Lela Stratton
Biyang RV-10
TC Electronic HOF Mini
Zoom MS-70CDR
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Everything about music is beautiful, from the sound, to the instruments, to the talented artists. Instruments make music sound way better; I wouldn’t want to imagine what a world without musical instruments would be like. If you are an instrumentalist in particular, I bet you would want your instrument to sound better than it already does.
And what better way to spice up your sound than to get your instrument a reverb pedal today? This is most applicable for guitar players though, not to mean other instrumentalists are locked out. A reverb pedal basically adds more depth and ambiance to your music.
A reverb effect is basically created by sound waves reflecting on surfaces in a confined space and a reverb pedal emulates these sounds. Getting yourself a quality reverb pedal is really important because it will transform any performance to professional.
A poor quality one on the other hand will let you down. If you particularly perform at concerts or before a large group of people, you want to choose the best reverb pedal for the job.
This review combines five of the best quality reverb pedals in the market just for you! It also comprises a complete buyer’s guide to help you make the best decision.
Best Reverb Pedal List
1
Biyang RV-10
The best brand we have in the market is this Biyang model. Not only is it the best, it is also the cheapest brand available. At an affordable price, you get to enjoy quality sound on your guitar.
Its exemplary features are worth spending on. For starters, it gives six unique reverb sounds which is made possible by the hall, spring, room 3 knobs and A/B switch features. How cool is that!
I’m just getting started with the amazing features this pedal has to offer. It also has two input and two output interfaces meaning you can use your pedal to get the desired guitar effects or for recording.
Talk of quality, this reverb pedal is constructed from the best quality materials. HI-FI audio components, German WIMA audio capacitance and high precision resistance are features that prove just how high quality this model is.
If you are looking for a reverb pedal that has exceptional quality and is affordable at the same time, this model will do it for you. It is the best quality reverb pedal you can get that is under fifty dollars.
Pros
Cons
2
TC Electronic HOF Mini
This model is quite minute but it offers endless sound possibilities that will blow your mind. It comes pre- loaded with amazing, award winning hall of fame reverb. The fact that it comes with a tone print makes it more effective.
This feature enables you to load more sounds onto your pedal transforming it into what you really want. This adds on to the unlimited sound possibilities that come with this reverb pedal.
All these features for just 100$ is such a good deal. You may feel that this price is a bit high, but just thinks of the many things you could do with this customizable reverb pedal. Think of the endless possibilities of tonal variation you get to have.
If you love simple models, then this one is just perfect for you. With just one knob, you are able to maneuver around your pedal. You do not need to worry about quality or durability because this model does not disappoint.
Pros
Cons
3
Zoom MS-70CDR
A very unique model that is quite distinct from the others we have looked at. It has three different options to choose from; reverb, chorus as well as delay.
You can easily spot three knobs, four buttons and a minute screen when you examine it. The screen makes your work easier when you are browsing through your list of effects so as to find the perfect one. The knobs and the buttons makes it easy for you to maneuver around your pedal.
It has a total of 86 chorus, delay and reverb effects which is quite a range of variety. In particular, the choruses are 16, the delays 26, the reverbs 29 and 15 different modulators.
You will appreciate that it is very easy to use this pedal. An auto-chromatic tuner and the fact that it has versatile power options go a long way to enhance confidence in this brand. Other features include a noise gate, tap tempo, trails and EQ controls.
Pros
Cons
4
DigiTech Polara
You will love this model’s attractive design especially if you are into fancy and stylish models. You will love its features even more. It has seven flexible lexicon reverbs which cover a full spectrum including; room, hall, reverse, modulated, plate and spring.
The newest spectrum that has been introduced by this model is the halo reverb which beautifies your tone. The controls it has include; stereo inputs and outputs, a soft click footswitch, reverb tails and an on/off toggle switch.
It has a high voltage operation, this ensures that your signal quality is not interfered with and therefore your play time will be uninterrupted. To prevent accidental adjustments of the knob or tampering with the tone, this model features stomp lock knob guards.
It is important to note though that this pedal has too much art on its surface. It is therefore really hard to read the labels. Not to worry though, after using it for quite some time, the knobs will become familiar to you.
The versatility in the controls is great with seven preset sounds. If you are looking for a simple, attractive and stylish design, you should pick this model.
Pros
Cons
5
Electro- Harmonix Holy Grail Nano
This compact Holy GrailNano is really affordable and good quality at the same time. Its reverb knob is rotatable 360 degrees and gives different sound effects when you turn it left or right. This makes it very easy to adjust the sound to the level that you want.
When you turn it towards the maximum position, the amount of reverb increases. When you turn it towards the minimum position, you hear less of the reverb and more of your own sound. This pedal has three reverb algorithms; spring, hall and flerb.
Using the slide switch, you can easily change from one reverb algorithm to another.The spring algorithm is a duplicate of classic spring found in many guitar amplifiers while the hall is a new algorithm altogether. Flerb is a beautiful reverb that adds a lot of spice to your sound and helps you explore new ways of playing.
Its compactness and great quality sound are worth spending on. Get yourself this model today and enjoy a whole beautiful range of different sounds.
Pros
Cons
Importance Of Having A Reverb Pedal
We have analyzed the different models of reverb pedals available in the market. It becomes important therefore to look at the importance of having a reverb pedal and what it really does. Once you understand what it does and how it works, it becomes easier for you to understand why you need it and even easier to choose a specific model that will work for you.
We need to understand the term reverb first, before we can proceed. Reverb is simply the bouncing and reflection of sound waves off surfaces especially in confined spaces. If you have been in a big hall, it is common to hear claps or any other sound way after the sound has been made.
That is what comprises the reverb effect. In the music world, reverb effects spice up sound by adding the illusion of space to the tone of an instrument. In simpler terms, it makes your sound more natural.
A lack of reverb is termed as being ‘dry’ while sound with lots of reverb is considered ‘wet’. Most instrumentalists use reverb pedals but you won’t instantly notice because they are always toned down a great deal. The level of reverb you want is entirely dependent on your preference though, some like it exaggerated while others like it subtle.
When considering to buy a reverb pedal you should consider the genre of music that you play. Some genres require just a little reverb while others may require you to go all in. If you are playing rock for instance, using just a little reverb effect will do it otherwise everything will sound so exaggerated.
Knowing and understanding your type of music is therefore important as it will help you narrow down on a model that suits your music needs.
You may wonder why you really need a reverb pedal when you can just use a delay pedal. While their functionality may seem to be similar, there are minute differences that you may not have been keen enough to note.
A delay pedal takes a longer time to reflect the sound back compared to a reverb pedal. It is possible of course to adjust the settings of a delay pedal to the time range you would want but using a reverb pedal will give you more accurate results.
You may also wonder whether a reverb pedal is really necessary if you already have an amplifier with an in-built reverb effect. Well it really depends on the type of amp that you have. Some types like a tube amp won’t require you to have a reverb pedal while other types like a modelling amp will require you to have one.
See just how important having a reverb pedal for your instrument is? Your instrument will sound way better with this reverb effect which is why you should get yourself a reverb pedal today.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Reverb Pedal
Price
Preparing a budget of how much you are willing to spend is really important. Some models are really expensive while others are relatively cheap. If you want quality though, you may have to part with a relatively large amount of money.
Not to worry though, you can get some really affordable models that are of very high quality like the first model we have reviewed in this article. It is always important to work with the amount of money you can get.
You should not bother stretching beyond your means because reverb pedals pretty much have the same functionality. Not to mean that all models are the same, but they all bring out the reverb effect which is basically what you want.
Quality
You do want to spend your money on a quality pedal that will last you a long time right? It is very important to pay attention to the quality of the reverb pedal you want to purchase. In as much as they all serve the same purpose, the higher the quality the better it is for you.
It is very easy to tell a quality pedal from a lower quality one. First, you should look at the materials used to construct it. The materials should be strong, durable and have the ability to withstand pressure.
In terms of sound, you can have them test it for you at the store just to confirm it is up to standard as you’d want it to be. Good quality products are always worth spending on. Do not waste your money on a low quality pedal then live to regret it.
You may think that you are saving money but cheap is always expensive in the long run. Other than buying numerous pedals to replace broken ones, why not just buy one that will last you long and save you money?
Flexibility
How many effects would you like on your pedal? Some people generally prefer fewer effects than others. Whatever yours is, make sure it is heavily influenced by the sound you play.
Some pedals have more effects than others. The more the effects the better of course as it gives you a variety to choose from. Some models even have an option of installing an app that helps you either create or download more sounds.
If you are one to love infinite sound effects this model will work for you best. However, if you prefer fewer reverb effects, you should go with a simpler model. It is highly recommended though to go for a more flexible pedal, because your music needs may change in the future and you may need additional effects.
Simplicity
Beginners might want to consider simpler models because there’s so much to learn, you may not want to add another complication. Simple models are generally better for everyone though. The simpler the model, the less the time it will take to operate and fix the effect you want.
The simplest models have one to three knobs making your work as an instrumentalist so much easier.
Size
Some pedals are relatively larger than others. The larger ones are more complex with additional features and knobs. The small ones tend to be really compact and pretty straightforward.
When choosing a size make sure you consider the size of your instrument as well. It will be quite unreasonable to go for an extremely large pedal for a small instrument. You will tend to reduce the room available to comfortably play your instrument.
Types Of Reverb
There are different types of reverb which are given names according to the space they replicate. Understanding the different types of reverb is really important as it will help you in narrowing down on a specific model of a pedal. You will of course prefer some types to others which is also highly influenced by the type of music that you play.
Room
As the name suggests, this effect replicates the natural sound reflections one would experience in a room. Just as sound reflections in a room are short and have different characteristics depending on the room, so is this type of effect.
Hall
Very similar to room reverbs only that they are way bigger. The reverb time is longer and the frequency spectrums vary depending on the space being replicated.
Cathedral/ Stadium/ Chamber
It’spretty obvious to tell what the reverb sounds like judging by the name. But just to elaborate more, it has a pretty large delay before the reverb starts.
Spring Reverb
An artificial reverb created by springs in a box. If you own a tube guitar amplifier you are most familiar with this sound.
Plate
Like the previous one, it is an artificial reverb created by a metal plate suspended in a large wooden box. One of the most popular of this kind is the EMT 140.
Reverse
This reverb is digitally altered, the reverb effect is reversed to give a cool unnatural sound.
Gated
This type of reverb stops suddenly and indefinitely. It does not naturally fade out like other types.
How To Use A Reverb Pedal
Having a reverb pedal is one thing and knowing how to use it is another. What is the essence of buying something you can’t use? I will take you through some of the major elements of a reverb pedal that will make you more familiar with this tool before you get to purchase it, if you already know how to use it, good for you, if you don’t read on to learn how.
We shall look at some of the most commonly used controls on a reverb pedal.
Dry/Wet
This knob is found in all reverb pedals. It is used to regulate the level of reverb effect you will require your instrument to produce. Dry signifies little to no reverb while wet signifies sound that is rich in reverb effect.
It is very important to make effective use of this control. Always note that the reverb frequency will vary from time to time depending on the type of sound you are playing. You can therefore not use the same level of frequency for each sound.
Time
This feature is used to regulate the amount of time the reverb effect will last. Some people prefer long reverb effects, others prefer short ones or even moderate. Whatever your preference is, make sure it sits right with your type of sound.
Signal Chain Positioning
It is common to use more than one pedal at once. If this is the case for you, you really need to take care of how you position them otherwise you will not get the sound you expect. If you are using a reverb or delay pedal, it is advisable to place them right before the amplifier towards the end of your pedal chain.
Conclusion
A reverb pedal is a really necessary feature for your guitar or other instrument as you have clearly seen from this review. It spices up your sound by adding a cool delayed effect to it. If you play in large gatherings, adding this to your instrument will wow your audience.
I’ll have to emphasize on the importance of knowing what works for you as an artist before rushing to purchase any model available in the market. In as much as it is important to listen to what other artists recommend, you should not feel pressured to make the same decision as them.
Only you are most familiar with your sound and the type of reverb effect that will work best for you. Using the list of factors outlined in this review, sit down and identify what would work best for you.
For the undecided lot, my recommendation would be the Biyang RV-10 model. For the decided ones, you may want to reconsider if this was not your initial choice.
Why? Because it is the cheapest reverb, at just 500$ you secure yourself a good quality reverb pedal with six different pedals. Get yourself this quality and affordable Biyang RV-10 model today!
