What does a reverb pedal do?

A reverb pedal as the name suggests, adds a reverberation to your signal, just like if you were playing into a cave or large hall.

What are delay pedals good for?

Delay pedals can be great for filling out your sound, softening harsh tones or for creating time based parts where the delay repeats are synchronised to create a sequenced sound.

What's the difference between reverb pedals and delay pedals?

In essence they are a very similar effect. Delay pedals create an echo sound where you can hear each repeat individually. Reverb pedals create hundreds of these repeats but these are so close together you can’t hear any separation. This creates a realistic room-like sound.

What are the different types of delay pedals?

The three main types of delay pedals are tape delay, analog delay and digital delay.

When should you use a reverb pedal?

Reverb pedals can be great for filling out your sound or softening your tone, they can also be used for stylistic effect, like for a surf style twang or for etherial leads.

Do I need a reverb pedal if my amp has reverb?

Amps tend to have a particular reverb effect known as ‘spring’ reverb. This has a distinctive ‘drippy’ sound created by passing your guitar signal through a length of spring. There are lots of other types of reverb sounds however, so pairing your amp reverb with a pedal reverb may create interesting and complex textures.

Where should I place my reverb and delay pedals in my effects chain?

Reverb and delay pedals tend to go at the end of your effects chain. Many hard rock and metal players who rely on getting their gain from their amp, place them in the effects loop of their amp for the cleanest sound. There’s plenty of scope for experimentation however. Shoegaze guitarists love to place delays and reverbs before fuzzes to create their distinctive wall of sound.

Which is better analog or digital delay pedal?

Both have their benefits, analog delays are loved for their saturated character while digital delays are loved for their sound quality and versatility.