Time for a Reverb Pedal!

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey guys!

So, I found my lead tone in my amp! Not perfect, but I like it, and it will do at the moment....

Now, after ditching my processor, I find myself lacking reverb at times, like SOME lead runs and cleans...

So, anything you would recommend? Keep in mind, I hope to run this pedal unfront, not through the loop, as I have it bypassed for the better tone of my amp...

I was planning to buy the EH Holy Grail from analogman, as it has TB, and will get me the single base reverb I need, but I have also heard complaints about the longevity of this pedal....

So, recommendations?

Thanks a lot, as always!

[GuitarsFromMars]

Digiverb

[LilSteve]

EBS DynaVerb

[dzeitlin]

I was very pleasantly surprised with the VerbZilla. It's not TB, but I don't notice any tone suckage. Very versatile, and tweakable.

[aidan7737]

Personally I'd stay away from the Ehx Grail. I can't, however, recommend an alternative as the Grail is my one and only reverb at this time(!).

I just find it too noisy. Operation produces a very loud hiss, let alone the "pop" when the unit is switched in and out (possibly rectified by the analogman mod?). It is dependent on it's own specific power supply - though there are ways of getting around this voodoo style. Also the effect - in front of the amp - I can only use to about 12'oclock.

I have treated this unit (as with all my gear) with kid gloves and yet it is still prone to random blips and burps and erratic performances (ie, power source issues, on/off switching issues, default position issues...). These only reared their ugly heads after about 1 yr. Although it has never let me down live, I wonder why this happens in rehearsals/bedroom blasts.

I think about the only application for a Grail is in a parallel effects loop...that way i *guess* you could use the 2nd half of its range (ie, past 12 o'clock).

Anyway, let me know what you decide upon and why...I think the Grail is just a little too "unrefined" for me overall... though I hasten to add that I'm by no means a "hi-fi" guy... anyway, best of luck

[VoodooBlues]

Dr. Scientist Radical Red Reverberator. Much more expensive than the Grail but you get a much better pedal in return.

[ibanez4life SZ!]

The Dr. Scientist and EBS both look great.

As for the Digiverb and Verbzilla, I'm very weary of their bypasses....

[dankayaker]

I tried the Digiverb and thought it was pretty bad. Destroyed and thinned out my signal and there was a pretty noticable noise floor.

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Exactly what I'm afraid of from the mass production pedal....

Any other opinions?

[burningyen]

My take on the Holy Grail is it's great if (a) you need a spring reverb sound and (b) can try it before you buy it. Apparently there are many noisy ones out there, but mine's very quiet. Mine is temperamental, though. Every once in a while when I plug it in the effect side of the mix doesn't work. I have to unplug the AC adapter and replug it to jumpstart it back to life.

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Well, just not to rule them out completely, I will try a few on my next trip to GC!

[meddler]

T-Rex Room-mate. That ended my quest for reverb in a pedal. I also have a EHX Holier Grail which is true bypass and sounds really good with more features than the Holy Grail. It's wonderful for the price. I am actually looking at selling the Holier Grail, PM me if you are interested.

shine on,
meddler

[Funky Monkey]

The most transparent I've tried has been the Van Amps Sole-Mate. Plus, it is true-spring reverb. I run mine into the from of my Rt. 66. Yes, true bypass, so no difference in tone when off. More importantly, however, is that there is absolutely no difference in tone when it is ON. I've tried every stand-alone reverb currently available except for the T-Rex and the original Van Amps Reverbamate, and that is a problem with all of them. The Sole-Mate is a bit pricey and large, but not bad at all considering what it is and does.

[GuitarGuy510]

I use my verbzilla regularly and I love it. It doesn't sound as good when used in conjunction with my delay pedal on though. I tried running it yesterday as the only pedal going into my rack and it sounded great! I was actually thinking of selling it to buy a "nicer" one that was TB, but as they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

[gazeglow]

i have to tag a +1 on the verbzilla.

i've had the ehx grail and the digiverb, both of which had utterly unacceptable noise floors. just got the verbzilla in, and i can honestly say i'm impressed by its sounds and very low noise. i was plenty leery about it until i tried it, but now i'm convinced that it's worth its weight in gold thanks to what it does to my tone...

just my $0.02... you can easily find a used verbzilla for $110 or so, and flip it for the same if you don't like it.