FENDER REFLECTING POOL DELAY/REVERB

TREVOR CURWEN DIVES IN FOR A SONIC SOAKING WITH THIS ONE-BOX AMBIENT SOLUTION.

If you’re going to have delay and reverb on your pedalboard, both effects in the same pedal can be a practical way to save space, power outlets and audio cabling, as well as likely looking neater. This good-looking stereo and mono pedal appears at first to be a combination of Fender’s Mirror Image Delay and the Marine Layer Reverb pedals, but it’s much more than just that.

The delay side of the pedal is equipped with an easily operated tap tempo footswitch allied to seven selectable subdivisions. Standard Feedback and

Level knobs respectively adjust the number of repeats and their volume against the dry sound through to fully wet, while modulation can be added via Rate and Depth knobs.

There’s also a Mix knob, which controls the feature that sets this particular delay apart from many others on the market. As with the Mirror Image’s fixed‑volume extra dotted eighth note, you can add in a secondary repeat related to the main repeat. Here, however, you get control over its volume, the relative levels of this secondary tap and the main repeat being set via this Mix knob, which has a 50:50 mix at its central position.

The Analog and Tape delays both reflect the tonal flavour of the originals very well, but the extra nuance of lower fidelity and altered EQ greatly increases flexibility. There are three selectable reverb types – Hall, Room and Special – each with three variations. The Hall and Room variations are small, medium and large versions of the chosen space – but select the Special type and it will offer a Shimmer reverb with high octaves, a Gated/ Reverse reverb and a Modulated reverb.

Besides knobs for reverb Level, Decay and Damp, an Extra knob controls low-frequency roll-off for the Hall and Room reverbs but adjusts the Shimmer reverb’s octave level, sets the Gated/Reverse reverb’s tail shape to determine whether you hear reverse, gated or just a typical small space, and controls the mod depth of the modulated reverb.

VERDICT

A versatile offering with a wide range of ambience and some great-sounding algorithms.

PROS

Two effects in one pedal.

Flexible use of a secondary delay.

Tap tempo with a range of subdivisions. Variable delay repeat quality.

DISTRIBUTOR

Fender

Ph: (02) 8198 1300 Web: fender.com

CONS

We’d liked to have seen a specific spring emulation.