JHS Pedals Unicorn Uni-vibe Photocell Modulator w/ Tap Tempo

In the 1960’s a new guitar effect was introduced that would leave its mark on some of the most influential music ever made. Classic songs like Pink Floyd’s “Breathe”, Jimi Hendrix’s “Machine Gun” and “Star Spangled Banner live at Woodstock 1969", Robin Trowers “Bridge of Sighs,” and even modern day classics like Pearl Jam’s “Alive” all feature this unmistakable effect. First introduced under the Shin-ei and Univox name brands, the Uni-Vibe* effect has shaped some of the most famous guitar tones ever and to this day still inspires modulation/phasing/rotary sounds that are lush, original, and far from the typical route of safe and standard guitar effects.

What sets the Unicorn apart from all other Uni-Vibe* circuits up till now is that we have for the first time ever added tap tempo control of the LFO rate as well as ratio, external tap control, and external expression of the speed. We are super proud of bringing all the magic of this classic circuit into the modern age without compromising the integrity of the all analog signal path, photo cell topology, and true classic invention that the 1960s gave us.

Looking at the pedal you see four knobs: Volume, Depth, Speed, and Ratio. The Volume control allows you to magically adjust the amplitude of the effected signal from zero all the way to a 9db boost. This allows you to perfectly place the Unicorn wherever you want in the mix. The Depth control lets you adjust the wet/dry relationship between your clean signal and the effect. This gives you all the control you need to go from very subtle to hard effect. This control is also sprinkled with the tears of elves. The Speed control works in conjunction with the tap tempo and lets you adjust the rate at which the effect moves as well as how much fairy dust enters into the flux capacitor of the Unicorn. The Ratio control lets you choose 4 speed ratios that ultimately effect the tempo you tap in. You can choose between 1/4, 1/8, dotted 1/8 and Triplets. When perfectly dialed in you can achieve the exact pulse of a mystical Unicorn running across a field of 4 leaf clovers… only if you dare. The mini toggle is the wet/dry adjustment. When in the up position you get a preset amount of dry mixed in and this is known as the classic Univibe modulation effect. In the down position you get an all wet vibrato setting that can go from subtle warped record to extreme sea sick tones.

You will see three jacks: In, Out, and Tap/Exp. The “In” is where you plug your instrument in and the “Out” is where you connect the next pedal or your amplifier. The “Tap/Exp” lets you plug in a TRS expression pedal like the M-Audio or any momentary tap control for some extra external control. Just select Tap or Expression by way of the small internal switch. The “Tap Out” setting lets you also connect the Unicorn to any other tap controlled pedal like our Panther Cub Delay, Emperor Chorus, etc to have those pedals control the Unicorn's tempo or vice versa.

When everything has been done and everything has been seen, we bring you a first ever 100% analog signal path Uni-vibe* Photocell Modulator w/ Tap Tempo.