Vibrato unit

A vibrato unit is an effects unit used to modify the sound of an electric guitar by producing a regular variation in the amplitude of the sound. In all other contexts this effect is known as tremolo rather than vibrato.

Related Topics:
Effects unit - Electric guitar - Amplitude - Tremolo - Vibrato

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Vibrato units may be individual stomp boxes or built in to multi-effects units, but are traditionally built in to guitar amplifiers. They are particularly used in surf music. A vibrato unit normally has three controls:

Related Topics:
Stomp box - Guitar amplifier - Surf music

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• Speed controls the frequency of the variation, typically from a maximum (fully clockwise) of five to ten hertz to a minumum which may be as slow as one cycle taking several seconds.
• Depth or intensity controls the amplitude of the variation itself. The minimum depth (fully anticlockwise) is typically (but not always) zero, that is no effect on the sound at all; The maximum depth does not normally cut the sound off completely at the cycle minimum, but may reduce it by as much as 6dB, virtually a cut off to the ear.
• An on/off control, traditionally a pull-on switch on the depth potentiometer, a foot switch, or both. The off position bypasses the unit. In the case of an amplifier mounted unit where both switches are supplied, the unit is bypassed if the pull-on switch is off, regardless of the pedal. If the pedal is not plugged in, the unit is turned on and off by the pull-on switch; If the pedal is plugged in, then it controls the unit when the pull-on switch is on.
 
Vibrato unit: Vibrato or tremolo? ►