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Universal Audio dives into guitar effects with vintage-flavoured UAFX pedals

January 27, 2021

Universal Audio has made its entrance into the guitar effects market with the announcement of the UAFX pedal series. This marks UA’s second major foray into guitar products, after the successful launch of the UA Ox amp top box in 2018.
Read more: Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box review
The brand’s first pedals are the Golden Reverberator, Starlight Echo Station and the Astra Modulation Machine. These run on UA’s own dual-processor UAFX engine, touted to offer “sonic authenticity” to various eras of vintage guitar effects.
Each pedal offers three distinct sounds, additional downloadable effects and a robust construction that will “last decades”.
Golden Reverberator
The Golden Reverberator offers three sounds options: Spring 65, Plate 140 and Hall 224. Likely these are modelled after the tube-driven spring reverb of a Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb, EMT 140 reverb and Lexicon 224, respectively. Along with your standard fare of ‘verb controls – decay, pre delay and mix – are modulation options that add motion to the effect. Plus, there are also bass and treble controls to further shape your tone.
Image: Universal AudioStarlight Echo Station
Applying its knowledge on analogue modelling, UA offers its take on three hardware delays with the Starlight Echo Station. The Tape EP-III, Analog DMM and Precision modes are based on iconic delay effects spanning the last 60 years. The first two are likely to be takes on the Echoplex EP-3 and EHX Deluxe Memory Man. To let you finesse your tone are controls for tape wear, modulation and preamp colour.
Image: Universal AudioAstra Modulation Machine
The Astra Modulation Machine stars a spacey studio flanger inspired by hardware from the 1970s, a warm and gritty bucket-brigade chorus and a lush sounding optical tube tremolo. Meanwhile, its secondary modes let you switch the effect over to vibrato, doubler and more.
Image: Universal AudioOther features
The pedals feature stereo inputs and outputs, as well as selectable buffered/true bypass, optional trails and silent switching. In addition to an active effect, you can also store a favourite preset for instant recall.
As well as this, there’s a USB input for downloading additional effects created by UA’s algorithm team.
Pricing and availability
The UAFX pedals will be available in Spring 2021 with a price tag of $399 apiece.
Learn more at uaudio.com
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