Best Reverb Pedal

[rogercollege]

any thoughts on a nice reverb pedal for guitar? i'm looking for something that isn't noisy or "cheesy." something warm, smooth, and vintage (with a few options) i've looked at Holy Grails, Boss, Line 6, Digitech.... what's out there that i don't know about? or what are your thoughts on any of the above?

[Sean Sullivan]

I've tried several reverb pedals, and I always come back to the Holy Grail pedal. The Lin6 6 Verbzilla is very flexible if you like to experiment, but for straight up hall and spring sounds the Holy Grail wins.

There is also the EBS DynaVerb and TC Electronics Nova Reverb are intriguing, but there are $250 a piece.

Then there is the T-Rex Room-Mate and AMT Hall Reverb, which are valve reverb pedals, but they run over $300.

[inverseroom]

I think the Verbzilla is better than the Holy Grail, personally. I've got this old all-tube Epiphone amp with this amazing, lush reverb. But it's a design flaw of the circuit that there's a lot of hum with the reverb engaged. It kind of drives me nuts, so I decided to try to dial in the precise sound on the Verbzilla...I used its tube reverb sim...and honestly, after fiddling with the tone and decay controls, I absolutely cannot tell the difference AT ALL. I love the thing.

I have nothing against the Holy Grail, but I sold it once I heard the Verbzilla.

[;ivlunsdystf]

Does that Verbzilla have a "wet only" option? My understanding is that the Holy Grail does not, which makes it less appealing to me for reamping and such. Thanks

[comfortstarr]

I have the Holy Grail and a Yamaha Magicstomp. The Yamaha allegedly has the same effects as the SPX90. It's reverbs are nice. But, I still prefer the Holy Grail (especially when I finally figured out to just power it with the adapter it comes with). I can't say exactly why, it's hugely subjective. Between those two pedals, the HG just seems to bring a little more life to the guitar and the reverb sound.

[calaverasgrandes]

honestly I gave up on reverb pedals a while ago. The only thing I ever had that sounded good and wasnt noisy was an old Gibson spring verb. Solid state but with a few transformers. It had 2 captive cords built in for the outputs. It sounded big without sounding boingy. It even worked on bass! Only cost me $50 used.
Like all irreplaceble gear it was stolen. Ever see a gibson reverb painted red that says "rover" on the front?
If I had to get a pedal I'd go with the TC. I ahve always loved their stuff, and I think you can count on them not to cheap out on the AD/DA conversion.

[pedrohead]

Does that Verbzilla have a "wet only" option? My understanding is that the Holy Grail does not, which makes it less appealing to me for reamping and such. Thanks

I don't know about the "Holy" Grail, but I have the "Holier" Grail, and it does have a "Wet/Dry" knob, so you can set it however you want.

I run vox and keys and all kinds of stuff out to it all the time.

[cgarges]

I picked up a Holy Satin pedal recently after someone brought one in on a session. It's been getting a lot of use. I haven't put it side-by-side against a Holy Grail, but hearing this thing flat-out was more exciting to me than any Holy Grail I've ever heard. It could entirely be context, as they probably have the same effects chips or whatever, but I really like the Stain. It has a room setting and hall setting and there are some adjustable parameters that are quite useful. The reverbs to me are very "platey," and not so much spring-sounding. They remind me a lot of the guitar verbs on Zep records.

It's also got a kind of cool tremolo in it and it's around $100.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[trodden]

Does that Verbzilla have a "wet only" option? My understanding is that the Holy Grail does not, which makes it less appealing to me for reamping and such. Thanks

I don't know about the "Holy" Grail, but I have the "Holier" Grail, and it does have a "Wet/Dry" knob, so you can set it however you want.

I run vox and keys and all kinds of stuff out to it all the time.

yeah same here. like the holier grail alot for that kind of stuff as well as guitar.

[ndstgmoe]

I picked up a Holy Satin pedal recently after someone brought one in on a session. It's been getting a lot of use. I haven't put it side-by-side against a Holy Grail, but hearing this thing flat-out was more exciting to me than any Holy Grail I've ever heard. It could entirely be context, as they probably have the same effects chips or whatever, but I really like the Stain. It has a room setting and hall setting and there are some adjustable parameters that are quite useful. The reverbs to me are very "platey," and not so much spring-sounding. They remind me a lot of the guitar verbs on Zep records.

It's also got a kind of cool tremolo in it and it's around $100.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

I just nabbed a Holy Stain from Craigslist for 60 bucks. It's amazing. The pitch function kinda sucks, but the rest of it is way too much fun to play with. And I believe you can turn the mix all the way up and get only the verb. Plus, the distortion's nothing to scoff at.

[jaguarsg]

the verbzilla is easily the most flexible, but for some reason those old Boss RV-3s really seem to blend well.

[wardshorsehead]

http://www.vanamps.com/solemate.htm

next best thing (maybe better) to an old Fender tank, recapped and retubed.

Small and great sounding, this is on my short list for 2008.