Retro's RV-6 Review

[RetroTeleRod]

Okay so this is not a comprehensive review, just my first impressions of the Boss in a band setting. To sum it up, incredible! In the past I have used a Hardwire RV-7, a Boss RV-5 and also a Boss FRV-1. The new RV-6 beats them all. I've used it with the band on three separate occasions last weekend and I'm so happy with the tone. Other pedals tend to "wash out" the original note for some reason but the RV-6 keeps the core sound of the notes intact and then you hear that luscious reverb behind it. I've only experimented with the Spring, Plate and Room for the most part but I love them all! The Spring in particular is excellent. It just nails that classic country Tele tone. The Room actually reminds me a bit of my good old Boss DD-3 delay. With everything set at noon it's one sweet echo, very useful. If you get a chance check one of these pedals out, I think you might fall in love with the tone too!

Retro

 

[MilwMark]

Cool. Have you daisy-chained it? Does it add noise when daisy-chained? Thanks

 

[RetroTeleRod]

I have it on my board with 9 other pedals, all powered by a single One Spot. All the others are true-bypass except a VS Open Road and a DOD Vibrothang. I'm having a bit more white noise than normal, but to be honest I really think the DOD pedal is doing that because it was happening even when I had a Boss FRV-1 instead of the RV-6. I've read on this forum that the DOD buffers are pretty much equal to the Boss, so perhaps it is due to the age/components of the Vibrothang. I need to pull the DOD and try the board with something else in it's place and find out for sure. I'm thinking the RV-6 wouldn't really add much noise. Will have to test to be sure.

 

[RockerDuck]

I have the RV-6 and agree with your review. I use a one spot also and no noise is introduced.

 

[Platefire]

How about the RV-6 Delay. Can you combine it with a reverb and use it separate like a RV-3?

 

[RetroTeleRod]

How about the RV-6 Delay. Can you combine it with a reverb and use it separate like a RV-3?

It's a mode called "+Delay". It's has a Reverb sound with Delay added to it. The reverb type is preset and cant be changed. In this mode the Tone control sets the number of Delay repeats. I haven't played with it much yet. But it sounds nice.

 

[valvestate]

Nice... giving me GAS! I wonder how's the modulated reverb!

 

[ruger9]

All I wanna know is.... how is the SPRING setting? Because for some reason, the spring setting has always been a weak point on these multi-reverb pedals.

 

[RockerDuck]

All I wanna know is.... how is the SPRING setting? Because for some reason, the spring setting has always been a weak point on these multi-reverb pedals.

The spring setting is the best I've heard. Turn the mix level up and see.

 

[RetroTeleRod]

Nice... giving me GAS! I wonder how's the modulated reverb!

It's great! I love it and I'm not much of a chorus fan. The Shimmer setting is awesome too if you like ambient effects.

All I wanna know is.... how is the SPRING setting? Because for some reason, the spring setting has always been a weak point on these multi-reverb pedals.

The spring setting is the best I've heard. Turn the mix level up and see.

^^^ I agree with RockerDuck. It's the best I've had. I like my Boss FRV-1 but the RV-6 spring setting totally blows it away. The FRV-1 would only work for me at very low mix levels, not so with the RV-6. Spring it on! I'm now getting the spring sound I've always longed for. I now have the best of both worlds, Vox AC-15 tone with a classic Fender style reverb.