The Cusack Music Reverb SME is a reverb pedal, short for "size modulation emulator," that Premier Guitar described as "a rather simple 'verb" with "a surprising number of variations neatly tucked into a four-knob setup." Its defining feature is a dual-path design: instead of one blend knob, the wet and dry signals each get their own controls, so you can set how much room you hear behind your unaffected tone1.
The controls
The four-knob layout covers the essentials of the effect:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Size | Controls the size of the imaginary room the pedal creates1 |
| Texture | Billed as a way to control different textures of that imaginary room1 |
| Dry | Controls the dry signal level1 |
| Wet | Controls the wet signal level, as part of the dual-path design1 |
The separate dry knob is where the dual-path approach pays off. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that "thanks to the Reverb SME's dry knob, the pedal offered more clarity and definition, even in more esoteric and ambient settings," which is where a shared blend knob tends to muddy the unaffected tone1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's 2023 review weighed the pedal as follows:
"A wealth of 'verb flavors. Independent dry and wet controls."
The same review counted the lack of a battery option and the lack of expression pedal function among its limitations1.
Where it sits in Cusack's reverb range
Cusack Music has built several reverbs around different approaches. The Sweet Verb is an earlier design announced in 2013, and the Resound is a stereo digital reverb first shown at Summer NAMM 2018 with eight reverb programs and a $279 street price. The current Resound V2, shown at Winter NAMM 2023, adds new algorithms and an Expression output, the feature the Reverb SME leaves out. For other takes on the effect, see the site's Reverb Pedals page.
Questions
Can the Cusack Music Reverb SME run on a battery?
No. Premier Guitar's review notes there is no battery option, so the pedal needs an external power supply. Plan your board's power accordingly, since a battery cannot serve as a backup the way it can on some other pedals.
Does the Reverb SME have an expression pedal input?
No. Premier Guitar's review lists the absence of expression pedal function among the pedal's limitations. Players who want hands-on control over reverb parameters would need to look at other designs, such as Cusack's own Resound V2, which adds an Expression output.
How much does the Cusack Music Reverb SME cost?
Premier Guitar's June 2023 review lists a street price of $185 in the United States.
What does the Size knob do on the Reverb SME?
The Size knob controls the size of the imaginary room the pedal creates, which is the core of the reverb effect. The Texture dial works alongside it, billed as a way to change the character of that room.
What does dual-path mean on a reverb pedal?
On the Reverb SME, dual-path means the wet and dry signals each have their own controls rather than sharing a single blend knob. Premier Guitar credits this with giving the pedal more clarity and definition, even in ambient settings.
Sources (1)
- Quick Hit: Cusack Reverb SME Review, Premier Guitar, 2016-05-29
