Rainger FX's Reverb-X Mini has picked up a cult following since Dijon's Touring Band Guitarist Mk.Gee revealed how he uses it
Since the release of the below referenced Dijon Touring Band Rig Rundown Video, Rainger FX’s Reverb-X has become the brand’s current bestseller, alongside the Minibar Liquid Analyser. The Reverb-X owes much of its success to its handy format and versatility - where if can deliver both Bright and Immediate Sparkle-Verb, as well as Dark and Brooding Pre-Delayed Ambience with ease. And overall covers Clean Bright Reverb, Live ’Bootleg’ Reverb, 80’s Gated Reverb, and Spacerock Overload Reverb all in the same diminutive box.
Furthermore, the included Igor Expression Pad allows you to dynamically punch in the blooming reverb, which decays naturally as soon as you lift your foot off the Igor :
"Plug in the Igor expression pad and you get no reverb at all. However as you start to lean on it the signal gets diverted to the waiting reverb pathway, and a bloom of reverberation grows behind whatever notes you’re playing. Take your foot off of Igor and you go back to fully dry – but the reverb decays on its own."
Readers will know that I typically favour stereo reverb units, while I also like using Reverb as a texturizer - say for shoegaze duties and similar. And the Reverb-X perfectly fits in with that methodology. I can place the pedal about mid-way through the gain section - so that I can use the Reverb both Pre- and Post-Gain.
The control topology could not be easier - with 5 core mini control knobs clearly and logically labelled, alongside a push-button switch for Gate, and another to activate Dark Mode.
Controls - Level, Size, Distortion, Input, Output, Gate, Dark, + Igor Expression Pad.
All-in-all the Reverb-X is an incredibly impactful and versatile textural reverb, which immediately makes your signal sound more interesting. It's mini format means that it's incredibly easy to accommodate on you pedalboard - which is reflected by how many units have been sold.
There also seems to be something of a more recent tandem movement around the Deep Space Pulsar Dynamic Ducking Devices - which I believe owes its recent resurgence to the popularity of the Reverb-X - and those that have been attracted by that pedal - seem to be coming back for the Deep Space Pulsar too!
For my preferences I like all the knobs on Max, and Dark Mode engaged - that way you get fantastic dark atmospheric texture with trails. If you don't want the trails - you engage the Gate Mode. For me it sounds best full-flavoured on Dark Mode - that delivers the most impactful texture - which you can punch in with the Igor Expression Pad.
Really easy to use, really impactful and expressive. It's also not that strong a flavour comparatively - I've encountered some sort of bitcrushed reverbs which are a lot more brittle as well as being noisier. The Reverb-X delivers really usable musical tones, and I can see why it's so popular.
It's another pedal which delivers pretty much instant satisfaction!
The Reverb-X retails for £229 / $193 via the Rainger FX Webstore, and at several International Dealers. You will find it frequently sold out - s it's in such high-demand. So if you see one - you should snap it up!
Demos
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