Reverb

[TrevorG]

Toying with getting a pedal for certain sounds but don't hear many bassists using reverb much. Do you use it, how and which products?

 

[NoxNoctus]

Toying with getting a pedal for certain sounds but don't hear many bassists using reverb much. Do you use it, how and which products?

Reverb isn't widely applicable to the majority of bassists or styles of music. It can be great for ambient sections and music like Post Rock, even then it's used in great moderation. Bass frequencies and reverberation do not usually mix well, so you'll need a reverb that can cut out the bottom end a bit and just reverberate the higher frequency fundamentals. Source Audio Dimension Reverb, Iron Ether Nimbus, Strymon Big Sky, and Neunaber WET are good starting points

 

[Stephen]

This: Source Audio Dimension Reverb

 

[jmattis]

I love a touch of reverb on my bass. I don't set it anywhere near Beach Boys Pet Sounds levels, but I pretty much have it on all the time. Just so it gives a little bit of depth. I've owned the TC Hall of Fame, the IE Nimbus and the Neunaber Wet. They all sound great, but the Neunaber is the one I've stuck with.

 

[Timpano Drake]

Hello there,

I use the reverb a lot and it is a very important part of my sound.
Without it, I would be naked XD
It is true, that there are some problems with mids and bass frequencies regarding reberbs, but there are a lot of high end reverbs in the market where you can tweak it like you like it or reverbs like the Nimbus Iron Ether, designed specially for Bass. I do use the new Meris Mercury7 as the main Reverb Pedal and the cheap Digitech X-Verb as a loop chain with my Ditto X2 looper.


cheers,
Timpano

 

[NoiseNinja]

I haven't really used reverb on bass in band context until recently when I joined a drums/keys/bass experimental jam trio.

Seems like finally I will get to use a lot of my effects without it sounding out of place.

On my home recordings though, I sometimes use a tiny bit of VST reverb (Valhalla Room VST, most often) on one of the copied bass tracks to add a sense of the direct in recorded bass playing in an actual room.

What I use for reverb at the moment when playing with the drums/keys/bass trio is various reverbs from the Zoom B3 digital multi effect I got, and even if I do plan to get a dedicated delay/echo/reverb effect at some point (most likely the Mooer Ocean Machine, that combines 2 delays and 1 reverb, all programable. As well as the EHX Canyon digital delay, that also has a reverb setting), I'd have to say the B3 does a pretty good job with it's reverb algorithms (by far the majority of reverb effects available on the market will be digital anyway).

Also plan to invest in a Zoom MS-70CDR, that beside various modulation effects has a ton of different reverb and delay effects not included in the B3.

EHX Cathedral might be an option as well for you.

 

[p0k]

IE Nimbus is the best reverb I've used for bass.

 

[Marial]

IE Nimbus, EQD Afterneath and Transmisser... then there's the EQD Avalanche Run... Neunaber, Strymon Big Sky/Blue Sky. Tons of great reverbs.

Reverb doesn't work in a busy mix, but in a stripped down setting it can be great.

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

Gary Willis has a couple Tone Prints for TC Electronic's reverb pedal. More for ambient-type stuff, but pretty cool (I got one):

 

[Timpano Drake]

I forgot to leave some video of the Mercury 7 . It is new in the market and therefore not well known, but can easily compete in quality (not options) with the Empress Reverb and Eventide Space...it has only two modes: Plate and Cathedral...but the things you can do with this are inmense.

 

[svlilioukalani]

I use a TC HOF mini as a thickening agent to give more depth when needed. I use a very mildly and it sounds great.

 

[Driven Crane]

I have tried a lot of reverbs, of what i tried TC HoF was the worst, Neunaber Wet - was the best. I have tried HoF two times - and nothing has changed still. I returned with Immerse.

 

[Nephilymbass]

Toying with getting a pedal for certain sounds but don't hear many bassists using reverb much. Do you use it, how and which products?

Some pedals have modulated reverb that's a bit more useful because you can use it as a unique sounding chorus if you just dial back the tail some. I really liked the modulated setting on the digitech polar But ended up selling it because it wouldn't do 100% wet without switching cables around or some mess if I remember right.

speaking of pedals that can do 100% reverb. By that I mean pedals with a blend/mix control that allows you to dial out your dry signal. When you dial out the dry signal you can play chords and get some great pad type sounds. They are kind of difficult to control timing wise but sound cool, I've mainly used that pad type sound for intros and filler between songs live. I used the line 6 m5 probably the most using the octiverb which is basically their shimmer sound and would dial out the dry signal.

Subtle reverb can add some body to your tone for bass solos. For this kind of vibe look up the Gary Willis toneprint for the tc hall of fame. You'll see what I mean.

The problem with using reverb. You really have to be aware of the room you're playing in. Way more so than other pedals. If you find a setting you like in your bedroom then try to use that setting at a show at a decent size venue it's going to be way too muddy because
Every room has its own ambience. So you have to learn how to dial it back in bigger rooms which for me was a big trial and error process

 

[TrevorG]

Decided to go with this and I LOVE IT!!! First pedal I've had I didn't want to switch off!! Thanks for the advice, people.

 

[TrevorG]

I have tried a lot of reverbs, of what i tried TC HoF was the worst, Neunaber Wet - was the best. I have tried HoF two times - and nothing has changed still. I returned with Immerse.

Must confess I've tried HoF a couple of times and have the same opinion.