The JHS Unicorn is a JHS Pedals chorus pedal. Close alternatives include the Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe and the Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Diezel Hagen 4-Channel 100-Watt.

JHS Unicorn

JHS Pedals · pedal

The JHS Unicorn V2 is an all-analog, photocell-based UniVibe pedal with tap tempo, offering the rotating-speaker character of the classic Uni-Vibe with modern conveniences. It is among the first fully analog photocell vibe pedals to include tap tempo as standard. Controls include Volume, Speed, Depth, and a Ratio control for tap-tempo subdivisions, plus a Vibrato/Chorus switch. Compatible with optional external tap control and expression pedal for rate control. Made in Kansas City, Missouri.

What stands out

  • “The all-analog photocell circuit produces authentic Uni-Vibe modulation — a swirling, rotating-speaker effect with natural pitch and amplitude variation that sits distinctly between phaser and chorus”

    — from the reviews

  • “The JHS Unicorn V2 is an all-analog, photocell-based UniVibe pedal with tap tempo, offering the rotating-speaker character of the classic Uni-Vibe with modern conveniences”

    — from the listing

  • “Controls include Volume, Speed, Depth, and a Ratio control for tap-tempo subdivisions, plus a Vibrato/Chorus switch”

    — from the listing

  • “Chord sensitivity occasionally causes clipping with high-output humbuckers; single coils and lower-output pickups work best”

    — from the community notes

  • “High-output humbuckers can occasionally push the input stage into clipping; single-coil guitars at standard output produce the most authentic response”

    — from the reviews

Trade-offs

  • “the all-analog photocell topology stands apart from digital approximations in natural response and feel”

    — from the reviews

  • uni vibe
  • chorus
  • rotating speaker character
  • modulation
  • vibrato
  • clipping
  • response
  • tempo synced vibe

Genres the JHS Unicorn is commonly used in

  • Classic Rock
  • Blues
  • Alternative Rock

Amps that pair well with the JHS Unicorn

Friedman Dirty Shirley

Friedman

20% match

Friedman Dirty Shirley leans toward crunchy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Comes later in the signal chain

Diezel Hagen 4-Channel 100-Watt

Diezel

20% match
$3999.99via Reverb

Diezel Hagen 4-Channel 100-Watt's own high gain character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes later in the signal chain

Ceriatone 2202H

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Ceriatone 2202H after JHS Unicorn

Synergy SL2 Module

Synergy

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Synergy SL2 Module after JHS Unicorn

ENGL Special Edition E670

Engl

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

ENGL Special Edition E670 goes after JHS Unicorn in the chain

Blackstar HT Club 50 Head Mk III

Blackstar

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Blackstar HT Club 50 Head Mk III after JHS Unicorn

Marshall DSL1CR 1x8 1-Watt Combo

Marshall

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Marshall DSL1CR 1x8 1-Watt Combo goes after JHS Unicorn in the chain

Hiwatt Crunch 150R 112C

Hiwatt

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Hiwatt Crunch 150R 112C goes after JHS Unicorn in the chain

Pedals that stack with the JHS Unicorn

Airis Effects SPEC-Defier

Airis Effects

18% match
$169via Reverb

Airis Effects SPEC-Defier's own high gain character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes later in the signal chain

EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas

EarthQuaker Devices

18% match

EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas's own fuzzy character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Eventide Modulated Delay

Eventide

8% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Run Eventide Modulated Delay after JHS Unicorn in the signal chain, where it won't crowd JHS Unicorn — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Electro-Harmonix Nano Memory Toy

Electro-Harmonix

8% match
$181.27via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.

Electro-Harmonix Nano Memory Toy's analog warmth voice goes after JHS Unicorn in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with JHS Unicorn's own modulated character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Donner Big Mouth Distortion

Donner

tonal match
$29.95via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Put Donner Big Mouth Distortion in front of JHS Unicorn

Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2

Dr Scientist

tonal match
$204.36via Reverb

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 in front of JHS Unicorn

Source Audio L.A. Lady

Source Audio

tonal match

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Source Audio L.A. Lady goes in front of JHS Unicorn in the chain

Warm Audio Jet Phaser

Warm Audio

tonal match
$109.01via Reverb

Put Warm Audio Jet Phaser after JHS Unicorn: modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set

Alternativessee all similar tone character →

Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe

Smokin Amp Co

61% similarity

Shared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation

Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus

Dunlop

60% similarity
$490.27via Reverb

Shared character: speed control, vibrato, expression pedal

JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3

Jam Pedals

59% similarity
$412via Reverb

Shared character: expression pedal, vibrato, chorus

JAM Pedals RetroVibe mk.2

Jam Pedals

59% similarity
$434.19via Reverb

Shared character: expression pedal, vibrato, chorus

EarthQuaker Devices THE Depths V2

EarthQuaker Devices

58% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation

Roger Mayer Voodoo-Vibe 2024

Roger Mayer

58% similarity
$557.67via Reverb

Shared character: phaser, chorus, modulation

NuX Vibe Univibe

Nux

56% similarity

Shared character: phaser, vibrato, chorus

Strymon Ultraviolet

Strymon

55% similarity
$259via Reverb

Shared character: vibrato, chorus, volume

Dunlop JHMS3 Hendrix68 Univibe

Dunlop

55% similarity

Shared character: vibrato, chorus, alternative

Catalinbread Pareidolia

Catalinbread

55% similarity
$145via Reverb

Shared character: phaser, headroom, modulation

JAM Pedals RetroVibe MKIII

Jam Pedals

55% similarity
$300via Reverb

Shared character: vibrato, chorus, modulation

Strymon Eventide TriceraChorus

Strymon

53% similarity

Shared character: phaser, chorus, modulation

See all alternatives to the JHS Unicorn (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the JHS Unicorn?+

The closest matches in character are the Smokin' Amp Co. Tri-Vibe, the Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus, the JAM Pedals Retrovibe mk3.

What pairs well with the JHS Unicorn?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Diezel Hagen 4-Channel 100-Watt, Ceriatone 2202H — Friedman Dirty Shirley leans toward crunchy, and that's a real, usable character to pair with.

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