Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Reverb

Very easy. 3-way mode selector switch (Spring Reverb, Hall Reverb, Flerb) and Reverb knob, which controls the amount of reverb. I didn't rad the manual b/c it was just so damn easy.

Also, this pedal only runs off a power cord (included) because of the massive energy required to power it.

I'm using a Tele, Jazzmaster, and SG through a Deluxe Reverb.

Spring Reverb is OK, but not great. It's not as warm as the spring in my amp. It's not bad, but nothing too impressive. The Hall Reverb is very nice and very lush and ambient. The Hall Reverb is the best feature of the pedal. The Flerb is a flanger/reverb effect and I find it completely useless. I wish they hadn't included it and made the unit cheaper.

I'll admit that I am bias towards digital and prefer analog. Obviously, the HG is digital and it shows. It sounds a bit too thin and unnatural compared to spring/tube tanks. It has small volume cut while engaged, which is common. It also has another signal problem I will get to below...

The biggest problem I had with the HG is that mine would often have massive signal cuts when I turn it on. It didn't start until I about 2 hours after I first started playing with it. The LED would light up but barely any signal would come through. After turning it on and off a few times, it would finally engage properly. I've read that this a problem with many HGs. Some people get units with this problem and some people don't. I guess it's luck of the draw.

If I had a good one, I guess I would feel comfortable gigging with it. However, mine was broken, so I returned it. I love EHX and have several of their pedals but never experienced anything like this before.

Never had to deal EHX. Usually their pedals work like a charm.

The fact that the pedal wouldn't work properly bugged me, but since I wasn't head over heels for the sound either, I just returned it for a refund. I'd rather just fork over the cash for a Fender Reverb tank. I liked the Hall Reverb of the HG, but in the end I didn't think the Hall alone was worth $118.

A lot of people like this unit, but it just wasn't for me. I'm not a fan of digital and the fact that you don't know if you're getting a defective pedal or not does not appeal to me. I still love EHX, so this won't hold me back from getting more of their products. Every company has problems with their products occasionally.

Really couldn't be any easier!. There's one large main knob that adjusts the effects level and a simple switch allows three distinct tones, each of which I find very usable for different styles. This is my second Holy Grail and I'll explain why below. The first (defective) one came with Big Muff directions (???). The (good) one I exchanged it for csme equipped with the proper Holy Grail directions. However, anyone with an ounce of intelligence can figure out how to use it in about three seconds.

To check the Holy Grail out, I used my Gibson Angus Young SG, plugged into an 80's Marshall 4010 Combo with vintage Celestion G12-65 speaker, along with a Jacques Overtube. This is already a "tone monster" combination but the Holy Grail makes it much better in ways I didn't anticipate. The Spring mode with the Overtube just rocks out with violin tone. The Hall mode, run clean through the amp, produces tones reminiscent of the bluesy ones Mike Bloomfield used to pull from his Les Paul. The Flerb mode brings Gilmour's Pink Floyd tones to mind. There is minimal hiss with this pedal and only a very slightly discernible loss in volume when the Holy Grail is employed, in contrast with other feedback I've read here. Solution? Turn the guitar's volume up a smidgen.

Here lies the rub! The first one I bought from Guitar Center had the wrong directions (no big deal) as I mentioned above. The big problem was that the volume cut out substantially on at least three occasions, probably within a total of an hour's use. Someone here, commenting about the same problem, talked about removing the casing and then reattaching it, to find that this somehow temporarily solved the problem. Well, it temporarily did, but I couldn't explain how. When it happened a 3rd time I thought about resoldering the wires but quickly ruled this option out when I considered the money I had just spent on this pedal. However, Guitar Center exchanged it for me without any argument and the second one sounds wonderful and has worked perfectly.

I've never dealt with E-H and didn't have to, since Guitar Center was very accommodating. I do believe E-H would have repaired or replaced the 1st unit for the cost of shipping if that had been necessary, but I can't say for sure because of Guitar Center's good customer support.

I love this pedal with my Marshall, for rock or blues. It would probably work well with Jazz, too, but that's not really my thing. I've been playing good garage band blues and rock since 1964 and still gig every now and then with a band I've been with 17 years now. I've owned other old Marshalls before and have usually purchased Fender Reverb Units (both new and vintage) to accentuate the tone. When I would eventually sell the Marshall, I've always sold the reverb unit as well. As far as I'm concerned, this pedal does the job of the more expensive outboard Fender units for a fraction of the cost and I would buy another immediately if it were lost or stolen. Of course, the key is to purchase one that works properly. By the way, the sales people at Guitar Center recommended the Holy Grail over the more expensive Boss Digital Reverb. I'm glad I listened!!!

Not too much to be concerned with here. The manual explains it all and the three functions, spring, hall, and flerb (light flanger with hall reverb) and all controled by a simple level knob.

KH 203, Holy Grail, Boss NS-2, Peavey 6505+. This combination is perfect for what I was going for. I typically use the flerb setting and use it to thicken up solo sections. The spring and hall reverbs are fantastic but you can't beat the sound of the flerb. I have no idea if it's noisy because I run the NS-2 directly behind it. I had heard a customer complain of a reduction in signal strength while using the Holy Grail but my signal strength remained loud and clear when I turned the unit on.

I just purchased it but I'm sure I won't have any problems with it as I take great care of my gear.

Never had to deal with them and hope I never have to.

I originaly purchased this for a cover band I was playing for and to make up for the fact that my amp lacked a reverb tank. After using it today with my southern metal/hardcore band I found it to be a great way to thicken up my solo sections. I really enjoy the flerb feature and the fact that a power supply is included with the pedal. I basically picked the Holy Grail over other reverb units because I've always been a fan of EH effects.

If you are looking for a reverb to add to an amp like the FENDER PRO Junior, then this is for you. I'd suggest replacing the speaker in the amp first (e.g. Jensen's Alnico 10R), and giving it a chance before changing tubes, but all in all, this neat, simple reverb pedal really does fit the bill.

Unlike some other reverb units, this one does work well with small amps.
My only reason for buying it was to supplement the above-mentioned "Reverb-less" amp. Personally, it serves no further purpose than what I've already described, but I can't see why it shouldn't work well with most amps. It doesn't add anything to what my '65 Deluxe can already do, so I'd suggest checking it in the store with a similar amp to your own. With this modified Pro Junior, it simply sounds terrific, especially on the HALL setting, but there's no doubt that the JENSEN speaker vastly improves the overall sound anyway.

It looks sturdy enough, and the company's name is built on a pretty solid foundation. However, it does have a little hiss as some other reviewers have mentioned, and that may become excessive in a live situation.
Personally, I can live with the hiss, but once again, the incredibly noisy Sovtek tubes only over-emphasize this, so I've gone for Electro-Harmonix AT-7's (and occasionally JJ AU-7's) in the pre-amp stage. Both vastly improve the problem.

Being of 60's (make that Beatles) vintage myself, this comes in useful on occasions. Although The Beatles rarely use much reverb, when it is warranted, this pedal is right-on the mark. I don't use it much with my Casino, but it's terrific for a bit of old surf or guitar instrumental material. (Think The Shadows or The Ventures).

I've been playing for over 40 years, so I'm well settled in what I like, and I certainly DO like this. It's not the "HOLY GRAIL" of reverbs, but it certainly gets close at times! (Maybe the HOLIEST GRAIL is a goer?)

This is a 7 months old EH Holy Grail Reverb unit. I bought it second hand and it has to serve me at home with a small reverbless guitar amp (in fact a Fender Bassman 20 with a guitar loudspeaker). The manual wasn't in the box, I don't need one. It's easy to handle. Most of us will use the included EH adapter: polarity is reversed to most of the Japanese boxes. Though you can use a 1.5V - 12V variable stabilized 1000mA adapter but you'll have to deal with the polarity!

Now I've got some Fender tube amps with reverb and in theze amps no reverb sounds the same!! The Holy Grail Spring Reverb fits right in. It's quite natural sounding if you don't over do it. The Hall effect is ok. The Flerb, you like it or not! Reverb level can be fine tuned easily to what you like to hear. There is only a very slight hiss when the effect is turned on and to my ears there is a small volume drop.

Well as I said it is only 7 months old and it is was well treated by it's former owner. Very clean! But I had some problems keeping it running when I got home. A plop and a massive volume drop!! Besides that the reverb type 3-way slide switch was making some ugly electric noises. The volume drop disappeared when I turned the reverb knob. Allright, dirty switch and potentiometer. When I took it apart I noticed two of the four chassis screws were lame, turn, turn, turn, but didn'go up. I managed to get all four screws out and had a look inside: what I saw didn't make me happy: the circuit board was kind a floating, it was attached very bad, thin wires too. It didn't look road proof at all. I cleaned the switch and the pot, put the thing together and switched on for quite a long time: problems gone. The verdict: The housing is weak and in my opinion not road proof. The electronic component are cheap and is connected with cheap, thin wiring.
Is it allright for me? Yes. I don't go on the road with it and with my electronic know-how I think I can keep it running.

Never dealt with them (their tubes are ok)

I like the clean Fender sound music. This Reverb fits in with that sound. I was looking for a good sounding, not too big, inexpensive reverb unit. I found one. I'll treat it gentle and it will serve me for sure.

It's very easy to use, because there's one knob for reverb level and one switch with three settings for hall reverb, spring reverb, and flerb (flanger & hall reverb together).

It works great in fromt of an amp if you use it by itself with no other effects. The pedal works best in the effects loop of a guitar amp if you use it with distortion, either the amp's distortion or a pedal in front of the amp. The Holy Grail doesn't work well with distorion or other effects when placed in line with them in front of an amp. The best set-up would be a distortion pedal (like a Big Muff) in front of an amp, and all other effects in the loop with the Holy Grail last in line. The reverb is excellent. The hall sounds like an empty warehouse with a concrete floor, and the spring setting sounds almost exactly like the reverb in a '65 Fender Twin. The flerb setting is odd and more of a novelty effect. As far as I'm concerned they could have done without the flerb, and put a plate-style reverb in there instead.

The nickel-plated casing is thin on the top, front, and back of the Holy Grail, and the coated-metal sides and bottom are also thin. The switch inside is a 3PDT type and is very sturdy, but the housing isn't suitable for heavy 'stomping'. It would be best to treat this pedal gently, and if done so it will be reliable enough to last a long time. I give it a 10 because I consider it a 'switch' box housing instead of a 'stomp' box.

Electro-Harmonix are a good company. I have spoke with them on the phone and they're polite and will answer any questions you might have.

For reverb in a pedal, this is really the only choice. It sounds much better than a Boss reverb pedal, and much, much better than a multi-effects unit like the Boss GT-8. If you treat the pedal gently, and use it in the effects loop of your amp (if you plan on using distorion with it), then this is your best choice for reverb. I don't think it sounds "digital" at all, especially compared to other digital reverb pedals or effects. The spring reverb effect alone is worth the price of this pedal, and will get the surf sound with ease. I give it a 9.

Easy to use, I find it best used in the FX loop.

I use it with a Strat and a 5 Watt Palomino tube amp. It makes the lil amp sound like a real tube amp. I use no other effects. The spring and hall settings are great and do what they do: produce reverb. I do not find much tone reduction/loss when using it in the loop. I give it a 9 because there are better sounding reverbs out there but it would cost over a $100 more.

Based on the previous reviews, I purchased the extended 2yr replacement warranty.

This is a great reverb for an amp without one. And for clean tones or a little overdrive this is the best value for stomp box reverbs. I've played for over 35yrs and have owned all kinds of guitar stuff. I tried the Boss, Digitech, Visual Sound, and Danelectro reverbs as well as echos and delays. I tried the Holy Satin, the Holy Grail Plus. All have different sounds and modify the tone of the guitar. I just wanted straight reverb, so I chose the Holy Grail. It has and does everything a straight reverb does, and is compact like my rig.

Very easy to use: Choose your type: Spring, Hall and Flerb... Dial in your amount of reverb you want and away you go.

Using it with a Kustom 100watt amp head through 2x12 celestion speakers (Randall) with my telecaster as well as on my efx loop for my kustom acoustic amp. I use it on voice and guitar. In my opinion it is one of the best reverb sounds that I have heard. I am positive there is better reverb out there but I haven't deep enough pockets to grab that kind of sound.

I have had this for several months and no traumas here. I do get a little cranky with the odd power supply that it requires and it can become a little painful to set up with a very special EH power supply for one pedal. Still wouldn't trade with it.

N/A never had to deal with them

Well first I should say straight up I am an EH junky. I have a massive soft spot for all their pedals, strings and tubes which may prejudice my overall rating. This pedal I use a lot and I love it. If it got lost or stolen I may consider upgrading to the later version such as the holier grail etc

simple one knob-job. i love this feature.

i use it with a n.z built malcom watts plexi-style 100w head and 68 sound-city quad. plus a barber ltd 'drive' pedal. it sounds fantastic , hard rock, blues, indie, jazz, all sound surperb thru this pedal.

no probs, so far owned it two years.

never. all good.

fantastic, simple, reverb-echo-type pedal. its a main part of my tone.

Very easy to use. Large knob and three settings.

On your amps clean channel with no other effects on the pedal does a good job but with other pedals on, overdrive etc it sounds bad.

Here is where it fails. Not just this pedal but a lot of EHX pedals I've owned. These pedals stop working after 6 months to one year of use.

If the pedal is under warranty and you have the receit you can send it to EHX in NYC and they'll fix it. The problem here is you not only pay shipping sending it out but also on the return...

A little too much hype with this pedal...