Guitar Effects: Reverb

Reverb (short for reverberation) is an effect that alters the guitars sound to recreate the subtle echoes of a room or other environment.

Reverb is commonly included in guitar amplifiers using spring reverb tanks in the amp. The size of reverb tanks allow them to be placed inside the cabinet of combo amps and in the head amplifiers. Solid state amps sometimes feature digital effects and reverb.

Spring Reverb units are usually a metal enclosure containing a spring or springs stretched to each side connected to a transducer on one end and a pick up (similar to those used in plate reverb) on the other end. The sound of the guitar's signal causes the springs to vibrate creating the reverb effect.

Stand Alone Reverb Units usually have longer springs and often look similar to a guitar amp head in appearance

Analog Reverb effects are produced by several different manufacturers. Since these pedals use analog circuitry, they aren't as sonically flexible as Digital Reverb effects. Both come as pedals or stomp boxes, and in rack mountable units. Digital reverb units processes the guitar signal to create spring reverb type effects as well as more extreme reverberation effects for more ambient sounds, but often lack the warmer tone analog effects produce.