Stombox conundrum

[kboman]

So I have two weeks of vacation now and have started it off with going to Stockholm on some family business. While here, i checked out the local music stores on the South side, and ended up not liking any of them except for These Go To 11 (tgt11.com I think). I noticed a Hardwire Reverb on display and asked to try it out. It's pretty good. I also got a chance to A/B it with a Strymon Blue Sky, and boy oh boy... that poor Digitech pedal didn't stand a chance! WOW what a good reverb, especially with the pre-delay control it was downright difficult to get it to sound bad. Amazing, amazing sounds.

Then I tried Strymon's El Capistan, and here comes the conundrum: I must have these pedals - but I can only afford one of them right now. Which should i get?!

My AC15 does have reverb, but it's pretty lame - basically just a mix control to add a spring-ish reverb (I don't like spring reverb) with waaay too long decay (I don't like long decay). The Blue Sky sounds fantastic. On the other hand, I don't have a delay at all at the moment (only through my GT-8 but it's much too big and heavy just to use for one effect). I tried out the Fripp-In-A-Box mode and yes, it was good. Very good. As were the regular delay sounds, I just need to match it to the repertoire.

I have a couple of days to think this over, but I'd appreciate any input!

Btw, they also carry the Jaykco straps - did I mention this is a good store?

 

[elfro89]

Strymon Blue Sky, all I have to say is the shimmer effect is brilliant. You can arse around on that thing forever and discover amazing sounds. And more importantly its one of the few reverbs that sound great live. Shimmer Shimmer Shimmer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmWBQgiqjtY

 

[mayfly]

IMHO, for guitar reverb is over rated.  Get the delay - much more useful (at least for me)

 

[SustainerPlayer]

IMHO, for guitar reverb is over rated.  Get the delay - much more useful (at least for me)

Totally agree. There is so much more "texture" you can do with a delay than reverb.

 

[kboman]

I find great pleasure in a good reverb for my guitar, so I don't consider it overrated - I just apply the effect rather differently from many others (ie with restraint). The shimmer mode didn't really inspire me, I like the effect in itself but I'll probably do it differently if and when I choose to achieve it. Like the Edge, I want to be able to swell it in whenever it's called for.

I'm probably going with the Capistan, I just can't get the sound-on-sound mode out of my head! And I've been going over ways to add it to our arrangements all night which is probably a hint too...

Cheers for the input guys, I realise I had more or less made up my mind already but at this price point all opinions are helpful!

 

[elfro89]

I find great pleasure in a good reverb for my guitar, so I don't consider it overrated - I just apply the effect rather differently from many others (ie with restraint). The shimmer mode didn't really inspire me, I like the effect in itself but I'll probably do it differently if and when I choose to achieve it. Like the Edge, I want to be able to swell it in whenever it's called for.

I'm probably going with the Capistan, I just can't get the sound-on-sound mode out of my head! And I've been going over ways to add it to our arrangements all night which is probably a hint too...

Cheers for the input guys, I realise I had more or less made up my mind already but at this price point all opinions are helpful!

With these two pedals there was never a wrong choice! Have fun!

 

[kboman]

Well. Upon further financial consideration (ouch) the purchasing of stompboxes will have to wait a month or so. Will post a review here when the deed is done!

 

[mrpinter]

I don't want to complicate things for you, but there is one other reverb you may want to consider. It's the Dr. Scientist Mini Reverberator. I have one and am very impressed by it. Here is a YouTube comparison of the two of the Strymon and the Dr. Scientist:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuv0tsVtprw

It appears from the video that the Mini Reverberator does just about everything the BlueSky does, with simpler controls. And there's one thing the Strymon apparently doesn't do as well on - a rotating speaker simulation. A nice thing about the Dr. Scientist is that, at least in this country, it sells for about $75 less than the BlueSky (still a bit pricey though). Like I said, I love mine, and it seems to compare very favorably in this video review.

 

[kboman]

Huh. I actually preferred the Blue Sky in that video. Also I've found that a pre-delay control is very important for me to feel really happy about my reverb.

 

[mrpinter]

That's cool. I'll be interested in seeing your report on it when you have it.

 

[dNA]

I love reverb and anyone who says reverb on guitar is overrated obviously has never listened to Explosions in the Sky! I mean, reverb on guitar can be the difference between two completely different moods and feels. But then again, so can delay. And ultimately, I think delay is a much more flexible/versatile tool than reverb. I think a good delay can get you into some of the similar ballpark sounds and feels of a good reverb, but can also do much more.

 

[Cagey]

... anyone who says reverb on guitar is overrated obviously has never listened to Explosions in the Sky!

Or, they've had to put up with somebody who keeps the reverb level on 11. Turns everything into fly-blown cheese. Sometimes, I think it's an unwritten requirement on YouTube "review" videos. "Listen to my new guitar!" some wanker will say, then plug it into an old tank reverb-equipped amp with the 'verb level cranked to the sky so you can barely even tell it's a guitar playing.

 

[stubhead]

My fave YouTube reviews are the pickup comparison tests, passed through a Death Metal pedal into a cranked Triple Rectifier. "Mmmm-hmmm - sure that one sound better..." If I can't find out what a pedal/pickup/fretboard wood/string does, in comparison to a baseline, through a dead clean amp - I mean, a Twin Reverb on "2", a Roland JC-120 - I can't really learn much. "Yes, Junior, you're even better than Jimi Page or Jimmie Hendrix!" Now shaddup, already.... some kid wanking on his new toy and jabbering about it is not really quite a review, methinks.

The "clean boost" pedals are always fun reviews, because the expert can't help telling us what the pedal adds, be it a subtle warmth in the girthy lower-mids or a blooming string separation in the ballsy sparkle... except, if it's clean, it's not supposed to add anything, and it can only do what your preamp is capable of.

I should just NEVER WATCH THOSE THINGS IF IT ONLY MAKES ME CRANKY, right? :icon_scratch:

 

[Cagey]

I should just NEVER WATCH THOSE THINGS IF IT ONLY MAKES ME CRANKY, right? :icon_scratch:

Whaddaya gonna do? Hope springs eternal.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

I like a little reverb, especially on clean tones. To me it's one of those effects that makes or breaks a great tone. I set mine on the conservative side, you can't really tell it's there, but you notice something is missing when it's gone.

 

[kboman]

Or, they've had to put up with somebody who keeps the reverb level on 11. Turns everything into fly-blown cheese. Sometimes, I think it's an unwritten requirement on YouTube "review" videos. "Listen to my new guitar!" some wanker will say, then plug it into an old tank reverb-equipped amp with the 'verb level cranked to the sky so you can barely even tell it's a guitar playing.

Major reason why I don't like the reverb in my amp: it only has a level control. I want it short and not very thick for my bread-and-butter playing. Anything else needs to be used with great restraint.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I have no use for Reverb. I use a digital delay for just a hint of "slap-back" echo.

 

[Cagey]

I have no use for Reverb. I use a digital delay for just a hint of "slap-back" echo.

That's my favorite sound as well, but I will use a small amount of reverb for ambience if I'm playing by myself or in a small room. The only thing I ever used a lot of reverb for was when I was doing Satriani's "A Day at the Beach", which has a rather pronounced reverse reverb as well as a touch of small hall.

 

[kboman]

I think reverb on a guitar can sound amazing, but when you start to raise the volume and play with a band such details tend to get lost in the noise. It's more useful in a recording context and to some extent when miced at a gig. A delay pedal is definitely my first priority.