The SurfyVibe circuit is emulating the mono channel of a Magnatone® 280. The "sweeping" mode adds a
feedback path to create a unique effect that is a mix of phaser / chorus / tremolo.
The original circuit in the Magnatone® 280 used a component called "varistor", a type
that has been obsolete for years. This is the reason modern circuits use other techniques to achieve pitch shift.
To get the sound as close to the original as possible, we have found a way to emulate
the original circuit. We replace the tubes with jFET transistors and the varistors with special diode arrays.
NO TRUE BYPASS
Is a vintage vibrato true bypass? Changing the tone a little bit is part of the game here and we wanted to keep it so. We did not invent a new effect, our purpose is to allow everybody
to enjoy that sound without carrying around a heavy and expensive instrument.