Realistic Boss VB-2 Vibrato price?

[tapeup]

Did a search for this on here, with a few old results...was just wondering what the going rate is for a Boss VB-2 Vibrato pedal?

I looked at ebay and saw everything from $300 to $700, and think sometimes ebay is not the best route for me to determine a fair price locally for some of these discontinuted products. Can anyone give me a price range of what you'd expect to pay in your local area if someone were selling one? Thanks for you input TGPers!

[Philly Fuzz]

The last couple VB-2 pedals that I saw on ebay that were actually auctions (not BINs) ended up selling for around $250. Sellers using BIN prices always try to gouge with higher prices. Honestly, I see $300-350 as the current ceiling for these pedals with $200-250 as a more sane price, but there's always someone who will shell out more.

And, frankly, given the other true pitch vibrato options that are hitting the market, I don't know why someone would spend $400 for a non-true-bypass Boss VB-2 which are also infamous for being noisy and hissy.... :huh

[Blurillaz]

And, frankly, given the other true pitch vibrato options that are hitting the market, I don't know why someone would spend $400 for a non-true-bypass Boss VB-2 which are also infamous for being noisy and hissy.... :huh
1. True Bypass isn't everything.
2. The hiss can easily be avoided.

[Philly Fuzz]

Most of my board is Boss pedals, so clearly I'm not that concerned with true-bypass. I've just read some complaints about this particular Boss pedal (and the first version of the byoc clone) adding lots of noise even when bypassed.

How do you avoid the hiss and noise of a VB-2 (assuming you have one and it is hissy)?

And why get the VB-2 at its price point, if others are available cheaper and (perhaps) with less noise and hiss?

[Kaji13]

It's all tone mojo with stuff like that ;)

[Footbutt]

reviving this thread to ask the same question.

i posted my tap-a-whirl up on ebay and got a message from a guy in NZ saying he'd trade me a Boss VB-2 Vibrato for it. is this a fair or good trade?

i personally have no need for vibrato, but would i be able to recoup the $200 i'm looking for?

[theelectic]

I'm somewhat suspicious because you can easily get $300 for a VB-2 on eBay, and I've even seen them sell for $400+ at local retail.

[SonicVI]

They've been going for over $400 recently on ebay.

VB-2's are a little hissy even when bypassed. I suspect that's why they put the 'bypass' mode on the rotary switch. The hiss goes away in that mode and I can't think of any other use for it.

[Jet Bycraft]

There's one on ebay right now for $489.95...

[theelectic]

There's one on ebay right now for $489.95...

See now that's ridiculous. There's a dealer on gbase.com that has one for $425.

The vast majority of the price is due to its rarity. If it were just about tone, the Behringer version gets you most of the way there for $30 or less. Even the BYOC version, which has true bypass, can be had prebuilt for $200.

Incidentally, I built up a BYOC Vibrato, which is supposed to be a dead on clone. The biggest problem with it - it gets MUCH deeper than the real VB-2. With mine, 10:00 on depth is like the VB-2 depth maxed out. This is good if you want that seasick extreme pitch bend, but makes finding subtle tones difficult. Not sure if this is normal or not with the BYOC.

I need to track down a Behringer, once I do I will make a comparison video between all three.

[tapehead]

For those prices you could get a corded DMM and go out for a fancy dinner evening with the cash you save:hide

[chops612]

VB-2's are the bomb, but I am sorry.. True bypass is everything. The only way to run THIS pedal is to put it in a TB loop. While the hiss is minimal, everything adds up so if I am not using something there is ZERO need for not needed white noise at any decible in my rig. This hiss cannot be avoided unless you put it in a loop, or bend over and manually switch it to bypass mode (kinda defeats the purpose of a stomp switch).

The Behringer UV-300 might be close for some, but I did my own shootout and they aren't even close in mojo. Few parts changes, but the key is the UV is all SMD, which in my personal opinion always sounds too clean/hifi. There's no fatness with these guys and the effect has a top end sheen to it that just makes it feel sterile. That said it's a great one for the money, but out of 4 I ordered to shoot out one was so (incorrectly) noisy I instantly got booted, where as the other three were just standard.

The BYOC with the nos chip is 100% identical in every way to the VB-2, though it is a little bigger, BUT comes true bypass. I did a mod to mine that lowers the clock cycle along with a chip upgrade, and affects tone zero, just lowers the hiss output as you can trim the clock back. I would like to compare a 6110 model to the mix as I have heard they sound the same, but until I hear with my own ears who knows.

The UV-300 vs Boss and Klon vs Kalamazoo YouTube demos really threw me for a loop, but because of them have learned nothing can be trusted with that kinda of quality, compressions, etc. The UV and Kal (FOR ME) both ended up in the turd pile!



OH....I'd say $300-500 realistically.

[theelectic]

@chops612: did you find your BYOC to have a lot more depth compared to the VB-2 (see my post above)? Mine is the 6110 version. Shouldn't make any difference, since the 6110 isn't in the signal path, it just drives the clock output.

Other than that I agree, I can get get the speed and depth set exactly the same between the VB-2 and BYOC but always pick the VB-2 for tone. There's just something about it. This is with blind testing with the pedals under a sheet, both in true bypass loopers.

[tinkercity]

Yup $350 is a good "normal" price. Anything higher is reaching... but some may pay. Also - since it's highly collectable, if it's in good or bad condition, that will have something to do with the selling price. I would make that trade in a heartbeat.

[chops612]

@chops612: did you find your BYOC to have a lot more depth compared to the VB-2 (see my post above)? Mine is the 6110 version. Shouldn't make any difference, since the 6110 isn't in the signal path, it just drives the clock output.

Other than that I agree, I can get get the speed and depth set exactly the same between the VB-2 and BYOC but always pick the VB-2 for tone. There's just something about it. This is with blind testing with the pedals under a sheet, both in true bypass loopers.

I actually get a little less depth with my BYOC as I pulled the clock back for less hiss when on. Trade off is less max depth, which is cool for me as I already know the setting I want. Though the 6110 isn't directly in the signal path it is part of the oscillating circuit, which dictates the shape of the wave, and therefore can affect the way the pedal actually sounds. Blind testing the BYOC with the 662 was 100% the same tone, sound, response as the VB-2. As I said I would love to check out the 6110 at one point. I am pretty sure it sound absolutely stellar. I was just fortunate to get the old model back when.

[theelectic]

I actually get a little less depth with my BYOC as I pulled the clock back for less hiss when on. Trade off is less max depth, which is cool for me as I already know the setting I want. Though the 6110 isn't directly in the signal path it is part of the oscillating circuit, which dictates the shape of the wave, and therefore can affect the way the pedal actually sounds. Blind testing the BYOC with the 662 was 100% the same tone, sound, response as the VB-2. As I said I would love to check out the 6110 at one point. I am pretty sure it sound absolutely stellar. I was just fortunate to get the old model back when.

Hmmm I might have to double check my build then, I get tons more depth and it's a totally stock 6110 build. 10:00 on my BYOC is like my VB-2 maxed out.

[Jules-RM]

The Malekko one should get you close enough for much less cash.

[SonicVI]

The Malekko is actually based on the Small Clone! All the VB2 is is a chorus with no dry signal and the fancy switching and LFO delay.

[Jules-RM]

This one? Doesn't sound like any Small Clone I've heard. Not a very good demo tho.

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[SonicVI]

It's a small clone without the dry signal, which makes it a vibrato, so it doesn't sound like an unmodified Small Clone.