P018 – Sea of Japan

Active ingredient – Selected opto cells (LDR) and the classic lamp, with improved preamp and speed range to meet the needs of the modern guitarist, but seeking the original sound of the Univibe.

Recommended for – Guitarists looking for modulation that goes beyond the chorus/phaser/flanger triad and want a more vintage and complex coloration in their tones.

The Univibe, developed by Fumio Mieda for Honey (the company that would become Shin-Ei) was one of the first modulations developed for musical instruments. The Vibe effect – which sits somewhere between the sound of Phaser and Chorus – was originally obtained by the interaction between an incandescent lamp and four optical cells, and the difficulty of finding such components, combined with the needs for the original circuit’s power supply (which had an internal transformer and was plugged directly into the outlet), led the classic circuit to undergo various adaptations when “reproduced” by other brands, ranging from replacing the lamp with an LED (or LEDs), which provides a different response in terms of pulse shape and modulation frequencies – to a complete change in the pedal’s functioning topology – such as the use of OTAs, JFETs, and even completely digital versions. The Sea of Japan, on the other hand, is a faithful reproduction of the Vibe acclaimed by Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Mike McCready, and many other guitarists, using a lamp (which, it is worth mentioning, has a lifespan of 10000 hours and will likely last for generations) and a modernized power system.

The depth control determines the depth of the effect, altering the “throb,” the shape of the sound pulse. The Speed control acts on the effect’s speed (which also affects the depth – the faster, the more intense the sound becomes, and the slower, the more subtle), ranging from almost-phaser sounds to those reminiscent of a Ring Modulator – the circuit’s LFO was slightly modified to reach speeds slower and faster than the original Univibe, offering great sonic flexibility. Additionally, the preamp was modified to offer more gain – since in the original units the volume is below bypass – and can be used as a boost – all within reach of the Level control. The C/V switch alternates between Chorus mode, which is the classic Vibe sound we hear on records, where the modulated signal is mixed with the clean signal, and Vibrato mode, which is just the modulated signal. The Sea of Japan is a project that was born classic and was developed with great respect for the history, operation, and sound of the original Univibe units.

Operating voltage: 9v
Compatible instruments: Electric Guitar
Types of effects: Vibe/Vibrato/Modulation
Power types: Adapter
Dimensions HxWxD (cm): 6.5x13x9
Weight (g):
Warranty: 1 year (against manufacturing defects)

Timelines:
Payment compensation: up to 2 business days
Production: up to 10 business days
Delivery: according to the chosen shipping method

Note: The colors and details of the products may vary in tone and texture depending on the calibration of your monitor, display, and the batch of materials from our suppliers.