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Vibrato pedals are an incredible tool for adding movement, depth, and expressiveness to your guitar sound. Whether you’re after subtle pitch modulation or lush, seasick warbles, the right vibrato pedal can truly transform the way your guitar sounds.
In this guide, we will explore some of the best vibrato pedals on the market today, covering everything from boutique options to budget-friendly alternatives.
The Best Vibrato Pedals
Pedal | Photo | Where to Buy |
---|---|---|
Diamond Pedals - Vibrato | Amazon | |
Keeley - Seafoam Plus | Amazon | |
Earthquaker Devices - Aqueduct | Amazon | |
BOSS - VB-2W | Amazon | |
JHS Pedals - 3 Series Chorus/Vibrato (Budget Option) | Amazon | |
TC Electronic - Tailspin (Budget Option) | Amazon | |
Kokko - Vibrato (Budget Option) | Amazon | |
Flamma - FS05 (Budget Option) | Amazon |
Diamond Pedals – Vibrato
Diamond Pedal’s Vibrato is an icon in the guitar pedal world. Its story began way back in 2006 when Diamond Pedals set out to create an analog, true pitch vibrato effect based on the legendary MN3007 bucket brigade chip. It quickly became one of the most coveted vibrato pedals because of its warm, organic modulation and musical pitch variations.
Today, the Diamond team has taken the same iconic vibrato effect and implemented modern technology to make the Vibrato more efficient and user-friendly. Despite these modern updates, it still retains the signature Diamond sound that made the original such a hit. It’s an ideal vibrato pedal for players who want the best of both vintage sound and modern reliability.
Key Features:
- Fully analog bucket brigade circuitry
- Modern features with a vintage sound
- Top mounted jacks
- Soft touch footswitch
- Chorus control allows you to blend in your clean signal for a chorus effect
Where to Buy
Find the Diamond Pedals Vibrato on Amazon
Keeley – Seafoam Plus
The Seafoam Plus from Keeley perfectly marries chorus and vibrato into one compact, pedalboard-friendly pedal. While the Seafoam Plus is primarily marketed as a chorus pedal, you can dial the ‘Mix’ knob all the way up to get an awesome vibrato effect that rivals many standalone vibrato pedals.
The Seafoam Plus is truly a powerhouse of a vibrato/chorus pedal with a lot of different modes (the ADT mode even has its own reverb effect). It’s the perfect choice for someone looking for a pedal that can not only do vibrato but also chorus, dual-chorus, flanger, and even tremolo.
Key Features:
- Switchable between chorus and vibrato, giving you two effects in one
- Tons of modes
- Internal dipswitches allow you to change between vintage and modern chorus.
- Can be configured to work with a bass guitar
Where to Buy
Find the Seafoam Plus on Amazon
Earthquaker Devices – Aqueduct
The Earthquaker Devices crew is known for taking classic effects and turning them on their heads. And that’s exactly what they’ve done with the Aqueduct.
The Aqueduct is a vintage-inspired vibrato pedal, and can certainly compete with the other more straightforward vibrato pedals in this list. However, where it gets interesting is its “Mode” knob, which offers 8 different vibrato waveforms ranging from traditional Sine wave vibrato to more experimental options like Random mode or Envelope-controlled modes that respond to your pick attack.
The Aqueduct is a seriously awesome vibrato pedal for those who are fans of the more experimental side of life.
Key Features:
- 8 very unique vibrato modes
- Envelope modes (ENV) make the vibrato react to your playing
Where to Buy
BOSS – VB-2W
The original VB-2 Vibrato debuted in 1982, and its unique, expressive sound has made it a go-to vibrato pedal for many guitar players.
Now, BOSS has updated the pedal under the Waza Craft line with the VB-2W. The VB-2W offers an authentic reproduction of the original vibrato from the 80s, while adding a whole host of new features and modern upgrades.
The VB-2W offers a very straightforward control set as well as a unique “Mode” knob that gives you control of how the footswitch works (‘unlatched’ mode makes it a momentary effect). Like all Waza Craft pedals, the VB-2W offers a standard mode (based on the original VB-2) and a custom mode which is a totally new vibrato sound that BOSS has designed for the pedal.
Key Features:
- A faithful recreation of the OG VB-2 with more features
- A brand new vibrato effect with the Custom mode
- Can be switched to engage momentarily
- Expression pedal compatible
Where to Buy
JHS Pedals – 3 Series Chorus
JHS Pedals is a household name at this point, and their 3 Series pedals are a great way to get high-quality JHS-designed effects in a budget-friendly way.
As you can probably guess by the name, the 3 Series Chorus is a chorus pedal, but it features a dedicated vibrato mode that can be accessed via a toggle switch.
Its simple control scheme and sound quality offer a ton of value for the money. It’s an especially good option if you are looking for a versatile modulation pedal with an awesome vibrato function without the complexity of the more feature-heavy units.
Key Features:
- Versatile with both chorus and vibrato modes
- Easy-to-use controls for quick, on-the-fly adjustments
- Great value for money with professional sound quality
Where to Buy
Find the JHS Pedals Chorus on Amazon
TC Electronic – Tailspin Vibrato
The Tailspin Vibrato from TC Electronic is a fantastic, affordable vibrato pedal that doesn’t skimp on quality.
The Tailspin utilizes all-analog bucket-brigade circuitry to deliver classic 80’s inspired vibrato sounds. Whether you’re looking for subtle vibrato or warm, warbly modulation, the Tailspin absolutely delivers – punching well above its weight for its surprisingly low price tag.
Key Features:
- All analog Bucket Brigade circuitry
- Compact, sturdy design
- Great for lo-fi sounds or subtle pitch modulation
Where to Buy
Kokko – Vibrato
The Kokko Vibrato is yet another very budget-friendly option that provides a solid vibrato effect without all the frills.
It offers a barebones control scheme and a surprisingly good-sounding vibrato for the price. In fact, many have referred to it as an affordable clone of the iconic Boss VB-2. If you’re in need of a basic, no-nonsense, highly-affordable vibrato pedal, the Kokko Vibrato is a solid contender.
Key Features:
- Simple, intuitive controls
- Very cheap, but sounds great
Where to Buy
Find the Kokko Vibrato on Amazon
Flamma FS05
While the Flamma FS05 is technically a multi modulation pedal, its vibrato effect deserves to be mentioned here. The FS05 is another fantastic budget-friendly option – especially because it also includes a range of other effects including chorus, tremolo, a phaser, and more.
The Vibrato effect in the FS05 offers everything you could ever dream of for a vibrato, from subtle, vintage-style modulation to more weird, intense pitch shifting.
If you’re looking for a vibrato pedal, but also want to experiment with different modulation types, the FS05 is an excellent choice as far as money is concerned
Key Features:
- Multi-modulation pedal with an excellent vibrato effect
- Can save your favorite sounds as presets
- Very sturdy construction
Where to Buy