Product: Arion DRS-1
Price Paid: $50 (australian) used
Submitted
05/06/2006
at
12:01am
by
Peter
Ease of Use
:
9
Three controls, delay time, feedback, level, 1/4 inch in, two out. Similar to a basic delay unit (in fact it is a basic delay unit!). Not hard if you've used either effect.
Sound Quality
:
5
Using either a telecaster or ibanez semi hollowbody into a fender 65, and bypassing any effects it sounds similar to the way you'd get a delay unit to produce reverb. Not a "natural" reverb sound by any means, and not as good as the spring reverb in either the fender or the old peavey bandit that I use for when going stereo.
With effects it doesn't seem to add any extra noise when used last in the signal chain (although I haven't tried it at the beginning ... hmmm maybe I will after this).
I have found a decent sound sound or two with this thing but it doesn't really get loud enough or delay long enough for a cathedral or church effect.
Reliability
:
6
As per the other reviews it is a fairly cheaply made effect with a very plastic feel to it. I'd recommend a little care when transporting the unit to and from gigs/rehearsals. That is, if you really need it. It doesn't do anything the spring reverb in my amp(s) doesn't (except for a little "wobbly" sound when you adjust the echo level) and I'm not doing anything at the moment that needs anything beyond a little spring reverb so, no, I wouldn't bother with a back up (but you will if you need reverb).
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Everyone else seems to think that the company doesn't exist anymore and a quick google around about this pedals seems to indicate that this is very likely.
Overall Rating
:
6
A cheap pedal that will give you probably one reasonable reverb sound. I bought this because I was cross about losing out on another e-bay auction for a boss RV-2. I don't think I'd buy another (but I did win!) but it can remain with me as it does give me some satisfaction. If your amp doesn't have a built in reverb this is a very cheap box to get something that sounds a bit like reverb, kind of. I also think that this is not an undiscovered gem, although someone else may find that this is their magic tonal weapon.