ART MR-1 Personal Reverb

It has a knob that controls your mix between guitarsignal/processed signal. Effective, simple and instant the tone your searching.
The line/instrument switches are stupid I think. It would be easier to have 1 volume knob. But it is mainly intended for recording so it is understandable why ART did it this way.
When setting the input switch to inst, it is easy to overdrive the input. You hear distortion at that moment. But you can set the switch to "line" to solve this. You loose some volume then, which you can readjust with the output inst/line switch.
There is a bypass swith, just wanted it to be a stomp switch.
The manual is simple 4 pages, but there is nothing more to tell about the unit.

My main setup for the moment (still working on it):
Gibson Les Paul>Boss Tu2>Zvex Fuzz Factory>Marshall Shredmaster>Boss DD20>Boss Ce2>ART MR1>Badcat Hot Cat 30W with Orange cab.
Turn the mix knob full left and you get your normal guitar sound, turn it right and superb reverb. Full to the right makes it a bit overprocessed I think, but it can be useful in some situations (your instrument sounds a very very large distance away in the background, I used it as an outro in a song).I give it 9 because I cannot compare many reverbs. Only the boss gt6, roland vg88 reverbs and the boss rv3. The first 2 are not worth calling their effects section reverb. In fact, with the ART it was the very first time I really believed the recording was recorded in a real large hall.
No noise. I a/b-ed it with my clean guitar sound and it is the same. Bypass gives your true signal without anything on top or taking something away. This is very important to me as my amp alone is my main tone. I don't like reverbs that are in foreground, with this unit you can make it very subtle. But you can also make it sound like you're in a giant church.

It's in a metal casing can it be better built? I could use it without a backup, but that's just because reverb is not one of my main effects.
It just shows some rust flakes on the corners where the paint is gone. But I don't know what the previous owner did with the unit. Maybe put his beer on it.

I had no manual (second hand), but emailing the company got me a pdf file the very next day.
There is practically no info on this product on the internet, nor on the ART website.

I play 5-6 years now. Not long. Used to play solid state amps and digital multi-effects. Trew that all away and bought my current tubes/analog setup. This pedal is the only digital in the setup, and the only one that can stay for me. If it was stolen I wouldn't buy a reverb pedal, unless I find another MR1. I bought this for 15 euros!! In fact the owner didn't know it was still in his gigbag, so I gave him 15 euros.
I love it because it doesn't alter your tone and you cannot have a bad setting.
I just wanted it to be a bit more useful for live situations (stomp switch!!)

Easy! 16 settings, a knob for dry/wet, bypass, and two others. Pretty intuitive so let you ears decide the right sound for you.

I play through a 1972 Vibro Champ when I don't feel like using my big Dr. Z combo and remembered this MR-1 I bought many years ago for recording was sitting my bedroom drawer. Anyways, I pulled the MR-1 out to see if I can make my Vibro Champ sound like a Fender deluxe reverb. Yes! It really added to the already great vintage tone of the Vibro Champ.
My favorite setting is on channel 2, small hall at half dry/wet. Great sounding reverb indeed!

I've owned this unit for 10 years. Haven't used it too much, but it still functions flawlessly without any knob noise or anything. It's built solidly in a metal case too.

I play blues and classic rock mostly. I do dabble in hard rock and metal lead stuff just to keep up some of my rocker chops. I've been playing 22 years now.
I'll use this MR-1 with my 1972 Vibro Champ from now on. This is a compact amp that I can crank to get a good tube overdrive and not wake up the neighbors and make my ears bleed. Otherwise, I play through a Dr. Z Maz 38 2-12 combo. I use Strats and Les Paul guitars, all USA made.
If you're looking for some good reverb and want to save money, buy one of these on EBAY. They sell for cheap. For example, if you spot a Bandmaster head, you can connect the MR-1 to it. Otherwise, a Bandmaster head with reverb would be an extra $200.
Having this reverb unit just adds another element to my Vibro Champ and inspires me to jam even more! So, for both sound quality and cheap cost of the unit, I highly recommend it.

Extremely easy. There is no guessing here. However, it's not a stomp box, so you won't be able to bypass it as simply as you might want. That being said, reverbs are usually left on for me, so I don't mind. It's the delays that I would want to "stomp".

This little jewel is an unexpected bright spot for me. I was looking for a decent reverb to go with my reverb-less amp. What I got was a nice surprise. The reverbs on this thing are great - flawless actually. And while it's not always easy for me to tell or care about the differences, there are 16 seperate reverbs that all can be quickly dialed in from dry to wet. And they all sound beautiful.

Clearly, the digital realm is a great place for reverb. I was happy with the sound from the very beginning. My second amp is without a reverb, and there are a few settings on this unit that actually "beautify" this amplifier. They are clear, clean, and credible. What more can I ask for?

The only negative here is that it's possible to overload this puppy even with an electric guitar. A correct setting of the line/instrument impedance switch seems to help, but I wonder about it. And you know what happens when you overload a digital device - ugly.

This unit is well made except for the plastic pot shafts. This is a bit of an irritation for me as it won't be terribly road worthy.

I called them to ask about the unit, since it's discontinued. They were very helpful and sent me a manual via email.

I can't see buying another reverb for this purpose - at least not one that I know of. If anyone can show me an excellent sounding reverb like this one for $69, I'd like to see it.

Very simple to dial in. Really better for the studio though. No bypass so either install one yourself or use it with an A/B box if you gig with it.

I was totally blown away by the quality and anologue sound....REALLY!...I'm not into the digital staleness and I was worried before I got it home. This thing really has a transparent feel to it. And the warmth that goes through it comes out the other side unscathed. The different settings really have all their own character. It's not just like turning up the depth. And it's definetly not a weak effect. Before I bought this I thought there was no better sounding reverb than a Multivox MX-312 spring unit. But this came along and......just like "being there"!!!

I don't gig with this. But it is invaluable in the studio. In almost 5 years have never even had a glitch. It just keeps putting me into those BIG 'ol rooms and halls.....Nice slap back too!

Never needed them.

Very high quality from such a small box. Really great for critical breaks and quite moments when trail off can be enjoyed. Super clean with no clicking or synthetic "edge". I should probably have two,...just in case! But it never has had me worried. People will listen to my recorded music and say "WOW"! (Between me and you....THIS Art reverb is the ticket!!!....SSSssshhhh!!!!) My high rating may not have been a 10 if I had to pay the full price new. I think all effects are overpriced. But the quality is "rack-mount" so it gets the 10.

Not much to it: a knob for choosing the effect, and a "mix" knob (wet/dry), plus a cople of buttons to regulate input and output from line to instrument levels. East to understand without the manual, although you of course get one.

Nice reverbs. I use them for guitar---more spacious than springy. Nice as the last thing in the effects chain before a good tube amp.

No problems.

No problems with this product. On other matters (other products), the customer service folks were friendly and helpful.

I'd buy it again, for sure, especually for use with tube amps that do not have reverb. I use it with a Marshall and a Matchless, with good results for both. It;s also good in 4-track recording an an extra delay.....for the price, you can't beat this. Nice metal casing, too. I hate wall warts, but an internal power supply would have increased the price a LOT.

The MR-1 seems to be designed more for studio work than for concerts. The manual explains how it works in fairly accessible terms, but the unit suffers from lack of foot controllers.

The "wet/dry" pot is a bit scratchy, and there's an audible click upon changing settings. However, the switchable impedances assure that the MR-1 works with almost any guitar/amp or PA setup.

The thing is ARMOR-PLATED. It's next to impossible to break. However, the AC adaptor comes out a bit too easily.

ART seems very customer-friendly.

I would get it if the price were lower-I found mine for $60, which was a steal. It lists for $169,which I think is too much. However, it's of better quality than the ADA and Boss reverb pedals, which can go for up to $200.

10