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C
What was an “original Univibe?” It has nothing to do with the company who currently owns the Trademark for the
name, rather it was an effects device made between late-1968 and 1973 designed to replicate a Leslie rotating
speaker by using a tiny light bulb and four photo-resistors to help achieve its odd blend of pitch-bend vibrato and
chorus-like Phase-Shifting. Although it didn’t much sound too like a Leslie, its watery sound took on a life of its
own, and can be heard on many recordings ranging from Hendrix, to Pink Floyd, to Van Morrison.
Original Univibes were large effects boxes mated to a separate wah-style foot-pedal (to control the modulation
speed) via a (5 pin) quick-disconnect cable. Old ‘vibes were very inconsistent from one unit to the next and were
prone to malfunctioning, with no one knowing how to fix them let alone how to make them sound good
again....well, almost no one. I started out in the ‘80’s collecting, dealing, and repairing ’vibes, which lead to the
somewhat bright idea of re-designing and building a bullet-proof new ‘vibe clone in a smaller footprint. My goal
was to make a True-Bypass ‘vibe that was more reliable, could be tweaked by the user to his/her taste, and that
was 1/4 the “original Univibe’s” astronomical used-market selling price!
I have been making my Deja’Vibe (the exact “original Univibe” clone) for 20+ years, and am the only ‘vibe-maker
having original-spec photocells custom-made, the only one making a custom mirror-finish surfaced lightbulb
reflector shrouds, and the only one using the Panasonic/Masushita 2SC828 transistors that the original Univibes
used. MDV-1 pedals sold after 2/1/2015 require an 18 volt DC power supply...we recommend the Fulltone FPS-3
which is included (US, Canada, & Japan only). You don’t have to be a Trower or Hendrix fan to appreciate the
MDV-1, you just have to appreciate that massive pulsating wall of sound it helps you create when you switch it
on. So I say to you now...Play on.
Michael Fuller / President
Mini-
Deja’Vibe
Model MDV-1
Congratulations on your purchase of the
