Oceans 12

106
GUITARIST JUNE 2021
Oceans 12
EHX builds on its previous Oceans reverb – this one goes to 12!
M ANU FACT UR ER
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
MODEL
OCEANS 12
CONTACT
ELECTRO-HARMONIX WWW.EHX.COM
PRICE
£189
PEDALBOARD
PROS Compact size; two reverb engines;
eclectic range of reverb types; plenty of
editable parameters
CONS Hands-on operation can be
somewhat fiddly; limitations in how presets
are configured
Words Trevor Curwen Photography Olly Curtis
W
hen we took a look at the
Oceans 11 a few issues back,
we were aware that its lack
of stereo outputs could be a dealbreaker
for some potential users. Now, Electro-
Harmonix is back with a version that
can not only run in stereo if required
but actually features two simultaneous,
independent stereo reverb engines,
A and B, which can run in series or parallel
should you wish to use both together. If
you prefer to operate in mono, the spare
input and output can be used as a send/
return loop either pre- or post-reverb, so
you can add in another pedal to alter the
reverb sound.
There are, of course, 12 different reverb
types to choose from here, each with
two instantly accessible programme-
dependent parameters as listed on the
front panel. Each type also has two or
three variations known as modes; the
tremolo reverb, for instance, can have
triangle, square or sine waves. There is
also a bunch of general adjustments for
each, specifically via four white knobs
that have dual functions. These cover
eight parameters including pre-delay
and reverb time, but there is also a Tide
control for stereo image alteration and
a Lo-fi control for a grainier tail texture.
What’s more, an accessible Tails switch
determines whether the reverb effect
fades out naturally or cuts out abruptly on
bypass. Your created sounds can be stored
in 24 presets – 12 for reverb A and 12 for
reverb B – but these are limited to one for
each reverb type.
The 12 single reverbs offer everything
from a twangy emulation of a vintage
Fender 6G15 outboard spring unit, through
reverb combined with echo or modulation,
to infinite shimmery ambiences – plenty
to cover most needs without even getting
into the intriguing combinations possible
from using two together. Add in some
very useful performance features – such
as expression pedal capability, optional
momentary footswitch action, tap tempo,
plus the infinite reverbs that can be played
over with a different reverb effect – and
you have a very flexible pedal.
This is basically a matching pair of high-powered
stereo reverb pedals in a single box featuring 12
onboard reverb engines. You can run two reverbs
together in parallel, cascaded or split paths.
The flagship reverb processor from Boss features
21 reverb types and 297 onboard presets. You can
run a digital delay along with every reverb patch,
and run two reverb patches at once.
RV-500 £359
If you don’t need stereo and some of the extra
features on offer with the Oceans 12 then this will
give you a very similar set of reverb sounds for
about two-thirds of the price.
Oceans 11 £ 119
ALSO TRY...
Vent ri s £375
ELECTRO-HARMONIX
ELECTRO-HARMONIX SOURCE AUDIO BOSS
BOSS
VERDICT
With two independent or combinable
reverbs in a pedal that won’t take up much
space at all on your ’board, this is a potent
ambience tool at a decent price.
GIT472.peds_ehx.indd 106 10/04/2021 22:17