Basic Tricks for Using Reverb Pedals

That feeling is surely bad when you put so much effort into your playing and using your pedals, but you still don’t get the sound you want. This is a problem that every guitarist and musicians face at some stage of their career. It looks like this an unavoidable problem. But every problem has a solution, and in this particular case, proper knowledge about reverb pedal is the solution.
Reverb pedal is a part of the effect chain, used for enhancing the sound of our electric guitar and that sort of instruments by simulating the effect of reverberation in an enclosed space. It is neglected often and therefore stays improperly utilized. But to use this particular pedal effectively, knowledge about only it is not enough, knowing everything is a mandatory.

The Basic Principle

So, before going to the details, let’s take a tour on the effect chain. Effect chain is a combination of effect pedals, creating a circuit. These pedals are serially, paralleled or mixed mounted. The different the arrangement, the different the music. The standard sequence for a pedal board is ‘Instrument, Tuner, WAH, compression, overdrive/gain, equalizer, pitch, modulation, level, reverb/echo and amp. But as taste and demand changes, so does the arrangement. But it is mandatory that reverb, delay and chorus are not placed in front of overdrive/dist and WAH is put in front of overdrive. And one more thing, equalizer must be behind overdrive. Overall, Wah before overdrive and reverb, delay, chorus, equalizer behind that- This rule should be followed for best output. Different combos should be tried until the desired sound is found.

Effect Pedals

Tuner Pedal: The first pedal of the effect chain is known as tuner pedal. But in the present days, tuner pedal is avoided by many as it brings out the clear music from the instrument. The thing is that, in the market, tuner pedal are found just having buffer. But if they provide true bypass, tuner pedal can be turned on. True bypass is important as not having it causes gradual change of the signal coming from the instrument.
Wah Pedal: WAH is the famous effect pedal usually put on top of the chain. WAH changes the sound and creates an impact on the pedals behind in a likeable way. Using the WAH, some popular effect chains can be created such as- instrument-wah-octave-fuzz-amp, instrument, octave, wah, fuzz amp and instrument-octave-fuzz-wah-amp. Remember to start with the instrument and end with the amp. Before overdrive.

Compression pedal: This pedal can be put in various positions and locations of the effect chain. It’s up to the musicians taste where to put it but experience tells that Compression pedal must not be used when ‘In signal’ line has a distortion or turned on overdrive. The forbidden action may lead to an increase in the small sound signals and loss of control. Compression can be used after distortion pedal or before overdrive. The total thing depends on the musician’s hobby and taste of sound.
So, once compression is set, overdrive/gain, equalizer, pitch, modulation and level can be set as per the musicians demand. None of them creates any big difference that leads to any problem.
Reverb Pedal: So, after all are finished being set, Reverb pedal comes to our sight. As its function is to create echo, it has a big impact on the sound and pedals behind it, if there is any. As it is a game changer for the sound, it is used only when it is needed. It gives us the feeling of space. We can set the time of the echo coming back to us, create the virtual enclosed space. Using it efficiently is needed to create a ghostly, unearthly sound. But all that is to be take care after the placement of the pedal at the last position, connected to the amp.
The Less is more formula: When it comes to adding effects, don’t go crazy! Remember the key formula: the less is equal to the more. A little touch of reverb can create a magical sound. Adding too much reverb will make the sound blurred and artificial. While using acoustic guitar, this is the one rule that you must never forget.
The task of Sustain: Sustain is very important part of creating soulful or heavenly music. It is something that can easily be created with your gain pedals. Sustain, especially external kind, is really good for music, you know!
Use of Room control: Room control is a must for the best use of reverb pedal. Reverbs are often shadowed by other effects. The solution is, use room control. Room control lighten the reverb up and therefore highlight it.
Now that there are tons of theoretical knowledge stuffed inside that brain of yours, let’s get to work. Let’s take an effect pedal board, connect the instrument, connect the amp and then apply the theories.
But while you’re going through the process, do not forget to remember one very important matter - the less is more and sustain is more beautiful without gain. On top of that, the placement is also very important factor, as proper placement will definitely bring out the best out of your instrument. And if it does not work out, you know what they say; desperate times call for desperate measures. And what we may see as “desperate measures” in this case? Experiments!
So, we wish you all the best of your luck finding your desired sound. May Apollo be with you.

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