Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

[zegonzales]

Seems like the Boss Reverb (it´s basically a new version of the RV 3 , Reverb Delay they issued on the 90´s) is their most expensive stomp box nowadays and I always noticed Reverbs are more expensive than Delays . Same applies to Digitech ones .

 

[Blille]

Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

My guess is that they have the most complex algorithms so we're likely paying for processing power and r&d.

Btw, I would give more credit to the RV-6 vs RV-3. I bought a 90s Yamaha FX500 that had great reverb back then (think Slowdive) and my comment was literally "boy, reverb has come a long way since then". If you only use a bit or reverb then it may not make a difference but for washy ambient tones it does IMHO, YMMV etc.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

Well, newer reverbs don't just simulate a space, but they combine that with multi-delays and pitch-shifting. So there is an element of sound design, the need for presets, a way to control those presets, and some serious processors crunching numbers in real time.

 

[devastone]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

The TC Electronic Hall of Fame is the same price as the Flashback delay, and the RV-6 is less than the DD-7, I think the Digitech Reverb and Delay are the same price too, although the Hardwire Supernatural reverb may have been a little more.

As Billie and Dave said, reverb takes some serious processing power these days, but I really don't see that reverb pedals cost more than comparable delays, or other similar digital pedals. A guy just traded me a Strymon Mobius modulation pedal for my old GT-100, it's modulation pedal and the street price is $450 new. Of course, it's a Strymon and sounds great.

 

[Coma]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

Not sure if they're that much more pricey. I just bought my RV6 used for 90 euros. New, it would be 150. Most compact boss pedals sell for around 100 - 120.

The only well-known brand (not counting the Chinese stuff like Mooer, Harley Benton, Joy etc) that's generally cheaper is EHX.

But past that, most stuff don't land below the 200 euro mark, be that an OD, delay or reverb, at least to my knowledge. I think what you might be onto is that once you start looking for cheaper brands, reverbs tend to be a bit more costly than purely analog pedals.

 

[Artie]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

I bought a 90s Yamaha FX500 that had great reverb back then . . .

I still have mine, although I've replaced it in my chain with a Yamaha Magicstomp II. (Plate setting.) I've always thought that Yamaha had some of the best reverb algorithms. Probably the reason I'm having so much trouble getting the MS out into the mail to forum bro TreyH.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

I loved the MagicStomp's reverbs, too. Too bad they didn't continue that line.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

I think an original Klon Centaur is probably the most expensive pedal on the market. Check the prices on those and then a Strymon or other higher priced reverb will probably look pretty cheap.

 

[Blille]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

I think an original Klon Centaur is probably the most expensive pedal on the market. Check the prices on those and then a Strymon or other higher priced reverb will probably look pretty cheap.

It's not on the market, that's why it's expensive, scarcity. For a new pedal, reverb is usually more expensive than dirt and most others, when comparing within brands and lines.

But I'm sure you knew that already

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

Yes, yes I did.

Just trying to make the OP feel better about the cost of reverb pedals.

 

[zegonzales]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

I try to see some selling sites of effects here in Brasil and the Reverb prices are generally more expensive than the others , at least the brand new ones . The latter versions of Boss Reverb Pedals seem to be more expensive than the latter version of Delay pedals , that´s what I´ve generally seen out there ...

 

[Artie]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

While I get why reverbs can be expensive, I still wonder what goes into things like the Bricasti Model 7, for almost $4k, or the System 2, at $8500. What's in those things? I'd love to have the opportunity to hear one. Just to say "wow, listen to that reverb."

 

[Coma]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

While I get why reverbs can be expensive, I still wonder what goes into things like the Bricasti Model 7, for almost $4k, or the System 2, at $8500. What's in those things? I'd love to have the opportunity to hear one. Just to say "wow, listen to that reverb."

Law of diminishing returns says "hell nope". But what do I know? Maybe my normal, mortal ears aren't refined enough.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

My guess is that those high end reverbs are the perfect thing for vocals on a commercially-released pop album. I doubt you'd notice much difference with a guitar through a limited-range guitar amp.

 

[devastone]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

Those are definitely studio tools, probably not going to find them in any guitar rigs.

 

[Artie]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

Yeah, I get that they're high-end studio rigs, but still. How "tweaked" can an algorithm get? How much lushness can they offer. I'd love to hear one. I only ever heard of these because they're what the YouTube guy SpectreSoundStudios uses.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

Yeah, I get that they're high-end studio rigs, but still. How "tweaked" can an algorithm get? How much lushness can they offer. I'd love to hear one. I only ever heard of these because they're what the YouTube guy SpectreSoundStudios uses.

The human ear is surprisingly sensitive to reverb sounds . . . it's baked into human psychoacoustics. Natural reverb gives you a lot of information about a room and while there are quick and dirty ways to make reverbish sounds, it's surprisingly difficult to make them sound really real. That said, I think that as an effect on a guitar amp it probably doesn't matter all that much.

 

[Artie]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

I agree, although, I can definitely tell the difference between "plate", "spring", and "hall" settings. "Plate" being the tightest.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

Aren't Delays the usual overpriced pedal candidate?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why are Reverb the most expensive Pedals on the market ?

Basic delay prices have come down in recent years. You get into high prices when you want fancy delays that have tons of options with lots of user control (my favorite kind).