Yamaha REV 7 - Groundbreaking Reverb & More

[@wolfsdenmusic9404]

I remember this back in the day. This was THE reverb to have, never had my hands on one. Thanks for doing this!

[@57Techboy]

I bought this unit when it came out in 1985 and used it for everything guitar, voice, keys and drums both live and in studio. Preset #15 symphonic was my secret weapon for thickening live vocals and #10 Reverb-Flange on drums for a little something extra, but just about any preset on this magic black box has its uses. I brought it to every live mixing gig I did in the 90's, it's a great tool. Mine is in needs of some TLC it hasn't powered up in a while, but you've pushed to get it repaired. Thanks again Leon for a great video on an awesome product. Stay safe and be well, Perry

[@LeonTodd]

That's awesome to hear it's been such a workhorse! Speaks volumes.

[@DruggedBunny]

I love the metallic 'clatter' at the end of the gated reverbs... but I really appreciate the synth demo here too!

[@stevenmgyori3826]

Mornin ' Leon! 45 miles east of me is Kalamazoo Michigan and home to the former Gibson guitar and mandolin mfg building. Heritage guitar operates there Today! Hard Rock Hotel and its partners announced renovation into Hotel, Music venue and mini museum! Congrats to Kalamazoo and all involved preserving music history! Be Well All!

[@LeonTodd]

My uncle owns a SWEET heritage H150, heck of an axe!

[@marcelb7259]

Very beautiful and thorough demonstration of that amazing piece of equipment. I use a Lexicon MPX1 and a Digitech GSP21 Legend, and I don't see myself getting rid of it. They are part of the sound that I make before recording. Cheers from Canada !

[@mentoneman]

Nice job! I totally appreciate revisiting old rack gear and the fascination with fx “antiquing”🤙🏽 I had a spx90 and rev7 in two separate PA racks for many years until they were donated to other very appreciative churches, and we upgraded to spx2000 and pcm91. Good times!

[@stevengoodman3498]

Nice to see u always digging up gear old and new LT to demo for us! Keep em coming brother.

[@LeonTodd]

You bet!

[@PereRevert]

HI Leon, excellent video as usual and sorry for the late comment... have you tested the Rev5? I have an opportunity to get one at a very especial price an want to know your thougths if possible. On the other hand, what was the signat path of these clips? I love the guitar tone when you used the gate reverb (8:55) and regarding the distorsion I'm wondering where it comes from, and also to know your signal path, if the Rev7 is feeded as a send from a different distorsion/pedal unit or a direct insert into the unit. Thanks man and keep posting!!

[@matrix12x]

Great video, just picked up one cheap in not working condition. it was some blown caps and a regular. $5 in parts. sounds great.

[@cliftonwright7081]

Great video, mang. I find tons of units like this in thrift stores in Japan for cheap. Hoping to come across one of these. About to go pickup another Korg DRV-3000. Lemme know if there’s any you’re looking for.

[@LeonTodd]

Dude that could be dangerous! Japan is just a gold mine for this stuff. I was hoping to go again mid-last year but y'know...

[@TheAunty]

Hi , what’s the signal chain here? Are you fx looping in an amp?

[@jonathanmoran3512]

This unit covers a lot of ground. All kinds of tasty vibes.

[@bobjoe7508]

God, this sounds fantastic! Totally going to pick one of these up while they're still somewhat cheap

[@LeonTodd]

Do it!

[@Yupppi]

What I think is that there needs to be a shootout with SPX90, SPX90II, SPX900, SPX1000, SPX990 and even more. Let's see if the sound changed over versions and time. And for better or worse.

[@LeonTodd]

YES! i did an SPX90 and GEP50 comparison

[@jimnorrison8481]

All of these are great reverbs and FX boxes except the 990, that's the one to avoid. Go with the 900 or 1000, you won't be disappointed.

[@wlawnsldj]

Wait I noticed there are some Rev IRs on my Beebo. Are they from the Yamaha?

[@willycalderonofficial]

Rev 7 is a classic

[@STLAudio]

Leon, what are you using to get that killer distortion tone?

[@LeonTodd]

Axe-Fx III. It's the USA Lead model

[@basselmtaweh3103]

A question out of topic... Do you think anything could replace a real tube amp like (bad cat cub 40) or a Morgan, Friedman.... Etc,?

[@LeonTodd]

In what capacity exactly? Tube amps still make your pants flap like nothing else but in a recording and live setting the Axe-Fx, Helix, Kemper et. al definitely can.

[@ChonkTek]

Those aren't real tube amps since they are PC Board amps. The vintage tone of legendary tube amps is the sound of various alloys and wiring. The sound of an audio circuit is more about the junctions, alloys, wire, grounding scheme than the topography. This is why the modern tube amps sound and feel nothing like the good vintage ones. Amp clones are all about the topography, and this is why they fall way short on tone.

[@GonzaCordovez]

you are going deep in the Vintage racks spiral!!...great!...

[@rblossey]

Leon, what are you using for that base tone? Love it!

[@LeonTodd]

Axe-Fx III "Brit JM45" for the cleans

[@glaucosouza1971]

Love those old yamaha's rack stuff. Still have mine Rev100. lush tones

[@LeonTodd]

how do you run it in your rig?

[@glaucosouza1971]

@@LeonTodd right now with my Mark IV through the effects loop, since ive sold all my rack gear, but im planning to setup a rack set again. Looking for an ada mp1 and a mesa 50/50 and then go to the midi route again. The rev100 has a lot of "hidden" modes and controls that are only acccessible via midi.

[@urielterry]

what about rev5 from this? and what pick ups are you using? thanks

[@jakobole]

Get it - it can be had cheap, has more options. The "Out Phase" is hidden in a menu though.

[@IamTheDustDevil]

Hey..! this video reminds me I have a Yamaha rev500 in my rack , guess I'll blow the dust off & give it a whirl ...Thanks Leon.. 😁

[@LeonTodd]

Do it!

[@joemarabella2145]

Do you like the Ibanez SDR1000?

[@LeonTodd]

yet to try one!

[@jimnorrison8481]

​@@LeonTodd It's like a cross between a Yamaha and a Lexicon. The Hall algo is the one, the plate is bad.

[@fabiol.9161]

Great units this racks but honestly when you ve an axe it seems crazy buy something like these in 2021

[@LeonTodd]

If you find them cheap they're a whole lot of fun

[@italoop7850]

Grounbreaking reverb, the Rev7? Why? Don't you hear how crappy metallic resonates? They had to add pre-eq because the thing sounded so nasty. Character? Sure... like nasty metal plates hitting your eardrums hard! You need to choose better!

[@LeonTodd]

I imagine the way these sounded helped a lot of people figure out they needed a Lex in their life

[@italoop7850]

@@LeonTodd It didn't have to be a Lex- There were several great reverbs back then. When things started to get cheaper in the mid '80s as VLSI chips flooded the market, japanese put out a lot of new cheap stuff but for reverb most of it was crap. Sony sounded better than most but still US and UK verbs were much better. Try AMS! The Rev7 didn't really make it in gtr racks. It was more of a studio thing used on a limites specific set of sources... it rings so badly!

[@jakobole]

Sometimes that's exactly whats needed on drums....

[@jimnorrison8481]

I have most of the Lex reverbs. The Rev 7 is excellent, as is the Rev 5. All the great classic reverbs are metallic sounding, including ALL of the Lexicons. That's where much of the character comes from.

[@jimnorrison8481]

​@@LeonTodd "I imagine the way these sounded helped a lot of people figure out they needed a Lex in their life" - Not at all, both are great reverbs with different character. Your clips do a great job of highlighting the Rev7's guitar friendly nature.