intensity control relative to a real Uni-Vibe, making it capable of more intense modulations at slow speeds. The tweak may be less than authentic, but it results in thick, super-dreamy slow-phase sounds that lesser Uni-Vibe-style stomps, and the real thing, donāt deliver.The real treats, though, are the blend mode, which offers a 70 percent/30 percent dry/wet mix, and the bias mode switch which shifts frequency emphasis in the modulations. The blend mode is a more articulate and sometimes smoother alternative to the chorus and vibrato channels. The 3-position bias switch, meanwhile, can completely recast the sound, feel, and response of a given modulation setting as well as change the interactive dynamics of the controls. Together, they make the UltraVioletās vocabulary expansive. All those tone variations can leave you longing for presets, which the Ultraviolet accommodates via MIDI (up to 300 presets) or the optional MultiSwitch Plus. Unfortunately, thereās no way to access presets in the absence of these methods. That limitation makes the UltraViolet no less fun, though.
Wiggle Room for Weirder Wobbles
If youāre used to more basic Uni-Vibe style pedals, the range in the Strymonās controls can feel tricky in the courting stage. Theyāre sensitive, and small shifts can reshape a modulation pattern profoundly. But itās also really fun to dive in blindly and not get too surgical. Along the way, youāre likely to discover that the UltraViolet is capable of subtlety at low intensity levels, enabling you to background radical texturesāfast-fluttering modulations, for instanceāthat lend kinetics and mystery to a song without overpowering it. Youāll also find elastic sounds with beautiful vowelly overtones that warp and stretch simple chord patterns into deeply immersive environments.
The very cool bias switch transforms these already alluringly chewy modulations. Low bias mode tends to emphasize throbbinessālending many faster rate settings a delicious harmonic-tremolo-like pulse. At slower, phasey rates, it will coax elongated āwowāovertones from slo-moā waveforms, giving spare phrases weight and soulful character. The low-bias mode can be overpowering. But more unhinged, psychedelically minded players may well relish the extreme pulses found here. The mid-bias mode is, to my ear, the least appealing of the bunch. The mid-forward EQ profile tends to obscure richness and detail in the waveforms. But this could be an advantage for players that want to foreground fuzzy leads or intricate rhythms. The high-bias mode is the most traditional of the bunchāsilky, smooth, with a just-right rubberiness that will please Uni-Vibe traditionalists as well as vintage analog phaser fans.
These same characteristics are apparent in the blend mode, but there is more room for picking dynamics, finger-vibrato nuance, and rhythmic thrust. Itās a cool compromise for Uni-Vibe and phaser skeptics, and it extends the utility and value of the pedal significantly. Some people consider a real Uni-Vibeās vibrato useless. I always found that assessment harsh. Certainly, it doesnāt have the caramel gooiness of the chorus mode. But here it can be made much more interesting and easier to tailor to a specific musical context with help from the bias mode switch.
The Verdict
The quality and variety of sounds, as well as the fun, intuitive means by which you can explore and manipulate them, make the high-quality, U.S.-made UltraViolet look like a relative bargain at $259. For some players, the lack of onboard preset capability might make that price less appealing and make the pedal less practical for the stage. For just about anyone else on the prowl for authentic Uni-Vibe soundsāand that relishes the chance to shape them into more unique texturesāthe UltraViolet has the potential to be a most intoxicating pedalboard asset.
The Sunset is a fully analog, zero latency bass amplifier simulator. It features a ¼ā input, XLR and ¼ā outputs, gain and volume controls and extensive equalization. Itās intended to replace your bass amp both live and in the studio.
If you need a full sounding amp simulator with a lot of EQ, the Sunset is for you. It features a five band equalizer with Treble, Bass, Parametric Midrange (with frequency and level controls), Resonance (for ultra lows), and Presence (for ultra highs). All are carefully tuned for bass guitar. But donāt let that hold you back if youāre a keyboard player. Pianos and synthesizers sound great with the Sunset!
The Sunset includes Gain and master Volume controls which allow you to add compression and classic tube amp growl. It has both ¼ā phone and balanced XLR outputs - which lets you use it as a high quality active direct box. Finally, the Sunset features zero latency all analog circuitry ā important for the instrument most responsible for the bandās groove.
Introducing the Sunset Bass Amp Simulator
- Zero Latency bass amp simulator.
- Go direct into the PA or DAW.
- Five Band EQ:
- Treble and Bass controls.
- Parametric midrange with level and frequency controls.
- Presence control for extreme highs.
- Resonance control for extreme lows.
- Gain control to add compression and harmonics.
- Master Volume.
- XLR and 1/4" outputs.
- Full bypass.
- 9VDC, 200mA.
Artwork by Aaron Cheney
MAP price: $210 USD ($299 CAD).
PRS Guitars celebrates 40 years with the limited edition McCarty SC56. Featuring vintage-inspired design and modern innovations, this single-cutaway guitar pays tribute to Ted McCarty and his impact on the industry. With only 400 pieces available, this instrument is a must-have for collectors and performers alike.
PRS Guitars today announced the 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition. With a classic PRS single-cutaway body shape and carefully chosen specifications, the McCarty SC56 is both a tribute to tradition and a reliable tool for the modern performer. Only 400 pieces will be made.
āThe SC56, signifying Singlecut and 1956, model is our most recent tribute to my late mentor Ted McCarty and his impact on the guitar industry. We started with our take on a classic late ā50s singlecut body. 1956 marks the year that Ted first had guitars made with his newly coined 'humbucker' pickups. It also happens to be the year I was born. Bringing vintage design into the modern era, we loaded this model with our McCarty III pickups, meticulously designed to deliver warm, clear, vintage tone with exceptional note separation and dynamics,ā said PRS Guitars Founder & Managing General Partner, Paul Reed Smith.
Anchored by a maple top and mahogany back, the 24.594ā scale length and 22-fret Pattern Vintage neck work with Phase III non-locking tuners and PRS two-piece bridge to promote its musical sustain. The PRS McCarty III pickups are controlled by a simple layout ā two volume controls, two tone controls, and a three-way toggle on the upper bout.
Single-cutaway guitars are known to be heavier than their double-cutaway counterparts. The McCarty SC56 Limited Edition design incorporates weight-relief, decreasing the weight of the guitar by about 2/3 of a pound, while maintaining several points of attachment between the guitar top and back to eliminate the āhollowā sound of the cavities and promote tone transfer.
With appointments like binding on the fretboard, classic bird inlays, and a vintage-inspired nitrocellulose finish, the 40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition blends heritage and innovation into a timeless instrument.
PRS Guitars continues its schedule of launching new products each month in 2025.
For more information, please visit prsguitars.com.
40th Anniversary McCarty SC56 Limited Edition | Demo | PRS Guitars - YouTube
Belltone Guitars has partnered Brickhouse Toneworks to create a one-of-a-kind, truly noiseless Strat/Tele-tone pickup in a standard FilterāTron size format: the Single-Bell pickup.
The Single-Bell by Brickhouse Toneworks delivers bonafide single-coil Strat and Tele tones with the power of a P-90 and no 60-cycle hum. Unlike typical stacked hum-cancelling designs, Brickhouse Toneworks uses a proprietary āsidewindā approach that cancels the 60-cycle hum without sacrificing any of the dynamics or top-end sparkle of a Fender-style single coil.
Get the best of both worlds with clear bell-like tones on the neck pickup, signature quack when combining the neck and bridge pickups, and pristine twang in the bridge position backed with the fullness and power of a P-90. Push these into overdrive and experience the hallmark blues tone with plenty of grit and harmonic sustain ā all with completely noiseless performance.
Key Features of the Single-Bell:
- Cast Alnico 5 Magnet, designed to be used with 500k pots
- Voiced to capture that signature Fender-style single coil tone without the 60-cycle hum
- Lightly potted to minimize squeal
- Made in the USA with premium quality materials
The retail price for a Bridge and Neck matching set is $340.00 and theyāre available directly and exclusively through BelltoneĀ® Guitars / Brickhouse Toneworks at belltoneguitars.com.
Designed for players who demand flexibility without sacrificing tone, the Aquanaut fuses the rich warmth of classic analog delay with the extended range and clarity of modern digital designs. Featuring up to 600 milliseconds of delay time, the Aquanaut easily covers everything from tight slapback echoes to lush, ambient textures and rhythmic soundscapes ā all with a simple, intuitive control layout.
Unlike many digital delays that can sound sterile and detached, the Aquanaut retains an organic, analog-inspired voice. Repeats are smooth and musical, gently fading into the mix to create depth and dimension without overwhelming your dry signal. Whether youāre chasing vintage tape echo, adding subtle space to your solos, or building massive atmospheric layers, the Aquanaut keeps your tone clear, present, and inspiring.
Berserker Electronics Aquanaut Delay/Echo
Key features include:
- Up to 600ms of delay time for expanded creative possibilities
- Analog-voiced digital architecture for warm, natural-sounding repeats
- Ambient-style echo that enhances, not distracts from, your core tone
- Simple, intuitive controls for delay time, feedback, and blend
The Aquanaut is available direct at www.berserkerpedals.com and Reverb at a $149 street price.