UA Golden Reverb & Starlight Echo - REALLY GOOD SPRING AND TAPE ECHO! - but are they worth the $$$?

[@glenech0]

When you've been waiting for actual weeks just to know whether Ryan thinks the Golden "drips". Happy to see you pleased with the pedal. I don't have the Golden but I got the Starlight and am continually amazed with it.

[@BaronsDuju]

Lol, yep!

[@alexandergilman3394]

You officially sold me on the Starlight. Already own the Golden. Top notch!

[@TraceyChattaway]

Thanks very much for the great demo. The purity of the tones in both pedals is pretty inspiring. 18:12 for all the ambient reverb lovers.

[@tomt55]

Another great review of both these UA pedals. The Strymon Volante is an excellent tape echo emulation pedal that has super robust features and sounds excellent to me...

[@IUsedToBeAPygmy]

I just got the Golden Reverberator this week - I use it on my Aux bus for synths and drums, and it's awesome. The OTO Bam is a completely different kind of beast but is just as awesome in a different way. The Source Audio Nemesis is amazing as a delay. It's good to see that there are new brands / pedals able to challenge / shake up guys like Strymon and Eventide who have depended on their flagship units for over a decade now without improving / adding to them.

[@JonasEndureTheEnd]

I am using the golden for a month now and have to say it's by far the best reverb I ever bought. There are also a lot of possibilities that have not been covered in the video. So if you think about 4 absolutely high end reverbs with 3 different modes on each its really not that pricey anymore

[@BaronsDuju]

I wish it had tremolo so it could 100% replace my strymon.

[@guloguloguy]

....WOW!!!!! THANK YOU, SO MUCH, Ryan!!!! GREAT TONE!!!! GREAT RANGE of Effects!!! GREAT DEMO!!!! I AM A SURF MUSIC ADDICT!!!! ILOVE THIESE EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY THE "GOLDEN REVERBERATOR"!!!! I'LL BE ORDERING ONE, ASAP!!!!! THE PRICE IS WORTH IT, IMHO!!!!! NO QUESTION!!! I ALREADY HAVE A STRYMON "BLUE SKY", AND I LOVE IT, TOO!!! YOU OUGHT TO DO A SERIES OF SURF MUSIC "LICKS"& Riffs-techniques TUTORIALS!!!! THANKS!!!! FOR THE SPLASH!!!!....THAT GRETSCH BARITONE WAS AWESOME!!!!!

[@bobbymannersmusic2374]

Excellent Video 👍 I just got the UAD reverb pedal, it's the best reverb pedal I've heard! I absolutely love it! Yes it's pricey but, by-thunder it sounds awesome!

[@nostro1001]

Right..when Ryan has his American Pro II Jazzmaster out for review you know he's taking things seriously. Really enjoyed this Ryan and I think you nailed the balance between fun users and those that actually 'need' either of these & made that point loud and clear. 😎 Both of these seem to be externally well made, sound awesome and built for purpose. I am rather impressed!!! I can say at $600 out here, I had a quick check at 3 of my go to stores & all sold out, other than one golden still in stock. (All Astra's sold also). So, whilst not for the mass market, it shows that those who want the 'best' quickly snap them up. Great stuff Ryan.👍 🎸⭐

[@AxeRocker88]

I've owned sooooooo many pedals and effects VST's and, to me, these two are hands down the best at what they do. It is so easy to dial fantastic, usable sounds and that's just not that easy with everything. UAD hit grand slams with these FX pedals.

[@berkayguner]

@16:09 DOD Ice It Amp from mid 90s had a physical spring unit and a 3 band EQ. Fun fact: I didn't know it had a an actual spring tank up until this year and I always thought that I broke the amp back then, everytime I heard a thunder sound as I moved the amp or accidentally hit it. Long story short, it turns out that springs were hitting everywhere in the tank causing that thunder sound 🤦🏻‍♂️😅

[@thedeadxtras9927]

Tape echo is my favourite effect ever! Such a beautiful effect and so creative for me personally, I get some will find these pedals a bit pricey but with Universal Audio gear you know you will be getting a fantastically manufactured product with the best parts and the effect will be excellent. Unfortunately I can’t afford a Starlight for quite some time but I think this will definitely be worth the investment and saving for in the long run, so I’ll start saving now and hopefully will have one in the future. Thanks for your review Ryan.

[@funkyfurballs1078]

What are your thoughts on the Strymon El Capistan?

[@thedeadxtras9927]

@@funkyfurballs1078 it looks and sounds like a great pedal and with Strymon products you know they are made with high quality parts and will probably last a lifetime if you look after your gear well, I have played a friends and it does everything you need it to with all the editing features. Strymon and UA are definitely up there among the best gear you can buy.

[@mathiasohlson6265]

Thanks! I was waiting for you to get to the Golden

[@andrewlight]

What a great video. I own this pedal, but I didn't explore the spring sounds that much...until now. Sounds wonderful, thank you!

[@DonovonCarter]

Really great playing on the intro bit Ryan.

[@BaronsDuju]

Wow, that drip is so dependant on the EQ settings of whatever you’re listening to this on. On my iPhone that drip sounds so clear and awesome. On my television, I can’t even hear any drip. I’ve also noticed that at home I can’t hear the drip as well with my spring reverb surfy bear unless I sit closer to the front of the speaker cab. Really interesting.

[@60CycleHumcast]

that is interesting

[@zettepix2009]

My god, the intro song is gorgeous

[@NicholasGreen91]

I pre-ordered this pedal in 2021. When I got it I noticed this thing runs a lot hotter than other guitar pedals, it reminds me of some audio rack gear. It was concerning at first, but I put it through maybe 200 hours or so of rehearsals, sessions, and shows. Never left on more than 2 hours at a time during that whole year of use. I tried to take decent care of it! About 2 weeks ago I heard a very bad "whine" on startup for a practice session, then a loud pop... a scary pop. Resulting in silence from my Starlight entirely. It lit up its LEDs still, but clearly burned out something inside. And yes, it was kinda hot like usual. UA did an RMA- found a blown diode D2100. Replaced that and sent it back to me. (about $150) I just this morning got it back and tried a simple bench test- plugging it into power and seeing how hot it gets. After 20 minutes, I had to pull it. There is NO WAY this thing will survive the heat again. I'm pretty disappointed with UA. Did I get the one crappy Starlight out there? Love the sound of the pedal, but it really doesn't seem reliable in the long haul. Really curious if anyone else has had overheating issues.

[@60CycleHumcast]

Oof, mine gets hot but I haven’t had it fail and I hope I don’t.

[@John-e4p1x]

Got a Golden, it definitely has bugs and I need to send it back for warranty. I agree there is no way there are going to last even a few years. However Tony Mackenzie took apart the amp ones on his channel, and he saiys those are built well... but

[@mrchrisbeaver]

I'm wondering if they've changed some of the components recently because mine doesn't get hot at all, bought in early 2024

[@tito.tarantula]

Great demo! Any Golden setting tips on how I can achieve the tone in your preset at min 06:00? Thank you.

[@lukaszbohdal8749]

I have them both and GFI system synesthesia. Amaizing pedals. They have very detailed 3D sound in every settings. Sometimes I use 2 reverbs at once. First from Synesthesia And the second from Golden. It's an ambient haven then. I use Marshall jcm 2000 tsl 602 combo and PRS singlecut 2001. Great playing and video!

[@ProfOfHifi]

Would you hear the difference with Surfy Bear and Golden pedals if you don't play and see which pedal is used for. Especially in mix with other instruments? I have been thinking about buying Surfy Bear, but Golden sounds quite good and it's more versatile playing other types of reverbs as well.. so? I don't know... Analog is always the best, but how much better is it? :)

[@mauijet]

There’s a really good video interview with the developers of these pedals. Hearing the amount of effort that went into them, I was sold before even hearing. I’ll wait until I can justify the cost with a band or project, but oh yeah.

[@60CycleHumcast]

The live video JHS did with them was awesome.

[@drewg3087]

As far as Tape echo another great one is empress tape echo. Would love to see a shootout of it and the Starlight.

[@TheSpangification]

So the last 2 mins of this clip just turned my world around. Getting my Starlight in a few days. Bring the DOOOOOOM!

[@lzryd]

Dang that Starlight and Golden sound awesome. Yep 3D sounds are what im looking for. Its why I always like the Boss Dimension for chorus, Harmonic or Panning Trems, Roland JC amps and EHX ((STEREO)) electric mistresses flangers to move air. There's lush Andy Summers/Robert Smith/Prince chorus ...to space there to mess around with pretty chords or polyrhymns like in Reggae. Or playing off the short slapback like the Ventures, Pink Floyd or U2'ing it...whatever yall prefer. Its a trompe d'oeril or optical illusion but... for the ears. It sounds freakinggggg HHHHHUGE. Especially in dream pop bands when they run stereo. Yep I agree it has a better drip on the Golden Spring than Mako R1 but then I'm still torn with UA vs Mako series as my next big purchases. I just love the ethereal sound of Mako and its extra features like the stereo width X control since I'm running stereo amps. Golden had crystals of ice on spine pretty plate. Starlight is just a David Lynch soundtrack waiting to happen. B from Detroit. Surfing frozen tundra.

[@LochNessAnthony]

I had no idea you could go up and down thru the algorithms until this video

[@lorencing]

Thanks for the vid. Starlight is very good, worth the money if you are about the sound, the Golden is to surfy for me, prefer the RV-6.

[@neilwalshuk]

Those outro sounds are stellar. Would be interesting to compare to hx stomp which is about the same price as one of these pedals. I think the recent dynamic hall in the hx might give the golden a run for it’s money.

[@JonasEndureTheEnd]

I have both, the HX and the golden reverberator in combination. The reverbs on the stomp are useful but the golden wins by far. Using both together is just perfect for me

[@JoHouse533]

@@JonasEndureTheEnd Same here! Played in a "studio" setting (i.e. at home with headphones) the superior quality / density / smoothness of the Golden is quite apparent. But the new Helix reverbs are still very good, just not as good.

[@DouglasCarrollMusic]

What is the Strymon El Capistan missing by comparison? What about the Starlight better “captures the soul of a real tape echo,” as you put it? Just curious. This sounds brilliant, but I love my El Cap.

[@DouglasCarrollMusic]

…..and the drip on the Golden!!!!! Soooo Drippy! Love it!

[@rjo8500]

Owning the Starlight I find it’s real strength is the DMM setting. At least for me.

[@tildenkatz9454]

Will the golden reverberator dethrone your SurfyBear Metal?

[@The2ndProtectsTheRest]

Ryan, have you tried the Catlinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe echo? It’s pretty stellar too!

[@winstonsmith8236]

I’ve had the BED twice before and couldn’t get other the preamp darkening but now I have a bright ass Strat and a UA Starlight so I HAD TO trade for another BED to compare the tape echoes. A spoil of riches. Still undecided whether I like the Astra.

[@troyhouse4852]

What do you think about the surfybear compact compared to the golden? I have both but I’m just curious what you think about them.

[@flyondonnie9578]

He’s not answering….so what’s your take on them?

[@debazine]

Yep, what's your take? Interested.

[@sooperheep]

@@debazine I got both, get the golden

[@nickolasecker9596]

Oh man. I got the starlight, now I want the Golden. The starlight is the best delay pedal I’ve ever owned. I’ll just sell my Strymon Flint and Catalinbread Topanga.

[@vasilismaroulis1432]

This one or the true spring reverb pedal from source audio is better? Which do you think takes the cake?? for full on Surf guitar enthusiasts!! Thanks in advance

[@gitarman666]

I bought my first tape echo in ‘82 For the 4 play heads and the ability to turn on/off your choice for multi tap What is a tape emulator with multi tap? I bought this with the the obvious hope that it was replicating a tape echo Not the noise and flutter that are charming in hindsight We didn’t care for the noise back then because we could have long repeat times and multi tap

[@RobertFisher1969]

If I’d built a career on the sound of the finicky gear these emulate, they’d be a bargain. But then, I’d have the budget. I haven’t, however, so I’m happy to choose less expensive alternatives. 🙂

[@TheMuseumOfMistakes]

Worth the price? well, to my ears they sound *exactly* the same as what they're emulating. What they're emulating costs more than these and have to be maintained regularly (especially the tape echo). Only not worth the $$$ if you're broke/cheap

[@JohnnyGuitaristOfficial]

The wiggle Stick Tee 🙌🏻🎸👕

[@chriselliott4824]

If you could only pick one to add to your board (running into a Deluxe Reverb Tone Master) to play Surf. Is it the Golden or Starlight?

[@silverdragon0000120]

Is the golden better than a surfybear tho? 👀

[@shckltnebay]

Just sold my Metal and have a Golden coming

[@GabrielRice]

have you tried a volante before? how do u think it compares to this? and source true spring vs UA?

[@60CycleHumcast]

I haven't had a chance to try the Volante, ill be doing a shoot out against the true spring and others soon though.

[@John-e4p1x]

I have both Volante is "just as good" with a ton more options.

[@teknomanning]

You could buy both jptr effects for about the same price as one of these

[@randyhollandsworth626]

Hi Ryan. I know I've asked this before... however, I want to be sure. What is your Baritone guitar tuned to? Thank you in advance (Damn, that things sounds great with Fuzz and those pedals)

[@60CycleHumcast]

B

[@joemanganese]

I returned my Golden, no presets, no use live. A reverb good only at home. Price is now dropped here, people returning both delay and reverbs by UA.

[@snowhero9]

yea so many are selling used already. we can probably get one for less then $250 soon. although Ryan says " start with a preset i made" 5:50

[@sooperheep]

thanks for those sentence fragments, smug guy

[@gentlemandave1135]

Can anyone compare this pedal to the surfybear metal. While it sounds much better than the pedals I’ve had before with its real spring, it tends to be very bright (even though my amp isn’t particularly bright) & in order to get the drip sound I have to crank the reverb so high it’s almost unusable. Any helpful info would be appreciated. 🏴‍☠️🤙🏻

[@debazine]

I also found the Metal bright. The Classic is smoother and warmer. Kept the Classic.

[@gentlemandave1135]

@@debazine interesting. I wanted the traditional spring size…but it is very hard to tame. I’ll have to try a classic

[@debazine]

I should have mentioned comparisons were made on Vox AC10, Marshall SC20, SV20. (very bright amps). TRI pedal reviews thinks the Classic is more trebly than the Metal...

[@robertpowell7319]

What might be an afford-a-pedal version of a Boss DS-1?

[@Stoffendous]

A Boss DS-1

[@ThatWhatIsNot]

You’re offered a UA Golden or a Source Audio True Spring. Which do you choose?

[@60CycleHumcast]

True spring

[@ThatWhatIsNot]

Well, that’s what I got so I guess I can stop watching Golden reviews.

[@winstonsmith8236]

I have all 3 and am undecided on the Astra. I wonder if Ryan didn’t dig it-hence it’s not in this video…..that thing needs more EQ/volume/mix control- sounds a bit weird and weak and digital.

[@shckltnebay]

What power were you running these off during the demo?

[@60CycleHumcast]

I dont remember, probably a cheap power brick.

[@sweetnsourchick1761]

Does anyone know the name of the song Ryan opened with?

[@60CycleHumcast]

It’s just something I made up.

[@sweetnsourchick1761]

@@60CycleHumcast Oh!!!! I really liked it. 👍

[@simonsmith2642]

Little salesman nuggets of kale in ever single video.

[@openup007]

Don't sell the DMM delay short... its AWEsome too!

[@TheDrunkenScoundrel]

Wouldn't it be funny if he just forgot to kill the Reverb on his amps?

[@BrentAdams]

Wow!

[@Sokko13]

your face at 1;26 says it all

[@organjoe]

Reverb sounds good but $400? No sir!

[@sassycat]

Professional pedals for professional players. 👍

[@scottburns2345]

Covet

[@rossbalch]

I personally really dislike spring reverb exactly because the spring inserts itself into your sound lol. But yeah 😍😍😍 tape delay.

[@rossbalch]

With regards to price. These are essentially mini computers running a VST level emulation. So yeah there's a cost there.

[@Flatheadmedia1]

That's a cool reverb and all, but I can buy a Surfybear for less and have the real thing... with a completely analog circuit. I know a lot of time and energy went into the development of these pedals, but they're overpriced. Simple as that.

[@sooperheep]

You get multiple reverbs with the golden, simple as that

[@kebbinator]

You seem to have forgotten this also has EMT 140 plates and Lexicon 244 halls as well as the springs. If all you want is a good spring reverb then yes, the Golden Reverberator is overkill - but for the features and the quality of the algorithms I disagree, it is not overpriced.

[@Stoffendous]

You think you're so funny Ryan.

[@60CycleHumcast]

I make myself laugh, which isn’t hard to do.

[@teknomanning]

Nope

[@xb5883]

It's offensive that these pedals cost more than a decent instrument. Buying these overpriced pedals will continue to drive up prices of new gear. The high cost is also just making Sweetwater more money- more margin for them. Less gear for you.

[@jme_lewis]

Just because you can’t afford something doesn’t mean it’s too expensive. It’s not their fault you’re broke. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@kirkwilliams2127]

Well worth the costs. Lots of research and development here. There is always something we can’t afford. You can get a Spark Amp and do all of this. Just does not sound this good.