In this article, weâre going to be talking about the top 6 best vibrato Pedals that you can get for your guitar rig in 2021.
Modulation pedals are becoming more and more popular, and whilst the vibrato is a classic effect, its still considered a vital effect for achieving a specific guitar tone. In this article we have six vibrato pedals that we consider to be the best and therefore most suitable for you. Weâll take a look there features and performance as well as suggest what guitar players each pedal is for. Finally weâll give our number one pick, best value for money and premium choice.
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What Is A Vibrato Pedal?
In the realm of modulation pedals, vibrato could be considered as half way between a chorus and tremolo effect. Similar in sound to the tremolo, there is a fundamental difference between the two effects. Tremelo decreases and increases the volume of the signal at a specific rate, whereas Vibrato alters the pitch, hence the similarities to the chorus pedal effect.
So what the difference between vibrato and chorus then? Well the chorus effects splits the signal in two and then proceeds to change the pitch of one of them. Vibrato does no split the signal and the pitch of the whole signal chain is effected. Much has been discussed about the more natural sound of the tremolo in comparison to the chorus, however this depends on how the pedal is set up.
Many legendary guitar players have utalized vibrato into their sound. This influenced the vibe pedal which is essentially in the same family as the vibrato, the difference being that it has a more phaser-like sound. Of course vibrato has been housed in pedal form for many years. For the most part, they consist of similar controls such as depth, speed and rate. Due to the nature of the effect, and its similarities to chorus, some premium vibrato pedals include other functionality and character then the standard vibrato.
Best Vibrato PedalsÂ
TC Electronic Shaker
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Lets kick of the list with the very cool Shaker vibrato by TC Electronic. This compact pedal consists of four knobs which control speed, depth, tone and rise time. We certainly enjoy the varied tones that this pedal produces, from a subtle shimmering chorus to an intense vibrato wobble.
The ârise timeâ control is unique and offers something new to vibrato pedals. You can delay the time in which the effect kicks in, which is a new innovative feature we havenât seen before. Furthermore, you can set the foot switch to âlatchâ mode which will only activate the effect when you hold down the switch.
If you know TC Electronic well, you will know about their tone print technology which has proved a game changer. The Shaker includes this technology and basically allows you to access classic vibrato tones which have created by world famous guitarists. The toneprint feature is accessed by the switch featured on the front of the pedal.
Who Should Buy This Pedal?
As you can tell, the TC Electronic has tonnes of functionality and technology which really enhance the possibilities of this pedal. As you can tell, we really like this pedal and you wont be surprised to hear that its our best value for money pick. This pedal is perfect for beginner and experienced vibrato users, has fantastic build quality and incredible price. Donât hesitate on purchasing the TC Shaker!
Customer Review Rating
The TC Electronic Shaker has a rating of 4.5* out of 5 on Amazon, Check Reviews Here
Dunlop M68 Uni-Vibe
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In our introduction piece, we touched on the phaser-style adaptation of the vibrato knows as a vibe pedal. This is essentially the classic tone that the MXR Uni-vibe recreates. The controls on this compact pedal are: speed, level and depth. (plus a âvibeâ switch)
The tone of the Uni-vibe is unique and essentially makes this pedals a combination of a vibrato and chorus pedal in one housing. The tone is modelled on the classic 60âs vibe effect and has a Leslie-sound to it. The vibe switch mixes Chorus Mode-dry signal with phaser or alternatively, Vibrato only pitch shifted signal.
Once you have your preferred selected, the level knob will control the volume of the effect, the depth will control the intensity and the speed with control the rate in which the effect sweeps. Luckily, the MXR Uni-vibe is significantly smaller than the original pedal and will fit perfectly on you pedalboard.
Who Should Buy This Pedal?
This pedal is for those of you who are looking for the vibe effect that once a significantly popular twist on the vibrato sound. This pedal is modelled on a classic effect pedal and captures the original sound extremely well. The build of MXR pedals is all ways good and the functionality of this pedal is sufficient to shaping the tone any way that you desire. At this price point, its very much worth checking out.
Customer Review Rating
The Dunlop M68 Uni-Vibe has a rating of 4.5* out of 5 on Amazon, Check Reviews Here
BOSS Waza Craft VB-2W
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The original VB-2W vibrato pedal was the ultimate pedal in the 80âs and was sadly discontinued like several other original Boss pedals. Incredibly Waza Craft have stepped in to return many of them pedals to glory. On the original pedal, as BBD-driven circuit was used to produce a warm undertone which many regard as the perfect vibrato tone.
Now the pedal has two modes, standard and custom which give a much more transparent sound whilst maintaining all the former glory of the VB-2W. Custom mode is much much more intense and it adds a low pass filter that seems to widen the tone. Standard mode will keep you within the boundaries of the classic Boss vibrato sound.
The controls on the Boss VB-2W are: rate, depth, rise time and the standard to custom switch. All analog circuitry is the real shining light on this pedal for us, as it reminds us so much of the original pedal. The housing is the standard Boss compact style which virtually makes the pedal indestructible. Basically, weâre just glad that this pedal exists!
Who Should Buy This Pedal?
Considering the original Boss VB-2B was only produced between 82 and 86, it is an extremely rare pedal which you will pay well over the odds to own. We believe that the Waza Craft VB-2B is just as good in sound and perhaps the best vibrato around. Boss lovers should own this pedal, especially if youâre fond of the analog series that Waza Craft bring to the table. The build is fantastic, sound is amazing and really not that expensive considering.
Customer Review Rating
The Boss Waza Craft VB-2W has a rating of 4.5* out of 5 on Amazon, Check Reviews Here
ZVEX Effects Instant Lo-Fi Junky Vexter
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Next we have a special Vibrato pedal from Zvez Effects, names the Instant Lo-fi Junky Vexter. This pedal essentially takes your guitar signal, gives it a wonderfully hissy lo-fi sound and allows you to add multiple pitch variation and of course vibrato. All the effects on this pedal are controlled with five knobs: Volume, tone, comp/lo-fi, depth and speed.
Perhaps the most interesting of the controls on the Lo-fi Junky is the comp/lo-fi. This allows you to blend between a dynamically rich bright compression, which sounds amazingly clean, to a crunch lo-fi signal. Due to the nature of the pedal, dialling the knob in-between will create wonderful chorus sounding tones.
The Zvex Effects Lo-fi Junky Vexter simply takes vibrato pedal technology to the next level. For that reason we have included this pedal as our premium choice. The pedal itself is compact, really well made and produces an amazing lo-fi effects which very few other pedals on the market will give you.
Who Should Buy This Pedal?
As we mentioned, this is our premium choice and overall perhaps the best vibrato pedal on the market. The Zvex Effects Instant Lo-fi Junky Vexter produces beautiful chorus tones mixed with vibrato within a haunting lo-fi sound. This pedal may appeal to experienced guitarist more as itâs relatively pricy. However if you require a lo-fi sound to your guitar tone then this is the perfect pedal for you! Check out the video below to see what we mean about this pedal.
Customer Review Rating
The ZVEX Effects Instant Lo-Fi Junky has a rating of 4.5* out of 5 on Amazon, Check Reviews Here
TC Electronic Tailspin
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As per usual, a TC Electronic pedal has made it onto our list. This time itâs the Tailspin vibrato which we are featuring. This is an extremely simple vibrato which has two controls, rate and depth, which allow you to shape the vintage AC style vibrato tone that the pedal naturally produces.
Some interesting features of the pedal include the top mounted jacks for input and output leads. The benefit of this is that you can fit more pedals side by side on your pedalboard. The pedal is part of TC Electronics analogue range of pedals which are compact in size but not strictly âmini pedals. Theyâre simply a nice fit for your pedalboard.
All-analog bucket brigade technology is used in the TC Tailspin to produce an excellent vibrato that is classic and extremely affordable. The Tailspin will provide a loverly sweep of vibrato intensity from subtle organic wobbles to fast leslie-like sounds and everything in between. Itâs can also be powered by 9V batteries.
Who Should Buy This Pedal?
The TC Electronic Tailspin is by far the most affordable vibrato pedal on our list, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget or new to guitar pedals. Itâs also a good choice if youâre simply looking for pedal that can be plugged in and produce a desired tone strait away. However, if youâre looking for extra dynamic and functionality, the Tailspin may be a little underewelming in terms of its versatility.
Customer Review Rating
The TC Electronic Tailspin has a rating of 4.5* out of 5 on Amazon, Check Reviews Here
EarthQuaker Devices Aqueduct
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Based in Akron Ohio, Earthquaker Devices are a a truly innovative pedal manufacture who produce boutique pedals full of unique features and experimentation. Their vibrato pedal offering is the Aqueduct which boasts eight individual modes covering a huge spectrum of sounds that you can choose from.
Once a desired mode is selected, the other controls are rate and depth, common vibrato knobs which alter the intensity of the effect. Switching between the modes will conjure synth effects to vintage vibrato, whilst also producing chorus and flanger. Essentially with this pedal you get several pedals worth of effect in one unit, making it extremely versatile and cost effective.
The Aqueduct also includes an exclusive Flexi-Switch which allows for latch and momentary settings. This essentially allows you to use the traditional setting by simply turning the foot switch on and off, or hold the foot switch down to activate the effect. Once released, the all analogue pedal will return to true bypass when switched off.
Who Should Buy This Pedal?
The Earthquaker Devices Aqueduct is a truly unique vibrato effects pedal which will suite guitarist who want untlimate experimental capabilities from their effects. Also anyone who is the market for several modulation effects can find everything they need in one pedal. We perhaps wouldnât recommend the Aqueduct for beginners as itâs slightly more complex and a little higher on the price point. It it, however, an extremely well build pedal with excellent components and analogue sounds.
Customer Review Rating
The EarthQuaker Devices Aqueduct has a rating of 4.5* out of 5 on Amazon, Check Reviews Here
Our Number One Choice
Not a particularly hard decision for us, weâve gone with the Boss VB-2W Waza Craft edition. This is your chance to get hold of the glory of the original Boss vibrato with all the modern twists in its performance and functionality. The look and design of the pedal is great, and as we mentioned, the build quality is standard from Boss. We recommend that you get this pedal on you board if youâre seeking the best and most authentic vibrato pedal ever made. Plus itâs fully analog which everyone loves.
Our Premium Choice
For the premium choice of vibrato pedal, weâve gone with the Zvez Effects Instant Lo-fi Junky Vexter. This pedal incorporates vibrato and chorus with a hissy Lo-fi tone to make some really interesting sound that virtually no other pedal provides. This is the type of pedal that will have everyone asking, âhow did you get that soundâ. Itâs also wonderfully made as almost all Zvex pedals are with their quirky artwork and boutique style. Fully worth the price in our opinion, go check it out.
Buy On AmazonBest Value For Money
Our pick as the best value for money vibrato pedal is the TC Electronic Shaker. This pedals quality is as bright as its paint work. The controls are responsive and the delay feature is an excellent addition to the pedal. Of course with TC Electronic, you need to take into consideration the Toneprint technology which is included with the pedal. This offers so much more to what is already an exceptionally affordable pedal already. We fully recommend that you consider this as your next vibrato pedal choice.
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If you found this roundup of the 10 best vibrato pedals both enjoyable and informative. Comment below your own review or any questions you may have regarding this product. If you have an questions recommendations of guitar pedals that your would like to see us review, also leave a comment and we will get them covered for you.
Check out our other buyers guides on the best overdrive pedals and reverb pedals
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Last update on 2022-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
