Grateful Dead Music Forum

I've gotten a few emails & PMs on this I figured start a thread. There are rack models in the UE series for rack: UE400,405,700.

There were also a few floor models that I'm sure somebody has here or at least experience and can add that info to this thread!

I cannot comment on the UE405 as I've only toyed with one very briefly, years ago. Now the UE400 I've owned and sold. Owned it for about 6 months or so, IIRC, and never bonded with it. I also now own and am very happy with the UE700. So below are my thoughts from that perspective.

Let's first consider what we have and what we dont' have.
400 = comp, phaser, OD, chorus/flanger
700 = phaser, comp, dist, flanger, eq

The 400 lacks the EQ of the 700. The 400’s chorus/flanger sounds like just a chorus. No chorus on the 700.

Now let’s compare FX (this is to my ears/opinion)
Comps: the same
Phaser: 700 seems much fuller and richer. The 400 is more like a P90 w/slight volume drop and low end loss
OD/Dist: the 400 is very similar to a tubescreamer with that mid-hump. The 700 seems like a flatter response
Flanger: I couldn’t get the 400 to flang (is that a verb?). The 700 flanges from subtle to extreme and can dial in an interesting echo that is almost delayish

The chorus on the 400 is nice if you like chorus. It won't convert those who do not like/use/need chorus.
The EQ on the 700 is outstanding and very quiet - perfect for shaping tone/levels especially if you coil tap, etc

IMO if you are a big fan of Tube Screamers and the old Phase 90s the 400 will do you just fine.
If you prefer FX that keep more of your original tone (flatter response), need an EQ and desire that vintage thang (more raw feel) there is nothing like a 700

There's more than one flavor of the UE400 and UE405. For some (if not all) of the UE400's, the Chorus/Flanger effect has a 'width' setting which you can pull out for a 'stereo' effect. I find that with the knob pulled out, you can get more of a flanger-like sound vs. the chorus-like sound. What's weird is that even with this 'stereo' option, only some of the units have an extra stereo output jack located between the input & ouput jacks on the front-left side. The UE400 pictured above has the pull for stereo option but does not have the stereo output jack.

Other varieties: TS808 vs. TS9 switches, 'distortion' vs. 'overdrive' effect, black color vs. two-tone color scheme.

btw...I have a UE400 for sale...

mk

This is hard to describe, but the sound of Bobby's I like from this period, is a kind of sucking sound, slightly metalic with a little whoosh...
First I have to find a small tube combo...
Thanks
to strumminsix...

MK - you are totally right. My origination wasn't to be the Gospel just to start a conversation!!!
(of anyone on this forum you are the only one who could write the Gospel on vintage Ibanez!)

astroman99 wrote:This is hard to describe, but the sound of Bobby's I like from this period, is a kind of sucking sound, slightly metalic with a little whoosh...
First I have to find a small tube combo...

Pickups out of phase plus the UE700's flanger with extra feedback would be my first attempt with a UE700.

Other ways to get close and some may work for you. I tonally prefer my other ways but this gets me closest!

sob! I never knew you could pull a knob on the UE400!! I haven't used mine for years but very intersting

Im currently using the black 400 and the grey 405 together in my rack. I love them both but the 405 is a little stronger sounding the 400 is great for both Bob and Jerry tones. I just like to have the option to choose from. I also run the ADA 2fx plus your boss jerry pedals and the mutron. I would never loose the 405 its really good sounding. Oh and the 405 has the stereo out option in between where the 400 does not.