A Summary on the Basic Knowledge of Effects Pedals: Reverb Edition

Hello! Kaoru the composer here!

Today, I’ll be explaining what reverb is and introduce some recommended products.

Reverb is an effect that falls under the category of spatial (or ambience) effects.
It’s not only used with electric guitars, but also with vocals, keyboards, drums, or virtually any instrument.
Since it’s also widely used in mixing and digital music production (DTM), many reverb effects are available as plugin software as well.

■ Types of Reverb

“Reverb” is a general term, but there are actually many different types of reverb.
Let’s go over the five most common ones and talk about what makes each of them unique.

○ Plate Reverb

This type originally worked by vibrating a large metal plate to create a sense of reverberation.
It’s a relatively simple and old-school method that has been used for quite some time.

Its main characteristics are fast attacks and a smooth, natural-sounding decay, with minimal coloration.

Because of its clarity and natural feel, plate reverb is often used on vocals.

○ Spring Reverb

Spring reverb creates reverberation by vibrating a metal spring using a principle similar to that of plate reverb.
This method has also been around for a long time and is often found built into guitar amplifiers, since it’s widely used with electric guitars.

Its defining characteristics include a warm, mellow sound with a distinctive analog vibe.

○ Hall Reverb

Hall reverb simulates the natural reverberation you’d hear in a large concert hall.
Its soft, spacious sound makes it ideal for orchestral music or ballads.
A key feature is its long decay and the delayed arrival of the reverberated sound compared to the original signal.

○ Room Reverb

Room reverb provides a unique sound by simulating the acoustics of a smaller space, as opposed to the vastness of hall reverb.
It features a quick attack and a clean, tight decay, making it great for maintaining clarity.
It’s commonly used with drums, strings, and other instruments where a natural, contained ambiance is desired.

○ Shimmer Reverb

Shimmer reverb offers a distinctive and imaginative sound.
Its standout feature is the sparkling, ethereal tone it produces that’s often added pitch-shifted layers (like an octave up) to create a dreamy, atmospheric effect.
Depending on how it’s used, shimmer reverb can create highly unique textures, making it a fun and creative tool.

■ Functions of Each Knob

Understanding the role of each knob will help you narrow down which reverb unit suits your needs.
Here’s a quick breakdown:

○ MIX

This knob controls how much reverb (wet signal) is added to the original (dry) sound.
The higher the setting, the more spacious and dreamy the sound becomes. However, too much can blur the clarity of the original audio.
Some models label this as Wet/Dry, with more reverb added as you turn toward Wet.

○ DECAY

This adjusts the length of the reverb tail, or how long the reverb lasts.
Even small changes here can dramatically affect the overall feel, making this a key control.

○ TONE

This controls the brightness or darkness of the reverb.
It significantly affects the mood and character of the sound, so this is a parameter where the individual tone of each model really stands out.

○ PRE-DELAY

This sets the time before the reverb kicks in after the original sound.
The longer the pre-delay, the more it feels like the reverb is happening in a larger space. Think of it as simulating the distance between the sound source and the reflective surfaces.

Now that you understand the types of reverb and the functions of each knob, let’s move on to some of my recommended products!

ELECTRO-HARMONIX / Nano Holy Grail - Reverb -

This is a compact version of the classic Holy Grail reverb pedal, beloved by many renowned players including John Frusciante.

It retains the signature sound of the original while offering a more portable design.
With its natural spring-like tone, it’s incredibly versatile and works well across a wide range of genres—it’s truly an all-rounder.

Despite its simple control layout, it offers a variety of rich reverb settings:

• SPRING: Emulates the classic spring reverb found in vintage guitar amps.
• HALL: Simulates the spacious reverberation of a large hall.
• FLERB: A unique, spacey reverb sound with a touch of flanger-like modulation.

You can easily switch between these different types with a single knob, making it intuitive and beginner-friendly.

It also pairs well with other effects, which opens up endless creative possibilities.

It’s great not only for guitar but also fully compatible with bass!

Vivie / DolphinDeverb Ver2.1 – Delay + Reverb

This stunning pedal features a cool ocean-inspired design, thanks to its light blue gradient and clear parts.
With a built-in delay and reverb, it allows you to easily create dreamy, ambient soundscapes.
A standout feature is that the reverb applies only to the delay repeats, keeping the clarity and presence of the dry signal intact. This is an important point for maintaining your core tone.
Because it offers unique and slightly quirky effects, it’s best used in specific creative contexts rather than as a general-purpose reverb.

UNIVERSAL AUDIO / UAFX GOLDEN Reverberator

This reverb pedal stands out with its high-durability metal chassis and sleek, premium design.
It includes three classic reverb algorithms:
-Spring 65 – A warm, vintage spring reverb
-Plate 140 – A lush and smooth plate reverb
-Hall 224 – A spacious digital hall reverb
Each reverb has its own distinct character and is highly usable in a variety of setups, particularly great when paired with tube amps.
With extensive I/O options, it also excels in studio recording environments.
On top of that, you can connect it to a PC to add new reverb algorithms, making it a cutting-edge pedal that can be fully customized to suit your style.

This wraps up my introduction to reverb and some recommended products.
Reverb is an incredibly versatile effect, so it's worth taking the time to find one that suits your style.
Be sure to check these out for yourself!

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