EH Holy Grail--Opinions?

Brewbaker · April 7th, 2003, 10:15 AM

I'm thinking of trying one of these with my Tweed
Champ. but am wondering what it's going to sound like
plugging into a reverb circuit and then going into a totally
overdriven tube circuit. The reverb usually comes after
the distortion source so I can't imagine this will work too
well. Anybody tried it?

Mik · April 7th, 2003, 11:13 AM

The reverb usually comes before power tube distortion (right?) in any amp...you'll just have to try it out to see what level of reverb effect, if any, you prefer in a (power tube) distorting amp.

I like light reverb on an overdriving amp, more reverb's OK when clean,
Mik

dean · April 7th, 2003, 11:34 PM

Awhile back, I was using a Brown Princeton and wanted a reverb with it. My local vintage shop let me take home three units to ABC: a new Dano Spring King, a vintage Fender Reverb unit, and a Holy Grail. I was going to get either the Spring King or the HG. In the end, the Fender unit sounded best, of course. The Spring King was solid but didn't have the range of the Fender or the HG. The Holy Grail was excellent - especially for the $$. It really is useful having both Hall and Spring setting, and the Flerb setting is kinda fun.

I didn't have any trouble with the Holy Grail and an overdriven amp, but I didn't do that too often. For the price, it is versatile and has better sound than any digital reverb I've tried, and it has much greater range than the Spring King.

In the end, I sold the Brownie and picked up a '68 SF Princeton Reverb - I just couldn't function without the true Fender reverb in the amp.

Have fun with your search!

Dean

DavidP · April 7th, 2003, 11:39 PM

I put mine in front of my (dimed) Vibro Champ--I actually like the hall reverb setting better than the spring!!

Guy from Idaho · April 8th, 2003, 10:52 AM

I had one for a while during one of my reverb backslides (normally try to live without :-), it sounded very good but I couldn't hang with the cheesy construction, maybe it'll last forever but I was nervous about finding out. I thought the flerb or whatever it's called was useless, but basic 'verb sound was fine. -Guy

Kingpin · April 8th, 2003, 07:31 PM

I use a Holy Grail in front of my Vicky Bassman. I don't use much 'verb, just enough so you can barely detect it's there. The Spring and Hall settings are very good, useful reverbs. Forget about the Flerb, it ain't happenin'. I think the HG sounds better than the Dano or Boss units, of course, YMMV. As far as putting it in front of a highly overdriven Tweed Champ, I would guess small amounts of reverb would sound OK, large amounts would sound like mush.

PaulR · April 8th, 2003, 09:24 PM

I use mine in front of a Trace Elliot Velocette. Works for me!

rob w jackson · April 9th, 2003, 03:56 AM

sorry, couldn't resist :-) I've run one in front of non-reverb amps at the breakup point - Vibro Champ, Musicmaster Bass and a 1x 10 Gibson Goldtone. I liked having the reverb before the distortion, albeit mild crunchy stuff - made it sound more like it was part of the amp, instead of a clean "studio" type sound.

The need for a wall-wart is a bit of a shame and I wonder what made them think the "flerb" was a good idea. I'd liked to have seen that replaced with a short slapback or something in keeping with the "vintage" reverb vibe.

Rob DiStefano · April 9th, 2003, 05:25 AM

... in fact, the best digital reverb I've heard yet. I used it in front of lots of amps, from ones I've had - PV Classic 20 and 30, '82 Champ, Holland Gibb, THD UV - to what I now have - TopHat 6V6 Club Deluxe, '77 MMB, '69 Prince. Now, I'm NOT a fan of reverb, so I don't use it often, but a touch of the HG can be nice when required. YMMV.

April 7th, 2003, 10:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Brewbaker Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cape Elizabeth, Maine Posts: 258	EH Holy Grail--Opinions? I'm thinking of trying one of these with my Tweed Champ. but am wondering what it's going to sound like plugging into a reverb circuit and then going into a totally overdriven tube circuit. The reverb usually comes after the distortion source so I can't imagine this will work too well. Anybody tried it?

April 7th, 2003, 11:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mik Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,414	The reverb usually comes before power tube distortion (right?) in any amp...you'll just have to try it out to see what level of reverb effect, if any, you prefer in a (power tube) distorting amp. I like light reverb on an overdriving amp, more reverb's OK when clean, Mik __________________ a "motor-bike with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocations, to excess."-T.E. Lawrence

April 7th, 2003, 11:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
dean Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota Age: 60 Posts: 1,970	Holy Grail works well Awhile back, I was using a Brown Princeton and wanted a reverb with it. My local vintage shop let me take home three units to ABC: a new Dano Spring King, a vintage Fender Reverb unit, and a Holy Grail. I was going to get either the Spring King or the HG. In the end, the Fender unit sounded best, of course. The Spring King was solid but didn't have the range of the Fender or the HG. The Holy Grail was excellent - especially for the $$. It really is useful having both Hall and Spring setting, and the Flerb setting is kinda fun. I didn't have any trouble with the Holy Grail and an overdriven amp, but I didn't do that too often. For the price, it is versatile and has better sound than any digital reverb I've tried, and it has much greater range than the Spring King. In the end, I sold the Brownie and picked up a '68 SF Princeton Reverb - I just couldn't function without the true Fender reverb in the amp. Have fun with your search! Dean __________________ "I used to be clueless, but I've turned that situation around 360 degrees."

April 7th, 2003, 11:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
DavidP Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 475	Holy Grail & Champ I put mine in front of my (dimed) Vibro Champ--I actually like the hall reverb setting better than the spring!!

April 8th, 2003, 10:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Guy from Idaho TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Moscow, North Idaho Posts: 41	Holy Grail I had one for a while during one of my reverb backslides (normally try to live without :-), it sounded very good but I couldn't hang with the cheesy construction, maybe it'll last forever but I was nervous about finding out. I thought the flerb or whatever it's called was useless, but basic 'verb sound was fine. -Guy

April 8th, 2003, 07:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kingpin Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Here Posts: 1,208	I use a Holy Grail in front of my Vicky Bassman. I don't use much 'verb, just enough so you can barely detect it's there. The Spring and Hall settings are very good, useful reverbs. Forget about the Flerb, it ain't happenin'. I think the HG sounds better than the Dano or Boss units, of course, YMMV. As far as putting it in front of a highly overdriven Tweed Champ, I would guess small amounts of reverb would sound OK, large amounts would sound like mush. __________________ Bring on da Twang

April 8th, 2003, 09:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
PaulR Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Upper left corner of the lower 48 Posts: 180	I use mine in front of a Trace Elliot Velocette. Works for me!

April 9th, 2003, 03:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
rob w jackson Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 171	Holy Grail = great boing for the buck! sorry, couldn't resist :-) I've run one in front of non-reverb amps at the breakup point - Vibro Champ, Musicmaster Bass and a 1x 10 Gibson Goldtone. I liked having the reverb before the distortion, albeit mild crunchy stuff - made it sound more like it was part of the amp, instead of a clean "studio" type sound. The need for a wall-wart is a bit of a shame and I wonder what made them think the "flerb" was a good idea. I'd liked to have seen that replaced with a short slapback or something in keeping with the "vintage" reverb vibe.

April 9th, 2003, 05:25 AM	#9 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,514	Quite good .. ... in fact, the best digital reverb I've heard yet. I used it in front of lots of amps, from ones I've had - PV Classic 20 and 30, '82 Champ, Holland Gibb, THD UV - to what I now have - TopHat 6V6 Club Deluxe, '77 MMB, '69 Prince. Now, I'm NOT a fan of reverb, so I don't use it often, but a touch of the HG can be nice when required. YMMV.