FENDER Reflecting Pool Delay/Reverb

103
JULY 2020 GUITARIST
Tech Spec
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Reverb & delay pedal
FEATURES: True or Trails bypass,
10ms to 1,000ms delay range, tap
tempo, firmware updates via USB,
LED markers on control knobs
CONTROLS: Reverb Decay, Reverb
Damp, Reverb Level, Reverb Extra,
Reverb Type switch, Reverb
Variation switch, Delay Time, Delay
Feedback, Delay Mix, Delay Rate,
Delay Depth, Delay Type switch,
Delay Subdivision switch,
Delay Quality switch, True/Trails
bypass switch, LEDs on/off switch,
Reverb footswitch, Tap footswitch,
Delay footswitch
EFFECTS TYPES: Hall Reverb,
Room Reverb, Special Reverb,
Digital Delay, Analog Delay,
Tape Delay
CONNECTIONS: Standard inputs
(Left/Mono, Right), standard
outputs (Left/Mono, Right),
Tap footswitch, USB
POWER: 9V DC adaptor
(not supplied) 250mA
DIMENSIONS: 170 (w) x 125 (d)
x 63mm (h)
9
of the originals very well, but that extra
nuance of lower fidelity and altered EQ
conferred by the Quality switch options
greatly increases flexibility.
There are three selectable reverb types,
Hall, Room and Special, each with three
variations. The Hall and Room variations
are small, medium and large versions of
the chosen space, but select the Special
type and it will offer a Shimmer reverb
with high octaves, a Gated/Reverse reverb
and a Modulated reverb.
Besides knobs for reverb Level, Decay
(length of tail) and Damp (high-frequency
roll-off ), an Extra knob controls low-
frequency roll-off for the Hall and Room
reverbs but adjusts the Shimmer reverb’s
octave level, sets the Gated/Reverse
reverb’s tail shape to determine whether
you hear reverse, gated or just a typical
small space, and controls the mod depth
of the modulated reverb.
The Halls and Room reverbs are
workmanlike in delivering a varied palette
of space around your playing, but given
Fender’s legacy, it’s odd that there’s no
dedicated spring emulation included.
Nevertheless, you can conjure up some
pretty decent substitutes for onboard amp
spring sounds with the controls on offer.
The Shimmer reverb offers tasty ambient
pads hanging cloud-like behind your
playing, while the Modulated ’verb also
delivers large floaty ambiences. We were
less confident of the musical applicability
of the Gated reverb, but some players
will undoubtedly find a use for it, while
the Reverse reverb proved to be the sort
of effect that you can dig into and release
your inner freak.
VERDICT
While combining separate pedals could
possibly be more focused for specific needs
and give a wider range of options, this
two-fer is a very balanced and practical
pedal with enough variety in both of its
sides to fulfil the needs of many players.
On the delay side, the three basic flavours
of the last six decades are amply covered,
while that second delay tap opens up many
possibilities, and the reverb complements
the delay well. Together, they could deliver
all the ambience you’d need on a gig.
PROS Simple operation; two effects in one
pedal; flexible use of a secondary delay; tap
tempo with a range of subdivisions; variable
delay repeat quality; optional LED-lit controls
CONS We’d liked to have seen a specific
spring emulation
3
01. DELAY TIME KNOB
This sets the delay time but has a
secondary function: if you hold down
the Tap footswitch, you can set a
timing subdivision for the tap tempo
02. DELAY MIX KNOB
This pedal lets you add a second
time-related repeat to the main
repeat and you can mix between 100
per cent main repeat and 100 per cent
secondary repeat with this knob
03. DELAY RATE &
DEPTH KNOBS
If adding modulation to your repeats
appeals, you can do it with these Rate
and Depth knobs; the LED fl ashes in
time with the modulation speed (rate)
04. REVERB TYPE &
VARIATION SWITCHES
A combination of these two switches
delivers nine reverb types: Small,
Medium and Large Halls and Rooms,
plus Shimmer, Gated/Reverse and
Modulated reverbs
05. REVERB EXTRA KNOB
Here’s where you can adjust a
parameter that’s specifi c to the each
of the Special reverb types selected.
It also controls the amount of bass in
the Hall and Room reverb tails
06. SUBD SWITCH
This subdivision switch sets the
timing of the second delay tap
in relation to the main delay
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GIT460.peds_fender.indd 103 13/05/2020 10:05