Boss Fender '63 Reverb PEDAL!!!!!

[fezz parka]

That's why I mentioned ears and hardware. It's a good box, and like most Boss effects it's built like a tank. I'm just not getting what I wanted to hear out of it. I can get it from a real spring reverb set relatively low. You know just a bit of air.

[bluesfordan]

still waiting to see one in nashua gc

[ruger9]

Short version: Digiverb wins.

Long version:
I have never used a tank, so I can't comment on how close the pedal is to the tank. I find the Digiverb better in every way. The EQ control on the Digiverb works better than the Tone knob on the FRV-1 to warm things up, the Digiverb has more drip (actually, I'm surprised the FRV-1 didn't have more... sounded nothing like all the surf recordings.) I also hear a "digitalness" with the FRV-1 that I do NOT hear with the Digiverb.

I knew the Digiverb was more versatile (I still haven't found an equal to the "Church" setting), but I even prefer the spring setting on the Digiverb to the FRV-1.

As far as doing "subtle", I found the FRV-1 COULD do subtle, but I didn't like the QUALITY of the reverb. The Digiverb certainly does subtle better, but it's level (mix) knob is very touchy in this regard.

As for using them with gain, neither did well. I'm thinking to use reverb with gain, the reverb needs to come after the gain, as in an effects loop or even on the mixing board. Putting a reverberated signal into an overdriven gain stage never sounds good IMHO.

So it goes back. Next up: the EHX Cathedral.

[bowman]

I guess I'm going to have to try one for myself - duh! If it can't do subtle, I don't need it, too much of any effect is always a deal breaker. I am also one of those guys who doesn't like a dry signal - I've always got a little something on it to keep it interesting, but the key words there are "a little". Gotta be able to give me just a taste when I want it.

[ruger9]

Problem is, with the mix down low (for "subtle"), the dwell has to be high. And with the dwell down low for subtle, the mix has to be high. Neither sounds very organic to me. And, like I said, it's splashy. For those of who like subtle, warm reverb, the FRV-1 doesn't excel. Try a Digiverb.

The big surprise to me was, the Digiverb sounded better for surf! Something about the COSM modeling in the Fender pedals just doesn't sit well in my ears. I have actually preferred every other reverb I have tried to the FRV-1... except the Verbzilla... it also has an unorganic quality, or a "digital-ness" that I just don't like.

My fave pedal reverb was the Holy Grail Plus. If it had a tone/damping knob, I would have kept it. But instead ended up with a Digiverb. I just ordered the Cathedral... it DOES have a tone/damping knob, as well as an Accutronics spring model, so I'm hoping that's the "end all" for me.

[czech-one-2]

I have a generic accutronics 2 spring short tank in my amp that I leave 'barely on' for that little bit of air. I bought the
Boss FRV-1 for reverb I can hear as well as feel and dig into,like an outboard unit,all be it at a compromise. If you want subtle,any 2 spring equipped amp will get you there nicely.I had a digiverb and i thought the boss rv-5 sounded much better.
So with opinions on reverb being literally all over the map,I feel kind of foolish for trying to suggest this to anybody.
I'm more than pleased with it,so in my board it will stay!

[orly]

Is the boss pedal better or more versatile than the dano spring king ?

[sjhusting]

I A/B'd the Verbzilla and Boss units a few weeks ago, with a Tele through an Orange amp (clean, reasonable volume). I found that it is true, on short reverb settings, the Boss is fiddly, and in general, the Verbzilla sounds better and is certainly more flexible. The price was about the same, too.

So, I bought the Boss.

Why?

Because it only has three knobs. My brain can't handle more than that. That was the deciding factor.

And now that I'm using reverb again for the first time in five years (none of my amps have on-board reverb), I'm using it constantly, at the low settings, where the Verbzilla would have been better. The adjustment is fiddly for low settings, but it can be done. And a little reverb really adds a lot to the sound. I've been playing dry for so long I forgot.


steven

[czech-one-2]

I too found the simplicity and 'one great sound' a major plus.I feel the only thing the boss lacks is the ability to adjust the DECAY of the reverb, so folks could get smaller room and plate type spring reverbs out of it,and it would be more subtle.But like the Big stand alone unit,you really get one length of decay,and the ability to increase or lesson its volume with the mix and dwell knobs.[I guess on the real Fender tube reverb unit you can use the damper bar to lesson the decay of the springs]

my question is,whats going on with the price/availability of these things?I got mine from pro guitar for $119.00 ,now theres one seller on ebay asking $158.00? And they still arent in the shops in this country.
Did boss release them too soon and run out,or recall them?

[fezz parka]

That's a good question. I found mine (which is in the classifieds) at a mom and pop store in Glendale. I solved my reverb problem by picking up a 1981 Princeton Reverb.

[jakatone]

Originally Posted by NewGuy410

I've been thinking of getting a reverb pedal.
I'll keep my eye out for this when it comes out - that is, if it isn't too expensive.
I've thought about getting a Holy Grail, but for every good review I find about it, there's a bad review saying how noisy it is.

nope man, at least not from my experience....i own the holy grail for a couple of years now....it survived 2 major floods, tons of falling-down-the-stairs ect. and still No noise, nothing...plus, the "flerb" sounds great....

[FiddlinJim]

I got a chance to A/B the pedal with a real vintage '63 reverb unit in my living room a couple of weeks ago. It's not that you couldn't tell the difference, but the Boss pedal makes a pretty dang good show of it. The "real" one is more swirly and 3-D, I guess you could say, but at sort of mid-way settings, they sounded really similar.

For this pedal, I don't want a little airy reverb, just sweaty, drenchy, surf and I think it does it pretty well. I don't care about plates, tiles, flerbs, octos, chorus, blah, blah...

To yet again pummel the old saying... It's a one-trick pony, but I like the trick.

[DaBender]

I really hadn't used mine much since I bought it, as it's for my "outdoor amp", and the outside party season is over around here. However, my indoor amp is in the shop right now, so I hooked up my '64 Concert and the '63 pedal, plugged my Hamer Daytona in and played for an hour or so. I really, really liked what I heard.

[Hecks]

Just had to gush.

Just got mine '63 pedal in the mail. It is phenomenal. Can do subtle ambience to BOING! And it nails the surf sound. NAILS IT!