The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi, I've just got back into steelin' after a long absence and I'm not ever going to be a pro or out gigging much so I'm using what I happen to have on hand for an amp...it's Traynor keyboard amp and hence, it doesn't have any built in reverb or FX so I'm looking for the latest/greatest outboard box...what's got some nice smooth reverb for steel?

I'm extremely pleased with my "wet" reverb pedal. My second choice is my Boss '63 Fender Reverb pedal.

Depends on your budget. I really like the EHX Holy Grail. When mine died I got a Lexicon MPX100.
Both of those are ca. $100
You can spend 3 or 4 times that (Hall of Fame reverb, Dispatch Master and Wet come to mind), and if you don't plan on entering the snake pit of Twangin' Teles, pounding drums and squawking fiddles on stage, it'd be worth it. Once it gets cranking on stage (where I have my fun), I'm not convinced the $300 of subtle wowness comes through.

Lane, I beg your most humble pardon, the HOF reverb is about $149, less if you catch it on sale as I did.

It's a keeper.

For some reason I'd thought it was around 3. That's just a titch above the Grail.

For some reason I'd thought it was around 3. That's just a titch above the Grail.

...went back and looked just to make sure, but got both the HOF Reverb and the Flashback Delay for around $287. Just have to look for the sales...

Great pair together....

thanks for the suggestions...I notice that a local store has the HOF reverbs in stock so maybe I'll try one out...

Leonard, as with all things, try out as many as you can. What works for Lane or myself may not suite your ears. Get what sounds best to you.

Thanks Dickie....that's why I'm going to go to the local store rather than buy "blind" (or should that be deaf?)...maybe they'll have a few others in stock too...

There is a HOF on the for sale section for $90 shipped

I use the Boss RV-5 and the HOF a lot. Both great but IMHO the HOF has a smoother sound, less grainy than the RV-5. I use the CHURCH setting for steel and the MOD setting for lead guitar. I did a mini review of the hof and have some HOF sound samples with pedal steel here:


http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Hall%20Of%20 ... 0Fame.html


When I did this review I was pretty addicted to the RV-5 but after listening to some steel recordings with the HOF I began to notice that it sounded smoother then the RV-5 perhaps a bit closer to the Lexicon rack mount reverbs. Either of these reverbs is really a lush digital sound but they both suck at emulating a spring unit type sound like the fender tube reverbs.


Greg

Anyone ever heard of or tried this unit?
http://www.sourceaudio.net/products/sou ... reverb.php

The MPX1 is really super. As Lane said above, unless your doing a lot of recording, any decent reverb you use on a gig will sound great with a band during a set. Where I notice the better reverbs is tuning up on a gig, in the studio or playing at home where all you here is the steel. Both of my RV-5's have started cutting out (not the input jacks or Pwr supply) and intermittently sound very grainy like they lost some memory or resolution. The HOF is still going strong. I haven't messed with the Tone Print downloads since that not seems like a gimmick. Just give me a box that sounds good as is, no tweaking! Perhaps you should either borrow a reverb unit or buy one that you can return in case it's not your cup of tea.


Greg

Yes, I plan on taking a couple home with me...I've sourced locally a HOF, a used RV-5, and that Soundblox 2 Dimension Reverb unit...

Greg, that's why I liked the Holy Grail (and seriously worth considering): NO TWEAKING.
I like more reverb on the ballads, and tighter on the fast stuff. I found if I set the knob at about 1 o'clock, "spring" sounded good for shuffles and fast stuff, just switch to "hall" for ballads. I never touched the knob.

Yeah Lane...simple is probably better....there's a lot of sounds on some of these that I'd never use...(but you never know)

And it's harder to find the tone that pleases you at home or studio. If you're the only thing in your ears, "RIGHT" is necessary. Live, "good" will please you.

yeah,when I used to play out, the Session 400 reverb was just fine with me... when it's in my quiet room and for recording, it's got to be sweet...

The Strymon Flint has an amazing sounding reverb. I don't own one but I got to compare it with the pedals I do have (wet, rv7, holy grail). My friends and I all agreed it had the best sound.

I use the sarno revelation pre amp with the lexicion mpx1 with the buddy Emmons preset I use it on the road and studio its worked good for me
thanks gary

in my other rack I use a peavey tube fex moded by ken fox with the newman pre sets sounds pretty good too
gary

It's a wonderful age we live in. Reverb pedals and micro brews abound. No more just Holy Grail or Heineken, now we've got too many to choose from. As an admitted reverb-a-holic, I can say I've owned or tried almost all the pedals (and quite a few micro brews) available.
My favorites are the MONO Wet first and foremost, followed closely by the original (NOT the newest version) T-Rex Roommate Reverb. Also rans include the Radical Red Reverberator, HOF Reverb, Tech 21 RVB Boost(really great pedal) and even the Digitech RV-7. I was not impressed with the Strymon pedals (BlueSky and Flint) or anything Electro Harmonix has to offer (Holy Grails, Cathederals etc). The SPACE is pretty cool just for goofing around with crazy patches, but not all that use able. The Wampler stuff is mediocre, the SubDecay Spring Theory is very nice.
As you can see, I have a real problem, and could go on and on. I hope these suggestions help. The Mono Wet is tough to beat, and if you've got the dough, the T-Rex is extraordinary.

Greg, I liked your HOF sound clip. Found a new one on ebay for $110, so I snagged it.

sorry, misfire!