How Reverb Changed Guitar Forever (EHX Holy Grail, Strymon Bluesky, JHS Octave Reverb)

Going from the first spring tank units by the likes of Fender to the digital beauties from companies like Strymon, Josh does a quick but thorough run through of the main types of reverb, including a few shameless plugs. He also provides some useful definitions to words you're probably familiar with, but may not quite understand. Surf along with us as we ride the sonic waves!
What is Reverb? - 00:00-01:24
Spring - 01:25-05:16
Plate - 05:17-05:52
Analog - 05:53-06:29
Hall - 06:30-07:18
Shimmer - 07:19-08:38
Josh's Favorite Examples of Reverb - 08:39-09:51
Honorable Mentions - 09:52-11:29
Conclusion - 11:30-12:42
Featuring ‪@fender‬ ‪@AnasoundsPedals‬‪@echofix‬ ‪@strymon‬ ‪@EHX‬ ‪@BOSSinfoglobal‬ ‪@tcelectronic‬ Flamma, DOD, Danelectro, and Arion!
www.thejhsshow.com/
www.jhspedals.info/
JHS Fresh Clips: / @jhsfreshclips7880
#jhs #thejhsshow #reverb

[@fladification]

It's good to see you come back to this style video.

[@nicholasbstone]

Same. Haven't really been tuning in much any more, the style of video is What attracted me and many others to this channel initially.

[@gee.benjamin]

100%

[@juanjan__]

yessss

[@juanjan__]

@@nicholasbstone I agree

[@AndrewAlex92]

As someone who watches the bread board video, perhaps it's time to have two channels - one for this style and one for the kit stuff. The algorithm and all that...

[@WawakGuitar]

Chris Isaac Wicked Game is my "Reverb" song of choice

[@jhspedals]

so good

[@alexcorona]

Check out HIM’s cover. The only version that sounds as good as the original.

[@samplecode]

Blue Hotel is fantastic as well

[@WhiteWolfEFX]

Couldn't agree more! It's one of the best guitar tone and application of reverb ever

[@Bryan-kl5rr]

@@alexcoronaIt’s great seeing a fellow HIM fan - their version of Wicked Game is… well.. pretty wicked. 🤙

[@JorgeLetria]

We don't talk about Dick Dale enough. He was one of the most influential guitar players of all time. Not only guitar amp reverb began with him, he was also responsible for the creation of big bad guitar amps, by destroying amp after amp that Leo threw at him, resulting in the development of the Fender Showman, which was named after him. On top of that, he pioneered a number of techniques and sounds with his bonkers left handed upside down guitar playing. Like Hendrix, yes, but Dale didn't restring the guitar, he just turned it upside down like a lunatic. He also made absolutely incredible music for decades, way ahead of his time, and never stopped playing gigs until he died at the age of 81 in 2019. Truly the king of surf guitar. Dick Dale is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the most important names in electric guitar, and I feel like most people don't even know who he was. Although everyone is familiar with his famous rendition of Misirlou, that came to be known as the Pulp Fiction theme.

[@jeffgorrie]

I am so happy that you guys are coming back to this style of video!!! I seriously love this format/educational style. Love you guys, the JHS team is the best!

[@TheDilligan]

Yeah to be honest I stopped watching for a while. But this format is perfect.

[@j_c_93]

It still feels a lot more rushed and less researched than their old videos, unfortunately

[@billyfairhurst7798]

Heck yea mentioning the twin peaks theme! It’s always the first thing I think of when I think of reverb!

[@metalzonemt-2]

I always think of Twin Peaks when I hear tremolo.

[@jhspedals]

love that show

[@ebeep]

It's a baritone sample played on an EMU Emulator II if I remember correctly.

[@SteveStevens-uv2px]

That's not even a guitar. And it doesn't have much reverb.

[@lynnhopewell4728]

I'll say it again: This is why I started watching your channel back in the day. This is why I send my students to your channel to learn about the effects (sure beats having wire up several of mine to give the examples) and come back to me with an idea of what they want to try. Thanks so much. I see the vision for the museum that preserves and teaches about the technology that helps shape our sonic environs.

[@seste87]

A classic JHS education video! Seemed like y’all felt a little burned out from doing so many so fast, but glad to see ya still at it!

[@hunterroth8301]

The MXR Reverb desires more recognition... It's seven years old but still holds up so well!

[@gabrielenriquer6f]

Twin Peaks theme is so beautiful. It sounds like there's a bit of tremolo too on that baritone.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I like these history of/how it works segments. I’m shopping for a reverb & this is a major help.

[@g2DN2aTYHzNsVR6o]

The first reverb unit I ever used was one of those giant Fender spring reverb. My friend's dad had one and a pristine Mustang that I played with when I hung out over there. I kind of learned on that setup before I ever owned my own guitar.

[@hogpsking33]

Now this is my favorite JHS pedals content.

[@rev.jeremyhall]

if it wasnt for my strymon reverb pedal, people would know that I can't play guitar.

[@aaronteague8050]

Love this type of educational/ info episodes

[@cspace1974]

Fun fact - some of the guitars (maybe just the intro?) on “Sorrow” were reamped using a PA at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena

[@brandonkolendreski8104]

I just came here to say this

[@shaynegryn]

Came here to say this

[@LumaTo]

Me and the boys love these documentary detail videos. Thank you for your work.

[@SierraAppa]

So appreciate these videos. Thank you and please keep them coming. Cheers!

[@madsenamplification]

Great episode! When I first started out playing guitar as a teen I hated reverb, but as I got older I realized how great a good reverb is!

[@beingmadrocks]

Amazing, really glad to see more of these older style videos coming through. Love it, thank you

[@4stringz.]

ahhh, the Boss RV-3. One of my faves

[@pedroeljuego]

Very happy to see this type of video back as many said already. Please do more :)

[@mlusiak]

This type of content hooked me up on this channel. I enjoy other things you do, but it's awesome to see this stuff back too :)

[@chazzyboy4682]

I have missed this video style from you guys so much. So fun and informative. More of this please

[@evanjfraser]

I'm sure Spring Reverbs will bounce back into popularity

[@sagittated]

Boing! 🌀

[@bldallas]

Thank you! I really miss this kind of content on y’all’s channel. Nobody does pedal history plus the hows and whys, like Josh. Greatness.

[@gregrandallbtsr03]

Love this style of video! Thanks for the learning and the fun. Peace

[@kdubfromthefuture]

10 years ago the return spring on my garage door failed, shot across the garage, bounced off the fuel tank of my motorcycle and fell onto the concrete floor. I’ve been chasing that sound ever since.

[@JohnShalamskas]

The garage door spring parted on our garage door when I was a kid. It was quite the BOING!

[@Postdotfuzz]

I love, love, love this style of video. Josh is so knowledgeable about pedals and I subscribed to this channel for the history lessons.

[@joshuanedzweckas9668]

I'm 2 minutes in and am instantly hooked. I am yearning for some simple Discovery/History channel(circa mid 90s early 00s) documentary style content on all the things that make our musical hearts pitter patter. Thank you for this. Have an awesome day!

[@TomOLeary-mn5zd]

Love this format! Please do more of these.

[@michaelchicolabarbera5071]

Wonderful! Love your delivery. 🌴

[@billyj5080]

Hey man.. love the vids , the channel , you got great people … in 88 or 90 bought a Quadraverb… not a pedal but sure has some quality reverbs… still using today for recording… always a pleasure , have a great day.✌️

[@ThisDarkeSoul]

Fascinating! Love the history tales. More of this, please.

[@rustyl.6358]

Fantastic episode! Love the episode and the others like it in JHS' history. (Former Patreon subscriber.) I know it's hard month after month, year after year, to come up with interesting content. You guys always come through. I have quite a few reverb pedals. In this episode, a quick mention of endless shimmer reverb would have been nice. I play around with that from time to time.

[@shorerocks]

I love how you do the shout-outs. Great vid!

[@pablomolero3856]

I love the historian aspects of these videos. I finally understand the why behind the naming conventions of these pedals. You guys are doing an incredible service to the community with these videos

[@ryanhays765]

Simply perfect. Thanks Josh!

[@jasonchristian8362]

I've had the octave reverb on my pedal list for awhile, thanks for assureing me of that decision and thanks for the videos. rock forth,

[@grantandrews4826]

The Dark Star is AWESOME

[@skatertrev7]

Catching a real 2nd wind of enthusiasm with the return to this video format.

[@compucorder64]

Great video, nice to see the return of this video format. I'm a big fan of reverb (and delay). My favourite modern spring reverb unit is the Surfybear Classic. It gets in the zone of the big box Fender units, albeit without the real tubes. Of the digital pedals, I use the UA FX Golden Reverberator / Del-Verb, in stereo, across my Vox AC pair. And plates, the UA is really good too, but in pedals I like Meris Mercury X. And in plugins, Arturia FX Plate-140 is my go to, but I also like Soundtoys Superplate for sound design. For Lexi type reverbs, the UA again, but especially the Meris. In the box, Valhalla VintageVerb. And for the reverb of 'real' spaces, these days I mostly use FabFilter Pro-R II.

[@Madtroid]

Josh I can't believe you left out the one of the best types of reverb... REVERSE REVERB!!!!

[@marcvallely3977]

Just watch the video backwards, then there's a full 12-minute segment of them

[@euraquilo]

... and Gated Reverb.

[@reverendg5937]

This was worth the wait. Good One

[@kavemen71]

Great breakdown of reverb! Thank you!

[@cmstudios11]

your directors/editors are so bad ass. wish I found you before them. Love the work you do for music and pushing the edge on content creation for musioc.

[@arocker23]

This is a great history of reverb. I’m digging my EHX Oceans 11, when I need some reverb.

[@PetefromSouthOz]

These are my favourite style of JHS vids. Cheers Pete

[@n_phaneuf]

Love this style of vid from you all!

[@tomaszmazurek64]

My favourite pedal reverb is TC Electronic T2 - a little known special edition pedal that is basically HOF2 but with way more crazy presets. It can really stand up to even much more expensive units. As for routing tricks, there is somewhat known trick of putting a compressor after the reverb - it creates a "giant instrument" effect where the tails are super long, but they don't overpower the dry signal. Sounds great on solo piano.

[@samuelhatman8995]

Have I EVER not love what you guys do? Yes it is just like my favorite era format... and please do more of them! No we can't have Addison back, but, but, watching Nick jam out was back to my childhood, (1966-1972) classic garage jam era with H.S. Besties! <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="762">12:42</a> of old style joy!

[@Wammus85]

I love this type of content. You are an awesome storyteller and even if i don't care about the subject i will still watch it just because of you. Another honorable mention is the FS02 from the brand Flamma. You made a video about this brand earlier and i bought it. It's not as expensive as something like a Strymon but it sounds awesome, has all the types you need and the spring one does the drip thing.

[@johnniekay7643]

Love this channel, well done and illuminating. I'm hoping for a big surf rock revival

[@darrelldourte9455]

Had to check the name...thought 60 cycle hum was uh trollin'. Would make for a great episode as long as you do some faux jazz and have Nick and Joshua using effects on voices.

[@jroyzee]

Good to have you back.

[@ButterflyisNabi]

big love for Sorrow! A great song from a much dismissed album. Gorgeous verb

[@goodgulfgas]

I'll give a stamp of approval to the Surfy Bear spring reverb tank. And I would say Dick Dale's "Nitro" is my favorite spring reverb song.

[@terryeaster1]

Verb has always been my must have effect. I have the EH hall of fame 2 and a Holy Grail on my board right now. Thanks for the video

[@MatthaeusEbonah]

I always love the content Josh! My favorite spring reverb is probably the reverb section on a universal audio Dream 65. I also like shimmery verb for ambient worship stuff. MXR makes a killer reverb pedal and when it was on my board I almost exclusively use the shimmer section.

[@chemicalbluebloo2327]

Can't get enough of those videos. ❤

[@ritchvonyogi]

nice content!! thank you guys!!

[@EdgxrVxlle]

Nice video, thanks guys.

[@jarrodkane98]

This style video is the reason I subscribed

[@anthonyprincipe2565]

I absolutely love decks dark and had no idea how that sound was produced until right now!

[@calefladager7189]

I just wanted to add, while not directly related to guitar pedals, the first studio recording use of digital reverb came in 1947 with the record Peg o My Heart by Jerry Murad's Harmonicats. It's a really interesting little bit of history that used a fascinating technology to isolate the reverb effect. Maybe in a future reverb video you can touch on this part of the history as well. Love to see this format of video coming back again!

[@lashamikautadze2997]

Please keep making more this kind of content!

[@gonzoduke6805]

Josh with the Twin Peaks mention! These are two of my favorite things.

[@jaredbryce7964]

I never used reverb, but then I heard the Earthquaker Devices Afterneath; I love that thing, so much to explore! Great content and video! Alas, despite your warning, I probably will be buying at least one JHS pedal soon, lol

[@SalvadorEguiarteDG]

Awesome content thanks!

[@frankphvrvon3153]

Recently got a strymon nightsky. Huge tone and made for custom made space reverb sounds! Can’t wait to play more with it❤

[@bradconklin2878]

Thanks, Josh and Nick. I have a Lee Jackson Mr. Springy that I think is pretty cool.

[@lechocolatemoose]

Love the video, JHS team! I will say, I'm surprised the Universal Audio Golden wasn't mentioned for the spring setting. It is fantastic. I've owned several Victoria amps with onboard spring reverb (Fender blackface-style), and I consider them the golden standard for spring. The Golden nails the sound and feel better than anything else I've played. I had a Source Audio Ventris (which contains the same algorithm as their True Spring pedal) and sold it. Never looked back. I will have to check out the Echo Fix pedal - they make great stuff! The Spaceman Orion is also a killer analog spring reverb pedal.

[@alstrummer2446]

This is the JHS channel as its best. Love it!

[@WhiteWolfEFX]

Missed these style of videos! Have to give the Keeley caverns a shout out and also add nothing sounds better than a fender amps reverb, like and old twin or deluxe .

[@eddieftw]

Truly nothing sounds like a Fender Amp’s reverb!

[@johnsuede]

Yes, 100% agree. If aliens landed and wanted to know what reverb was, they would most likely be taken to hear a fender twin,..

[@12stringblues]

I have your JHS Spring Tank and I love that pedal!!. I also have a Fender Vibroking amp that has an awesome Fender Reverb Tank in it. !!!

[@BadChizzle]

Off topic Josh, but I want you to know I think you’re a very creative guitarist. You come up with a lot of Cool stuff… and have a great little band you perform with in your videos. Please tell everyone involved that I think it’s all super well done… and I enjoy your music mucho! 👍🏼✨

[@SteveSelvidge]

I put the 3 Series Reverb on my board and I haven’t turned it off since. Absolutely love that pedal.

[@fevrefevre]

i love my rv-3. having that perfect boss reverb with delay included is so nice.

[@gergemall]

Great innovation ❤

[@kyordy]

Ugh. I have missed this from yall. Honestly just missed yall in general.

[@TheCyleRitchie]

After decades of dry signal, I've recently decided I need reverb. This video dropped at just the right time. I just got a Slö but I need a good spring sound, too.

[@darrenwatson874]

Strymon Blue Sky never leaves my board Fave reverb sound Peter Green on John Mayall Bluesbreakers album A Hard Road, The Super-natural and Out Of Reach Great to see this type of Vid Back

[@Megarobotsquadron]

I used to have a 60's ampeg reverberocket. I loved that reverb so much

[@brianmoffet7237]

Tanks a lot.

[@adiohead]

I really love the Holy Grail on the hall setting at the end of my effects loop chain.

[@chitaristu88]

This video comes like a gift for my good karma and the fact that I just (2 days ago) received my Walrus Audio SLÖ. It's good, but there are amazing tones that i don't know how to access.... Cheers!

[@TheCyleRitchie]

😂 I just bought a Slö as well.

[@johnnysimes5082]

Great pedal!

[@songOmatic]

A video like this is just what i need on such an idiotic day.

[@sniggity]

Josh, YOU! Are a GGGGGGGGGreat Teacher. Thank you so much. Now, I may eat fish for a lifetime. Dude! You just said: “Sorrow” by Pink Floyd! I literally bury the reverb to 11 on my orange and crank the master just to play that Nasty intro he plays on Pulse. Is your red light still blinking? My died in the middle of an acid trip in like 97’.

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

The first production guitar amplifier with onboard reverb was the Ampeg Reverberocket in 1961. It was a 1x12 combo with octal preamp tubes and two 6V6s in the power stage. I have one of the earliest ones and it still gets played almost every day. It's a *peach* of an amplifier.

[@NisGaarde]

I like this type of content

[@jeanclaudedubois-m7k]

finally reverb also , this channel help me so fine learning everthing about pedals sound and passion of music art thanks josh but as a belgian i was wondering are you a cycling fan cause we saw you with the e-3 and gent wevelgem shirt haha

[@laurifinlandia]

ahhhhh, an old school jhs episode, yes please! 🙏🏻

[@MK-1010]

Enjoyed the video! 👍 I've been diving into the "spacey" stuff for about a year now, messing with delay, phaze, flange, reverb. Two of my amps have reverb, one doesn't. They're generally alright as they are, but I also have a Series 3 reverb pedal, which has some pretty good versatility to play with.

[@jhspedals]

very nice

[@TannithVQ]

Yes! Back to classic JHS video!

[@IanLoughead]

I love this series.

[@broah7536]

Personally, I love the educational and demo vids.

[@tehsamjones]

Love it!

[@petergeo9446]

Great Video. CB CXM 1978 - expensive but nothing like it. Also Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah has a beautiful reverb on it. Now off to check out Dick Dale's back catalogue

[@woodchucksquirrel]

Jack Johnson mentioned? 10/10 video Josh!

[@nyanruan]

Great video but I wish you also discussed some of the unorthodox reverbs like gate or reverse. Would love to see Part 2

[@tneDEATH]

Loved that type of video again. But I miss record time.

[@123Andersonev]

Buckley - Hallelujah should have got a mention, would be a cool idea to make a dual stereo reverb pan pedal with pre delay control and eq sections, that would be a badass pedal.

[@garethtravis1786]

@JHS Pedals I'm not a Coldplay fan at all but the reverbs on Parachutes particularly "Don't Panic" - literally create a space like you're under the stars at night- amazing 👍of all my pedal collection LIVE I love the hall verb on my holy grail reissue - very usable ❤