Hendrix Honey Univibe build story

[Xplorer]

Hello,

after quite a few years ( started a vibe project back in 2009, only to have one working just recently )

i believe that Jimi's vibe are "Honey", but it could still be some later Shinei from the first year, with the two rubber bands.

some clips :

https://soundcloud.com/xplorer80/160701 ... y-clip-2-2

https://soundcloud.com/xplorer80/160630 ... rst-clip-1

honestly it can't tell how fucking good it sounds in reality, i'm amazed. it totaly kills my Voodoo vibe and the megavibe i had, by far. loving it.
thanks who will recognize themselves. especialy JC Maillet, who was there already, back in 2009 ...
Thanks very much also to Jim from Unique Vibe, and thomas.

i'll soon receive a nice foot controler Replica from Bob Feldman who resurected Shinei, Honey, and companion.

And here is my build :

[garbeaj]

Jesus Christ! I have an original Shin-Ei...how the hell did you get all those parts?!

[Xplorer]

patience, luck, gift, a little bit of money, and some nice trades they couldn't refuse ... and some parts i had arround in my stock.
i'll build a second vibe, but in a small enclosure, different, with mods and a different preamp.

[garbeaj]

Very cool! I love my original unit, though it has the common problems that even Jimi and Trower and Stevie Ray experienced with the slight signal loss for lack of a better term. I've used it with my 80s Dunlop Fuzzface reissue and my vintage TS-808 with an early 70s Vox wah, but I've never used a pre-amp...maybe that would help?

Have you experienced this slight loss of signal/level? I've tried other vintage Shin-Ei Univibes and they've all sounded exactly like mine...

[Xplorer]

you've never used a preamp ? what do you mean ? there's a preamp anyway in the vibe.

i didn't really notice it on mine, but i didn't compare A/B between no vibe in the circuit, and vibe in the circuit, because it's like the original, non true bypass.
it is said though that this signal loss is a common thing. it can be changed but it's up to you to touch this original univibe or not ..

"unity gain" mod

http://www.classicamplification.net/fv/ ... mod_01.htm

the phase caps are an interesting thing to touch, to affect the pulse, the sine ... and the offset bias mod from JC Maillet is a must, to fine tune the bulb / cells combo, especially when you're using modern ones, but that's another subject.

[garbeaj]

I know I would never mod my vintage Uni-Vibe and if I got a small box modern clone I would probably get one of Stu Castledine's. He made a couple of pedals for me and I might get something less precious and more conducive to a pedalboard from him.

When I say I've never used a pre-amp I mean that I've never used a unit like a Clinch EP-Pre or Xotic version of an Echoplex pre-amp circuit to boost signal.

[Xplorer]

i understand. i tested it with my echoplex, it was dreamy, but i don't know if the ep3 was responsible so much.
you still can use a fuzz with volume at max ... and no gain or little.

i heard castledine does great effects.

[ArrogantOwl]

Dude, that's an awesome build!

[Xplorer]

Thanks !

[shakti]

Very, very nice! Makes me want to attempt one, but I imagine it would take a lot of time and money.

[Xplorer]

Thanks !
You could, if it's just for the sound. It's worth it !
If you have the right parts it won't take too long, and it won't be very expensive.
I didn't build the enclosure. I just made the front plate and the rest.

[axeman]

Ecellent

[Xplorer]

Thanks Axeman

[axeman]

Dude I want to build one.

[Xplorer]

yeah, you should try. a good selection of parts, and some knowledge about the univibe ... it'll just take time.
there's a good thread at freestompbox about it.