Using reverb in a band setting...

Animal

Animal

Well-known member
Other than the obvious application for springy surf guitar, shoe-gaze, jamming by oneself in the bedroom, and in post-production, is it all that "practical" to use verb on electric guitar in a full rock-band situation?

In my limited experience, I've found it to make my signal get lost amongst the other instruments and wash away the dynamics. Use only a small amount, and you won't even notice it. Use enough to cut through so the effect is audible and you're swimming in it.

Thoughts?
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

if im playing in a trio i tend to like a little reverb, if im playing clean i might like a little reverb, if im playing in a big band or with more than mild gain i dont want any reverb. muddys things up to much
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

You won't notice it because the cymbal crashes will cancel it out, however it does work well on clean passages and thickens up leads a bit.


Hames Jetfield said:
Other than the obvious application for springy surf guitar, shoe-gaze, jamming by oneself in the bedroom, and in post-production, is it all that "practical" to use verb on electric guitar in a full rock-band situation?

In my limited experience, I've found it to make my signal get lost amongst the other instruments and wash away the dynamics. Use only a small amount, and you won't even notice it. Use enough to cut through so the effect is audible and you're swimming in it.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

I use just a touch, more for the feel of it rather than the effect. Usually I'm playing in a pretty live room so I don't really need any.
If I'm playing with a Jazz orchestra, then it's DRY DRY DRY.
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

I have a Verbzilla, so I'm able to turn it on and off as needed. On some songs it sounds great, on others it doesn't. It's that simple.
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

Like Guitarded mentioned, only real use with a band is some clean passages in certain songs, and that's about it. For permanent use it's awful; for leads, a well set delay > reverb any day of the week!
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

I find if you're playing loud enough in any mid sized or larger room you have a kind of built in reverb. I agree with what you're saying, it's either so little you can't hear it or so much that it sounds crappy.
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

I usually kick it up a bit for outdoor venues. Indoors there is enough sound bouncing around as it is.

GuitarStv said:
I find if you're playing loud enough in any mid sized or larger room you have a kind of built in reverb. I agree with what you're saying, it's either so little you can't hear it or so much that it sounds crappy.
Click to expand...
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

I dont use Reverb much. I use a slapback delay to act as "reverb", which has little if any decay time.

Then use a longer delay for leads, more in the typical fashion that you would use delay in.

Works well to fatten rhythm, while maintaining clarity.
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

Like others said, on leads and clean stuff some reverb is great. But for rythm work it's useless to me.
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

in the jazzy blues band its always on, either clean or distorted. i hate dry guitar. for the ambient music, sometimes, its all reverb, no dry signal!
I always thought of it as an integral part of the sound...almost an instrument itself.
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

before my last band folded i was using a Peavey C30 combo with an extra 1x12 cab added... i used a bit of reverb at times... other times it would be right off... depended on my mood...
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

My experience is with live show (I was the only guitarist, and it was the only live show I've done at a bar) and church. When using my Twin Reverb, I would leave the spring reverb at about 5. Not enough reverb to sound surfy, but enough to give my sound "depth" or "character". Just a mild coloration.

Now, I usually run my ME-50 (since my Pro Junior doesn't have reverb) with a delay of 125ms added (as if running a delay pedal at 125ms with the feedback on the short end). I do that so it sounds like reverb. I don't like the reverb models on the ME-50 as much (Room is good but only if I need to free up the delay portion to run a U2-ish delay of around 512ms, or for tap delay when playing Hillsong stuff). They severely overdid the Spring delay on the ME-50: it squeaks like it's been left out in the rain for years.

In summary, I do it to give character and depth to my playing, not to compensate for anything. Just to add a mild bit of coloration.
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

The room has to be deader than Steve Guttenberg's career for me to use reverb. I do use a little slapback delay when needed.
 
Re: Using reverb in a band setting...

I like just a touch. There are a few occasions where slathering it on is warrented: Don't Fear the Reaper, Coming Home by the Scorps, the occassional early VH tune.

I say toss just a touch on the whole bad to "big up" the room a bit in the mix. If necessary.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top