Reverb for Bass

[chiphaleonbass]

I'm looking for a reverb for passages, creating pads under bass lines (that cut through) and intro/outro stuff. For me the basic shimmer-verb sounds nice but I'm getting kinda bored with the sound. My budget is 200. I was looking at the Afterneath and Walrus Slö, but are those pedals a bit too over the top?

Any recommendations? Or should I look into a delay/something else?

Based on your post you can't go wrong with the Slö. It's really simple to dial in, three voices that are different, a latch function, the Rise function is super cool for swells, and what I do with it is set it to trails mode, so you can create these large padded reverbs and then turn the pedal off to go back to normal bass playing as the trails sit underneath the signal. If the Slö isn't your thing though you can't go wrong with an Afterneath, or the Fathom from Walrus either

 

[emjazz]

Based on your post you can't go wrong with the Slö. It's really simple to dial in, three voices that are different, a latch function, the Rise function is super cool for swells, and what I do with it is set it to trails mode, so you can create these large padded reverbs and then turn the pedal off to go back to normal bass playing as the trails sit underneath the signal. If the Slö isn't your thing though you can't go wrong with an Afterneath, or the Fathom from Walrus either

Fathom loses a lot of low end.

 

[SidNitzerglobin]

For ambient pad stuff, tons of great suggestions already.

Any Mr. Black Super Moon for eerie modulated drift.

I've really liked the EQD Ghost Echo, Levitation, & Afterneath for progressively more wacky reflection based verb.

The Eventide Space was very cool while I had it for any number of sounds (I usually described it as the BigSky's evil twin) but that's over budget.

I've liked the OBNE Dark Star v2 w/ bass a lot too for more out there noise making.

I've got a Walrus Fathom as well that I like the patches on, but it seems very touchy about headroom & sounds a bit flat.

 

[monsterthompson]

For ambient pad stuff, tons of great suggestions already.

Any Mr. Black Super Moon for eerie modulated drift. I've really liked the EQD Ghost Echo, Levitation, & Afterneath for progressively more wacky reflection based verb. The Eventide Space was very cool while I had it for any number of sounds (I usually described it as the BigSky's evil twin) but that's over budget. I've liked the OBNE Dark Star v2 w/ bass a lot too for more out there noise making. I've got a Walrus Fathom as well that I like the patches on, but it seems very touchy about headroom sounds a bit flat.

Don't forget the Empress. The Ghost settings are fantastic for that "pad" effect. Several other engines work for that too.

It's not stereo, and not cheap, but the new Gamechanger reverb looks interesting.

 

[beebassdude]

rundown on the ones ive used:

EQD afterneath - cool but a little too much weird going on for what i needed.

Walrus slo - like the afterneath but even weirder, not very usable for what i needed.

EQD dispatch master - cheap and easy, very nice reverb but obviously limited on what you can do. has delay as well but very musical and usable, just dont expect to be able to knob twiddle

EQD Avalanche run - probably the best for your price point, really lush pretty reverbs but can do traditional stuff too - lots of tweakable options

Strymon big sky - my favorite but obviously not cheap, but the amount of settings it has is incredible, pretty much anything reverb youd ever want in one box, super tweakable and has presets for multiple reverbs

Strymon blue sky - i thought this one was super boring for the price i paid, it sounded ok but for how much it costs i was disappointed in the limited options. hearing this next to the big sky is not a good idea for keeping the blue sky haha.

Strymon night sky - the weirder version of the big sky haha - much more on the shimmer side and comes with a freeze option and a sequencer - i currently use this with my synth rig but it can do the lush pretty reverbs and get into super bizarre territory (like the slo and afterneath)

 

[chiphaleonbass]

Fathom loses a lot of low end.

Does cut some lows, however; I've never played in a situation where you'd want low end drones like that muddying up the mixes, especially some of the bigger bands I've played in. The sub octave reverb setting retains (boosts) plenty imo, but to each their own.

If you want more control of the low end of the reverb, might I also recommend the Meris Mercury 7; only one style of reverb (plate) but it sounds amazing, and has a lot of functionality.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Even something cheap like a Zoom programmable multi-FX will get you 90% there in a live venue...the audience won't miss the other 10%. Personally, I like to add some studio reverb on all the instrumentation at the mixer / FOH...delay cascaded into a reverb for vocals. Adding additional reverb on the backline can cause some headaches so evaluate and adjust accordingly.

Riis

 

[emjazz]

Does cut some lows, however; I've never played in a situation where you'd want low end drones like that muddying up the mixes, especially some of the bigger bands I've played in. The sub octave reverb setting retains (boosts) plenty imo, but to each their own.

If you want more control of the low end of the reverb, might I also recommend the Meris Mercury 7; only one style of reverb (plate) but it sounds amazing, and has a lot of functionality.

I'm a reverb fanatic and have plenty at the moment. I like the Neunaber reverbs better than Merc 7.

 

[emjazz]

Does cut some lows, however; I've never played in a situation where you'd want low end drones like that muddying up the mixes, especially some of the bigger bands I've played in. The sub octave reverb setting retains (boosts) plenty imo, but to each their own.

If you want more control of the low end of the reverb, might I also recommend the Meris Mercury 7; only one style of reverb (plate) but it sounds amazing, and has a lot of functionality.

..and I hear what you're saying about the low end, but there's a right and wrong way to filter out the low end...you do it on the wet side, not on both.

 

[Alien8]

I'm a reverb fanatic and have plenty at the moment. I like the Neunaber reverbs better than Merc 7.

What do you like better? Do you use in Stereo?

The Merc7 is really good and I haven't found a bass demo for thr Neu that swayed me.

 

[chiphaleonbass]

..and I hear what you're saying about the low end, but there's a right and wrong way to filter out the low end...you do it on the wet side, not on both.

I get plenty of use out of mine, it's not for you it appears...

I'm a reverb fanatic and have plenty at the moment. I like the Neunaber reverbs better than Merc 7.

... and it's obvious you have certain preferences. Regardless the OP has plenty of options listed out for them from a lot of different sources

 

[emjazz]

What do you like better? Do you use in Stereo?

The Merc7 is really good and I haven't found a bass demo for thr Neu that swayed me.

I personally prefer simple, but I also happen to prefer the sound of the Neunaber verbs. The new Wet v5 is so wonderful. Have turned a few friends onto them and they've been really excited about them.

It's great that there are so many great options out there! We all have different needs, and at this point there are SO many companies making great pedals. Very cool.

 

[C_nut]

Thanks so much everybody. The discussion gave me a lot to think about.

 

[Krisfield]

The Boss GT1K/Core has HPF/LPF parameters for the Reverb effect. So you can target what range of frequencies you want Reverb applied too. Also has an effect level.

 

[arbitrary]

Don't forget the Empress. The Ghost settings are fantastic for that "pad" effect. Several other engines work for that too.

It's not stereo, and not cheap, but the new Gamechanger reverb looks interesting.

the ghost setting on the empress is easily one of my favorite reverb sounds ever. Really makes a special pedal extra special.

 

[monsterthompson]

the ghost setting on the empress is easily one of my favorite reverb sounds ever. Really makes a special pedal extra special.

If the Zoia didn't have that sound, I'd probably have sold it by now.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I personally prefer simple, but I also happen to prefer the sound of the Neunaber verbs. The new Wet v5 is so wonderful. Have turned a few friends onto them and they've been really excited about them.

It's great that there are so many great options out there! We all have different needs, and at this point there are SO many companies making great pedals. Very cool.

I'm one of those emjazz hooked up with the Neunaber wet v5.
Truly an awesome pedal. Nuff said.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I use my delay for a reverb like sound. I basically stole my main delay setting from Janek. This is literally the same pedal and settings I use. Check it out.

As for actual reverb pedals. I've tried several. Boss, digitech polara. Like 6 m series. It's can be tough to get them to work in a mix as others have mentioned. I don't really know why but using a delay as more of a subtle reverb cuts a lot better in a mix for me.

 

[erik_ghoulet]

I have three Mr Black reverbs. Chrome, Bloodmoon and the basic black one.

I love them all.

 

[theunknowndude]

I have the walrus slo but use it as an effect, basically lots of modulation and the octave down setting on full wet to make creepy noises on intros
I'd ever wanted to just have it as a normal reverb, dial back the x and the modulation and it would be normal