Drip Spring Reverb

Surf music, old blues and the instrumental guitar bands The Shadows and The Ventures all lean on a spring reverb. The Drip Spring Reverb recreates that sound of 1960s Fender amplifiers for your pedalboard. A spring reverb sounds hardly natural, yet it has become so familiar on the electric guitar that a dry signal quickly gains depth and character from it.

You operate it with three knobs. Tone sets how bright the reflection sounds, from sharp and piercing to restrained and dark. Dwell controls the length of the reverb tail, from a whisper to a wave that hangs around. With Mix you choose the balance between the reverberated signal and your dry tone. Turn everything well up and the effect becomes distinctly lo-fi; back it off and mostly some charm remains.

The enclosure is metal and meant to take a knock. The jacks are on top, so it takes up little room on a crowded pedalboard, and thanks to true bypass your signal is left alone when the pedal is off. Its size stands out: it is considerably bigger than many players expect. No battery is included. The compartment sits behind four small screws on the sides, and a 9V adapter is bought separately. Not every adapter agrees with it: one user only heard what he was after once he switched to a battery.

Users repeatedly mention that the volume drops when the pedal is on, and some miss the real drippy character and the analogue feel of a spring tank. Others find that it does not sound digital at all. It is a simple choice for anyone who wants a retro spring reverb with three controls. If you want more kinds of reverb in one pedal, look further.