The Donner Vintaverb is a multi type reverb pedal with seven modes, covering the classic reverb sounds most players use alongside two more experimental ones. Donner describes it as packed with most useful functions and 7 kinds of world class reverb algorithms, in a compact stereo in/out pedal1.
It sits in the crowded field of reverb pedals as a budget multi-mode option: five vintage-style modes (Room, Studio, Hall, Plate and Spring) plus Modulation Reverb and Distortion Reverb, with a Freeze function that holds the reverb sound as long as you want1.
The seven reverb modes
The Vintaverb's modes range from essential to ambient, in Donner's words. Five are the vintage reverb sounds that have shaped recorded guitar for decades, and two push into more modern territory1.
| Mode | Character |
|---|---|
| Room | Vintage reverb sound |
| Studio | Vintage reverb sound |
| Hall | Vintage reverb sound |
| Plate | Vintage reverb sound |
| Spring | Vintage reverb sound |
| Mod | Modulation Reverb |
| Dsverb | Distortion Reverb |
The Freeze function is the mode-adjacent feature worth knowing about: it holds the reverb sound as long as you want, which turns the pedal into a basic ambient tool for swells and washes1.
Controls and setup
Donner keeps the control layout simple. The pedal is set up with MIX, DECAY, TONE and Predelay parameters, which Donner says makes it easy to set up your own reverb tone: MIX sets the reverb mix level, DECAY the length of the tail, TONE the brightness, and Predelay the gap before the reverb begins1.
Power and bypass
Two practical points for pedalboard planning:
- Power: the Vintaverb runs on a DC 9V adapter power supply, and the adapter is not included1.
- Polarity: the plug polarity is positive on the barrel and negative in the center1. That is the reverse of the center-negative standard most pedalboard power supplies and daisy chains use, so it will not share a standard multi-output supply without the right adapter cable.
The Vintaverb's positive-barrel, center-negative-in-reverse polarity is unusual among pedals. Confirm what your power supply offers before adding it to a board.
- Bypass: a switchable True Bypass Mode / Trail ON Mode (Buffer Bypass) gives pedalboard flexibility1. True Bypass removes the pedal from the signal path when off; Trail ON Mode (Buffer Bypass) lets the reverb tail ring out naturally after you switch it off, which most players prefer on a reverb.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio, reviewing the pedal in April 2022, came away warmly. Paolo De Gregorio wrote1:
"Sometimes true gems can be found among pedals that are (way) under $100, and the Donner Vintaverb may be one of those"1
In a later buying guide to multi-reverb pedals, Delicious Audio's Christopher Scapelliti included it and summed up the value: "That's a lot of goodness for a $75 compact pedal"2.
Videos
Alex Price
Dev Gohil
I Dream of Pedals
Questions
Does the Donner Vintaverb come with a power adapter?
No. The Vintaverb runs on a DC 9V adapter power supply, but the adapter is not included with the pedal. Note that the plug polarity is positive on the barrel and negative in the center, which is the opposite of the center-negative standard used by most pedalboard power supplies, so check your supply before plugging in.
Is the Donner Vintaverb true bypass?
It can be. The Vintaverb offers a switchable True Bypass Mode and Trail ON Mode (Buffer Bypass), so you can choose between a hard-wired bypass and a buffered bypass that lets the reverb tail ring out naturally after you switch the pedal off.
Does the Vintaverb have stereo inputs and outputs?
Yes. The Vintaverb has stereo inputs and outputs, which Donner says adds flexibility to fit any kind of setup, whether you run it into a single amp or a stereo rig.
What is the Dsverb mode on the Donner Vintaverb?
Dsverb is the Distortion Reverb mode, one of the two more adventurous modes on the pedal alongside the Modulation Reverb mode. The other five modes are the vintage-style reverbs: Room, Studio, Hall, Plate and Spring.
Can the Vintaverb hold a reverb tail indefinitely?
Yes. Via the Freeze function, the Vintaverb can hold the reverb sound as long as you want, which is useful for ambient swells and soundscapes.
How much does the Donner Vintaverb cost?
The Vintaverb lists at $75 USD as of October 2024. Reviewing a multi-reverb buying guide, Delicious Audio's Christopher Scapelliti called that a lot of goodness for a $75 compact pedal.
Sources (2)
- Donner Vintaverb Stereo Multi-Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2022-04-08
- 2024 UPDATE: Best Multi Reverb Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2024-10-25