BOSS and Fender USA have collaborated to create the BOSS FRV-1 pedal, a stunning recreation of the legendary '63 Fender Reverb via COSM technology. The FRV-1 puts that timeless tube-driven reverb sound under your foot in a tough, reliable compact reverb pedal.
The Fender Spring Reverb is the sound that launched the surf-music phenomenon, and is a staple of rockabilly, country, and blues. Later, it became commonplace in grunge and other modern genres. Now the same legendary sound can be had in an affordable, rugged compact guitar effect pedal.
FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
Nominal Input Level: -20 dBuInput Impedance: 1 mOhm
Nominal Output Level: -20 dBu
Output Impedance: 1 kOhm
Recommended Load Impedance: 10 kOhm or greater
Power Supply: DC 9V: Dry battery 6F22 (9V) type (carbon)/Dry battery 6LR61 (9V) type (alkaline), AC Adaptor (PSA series: optional)
Current Draw: 37 mA (DC 9V)
Expected battery life under continuous use: Alkaline: 10.5 hours. These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.
Dimensions: 2-3/8"H x 2-7/8"W x 5-1/8"D
Weight: 15 oz. (including battery)
Accessories: owner's manual, dry battery/9 V-type (6LR61)
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Few musical instrument related products get the extreme "Its great" "Its terrible" contradictory reviews as the Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb. The reason for that is simple: It does just what it was designed to do and that means that some will love it and others won't like it at all. Let me explain...Go back to the fifties when electric guitars were still something fairly new and guitarists had no electronic "reverb" at all. Only places had reverb.
Reverb is something created when a sound is produced in a place. When a person sings in the shower and it sounds SO GOOD that is because of the reverb. -The series of fast and quick echoes that merge together leaving a sonic trail behind each note sung, making it rich and full. Larger places also have reverb. A good concert hall for instance. Other places, also with "reverb" sound terrible. The echoes there garble the sound making it unpleasant and unclear.
The first reverb apart from the natural type that was made available to guitarists was something called "spring reverb." It created its sound trail cleverly by passing the vibration of the created musical sound (the plucked string or chord in the case of a guitar) into a spring, making it vibrate and pulse, then extracting a signal from the other end of the spring and mixing it in with the original, clear, sound of the instrument.
How 'hard' the spring was vibrated was called "dwell." A small vibration added a gentle trail, a stronger vibration a stronger one with greater duration (picture a spring vibrating and you'll get the picture!) and a REALLY strong kick get the spring making "boing boing" sounds.
How much of that sound, be it a smooth and gentle trail, or a loud, long enduring, mechanical "boing" is heard depends on how much of it is mixed in with the original sound. That is controlled by a knob called -- ready for this? -- "Mix." Add a typical tone control that adds or removes treble and you have the three controls on an early "spring reverb" (called a "tank" in the jargon of its heyday).
Later, when spring reverbs were built into guitar amplifiers, the controls were reduced to one simply called "reverb" that sort of combined the "Dwell" and "Mix" into one. Tone was controlled along with the rest of the signal by the amps tone controls.
In recent years spring reverb has been replaced in many amplifiers with a digital reverb. At first these digital recreations sounded artificial. Today they, in many cases, sound more like real, natural, room reverb that the old spring reverbs did. And that is the problem.
The fact is that old schoolers like the sound of those old spring reverbs. Much early rock, rockabilly and especially "surf" music got its distinctive sound from the slightly unnatural sound of real spring reverbs. The digital ones are too good. Too smooth. Too natural.
The Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb is designed to recreate (using digital modeling) the actual sound of one of those early spring reverbs. An actual "tank" - the type guitarists, starting back in 1963, might add to their system to get that special sound they had learned to love.
Does the Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb do what it is designed to do. Oh yes! The writer of this review used such reverbs starting back in 1963 -- playing (and recording) rock and "surf" music. To get that sound this pedal is IT.
But to someone who is used to smooth, natural "reverb" -- not the type created by a tank -- this pedal may sound absolutely terrible.
And that is really all it boils down to. Do you want the sound of real 1960s spring reverb? Or not. Do you know the difference?
The answer to those questions will decide whether you agree with this reviewer who gives the Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb five stars, or some of the others who think its a real stinker.
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
.I own both the Fender reverb tank and this pedal. Anyone who loves verb will tell you there is no substitute for a tube tank. This is true. But let me tell you this little pedal is so close to the tube tank that I rarely use that fragile thing much anymore. I play instrumental surf music. Reverb is the sound we love. So if you want the closest thing to a fragile tube reverb tank than look no further.
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
.I've been playing guitar for almost 40 years, and have owned Fender amps with onboard spring reverb units. A few years ago, I acquired a couple of Egnater combos, which I absolutely love. But neither had onboard reverb.
I tried MANY boutique pedals that were supposed to accurately emulate the sound of a vintage Fender tank, and burned through over a thousand samolians experimenting and ultimately being disappointed.
I bought this pedal because I figured that at the price and given the generally stellar reviews, why not? So I put aside my prejudice against Boss pedals (just don't like the way most of them sound), and placed my order.
Dang, if this isn't the one I don't know what is. It not only captures the quirky sound characteristics of a Fender tank, it even responds like one (more funky noises and harmonics when you crank the dwell and dig in with your picking hand). It's perfect because it sounds imperfect, full of all sorts of ornery behavior that you not only expect from "the real thing," but that truly becomes the whole point of a spring tank.
I gave this one "con" for its limited number of effects... but it's not really a con, because this pedal is only supposed to do one thing, and it does it brilliantly.
I'm still prejudiced against Boss pedals, but I have two of these patched into the effects loop of my Egnaters, and they stay on all of the time. Boss knocked this one out of the park.
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
. i have tried 4 or 5 reverb pedals...EH, TECH 21, etc. .all of them made me sad, .with harsh tones ....this one is the best , by far..very clean and warm sounding.....goes from a great Slim Harpo type reverb to full on Dick Dale....no harshness or odd harmonics....this is NASA technology here..!..it could not be any cooler..!! and i used to own a real fender reverb unit.....this may not be exact but in its own way it is better..!
i just bought this......man..its incredible...anybody who doesnt think this pedal is just the best reverb unit is just a dunce....this is as good as it gets..!!...
oh...the sound is spot on..!!
musicians friend price is really good..
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
.Every bad review of this unit is written by people who are using it wrong. Reverb has got to be the LAST thing in line! Put it in the FX loop if you got one. Even after your noise gate if you use one! I shouldn't be sharing this advise, but I want to hear y'all sounding right should I walk in on your gig. Remember: compressor, dist, overdrive-before the input of your amp. Chorus, flange (modulation) then delay, gate(I dont use it) THEN the reverb! Use it correctly, then write your review.
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
.Well worth the money.
This is a pretty decent reverb for those who are trying to duplicate the early 60's surf sound. It comes close to the 63-65 Fender reverb but doesn't quite hit the mark. I was around in those days and playing surf music and the only thing that would do it then was a Fender tube driven spring reverb in either a stand alone unit or as part of a 2 x 12 or 4 x 10 amp. They were expensive then and they are still pricey today; so, for the money this little pedal is a pretty good compromise. If you're like me and your wife will never approve the cash layout for a classic Fender amp, then invest in this little Boss reverb pedal. It comes close enough to make it well worth the investment.
Bullet-proof Boss pedal.
Pretty good bang for your buck
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
.I was looking for a reverb pedal that was 'quality' built and 'quality' sounding. Something that will last. I also was seeking that classic Fender 63' reverb sound without the price tag. I thought I would take a chance on a emulation COSM pedal. I have the Boss RE20 which was a excellent sounding pedal as long as it has the psa120 adapter. Upon getting the pedal it is SOLID built. Feels like a Tank. Most Boss Pedals are well built but this feels even more so. the sound is pure and has no degradation in the sound to me. Truely an excellent Reverb pedal. This is my final need for a reverb pedal. worth the price!
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
.Excellent Value! It's like having a Fender Deluxe without having to schlep it from gig to gig!
I play jazz/chord melody arrangements on a tenor ukulele with an active LR Baggs pickup. This pedeal gives me the perfect, warm reverb sound of an Fender Deluxe or Princeton Reverb amp.
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
.I use amp with no reverb and just wanted a reverb that sounded like a fender amps reverb, this doesn't disappoint.
Not especially veritile but neither are most amp reverbs.
great sound, doesnt feel like a pedal it sounds like a solid tank reverb. it doesnt quite have that slappy sound but sounds very natural.
best ive found for under 200 dollars
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
.I bought this to go with a 59 Bassman Mojo Kit A Friend Built For Me..That Amp Is Beautiful True Sounding, And This Reverb Pedal Truly Gives My 59 An Authentic Fender Reverb Quality. I also own a Fender Custom Vibrolux Reverb Amp ...This Boss Reverb Pedal On My 59 Bassman , Sounds BETTER than the real accutronics long pan reverb on the Custom Vibrolux Amp...seriously I am impressed !!!!
Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb Guitar Effects Pedal
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