Jimi Hendrix’s Shin-ei/Univox Uni-Vibe

Jimi Hendrix most famously used the Shin-ei/Univox Uni-Vibe during his performance at Woodstock on August 18, 1969. On recordings, the pedal is most notably featured on “Machine Gun” from the 1970 live album Band of Gypsys, but Jimi used it extensively on other songs as well. In the studio, it was used during sessions at Electric Lady Studios and The Record Plant between late 1969 and July 1970, on tracks like those found on Rainbow Bridge, Cry of Love, and various other songs released posthumously or through bootlegs from that period.

History behind the Uni-Vibe pedal

The origins of the Uni-Vibe pedal aren’t entirely clear, as different sources offer varying accounts.

The most commonly accepted version credits Japanese audio engineer Fumio Mieda with designing the pedal in the mid-1960s. It was intended to emulate the sound of a rotating Leslie speaker, originally for use with organs, as Mieda primarily worked with keyboard instruments. Notably, in 1967, Fumio was approached by Tsutomu Katoh, the founder of KORG, to build the company’s first programmable organ.

The pedal was initially sold as the “Vibra-Chorus” under the Honey brand [WahWah Fandom.com – Uni-Vibe]. However, in March 1969, Honey went bankrupt, and Shin-ei took over the operations. From then until around 1970, Shin-ei manufactured the pedal under the “Uni-Vibe” name. Around this time, Univox began importing the pedals into the United States.

Where the story gets murky is whether Univox ever manufactured the pedal in the U.S. or simply imported them from Japan. This distinction is significant because Harry Shapiro and Caesar Glebbeek, in their book Electric Gypsy, claim that Hendrix used an American-made model. They assert the pedal was first produced in the U.S., with the Japanese version coming later.

Since the unit which Jimi used was American-made, it ran on 110 volts. When Jimi toured Europe in August and September 1970, the Uni-Vibe effect had a much more prominent sound because there it ran instead on 240 volts

The Uni-Vibe was later also manufactured by the Shin-Ei Companion Company in Japan, made for the European markets and available in 240 volts. These Japanese units looked and also sounded identical to the original American units.

Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy by Harry Shapiro, Caesar Glebbeek

While the claim that the pedal originated in the U.S. is almost certainly incorrect—it was designed in Japan—it remains unclear whether Hendrix’s Uni-Vibe was American-made. What is known, however, is that the only confirmed Uni-Vibe used by Hendrix (now displayed at the EMP/MoPoP museum) was made by Shin-ei in Japan.

The Modern Version of Uni-Vibe

If you’re looking for a modern version of the Uni-Vibe but can’t afford a vintage model, there are a few solid options available.

Two notable replicas are the MXR M68 Uni-Vibe by Dunlop (who owns the “Uni-Vibe” trademark) and Fulltone’s DejaVibe. The MXR/Dunlop version offers a modern twist on the original pedal, while Fulltone claims to be the only manufacturer producing an exact replica of the 1968 Uni-Vibe.

It’s worth noting that almost every pedal manufacturer offers some sort of Uni-Vibe clone. The best approach is to do your own research and choose the one that fits your preferences and budget.