The J. Rockett Boing Spring Reverb is a compact spring reverb pedal from J. Rockett Audio Designs of Nashville, announced in May 201512. Where most reverb pedals reach for studio-style spaces, the Boing takes what its maker describes as a simple approach: it aims at recreating the spring reverb you get from a guitar amp's built-in reverb, and not studio reverb2. Delicious Audio's write-up put it the same way, noting the pedal "aims at recreating that kind of effect, i.e. the spring reverb" of an amp1.
How it is controlled
The Boing is about as simple as a reverb pedal gets. It has a single knob, labeled Mix, which controls the reverb mix, and one footswitch for turning the effect on and off1. There is no tone control, no dwell or decay control, and no mode switching. That single-knob layout is the point of the design: J. Rockett described it as "a very simple single knob reverb designed to emulate the classic reverbs of past"2.
For a player who wants amp-style spring splash on a pedalboard without menu diving, that is the whole appeal. For a player who wants to shape the reverb's character or decay time, this is not that pedal.
Second release in the Tour Series
The Boing was the second product release in J. Rockett's Tour Series line of pedals, announced on May 28, 201521. The line continued to grow after it:
| Release | Position in Tour Series | Announced |
|---|---|---|
| Boing Spring Reverb | Second | May 20152 |
| .45 Caliber Overdrive | Fourth | June 20163 |
| Hooligan Fuzz | Fifth | August 201645 |
MusicRadar reviewed a later Tour Series pedal, the Tranquilizer, and its overall verdict on the line's build quality was blunt: "Another well-made pedal from the J Rockett boffins."6
What reviewers said
Published reaction to the Boing itself was brief but positive. Delicious Audio followed up its announcement coverage with a short verdict: "LUVin the BOINGGGGGG......................nice reverb."1
"LUVin the BOINGGGGGG......................nice reverb."
Related J. Rockett pedals
J. Rockett later returned to spring reverb in other formats. The Mr. Moto Trem-Verb combined tremolo and spring reverb in a single pedal, announced in June 2022. Players comparing compact spring options can also see the BOING product page alongside the wider reverb pedals category.
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Questions
Does the J. Rockett Boing have a tone control?
No. The Boing has a single control, a Mix knob that sets how much reverb is blended with the dry signal. There is no tone, dwell or decay control. J. Rockett designed it as a deliberately simple pedal that recreates amp-style spring reverb rather than offering the deep editing of a studio-style reverb pedal.
Is the J. Rockett Boing Spring Reverb true bypass?
The published announcements of the pedal do not state its bypass type. What is documented is that it has one footswitch for turning the effect on and off, and a single Mix knob. Players who need a confirmed bypass specification would have to verify it with the maker directly.
What is the J. Rockett Tour Series?
The Tour Series is a line of compact pedals from J. Rockett Audio Designs of Nashville. The Boing Spring Reverb was its second release in May 2015, followed later by the .45 Caliber Overdrive as the fourth release and the Hooligan Fuzz as the fifth. MusicRadar reviewed another Tour Series pedal, the Tranquilizer, calling it well made.
Does the J. Rockett Boing use a real spring tank?
No. The Boing is a pedal that emulates spring reverb rather than using a physical spring tank like a guitar amp does. J. Rockett described it as designed to emulate the classic reverbs of the past, aiming at recreating amp reverb and not studio reverb, with a simple single-knob approach.
Sources (6)
- J. Rockett Boing Spring Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2015-05-29
- J. Rockett Launches New Boing Spring Reverb Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2015-05-28
- J. Rockett Launches .45 Caliber Overdrive Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2016-07-13
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Unveils the Hooligan Fuzz, Premier Guitar, 2016-08-12
- J. Rockett Audio Designs Unveils the Hooligan Fuzz Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-08-01
- J Rockett Audio Designs Tour Series Tranquilizer review, MusicRadar, 2016-07-29
