TEST: Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe

"Well, do you also play a Siebenender?" Yes, the ambitious young German guitarist in the seventies knew primarily only the company "Jschippzon" and the other manufacturer with the funny 7 in front when it came to electric guitars. The fact that the Americans like to represent a big "F" in the form of a number was still foreign to many European musicians at that time. Nobody knew at the time that, in addition to Fender, the company Fulltone would also make this typeface their trademark a few years later.

What was known, however, was that the great string stars of the sixties like Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower always used an illustrious number of floor pedals at their gigs, which were followed with great interest at the time. It was the time of experiments, which wanted to be implemented with massive physical effort, purely analog, sometimes crawling on the stage floor. Chaos, humming loops, creativity, a wild time.

Besides the first distortors, which elicited lead sounds from the crunchy fullstack for the first time, it was, among other things, the wafting sounds of the Univibe, which elicited chorus and vibrato-like sounds from the amplifiers for the first time and provided a previously unknown world of sound. To realize these sounds in the pre-digital era, an effort was made that would blow up any development budget today. To reanimate this legendary sound, however, requires a great deal of circuitry that cannot be calculated 1:1 by any algorithm.

Aware of this, Fulltone has launched the Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3, a replica of the Univibe, which not only uses custom photocells, but also new-old-stock Panasonic Matsuhita 2SC828 transistors.

Concept

Built in the USA, the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3 comes in an extremely solid cast construction and will probably last a lifetime in terms of stability. In general, Fulltone has attached importance to the user for the retail price of just under 360, - € to deliver a corresponding value detached from the sound. All components, both outside and inside the case, are of very high quality and suggest a long lifespan. Everything excellent before the first use? Not quite.

To ensure the product has the highest possible headroom in terms of operating voltage, the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3 requires an operating voltage of 18V via a stabilized power supply. Yes, you read that right, 18 volts. And yes, as far as I know, there is only the company Voodoo Lab, which currently provides an appropriate power supply in Europe. And no, you cannot place 2 pieces of 9V batteries inside the case in serial mode to power the product. In my opinion, this design represents a not insignificant hurdle in user acceptance, because detached from the fact that 18V certainly provide for an improvement of the sonic potential, if I can't put the product into operation other than with a special, not included power supply, the sonic aspect unfortunately brings me very little for now.

In terms of control options, the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3 can be operated either as a chorus or as a vibrato via a mini-switch. However, you should not stick too much to the designations, because in both sounds also a strong shot of phaser is always built in. If you want to get a more detailed picture of the sound concept, you only have to listen to the current shows or records of Robin Trower, who, according to an imprint on the bottom of the housing, inspired Michael Fuller to design the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3.

Another switch allows the settings Vintage or Modern, whereby Vintage generally works with less treble and softer. The speed of the modulation can be controlled via the pedal, whereby everything from a spherical carpet to a wafting LSD trip can be implemented. Two knobs on the outside of the housing control the intensity and the output volume of the signal. To support the speed of the modulation again visually, a blue LED was installed, which indicates both the operating status, as well as said modulation speed in the form of flashing. The housing rests on 4 strong rubber feet, which were screwed to the base plate in Cry Baby style.

In order to be able to activate the true bypass switch of the product even at full speed (pedal fully depressed), a recess was made in the foot part of the pedal, which allows the product to be activated / deactivated by means of the tip of the foot and a little sensitivity. A successful detail solution!


Practice

Regardless of which setting you use the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3 for the first time, a time travel of about 40 years into the past is definitely pre-programmed. Especially at the moment when the seventies sound look-alikes are sprouting like mushrooms and flooding the charts, the product should fall on nourishing ground. If any sound has vintage character, it's the sonic variations of the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3.

However, there is a big difference between using emulation to digitally calculate a vintage sound and generating it in "real" full analog because of the components used. While a good algorithm always only succeeds in simulating the characteristic corner points of a sound, with a product like the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3 you always have "The Full Monty", i.e. the depth gradation, respectively resolution of the signal does not end at the CPU load of the computer.

The interaction with the amp and the guitar encompasses a much larger amplitude and allows for much more shading in terms of personal technique and sound yield. Here you can also sit down on the floor in front of the amp and experience for yourself how quickly an hour flies by if you only intensively deal with 2 knobs, 2 switches and a handful of pickups on your guitar. What a difference to the preset steppe on the multi-FX pedal.

However, in order to get the full sonic benefit of the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3, you also need two other components that play an important role in this setup. First, you should have a high-quality amp, preferably an all-tube amp, which has a characterful clean and crunch sound. High gain may stay at home, there were not 40 years ago anyway. Secondly, the guitar in combination with the pickup plays a very important role, and it is not for nothing that the two protagonists mentioned above come from the Strat department. Let's make it short, Strat - neck pickup - Marshall JMP or earlier and the sun rises.


Conclusion

With the Fulltone Mini Deja Vibe MDV-3 Michael Fuller delivers the currently best Univibe replica in the world. In addition to excellent workmanship and the use of selected components such as specially manufactured photocells and new-old-stock Panasonic Matsuhita 2SC828 transistors, it is especially the completely authentic flair that the product exudes and invites you to an unrestrained return to the seventies.

A completely discrete electronics without any operational amplifiers provides a unique sound, which will give vintage fans glazed eyes.


Additional Informations:

- Fulltone is a well-known and respected manufacturer of high-quality guitar effects pedals and musical equipment based in Southern California, United States. The company was founded by Michael Fuller in 1991, and since then, it has established itself as one of the most innovative and reliable producers of boutique pedals in the industry.

Fulltone's philosophy is centered around producing guitar effects that are true to the vintage sound but with modern construction and reliability. Their pedals are designed to be sturdy, durable, and built to last, and they are renowned for their sound quality and unique tone-shaping capabilities.
The company's product line includes a wide range of guitar effects pedals, including overdrive,
distortion, delay, modulation, and wah-wah pedals. Each pedal is designed to deliver a unique and distinctive sound that can be customized to suit the individual preferences of guitar players.

One of Fulltone's most popular products is the Full-Drive 2 Mosfet Overdrive pedal, which is widely regarded as one of the best overdrive pedals on the market. This pedal offers a wide range of overdrive and distortion tones, from smooth and warm to gritty and crunchy, and it is often used by professional guitarists in a variety of genres, from blues to rock to metal.

Another popular pedal from Fulltone is the OCD Overdrive pedal, which is known for its dynamic range and high-quality sound. This pedal has gained a reputation as one of the most versatile overdrive pedals available, and it is often used by guitarists who need a pedal that can deliver a wide range of overdrive tones with clarity and precision.

In addition to pedals, Fulltone also produces a range of other musical equipment, including amplifiers, pickups, and cables. Their pickups are known for their clarity and dynamic range, and their cables are designed to provide reliable and high-quality signal transfer.
One of the unique aspects of Fulltone's products is their handcrafted construction. Each pedal is built by hand in Southern California, and the company takes pride in the quality of their workmanship. This attention to detail and commitment to quality has earned Fulltone a reputation for producing some of the most reliable and durable pedals on the market.

Overall, Fulltone is a highly respected and influential player in the guitar effects industry. Their commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction has made them a favorite among guitarists of all skill levels, and their products can be found in music stores and on stages around the world. Whether you're a professional musician or a hobbyist, Fulltone pedals are an excellent choice for achieving a distinctive and high-quality guitar tone.

- The Univibe pedal is a classic guitar effects pedal that has been used by countless guitarists over the years to achieve a unique and distinctive sound. The pedal was first introduced in the late 1960s by the Japanese company Shin-ei, and it quickly gained popularity among guitarists of the time, including Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour.

The Univibe pedal was designed to simulate the sound of a rotating speaker, which was a popular effect used by organists at the time. The pedal uses a combination of phase shifting and amplitude modulation to create a swirling, pulsating effect that is often described as a "vibrato" or "chorus" effect.

The Univibe pedal has a simple yet effective design. It typically features a single footswitch, a few control knobs, and an input and output jack. The control knobs are used to adjust the intensity, speed, and depth of the effect, allowing guitarists to dial in a wide range of sounds, from subtle modulation to full-on psychedelic swirls.

One of the unique aspects of the Univibe pedal is its ability to react dynamically to a guitarist's playing. As the guitar signal is fed into the pedal, the phase shifting and amplitude modulation are affected by the strength and frequency of the signal, creating a dynamic and interactive effect that responds to the player's touch.

The Univibe pedal has been used by many famous guitarists over the years, including Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Robin Trower, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. These guitarists have used the pedal to create a wide range of sounds, from Hendrix's signature psychedelic tones to Gilmour's lush and atmospheric soundscapes.

In recent years, the Univibe pedal has undergone several updates and improvements, with many new versions and clones being produced by various manufacturers. Some of the most popular versions include the Fulltone Deja Vibe, the Voodoo Lab Micro Vibe, and the Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Univibe.

Overall, the Univibe pedal is a classic and highly sought-after guitar effects pedal that has stood the test of time. Its unique and dynamic sound has made it a favorite among guitarists of all genres, and its influence can be heard in countless recordings over the years. Whether you're a fan of classic rock, blues, or psychedelia, the Univibe pedal is a must-have addition to any guitarist's pedalboard.