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If I compare spades to spades (current production), I'll go with the FRV and the spring in the GT-001/100. GT001/100 are the *same* unit algo-wise FWIW - why I bought the 001 over the 100 (although I'm seriously considering a 100 for the primary "goes to everything board" too).

The FRV is less overtly sproingy in a bad cab-mounted verb with the amp cranked way than the GT001/100 spring- the spring in the multi is clearly an amp-type not a Fender outboard tank. I genuinely like both for different things - the GT001/100 spring is stupid adjustable and responds to hot signal in an amp-like manner. But it's *not* a Fender-type external tank sound.

Other verbs in it are very serviceable (plate and I get along famously, to a point where I'm using it on a lot of stuff instead of my Qverb+ for the first switch in over a decade as a primary choice).

But the FRV-1 is a suitable swap for an actual tank providing I don't want to kick it (and let's be real, they're not $100 any more for the real tanks and I wouldn't kick them these days - if I want that, I have the long-spring Accutronics array in the Jazz Chorus!). Big plus is it functions with mild grit if level is pushed like a real tank.

Don't have a RV-5 to go with - I A/B'd the FRV with the Deluxe Reverb in a box version at the same time (and sent the DR version back in a heartbeat).

May also be a case of my tank time wasn't for surf stuff and I used (often gnarly) beater units that the purists threw up their nose at.

Whoop, sorry guys for not responding sooner! That's what I get for posting before going to sleep I guess and then being busy with work and friend's birthdays.


Have put in a TLDR list of ones I'm not considering at the bottom of this post, which I'll add to the first post too



Really appreciate all the advice and suggestions, and having read through the responses there are a couple of things that I should probably add;



First of all, I'm looking to keep the spend under $200. I can't really justify spending more than that right now as I'm trying to arrange getting a car, a new motorbike, and the associated tests/lessons to get my licenses.

Secondly, if possible I'd really like to avoid getting another "lots of different reverbs in one" pedal. Maybe it's because I'm a bit old fashioned, but I'd rather get something that is dedicated to doing one thing and doing it well. I appreciate models like the Hardwire supernatural & RV-7 have a highly rated spring reverb, so I'll take them into account, but I'd like to keep things as straight forward as possible.

As a final, but lesser point, good with dirt is a must. I rarely if ever play clean, so being able to deal with my elements/Rat is pretty important to me.






As it stands at the moment, I'm not considering the Cathedral as an option. I know it's a really decent reverb, but it's simply got too many functions for my needs. Like, presets and such don't appeal to me as much, and it almost seems a bit overkill given what I'm looking for. That and it's a bit above my budget.

And as fricking AWESOME as the KNAS Ekdahl Moisturizer is, sadly it's way above my budget. Maybe one day, but not any time soon. If there's any UK ILFers who have one though, I'd love to borrow it for a bit Same applies to Blackout Effectors cadavernous really. It'd be nice, but I can't justify it haha.

I had a bit of a look at the Catalinbread Topanga, but I dunno. It doesn't really stand out to me? Every demo I've gone through, I've kind of been a bit "meh" afterwards. It sounds okay, but it just doesn't really jump out at me.





I still consider the Ghost Echo a strong contender. I know it's not traditionally springy, but the atmospheric sound you can get out of it really appeals to me, and it seems like there is a lot of control to it. As PumpkinPieces and misterstomach said, it's got that kinda surfy vibe to it which I guess is really what I'm looking for.

Surprised by what some have said about the Surfrider, most demos I hear of it sound really decent, and pretty accurate to my springy reverby needs. I think maybe part of the reason for why I'm drawn to it is because it does fall into the boutique-y crowd, and I'm looking to get more pedals that aren't as commonplace. Hbomb, I came across your demo vids of it, and I liked what I heard! Love how straightforward your demos are too, no bullshit, just straight to the sound. No doubt, the Surfrider is still a contender for me.




I forgot the spring chicken existed, so thanks to everyone for reminding me of that one I really do like the sound of it, and how you can almost push it into oscillation, but the lack of additional controls kind of concerns me. I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to tweakability, so I'm not sure I'd be too content with it. But then it has expression pedal input...hmmm. I'll have to look more into it I think.

The Boss FRV-1 I looked at a while ago, and also forgot about. I'll have to check that one out a bit more, see if it is what I'm looking for. Haven't checked it out much, so I can't really comment on it at the stage. Same applies for the Subdecay Super Spring Theory.



So yeah, still not much closer to making a decision. I think I'll look into the Subdecay and FRV-1 a bit, and go from there to see if I'm any closer to making a decision.

Any more feedback is welcome, really appreciating all the input so far!




TLDR List

Not considering
-EHX Cathedral
-KNAS Ekdahl Moisturizer
-Blackout Effectors Cadavernous
-Carl Martin Headroom
-Catalinbread Topanga

If the only thing keeping you away from the headroom is $, then there's a clearance blowout one for sale on Reverb right now for $249. Other than that it seems like it fits your needs well. High quality spring reverb, not an all in one pedal, with two footswitchable settings.

The Pete Thorn demo is pretty damn convincing. Listen to him play "I Wanna Fall in Love" with that thing on. It would've sold me if I needed a verb pedal.

The Mad Titan wrote:The Pete Thorn demo is pretty damn convincing. Listen to him play "I Wanna Fall in Love" with that thing on. It would've sold me if I needed a verb pedal.

Had to look that up. Definitely a sweet sounding verb.

The Mad Titan wrote:If the only thing keeping you away from the headroom is $, then there's a clearance blowout one for sale on Reverb right now for $249. Other than that it seems like it fits your needs well. High quality spring reverb, not an all in one pedal, with two footswitchable settings.

The Pete Thorn demo is pretty damn convincing. Listen to him play "I Wanna Fall in Love" with that thing on. It would've sold me if I needed a verb pedal.

I checked up that demo, it is a really good quality reverb, but for whatever reason it just doesn't appeal to me. I can't really explain why, I guess the only way I can justify the fact I don't like it is cos of the price, but there's something else that keeps me from wanting it.

I dunno, I can't really explain it, but for some reason despite the fact I know it's a good pedal, and I know it fulfills my needs, it just doesn't appeal to me?

I'm weird like that. Appreciate the suggestion though, and suggesting watching that demo.

It's an amp reverb sound as the demo admits - I like tank verb most of the time if I want it as an "effect" and springs are involved, not amp verb.

Amp verb is like a presence control to me - I find a setting I like generally and ride with it.

one of my favorite spring reverbs is the og big box holy grail. especially into a dirty amp. fuck yeah.

also, hardwie supernatural/rv7 and malekko spring. all great relatively cheap digital reverb pedals.

i heard the mooer shimmer verb is pretty cool.

misterstomach wrote:i heard the mooer shimmer verb is pretty cool.

The Subdecay Spring Theory and Super Spring Theory are both really great.

rfurtkamp wrote:It's an amp reverb sound as the demo admits - I like tank verb most of the time if I want it as an "effect" and springs are involved, not amp verb

This is a pretty apt description of how I feel about the Headroom.

echodeluxe wrote:one of my favorite spring reverbs is the og big box holy grail. especially into a dirty amp. fuck yeah.

also, hardwie supernatural/rv7 and malekko spring. all great relatively cheap digital reverb pedals.

You mean the malekko non-chicken spring? Haven't heard much about that one.

misterstomach wrote:i heard the mooer shimmer verb is pretty cool.

This made me

myrrh wrote:

lordgalvar wrote:Has anyone tried those Van Apps Sole-Mate spring reverbs? I was a bit curious of how they sound in person a while back.

I have one (the two part one), and really like it. I did not end up on my board though as it is a bit too big to fit together with my power underneath.
Also it is not quite as deep as I need sometimes.

I got that feeling about the depth on the demos I have heard.

Uncle Grandfather wrote:I have one too and really like it. Also +1 on the Knas moisturizer.

I think it sounds like the little extra money for a moisturizer would be well worth it when considering the two.

Just realized I have a broken multivox mX2 and I remember liking the spring reverb in that enough. I actually liked quite a bit about that box but forget it is around. The foam pads that held the little half tank oxidized and it's got this nice little free floating spring ready to short stuff out.