In Praise of (true) Vibrato

[The Smith]

Anyone else use vibrato in creative ways? I'm talking true, pitch shift vibrato. I've never liked whammy bars because of sustain and tuning issues, but I love how vibrato (begat of a pedal) can be used to texture my playing. Here are two uses I find for it:

1. Combine it with heavy fuzz for relatively simple lead riffs using mostly the B and high E strings. It gives me a very nice, unique, violin-like tone.

2. When a song ends on a long, sustained, overdrive-saturated chord, I like to kick in the vibrato as the chord blooms and then fades into controlled feedback.

Now let's hear from you...

[Dave B]

Just traded for a BBE Mind Bender last week based upon its chorus sound. So I road-tested that side of the box for the first few days. However.....

The last few days I'm stuck on the Vibrato side. I'm completely with you on your #1, as long as I stick to slow up to moderate tempos. I'm enamored with it and really enjoy this 2-for-1 pedal, and feel I got a real bonus here. Very musical pedal - totally unexpected and more than a pleasant surprise. Too bad Fender amps don't have Vibrato. :( ;) (Not meant to start any misnomer wars here.)

[Neer]

The brown fender amps had a circuit that was similar to pitch vibrato. It's distinctly different from the tremolo offered on later amps. An early 60s Standel I owed had a the same circuit.

I use Vibrato--these days I only use the Behringer UV, but it's every bit as good as a VB-2, IMO. Used sparingly, it's great.

[stark]

Waiting on the Diamond Vibe any day now!!! Also got a couple of VB-2's. One is in the Emporium.

Adam Stark

[jay42]

I worked on a Magnatone recently. It has true pitch shifting which is sort of fun to watch on a scope. Imo, it doesn't sound all that great though compared to tremolo or a good chorus.

[stark]

Just got the Diamond Vibrato. It rocks! Killer chorus tones also.

Adam Stark
http://www.diamondpedals.com/images/vibrato/vib_angled.JPG

[Dave B]

The brown fender amps had a circuit that was similar to pitch vibrato. It's distinctly different from the tremolo offered on later amps. An early 60s Standel I owed had a the same circuit.
.....Never having played a brownface, and most likely won't have that opportunity due to my non-urban locale, thanks for the info. If I ever get the chance, I will most definitely engage the trem circuit on one of these classics.

[mad dog]

I worked on a Magnatone recently. It has true pitch shifting which is sort of fun to watch on a scope. Imo, it doesn't sound all that great though compared to tremolo or a good chorus.

Have to disagree with you there. I'm not a big chorus fan, but do love all the various trems out there, and love the maggie TPS vibrato just as much. Every maggie sounds different ... some weaker than others, a pronounced chorus-like edge on the vibrato in my M10A suitcase amp. My favorite is the 260. Crank that up with vibrato at max depth, slowest speed, through some clean boost, and we're talking underwater soul.

[clemduolian]

LOVE TPS vibrato. Have owned Magnatones, Unique and now Titano. The vibrato rules! Use it many ways (deep and shallow, slow and fast), but my favorite is deep and slow. Just a wonderful tonal color.