I was so blown away by the Reverb Machine that I Started writing this review immediately after my first playing session. Real life got in the way, then more playing sessions came and went, reviewing the other pedals in the tour box felt like a priority, etc….
My initial notes on the RM were written before I’d read the bulk of the RM thread, which I (re)read in full as a means of passing time (read - toan stalking) while I’d run errands with my wife, waiting out alternate side parking, etc. So much had been said that was spot the fuck on, that thread made me wonder if my review was even necessary.
Hell. The RM is so inspiring that, paired with my personal brand of insanity, I’d imagine doing the review as nothing more than a treatment as to a film short. Post modern (mortem) spaghetti western. The Cowboy's last thoughts as he proceeds to throw himself in the river, after discovering that the wife, dog, pick-up truck, and horse that he lost, not only are they all having a polygamous affair without him, but they’ve where able to get a table at Rao’s….
All that said, we’ve got time and digital pages to fill as the tour box travels overseas and since I’ve taken the time to share my .2 bitcoin on the rest of the set, what do I have to say about the RM….
Toe-jam/navel-lint-gazing, Mobhitwesterns, drones, praise&whorship, country and lonesome crowded midwesterns, 1-2-3 sheets to the space wind, 1 - 2 ply sheets’o'soundscape, dry arid deserts, mesas, tundras, scorched earth one year later, stick figures drawn in blood on the sides of caves, the fingernail on the side of well in Silence of the Lambs. Yes, it’s all there.
All of the things you’ll expect from a) most any experiment friendly reverb pedal and/or b) you’ve come to expect from IE (or at least my ramshackle rambles about such). And we’ll touch on that.
But let’s go in an entirely different direction.
This isn't just reverb pedal, it falls into a different and more specialized category than that. It's an amp in a box pedal. It might be the best amp in a box I've played - it's biggest disappointment is that the amp that it's emulating doesn't exist.
If it did most of us here would already own one (or more), or would have sold one (or more), and/or would have them on our eBay watch/ porn lists. and/or all of the above.
Think about it. Two gain stages. Able to blend your clean with your dirt due to interactive dual gain vs level vs mix ctrls. Footswitchable reverb. With more than 2 pots to manipulate the reverb character. Feedback on demand at ANY FUCKING VOLUME. And a built in droner? If this said Sunn, Traynor, or Peavey on the front and 6l6, 6550, and or 2ohm on the back...there would be bloodshed over in the main b/s/t with everyone trying to get their hands on something like this....
Within that first playing session I was ready to throw down what ever was necessary to get my hands on one of these. (That fact that it's only a stompbox and priced as such helped - if it was a hand built amp I still would've had to found a way to pony up ASAP if not just as quickly)
See, I’m love the idea of reverb, but generally find myself disappointed. A good reverse reverb I can always find a place for, but more traditional units leave me feelling meh. Doesn’t matter if it’s tube or ss, analog or digital, amp or stomp based, I’ve had trouble finding something I really loved for a versatile world shaping tool. Something to get lost in. I want something between Neil circa Dead Man OST, cuz that beautiful and fucking monstrous, and, IDK, the conceit behind Inception, the rabbit hole, that keeps getting deeper, from which you just might not be able to wake.
The reverb on my Traynor is fine. Not the worst I’ve dealt with, not sure if I’ve had better. Had enough disappointments that I haven’t put much effort time cash into exploring modding that part of the circuit at all. For my main verb, I’d settled on the EHX Cathedral, but that’s really more of a tool weapon for shaping walls of filth. I can use it to pummel/maim/eviscerate you in a dozen different ways, yes, but haven’t found it useful for building the mile high sarcophagus in which I’d like to store the bodies…
And along came the Reverb Machine….
This is just about everything I’ve ever wanted in a reverb pedal, and by far bar none hands down the closest I’ve EVER gotten in a single, non-rack, pedal based unit. Part of the reason a) this review was so late in coming, b) I had the tour box a day or two longer that I technical should, and c) I didn’t take the time to go back over some of the issues I’d like to have explore on some of the other I/E units, is the Reverb Machine is just too damn fun. Could not stop playing it.
The gain controls. Two of ‘em. Can’t tell if they are identical circuits that sound slightly different due to being at different locations in the signal path or if they really are different and happy to sound similar due to the circuitry between them. (This next phase or similar will probably pop up more than once) I was too busy wailing thru the fucking thing to pay much attention to low or high end roll off, but needless to say they sound great. The was not obvious lack in the sound spectrum - IIRC, I’d say the opposite was true, a thickening thing was possible, depending on how you dialed in the combination of Gain 1 vs Gain 2 vs the rest of the mix, level, sundry reverb ctrls. Also meant to come back and do a dedicated study of how the Gain vs Level vs Mix interacted or were independent - again, too busy, rocks off, socks off - maybe Andrew or some other tour members can add their recollections.
I’ve certainly used gain with reverb before, both before and after, but Industrialectric has developed something special here. The way these three pieces of the circuit work, it’s not just symbiotic, it’s like it’s a single entity. It’s one of the most successful implementations of disparate circuit ideas in a single unit.
The reverb, by itself, is just about perfect. Not a enough of a spring emulation for purists and absolutists, but does a better job, IMO, than the Cathedral or IIRC the Holy Grail and it’s derivative. Certainly can get you into that plink plonk drip drop that they love so much. Faux kicked-the-tank sounds are there. And yes, with the gain, Neil.
Plate, things of that nature, I’m not an expert and so I’m not going to comment. I use plate in very specific ways that go against what I think of most plate reverbs sounding like. BUT if you want cold, frigid, dare I say harsh, it’s there.
Murk is there. Crud is there. Thick greasy colonic caverns are there. Warmth heart beating postcoital bliss is there. Bounce, ambience, illbience, it’s there. And there’s more there that I haven’t even found yet - I spent 99% of my time with the mix at some position that I’ve already forgotten, and the Depth and Tone pots at noon - but there’s definitely more brightness there if needed, more textures than I had time to explore in 7+ days.
The feedback momentary. Does exactly what you’d expect it to. If you’re gentle you can get some faux tank sounds on the right lower corresponding settings. Working with it in time can get rhythmic effects. Trick for those of your using this bent over your desk (or kickdisk style….and see my EXP notes below) : start with the FB pot at some setting below Maximum, hit and hold the momentary then bring the FB pot up to Max, when you let go of the switch that maximum feedback sound will keep going, which you can then manipulate with the pot or instantaneously take back to max with the stomp. A semiobvious trick, but a fun one and a starting point for the uninitiated.
And for those that like that bent over the desk idea…. I really only spent a few brief minutes using the RM as a No Input device and barely played with the Drone one it’s own. What I heard I like and I grok. Definitely a capable tool worth exploring. As is so often the case with all things ILF, the key is the balance of the pre vs post gain settings….HUGE rumbles of evil can be found….
Also worth noting. My wife and I have been living together for close to 13 years. She came home last week while I was plugged into the RM - first time she has ever, EVER, said anything remotely positive about the sound(s) coming from my gear.
I can't tell you how awesome this thing sounds.Some nitpicks.
Trails. Not something that’s a dealbreaker for me (obvs, considering the lightness of my wallet), but may be an issue for some. Peeps like trails.
Stereo. Again, not issue for me. Despite my two boards of interconnected mess, I don’t run true stereo, and when I do it’s more a matter of noise rig vs guitar rig vs mixer. But some peeps do, and I can imagine a half a half dozen reasons why someone might want to with the Reverb Machine. Do note, this section of the review is entitled nit picks - maybe it should be entitled “entitled”.... That said, if that circuit gnomes were going to work their magic, rather than stereo I’d prefer an optional output for the feedback and/or drone. Even cooler, an FX loop option for the feedback and/or drone path(s)....
Expression. Any and everywhere. Sounds like Andrew hoped to make it possible but the circuit wouldn’t cooperate. Still. Dream we shall. (A super Venus deluxe version with an fx loop and expression ctrls for feedback both gain ctrls and maybe 1-3 other things. Would the enclosure need to be twice as large? I don't care. Would it cost two or three times as much? Fuck you, I always wanted to rob a bank. Sign me up.)
This review, long as it is, feels incomplete. Why? Because I’m incomplete. The RM is on it’s way to Europe and MY RM is being built in Canada. Until then, I can only wait and stare ceaselessly into the drone.
So. tl:dr. Awesome. One of the best / most versatile / inspiring / unique / fucking funnest reverbs ever. Maybe one of my favorite circuits EVER. Ladies dig it. I’ve already bought one, so should you. Canada gaze evil love.
I am so happy you enjoyed them buddy! 
I guess I'll get to work on that tgp panty soaking Overdrive 
), and don't be surprised if something thinks it's the new over the top box from Moog (also, canadian)
I am definitely going to use some of your stuff for feedback on my site, AMAZING! THANK YOU! 
/unintelligable ramblings at some point to fill the time in between...
