The Boss FRV-1 '63 Fender Reverb is a compact reverb pedal that digitally recreates the tube-driven 1963 Fender Spring Reverb, the outboard unit whose sound launched the surf-music phenomenon and became a staple of rockabilly, country, and blues, later commonplace in grunge and other modern genres1. Boss and Fender teamed up to create the pedal, announced in June 2009, with Fender Corporation licensing the use of the "Fender Reverb" name2.
What it does and how it works
The FRV-1 puts the timeless tube-driven reverb sound of the '63 Fender Reverb under your foot in a tough, reliable compact pedal1. What that means in practice:
- It recreates the 1963 Fender Spring Reverb, the tube-driven outboard unit, rather than a generic spring reverb1
- The modeling is done with COSM, Boss's patented technology, so the reverb is generated digitally12
- There is no genuine spring tank inside the pedal3
- It carries the "Fender Reverb" name under an official license from Fender Corporation1
Boss describes it as a stunning recreation of the legendary '63 Fender Reverb via COSM technology, the company's patented modeling approach1. Premier Guitar's report of the announcement put it plainly: "the FRV-1 recreates the classic spring-reverb sound of the 1963 edition thanks to its patented COSM technology"2.
There is no genuine spring tank inside the pedal. MusicRadar's Simon Bradley, reviewing it, acknowledged that but was impressed by the result: "Obviously, there's no genuine spring used here, but that said, the pedal is, tonally, incredibly convincing." He described it as a vintage-flavored Fender-style reverb3.
Where it came from
The pedal was announced in June 2009 as a collaboration between Boss and Fender2. It belongs to a licensed series of Boss pedals carrying Fender names:
| Pedal | Licensed Fender name |
|---|---|
| FRV-1 | Fender Reverb |
| FBM-1 | Fender Bassman |
| Another Boss pedal in the same family | Fender Deluxe Reverb |
The FRV-1 carries the "Fender Reverb" name, with Fender Corporation licensing the use of "Fender Bassman" to the Boss FBM-1 and "Fender Deluxe Reverb" to another pedal in the same family1.
Discontinued but still sought after
The FRV-1 is out of production. As of April 2022, used examples were selling for between $200 and $4001.
Delicious Audio's verdict on the pedal after production ended: "Although it's out of production, it's still considered one of the best digital spring reverbs on the market"1.
Players who want a current Boss reverb in the same compact format will find the company's later range instead, including the Boss RV-6 Digital Reverb, the Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb, the Boss RV-200 and the Boss RV-500 Reverb. None of those carries the Fender license or the '63 Spring Reverb modeling that defines the FRV-112.
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Questions
Is the Boss FRV-1 still in production?
No. As of April 2022, Delicious Audio described the FRV-1 as out of production, while noting that it was still considered one of the best digital spring reverbs on the market and that used examples were selling for between $200 and $400. Players looking for a current Boss reverb pedal will find newer options in the company's range, but the FRV-1 itself is only available secondhand.
Is the Boss FRV-1 analog or digital?
The FRV-1 is a digital pedal. It uses Boss's COSM technology to recreate the sound of the tube-driven 1963 Fender Spring Reverb without any actual springs. Despite the digital approach, MusicRadar's reviewer found the pedal tonally incredibly convincing as a stand-in for the original Fender reverb sound.
Is the Boss FRV-1 officially licensed by Fender?
Yes. Boss and Fender USA collaborated on the FRV-1, and Fender Corporation licensed the use of the Fender Reverb name to the pedal. It was part of a licensed series that also included Boss pedals carrying the Fender Bassman and Fender Deluxe Reverb names.
What is COSM technology in the FRV-1?
COSM is Boss's patented modeling technology, and it is how the FRV-1 recreates the classic spring-reverb sound of the 1963 Fender Reverb. There is no genuine spring tank inside the pedal; the reverb is generated digitally. MusicRadar's reviewer noted that despite this, the pedal is tonally incredibly convincing.
Which Fender reverb is the FRV-1 based on?
The FRV-1 is based on the 1963 Fender Spring Reverb, the tube-driven outboard reverb unit. Boss describes the pedal as a recreation of that legendary sound, developed in collaboration with Fender USA and released under an official Fender license.
What styles of music use the Fender Spring Reverb sound?
According to Delicious Audio, the Fender Spring Reverb is the sound that launched the surf-music phenomenon, and it is a staple of rockabilly, country, and blues. The sound later became commonplace in grunge and other modern genres, which is part of why the FRV-1's recreation appealed to players well beyond surf music.
Sources (3)
- Boss FRV-1 ’63 Fender Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2022-04-20
- Boss Announces FRV-1 Fender Reverb Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2009-06-11
- Boss FRV-1 review, MusicRadar, 2009-08-10
