What Are Reverb Pedals?
Reverb is one of the most quintessential effects in music, it is present literally everywhere in our world. Nowadays, it is easier than ever to give your tone some ambience thanks to the large number of guitar pedals on the market. But what makes a good reverb pedal?
For starters, not every reverb pedal is the same. There are several different types of reverb effects, each capable of imprinting its own vibe on your tone. Namely, spring reverb, plate reverb, hall reverb, and so on. Furthermore, there are tons of reverb pedal options in the market for every taste.
In this guide, we will explain what you need to keep in mind when shopping for a reverb unit, plus showcase the 8 best reverb guitar pedals in 2024. Keep reading to learn more!
In a hurry? Check out our quick guide with all of the featured pedals at the end of the article.
A Brief Story of Reverb
Reverb is a natural occurrence in our world: from when our ancestors first noticed that their voice sounded funny inside a cave, to the echoes that embellish our voices when we sing in the shower, these reflections are what makes reverb so special for us.
When it comes to recorded music, the challenge was always to recreate those natural reflections convincingly. The guitar was one of the first instruments to receive the reverb treatment, as early reverb units were literally springs loaded into amplifiers to simulate reverberation via metal vibrations.
From there on different types of reverb started to appear, each with their intricacies, such as plate and chamber in the 1960s and 1970s. Finally, in the 1980s, the digital reverb was created: a type of unit that lets you create virtually any kind of ambience and reflection.
Nowadays, technology has come a long way and we have many flavors of reverb pedals to choose from: from vintage-inspired pedals to ultra-modern units that create super realistic reflections.
What Are the Parameters Found in a Reverb Pedal?
Usually, reverb pedals have the following parameters (although the nomenclature can vary):
Decay/Length
Controls the duration of the reverb effect, determining how long the reverb tails off. Adjusting this parameter can simulate different environments, from a short room reverb to a long hall reverb.
Mix/Level
Balances the amount of dry (unaffected) signal and wet (reverberated) signal. A higher mix level increases the reverb's presence, while a lower mix level keeps the original signal more prominent.
Pre-Delay
Sets the time interval between the original signal and the onset of the reverb effect. Adding pre-delay can help separate the original note from the reverb, making the sound clearer and less muddy.
Tone/Color
Adjusts the overall brightness or darkness of the reverb effect. Brightening the tone can make the reverb shimmer while darkening it can create a more subdued, vintage feel.
Size
Simulates the size of the acoustic space. Larger sizes mimic big halls or cathedrals, while smaller sizes replicate rooms or studios.
Modulation
Adds a subtle chorus or vibrato effect to the reverb tails. It can give depth and movement to the reverb, making it sound more lush and complex.
Common Types of Reverb Effect
When shopping for a reverb pedal, it is essential to understand the different types of reverb and their effect on your sound to find the perfect match for your music and playing style.
Keep in mind that often, you might find pedals that cover two or more types of reverb (such as spring and room, for example). These are a great choice if you're looking for tone versatility. Below, we uncover some of the most common types of the reverb effect.
Spring Reverb
A spring reverb tank (Photo by Ashley Pomeroy)
The spring reverb was the first type of reverb ever invented and was present on early amplifiers. As the name implies, the audio signal is passed through a spring mechanism that produces reflections based on the metal vibrations.
It is one of the most beloved types of reverb, thanks to its vintage sound. Guitarists across all music genres swear by it, but it's most particularly associated with styles such as blues, classic rock, and surf rock. For that reason, there are tons of spring reverb pedals on the market.
Plate Reverb
An EMT 140 plate reverb (Photo from EMT Archive)
Between the late 1950s and early 1960s, a new type of reverb appeared: the plate. Pioneered by legendary acts such as The Beatles, it was revolutionary for its time. It creates reflections through the vibrations of metal plates.
As you can see in the image, plate reverbs were originally quite large, so they were only present in the best music studios. Thankfully, nowadays it can be replicated with guitar pedals and plugins. It's one of the most popular types of reverb across all music genres and styles.
Chamber Reverb
Echo chamber of the Dresden University of Technology (Photo by Henry Mühlpfordt)
Long before spring and plate reverb came into this world, the echo chamber was the only way to achieve a sense of ambience in a sound recording. An echo chamber is literally a room that's designed to produce controlled reflections.
Perhaps the world's most famous echo chamber is at Abbey Road Studios, the room was famously used by The Beatles. Nowadays, you can simulate an echo chamber using a reverb guitar pedal.
Room Reverb
Room reverbs emulate just that: the reflections you'd get if you were playing in a certain room. Naturally, there are many types of rooms. From bathrooms to kitchens and even offices, each space has its own unique characteristics when it comes to echoes and reflections.
Usually found in digital reverb units, what's great about this type of reverb is that it sounds extremely realistic and can give some naturalness and acoustic to an otherwise dry and bland guitar tone.
Hall Reverb
Ever wish you could play your guitar in a hall? Thankfully, reverb pedals let you do just that without having to rent a large space to put your gear in! Hall reverbs can deliver a larger-than-life sound that's a staple in many music recordings.
Just like room reverbs, you will usually find hall presets in digital reverb pedals. The effect sounds extremely realistic thanks to the DSP technology we have nowadays and is a favorite among genres such as ambient music.
This is the best possible image to describe a shimmer reverb!
Shimmer Reverb
A guitarist's favorite, the shimmer is not exactly a type of reverb, but more of a technique that adds ethereal, pitch-shifted qualities to the sound reflections, typically by adding an octave-up or harmonized layer to the tails.
This type of reverb is very popular among experimental-oriented guitar players and in ambient music.
Best Reverb Pedals in 2024
Mojo Hand FX Dewdrop
Main Features
- A straightforward spring reverb
- Perfect for vintage tones
- Expression jack
- True bypass
The Mojo Hand FX Dewdrop is a spring reverb pedal that's straightforward to use, featuring three knobs that can go a long way when shaping your sound. It's a perfect choice if you're looking to add some vintage aura to your sound.
What's great about the Dewdrop is that, despite its minimalistic design and approach, the knobs are very sensitive and have a wide range of operations, letting you explore multiple textures. Plus, it features an expression jack for convenience, which is a rare occurrence in smaller pedals such as the Dewdrop.
Cusack Music Resound
Main Features
- Programmable multi-reverb pedal
- Eight reverb types
- Expression jack
- Stereo output
The Cusack Music Resound is one of the most complete reverb pedals on the list. It has eight selectable reverb types: room, plate, cathedral, modulated, swell, hall/freeze, spring, and shimurmur. Despite the large number of options, each preset sounds quite unique and unlike any other pedal.
The shimurmur program, for example, is a shimmer-style reverb that has independent control of the upper and lower voicings, creating a tone that is described as ominous and choir-like. Furthermore, the pedal also has a stereo output option, which can make your tone even more interesting.
We recommend the Resound for anyone looking for a reverb pedal that will cover a lot of ground regarding reverb styles and flavors. This unit is not only versatile but also very convenient thanks to features such as the ability to change preset via footswitch.
OBNE Procession Sci Fi Reverb
Main Features
- Atmospheric modulated reverb
- Built-in tremolo, flanger, and moving filter for more interesting reflections
- Expression jack
The OBNE Procession Sci Fi is described as an atmospheric modulated reverb. The pedal is a unique type of reverb that focuses on giving your tone otherworldly echoes, thanks to the built-in tremolo, flanger, and moving filter that gives the reflections a much-needed spiciness.
Another trick that the Procession Sci Fi has up its sleeve is the hold footswitch, which lets you momentarily max the reverb knob, as well as a much-welcomed expression jack for controlling the parameters on the fly.
While not the most versatile, this pedal is excellent for creating pads and soundscapes with distinct textures, particularly great if you're into styles such as ambient music.
Death By Audio Rooms Reverb
Main Features
- Stereo digital reverb
- Six distinct reverb modes
- Stereo input and output
The Death By Audio Rooms is a stereo digital reverb pedal that can do anything from natural room-like reflections to crazy gated echoes, featuring six distinct modes: room, digit, peak, gate, wave, and gong. It's a very versatile unit thanks to its many parameters.
With programs such as digit, you can create a filter matrix reverb effect that sounds completely otherworldly. Going further on the presets will take you all the way up to the gong mode, which sounds like complete sci fi madness.
Despite the Rooms being an all-around reverb pedal, we'd say that it will better fit players who are on the more experimental side of music, as it's a unit that's supposed to be pushed to the limits of what reverb is capable of doing.
Haunted Labs Dark Aura Reverb
Main Features
- Classic reverb with addictive spectral bonus
- Concert hall-style reverb tones
- True bypass
The Haunted Labs Dark Aura is, at first glance, a straightforward concert hall-style reverb pedal with only three basic knobs that can simulate a wide range of sonic spaces, but it has some very interesting tricks up its sleeve, namely the Evolve parameter.
The Evolve parameter is an addictive spectral feature that adds a shimmering modulation to your reflections, a chill in the air that sounds very mysterious if you will. It's a quite unique effect that can hardly be replicated with other pedals. To fully understand what we're talking about, we recommend you watch the demo video below.
Mojo Hand FX Park Theatre
Main Features
- Reverb/delay combo
- Theater style reverb
- True bypass
The Mojo Hand FX Park Theatre is a two-in-one pedal, capable of adding both reverb and delay to your tone. It's quite simple, with each effect being controlled by a single knob, plus a mix parameter that lets you dictate how much your tone is affected.
While the delay can do times of up to 365 ms, the reverb voicing is (as the name implies) based on the reflections you'd get when playing in a theater. What's interesting is that, as you push the single knob dedicated to the reverb, the effect goes from very short ambiences to long sustaining halls. It's definitely a great pedal if you're a minimalist when it comes to your guitar setup.
EarthQuaker Devices Ledges
Main Features
- Three-mode reverb
- Six preset slots
- Expression jack
EarthQuaker Devices creates some of the most reliable pedals on the market, and the Ledges is no different. It's an uncomplicated compact reverb pedal with three modes: room, hall, and plate, plus six preset slots to quickly recall different knob configurations.
Each of the modes sounds very convincing and realistic, allowing you to access a wide range of reverb styles, from subtle ambience to vintage plate and pad-like soundscapes. Overall, it's a solid choice for any guitar player.
Maneco Labs Otterley Reverb
Main Features
- Dual reverb with rich and atmospheric sound
- Built-in pitch shifter
- Reverse reverb function
The Maneco Labs Otterley is a versatile reverb pedal with two distinct modes: large ambient and reverse. Being one of the only units on the list to feature a reverse reverb function, it's a no-brainer choice for experimental players and tone explorers.
What we like about the Otterly reverb is that, despite being very experimental, it's very easy to use, featuring your usual knobs such as feedback, but also extra parameters like the delay, grain, and built-in pitch shifter that can quickly go from +2 oct to -2 octave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Do I Place My Reverb Pedal on My Pedalboard?
Typically, reverb pedals are placed at the end of your effects chain or in the effects loop of your amplifier. This positioning ensures that the reverb effect is applied to the final, processed guitar signal, allowing the reverb to add depth and space to the combined effects from other pedals.
How Does Reverb Differ From Delay?
Reverb and delay are both time-based effects but operate differently. While reverb simulates the natural reflections found in physical spaces and creates ambience, delay will produce distinct repeats at set intervals, giving an echo effect to your sound.
What’s the Difference Between Digital and Analog Reverb Pedals?
Digital reverb pedals use DSP (digital signal processing) to create the effect, offering more variety and precision, useful when simulating realistic spaces. Analog reverb, on the other hand, usually simulates mechanical reverb methods such as spring and plate, creating an organic and vintage sound that guitarists love.
Conclusion
We hope our ultimate guide to reverb was useful in helping you find the perfect match for your pedalboard. When shopping for a reverb pedal, we recommend that you research as much as possible in order to make the best choice.
We believe that the eight pedals featured in this article are some of the best reverb units you can buy in 2024, with varied options for every taste and playing style. As a recap, here are all of the pedals we discussed in this article:
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Pedal |
Price |
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$149.00 |
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$280.00 |
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$209.00 |
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$395.00 |
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$179.00 |
|
|
$149.00 |
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$199.00 |
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$249.00 |
You can check these and many other pedals in our store!
More Interesting Reads:
The 10 Best Ambient Guitar Pedals of 2024
10 Best Delay Pedals in 2024 - Ultimate Buying Guide
Modulation Pedals Explained: A Guide to Finding the Perfect Effects Unit
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