The best analog reverb pedals will help you easily create atmospheric soundscapes and add desired analog warmth to the sound.
So in this article, we’ll show you the best options available on the market.
Quick answer:
Analog Alien Rumble Seat – our top choice for being a great-sounding vintage tube reverb that comes with Delay and Overdrive.
Danelectro Spring King – genuine spring reverb for a very reasonable price.
TC Electronic Fluorescence Shimmer – if you’re looking for shimmer style reverb in a compact form factor, this is a great choice for you.
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Table of Contents
- About Our Top Choices
- The Top 7 Best Analog Reverb Pedals
- Analog Reverb Pedals Reviews
- The Buying Guide
- FAQs
About Our Top Choices
Analog Alien Rumble Seat
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
Analog Alien Rumble Seat is a great choice for someone who is looking for a classy and great-sounding vintage tube reverb that is accompanied by a Delay and Overdrive.
Pros
- Compact form factor
- Great-sounding
- Well-built
Cons
- Reverb might sound more present than you like
Danelectro Spring King
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
Danelectro Spring King is a great choice for someone who is looking for a genuine spring reverb that is very affordable and good-sounding.
Pros
- Affordable
- Good-sounding
Cons
- Limited palette of sounds
TC Electronic Fluorescence Shimmer
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
TC Electronic Fluorescence Shimmer is a great choice for someone who is looking for an affordable shimmer style reverb that is placed in a very compact, durable metal box and is extremely easy to use.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Well-built
Cons
- Isn’t exactly tweakable
Top 7 Best Analog Reverb Pedals
- Analog Alien Rumble Seat
- Danelectro Spring King
- TC Electronic Fluorescence Shimmer
- Catalinbread Topanga Burnside
- Gamechanger Audio Light Pedal
- IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-Space
- Electro-Harmonix Epitome
Best Analog Reverb Pedals Reviews
Analog Alien Rumble Seat
Pros
- Compact form factor
- Great-sounding
- Well-built
Cons
- Reverb might sound more present than you like
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
We consider the Analog Alien Rumble Seat as a top choice for its features, multiple effects, and a high-quality reverb all in one box.
Best features and specs
Rumble Seat is a multi-effects pedal that offers you Delay and Overdrive, aside from Reverb.
User impressions
We’ve seen buyers reviewing the Rumble Seat as by far the best pedal that they have ever used and the reverb sound is no less than top-notch. That’s a bold claim, but we can’t argue with those that have paid money for it.
What we think
Judging by those that use it, the Rumble Seat is as good as it gets when it comes to the sound of the reverb. This pedal features the sound of the classy vintage tube amplifier that is liked by many, including us.
Bottomline
Analog Alien Rumble Seat is a great choice for someone who is looking for a classy and great-sounding vintage tube reverb that is accompanied by a Delay and Overdrive.
Danelectro Spring King
Pros
- Affordable
- Good-sounding
Cons
- Limited palette of sounds
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
It would probably be hard to resist the Danelectro Spring King Real since it has a built-in spring unit. You may appreciate the simplicity of the pedal with only the knobs you need and nothing more. If you are used to adding reverb blasts from time to time, this pedal has a kick pad specifically for it.
Best features and specs
The Spring King is a genuine spring reverb that is encased in the pedal and has 3 knobs to control reverb, tone, and volume. This pedal also has a big kick button that is used for making reverb bursts whenever you need it.
User impressions
Users like the Spring King for being extremely authentic and having an actual spring tank built-in. Also, this reverb is a true beast in producing warm, bright, and vibrant soaring reverb tones.
What we think
What we really like about the Spring King is that you get the classic sound of surf rock that is produced by an authentic spring reverb, shaped in the form of a pedal. That’s pretty convenient.
Bottomline
Danelectro Spring King is a great choice for someone who is looking for a genuine spring reverb that is very affordable and good-sounding. If you’re looking for something else with warm and bright sound, you should look for other entries on this list.
TC Electronic Fluorescence Shimmer
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Well-built
Cons
- Isn’t exactly tweakable
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
If you’re a fan of endless cosmic soundscapes and trance musical experience, then TC Electronic Fluorescence Shimmer is definitely for you. Also, it’s the best budget option among other pedals on this list. It’s truly a beast in creating shimmering effects, built like a tank, and has a compact form factor.
Best features and specs
The TC Electronic Fluorescence Shimmer is a reverb pedal with 4 knobs such as Tone, Mix, Reverb, and Shimmer. This pedal easily goes from subtle chimes to intense, spaced-out shimmers. Also, this pedal features a true bypass, when engaged, it preserves the tone.
User impressions
Users say that the Shimmer does a really great job and provides very luxurious tones. Users add that it’s really easy to use this pedal, though sometimes it’s difficult to set the mix knob in the right position.
What we think
We really like it when the compact form factor uncovers a mighty beast. The same can be said about this pedal. Despite being a very tiny and elegant reverb pedal, it is capable of producing lush cosmic soundscapes.
Bottomline
TC Electronic Fluorescence Shimmer is a great choice for someone who is looking for an affordable shimmer style reverb that is placed in a very compact, durable metal box and is extremely easy to use. The only downside is that it’s not that tweakable.
Catalinbread Topanga Burnside
Pros
- Vintage-sounding
- Well-build
- Great design
Cons
- Only spring reverb
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
If you’re looking to add a splash of color to your pedalboard, Catalinbread Topanga Burnside might be a good choice. Not only does it have a hard-to-forget look, but it captures authentic sounds of 60’s Tolex-covered outboard pedals being the cluck and clang, the flutter, and the drippy splash.
Best features and specs
Catalinbread Topanga Burnside offers a spring reverb pedal that has Dwell, Volume, Tone, Mix, and Trem controls. You get the genuine old-school sound that includes the clang, drip, splash, and flutter of ’60s tanks. The volume knob controls the discrete preamp that gives you a chance to apply an additional clean boost.
User impressions
Users like the Burnside for bringing on those classic surf sounds and being an extremely good spring-emulation reverb with tremolo control.
What we think
What we like about this pedal is that the guys from Catalinbread decided to make the Mix knob more powerful than it was before, and by tweaking, you can get 100% wet to 100% dry, which is just enough to find the perfect vibe.
Bottomline
Catalinbread Topanga Burnside is a great choice for someone who is looking for a spring reverb that is encased in a full-metal box that is very durable and has a very bright look. If you’re looking for something more than just a spring reverb, you should check other options on this list.
Gamechanger Audio Light Pedal
Pros
- Innovative design
- Great sounding
- Well-build
Cons
- Too pricey for just spring reverb
- No decay control
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
There’s a very good reason why Gamechanger Audio Light Pedal can be a real game changer for you. This mighty beast offers you a unique opportunity of creating anything from traditional spring splash up to experimental ambient textures.
Best features and specs
The Gamechanger offers you a chance to use an analog optical spring reverb that is built around a spring reverb tank and is capable of producing 6 extra reverb effects. This pedal has a shock sensor that has 3 modes such as soft, hard, and off. Also, this pedal has a high-quality buffered bypass.
User impressions
Users seem to really like the Gamechanger. The buyers that took the time to review it comment on its great sounds. Users also like that this pedal has a few additional features that are described in detail in the manual. Also, users like that it’s possible to combine some of the modes.
What we think
What we like the most about the Gamechanger is that it offers a unique opportunity of trying out an analog optical spring reverb. You can get the chance to experience how the sound is extracted from different points, and by that, various overtones, resonances, harmonics, and subharmonics become emphasized.
Bottomline
Gamechanger Audio Light Pedal is a great choice for someone who is looking for a dedicated spring reverb pedal that offers you 6 extra modes to combine and apply. Note that there isn’t a decay knob among all the controls. Also, if you’re looking for something more than just a spring reverb, you should look further.
IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-Space
Pros
- Versatile
- Great-sounding
- Diverse choice of algorithms and reverbs
Cons
- Exhausting menu scrolling
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
If you’re searching for an absolute beast of the pedal that is capable of producing a ton of various reverb effects, take a look at the IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-Space. You get 16 various reverbs and a hell of a software that is very tweakable and lets you save up to 300 custom presets.
Best features and specs
IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-Space offers 16 emulations of different reverb devices, ultra-low-noise, 24-bit/192kHz conversion ensures that you get top-quality sound, 123 dB of dynamic range guarantees that all tiny nuances are reproduced, a pure analog dry path with switchable true/soft bypass, and saving more than 300 created presets that you can easily call in from the pedal in any time.
User impressions
Those that took the time to review it after purchase are quite impressed with the X-Space, mainly due to being a hugely versatile pedal that adds greatly to the workflow and lets it easily create stunning atmospheric sounds.
What we think
It’s always a huge bonus when for quite an adequate price, you’re getting a beast of the machine. With this pedal, you get 16 hyper-realistic emulations of various modulation devices, therefore, having plate, hall, spring, gate, and shimmer reverbs.
Bottomline
IK Multimedia AmpliTube X-Space is a great choice for someone who is looking for a beast of the pedal that lets you easily create a massive amount of textures and soundscapes. It’s well-built and hosts up to 16 various reverbs. The only downside that you might experience is that the menu is way too much extensive.
Electro-Harmonix Epitome
Pros
- Compact form factor
- Flexible
- Versatile
Cons
- Not for every budget
- Controls are super sensitive
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
If you’re looking for a 3-in-1 unit, Electro-Harmonix Epitome is definitely that. It offers you a combination of reverb, flange/chorus, and octave. This pedal has very straightforward controls and a compact form factor.
Best features and specs
Electro-Harmonix Epitome offers you 3 legendary EHX pedals combined in one top-quality metal box. You get Micro POG octave effect, Stereo Electric Mistress flanger and chorus, and Holy Grail Plus reverb. Also, this pedal has a shimmer button that adds a delay to the POG and reroutes the effects chain.
User impressions
Those that took the time to review it speak of the Epitome for having a super versatile reverb and giving lush and fat tones. It’s easy to tweak and easy to get to know how to use all the functions. Some users wish that the controls on the pedal would be less sensitive because it’s awfully easy to move a knob to change the sound way too much.
What we think
What we like the most about it is that it gives users a chance to apply a lush digital reverb that is suitable for every musical occasion. It has two additional settings as Room and FLERB that give you even more control over the reverb.
Bottomline
Electro-Harmonix Epitome is a great choice for someone who is looking for a 3-in-1 pedal that offers reverb, flange/chorus, and octave, all of which are of the highest quality. You can easily control the reverb and get awesome results right away. If you’re looking only for a reverb without any additions, you should look further.
Analog Reverb Pedals Buying Guide
What is an analog reverb pedal?
It’s a pedal that works on analog circuitry, and it emulates the sound waves that reflect from the surfaces by that, creating 3-dimensional space.
Why would you need an analog reverb pedal?
There’re a number of reasons why you would want a reverb pedal. Firstly, if you feel that your sound is too dry, adding reverb will do small wonders, and you will have a real sense of space. Secondly, reverb helps with making your mix more smooth and making certain parts sit better in the mix. Finally, if you want to add more interesting textures, adding a reverb with shimmer, tone, and decay controls will certainly do the trick.
Important features
When choosing an analog reverb pedal, you should pay attention to flexibility, size, and build quality.
Flexibility
If you’re looking for one specific type of reverb, for example, spring reverb, it would be a slight overkill to pick up a pedal that has a multitude of other reverbs as well. And if you like to tweak and choose between multiple reverb effects, certainly, you need to choose a pedal that offers you more than one type of reverb.
Size
It’s easily understandable that the pedalboard doesn’t have infinite space, and you need to add a size to the equation. The smaller the pedal is, the better.
Build quality
Pedals are meant to be stepped on regularly, so it’s better to choose one that has exceptional build quality and would be your faithful servant for many years.
How to choose the right one for you?
When you are choosing the best analog reverb pedals, you should focus on the type of reverb you’re looking for, whether it’s only one effect or a bunch. A pedalboard can host only a limited number of pedals in it, so you should look for one that is fairly small and built like a tank.
FAQs
Do analog pedals sound better than digital?
It’s quite a moot point because analog pedals will give you the warmth that is valuable to many, but it doesn’t mean that digital pedals sound worse.
Do analog pedals have latency?
No, they don’t.
What is the difference between analog and digital reverb pedals?
Digital reverb pedals use microprocessors and chips that emulate the reverb effect using dedicated software, while analog reverb pedals use electric circuits. That’s why digital reverbs are more precise, but analog reverbs keep natural nonlinear quality.
