Roger Mayer Voodoo Vibe + - Guitar Toyz

ROGER MAYER VOODOO VIBE +
GUITAR FX PEDAL
Jimi vibe on tap – voodoo included. By Peter Hodgson.
Roger Mayer’s pedals have achieved legendary status for their use on classic tracks by Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, and in the
current boutique climate there are dozens of designers taking inspiration from his designs. While original versions of his famed 60s Uni-Vibe
change hands for thousands of dollars (if you can find one), Mayer has never stopped refining his pedals, and the Voodoo Vibe + is the latest
evolution of this classic unit.
IT’S JUST THE VIBE
The surface of the Voodoo Vibe + hosts 7 control knobs, a red status LED, and a very sturdy on/off
footswitch. The three-way function switch selects Tremolo, Vibrato or Chorus modes. The five-way
Speed Range switch cycles through various increments from Classic (slow) to Pulse (fast). Speed
determines the rate of the effect within the parameters of whichever Speed Range setting you’ve
selected. Intensity varies the depth of the effect. Symmetry controls the linearity of the rise and
fall time of the sweep – when set to the middle, the rise and fall is equal, but turning the control
to the left or right will make the effect rise quickly and fall slowly, or vice versa. The Bias control
tunes the centre frequency of the effect sweep in Chorus or Vibrato mode, and the depth and
offset of the effect in Tremolo mode. Finally, there’s an Output knob for setting the overall volume.
Around the back are the Input jack and several output options: HW Out and two jacks labelled
Buffered Out. HW Out is fed by a hardwired (or true) bypass, so when you turn the effect off,
the signal is completely removed from the effect circuit and sent on its own little journey, as
if there was no pedal between your guitar and amp at all. The Buffered Out jacks are dual low
impedance Class A buffered outputs which provide the option of stereo operation while also
driving the signal through long cable runs with no degradation of high frequencies. It also means
you can use the the Voodoo Vibe Vibe + with two complete signal chains – – say, differently timed timed delay delay
effects for for each output, or clean and dirty amps at the same time. The dual
buffered outputs are disconnected when a cable is plugged into the HW Out jack. It would be to have a dry output to
complement the effected ones, but if you have three amps to spare and you really want to try this, it can
be achieved by splitting the signal with another device before it gets to the Voodoo Vibe +.
Back to the back panel: it also contains a 9v DC power jack, or you can run the
Voodoo Vibe + on a 9v battery accessed by removing the four screws
on the bottom of the unit. Finally, there are To and From jacks for
placing a volume pedal into the Voodoo Vibe + circuit to vary the
speed of the effect.
FINGER ON THE PULSE
The well-written manual provides diagrams of the best places to
start for each of the three effect types, and it’s worth staying on these
settings for a little while just to get your head around the particular
qualities of each effect, before you go fiddling with the Symmetry Symmetry and Bias
controls. controls. In Tremolo mode, anything anything from a dull throb throb to a helicopter-like
chop chop can be achieved, and positioning positioning the Symmetry control to create a slow
rise and fast fall to the effect creates a ‘wooshing backwards’ type of sound, sound,
especially when controlling the speed with a pedal. If you synch the speed up with
the tempo of a song, some some very very cool rhythmic effects are possible, either with the
beat or against it. It can almost sound like a sequencer, and if you have an envelope
filter, placing it after the Voodoo Vibe + on such a setting can create
some very synthy textures.
The Vibrato mode can create cool vintage shimmer effects or more
jarring, seasick sounds, which work especially well with spring reverb.
You can also quite convincingly ape that wobbly Powderfinger “My
Happiness” tone.
The Chorus mode is this pedal’s real drawcard. If you begin with the
recommended starting point in the manual, then nudge the Speed
control south a touch, the lush, phaser-like swirl of Pink Floyd’s
‘Breathe’ is right there. Stevie Ray’s ‘Cold Shot’ is lurking at the
higher reaches of the Speed control. The Bias knob is also a very clever
addition which allows you to tune the overall pitch centre of the sweep
so the effect sits with the key of the song. More straightforward chorus
tones are also available if you need to fatten up your tone, but some
great sounds can be found by pushing the pedal to extremes.
MAYER FORCE BE WITH YOU
It’s hard to pigeonhole the Voodoo Vibe +. On the surface, it’s a multieffect
pedal with chorus, vibrato and tremolo. However that only tells
part of the story. If the word ‘chorus’ conjures thoughts of the crisp, hi-fi
digital sounds of modern multi effect units, the Voodoo Vibe + might just
change your ideas about what a great chorus effect is.
SPECS
Made UK
Price $689.00
Features
■ Controls Function, Speed Range, Speed,
Intensity, Symmetry, Bias, Output
■ Outputs 1 hardwire, 2 buffered
■ Power 9v battery or 9v adaptor (not
supplied)
■ Size WWidth 220 x height 75 x depth
150mm
■ Weight 1,580g with battery
CONTACT
Guitar Toyz
info@guitartoyz.com.au
www.guitartoyz.com.au
WHAT WE RECKON
PROS
▲ ‘Flexible
▲ Faultless construction
▲ Pedal-variable speed
CONS
▼ Expensive
▼ Could use a speed LED
AUSTRALIAN GUITAR II 75
074_75_TESTING_AG66.indd 75 1/5/08 11:15:02 AM