Akai Review: UB1 UniBass

History:

Purchase: I got this from Musician's Friend, paid about $170 for it. I was looking for an octaver and this one goes up & down various pitches, with or without distortion. I have had it about 2 years.

What I Like About This Akai UB1 UniBass: Easy to use. Very cool if you are in a band with only 1 guitar player. Switch it on when they go into a solo, and BOOM, instant rhythm filler. Even has a separate line out (with or without distortion) that you can run to another amp. Many options you can play with. Very versatile.

What I Do NOT Like About The Akai UB1 UniBass: Chords freak this thing out. Tracking is VERY touchy. Can't be all over the fretboard, it won't keep up. Must be very precise in your picking & fretting. If they could nail down the tracking & chord interference, this pedal would rock! However, it can still be pretty useful, in the right situation.

Akai UB1 UniBass Quality Rating: Very good. Sturdy metal case. Rubber feet. Knobs and little switches seem good quality. LED's let you know how the input levels are. Heavy duty, stomp box style on/off switches.

Review Summary: For someone in a band with a guitar player that solos a lot, this would be great for filling in the 'hole' when they solo. However, fast picking/fingering/plucking, chords, and slap-pop all freak this thing out. If you play straight ahead at moderate speeds, check it out, but definitely try before you buy.

Rating of this Akai product: 3

This Akai UB1 UniBass Bass Guitar Effects Review Submitted By: Agent Lizzard

Review Date: 2003-02-26