The JHS 3 Series Hall Reverb is a compact reverb pedal from JHS Pedals, released in November 2021 as one of three new pedals that expanded the affordable 3 Series line into modulation and bigger reverb territory1. Where the original 3 Series Reverb covers everything from small rooms to endless washes, the Hall Reverb is aimed at one thing: the sound of very large spaces.
JHS describes the pedal as inspired by "the sounds of large reverberated spaces, cathedrals and halls where the decay of natural reverb seemingly goes on forever"2. Guitar World's launch coverage called it suitable for "massive, infinite and otherworldly reverb"1, and MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley wrote that it "offers huge ambience space for your electric guitar tone to sink into"3.
What it does: the sound of halls and cathedrals
A hall reverb simulates the long, dense reflections of a big physical space. JHS says the pedal is built around spaces "favored for their naturally long decay times," as Guitar World put it in its launch news1. In practice, that means decays that stretch far beyond what a room or plate setting gives you, with the reflections building into a wash behind the note rather than sitting close to it.
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described the pedal as "the more creative among the three, 3 Series pedals released in November 2021 by JHS Pedals"4, which included the Hall Reverb, a Flanger and a Phaser7. For a player, the appeal is ambient textures, slow swells and lead lines that trail off into a cathedral-sized tail, all from a pedal the size of a standard mini enclosure.
The controls: Verb, Decay, Dampen and a modulation toggle
Like every pedal in the 3 Series, the Hall Reverb keeps the interface to three knobs and one toggle, which JHS says "offer a wide range of sounds"2. MusicRadar lists the controls as Verb, Dampen and Decay3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Verb | Sets the amount and size of the reverb4 |
| Decay | Controls the size and length of the reverb tail4 |
| Dampen | Darkens the tone of the effect4 |
| Toggle switch | Turns the modulation on and off4 |
The Dampen knob is the tone shaper: Delicious Audio notes that "the effect can be darkened via the Dampen one"4, which lets you pull the brightness out of a long decay so it sits under the guitar rather than on top of it. The modulation toggle is the pedal's one extra color. With it on, the reverb takes on a moving, chorus-like quality; Delicious Audio describes the switch as "adding modulation to the Hall Reverb"8. The pedal carries a single footswitch for bypass8.
How it differs from the JHS 3 Series Reverb
The original JHS Pedals 3 Series Reverb is the line's general-purpose reverb. JHS says it can achieve "any reverberation effect, all the way from small room sounds to nearly endless washes of ambiance"9, and Delicious Audio called it "an extremely versatile unit" that lets you create the right amount of space for your guitar9. It uses an EQ control to brighten or darken the reverb, plus a toggle that adds pre-delay.
The Hall Reverb goes the other way: one big-space sound, deeper into ambient territory, with modulation instead of pre-delay on the toggle. Vintage Guitar's reviewer found the original 3 Series Reverb "excels at sounds between what other pedals might call 'Spring' and 'Hall'"10, so the Hall Reverb picks up where that pedal's range ends. There is a small difference in power draw too: the Hall Reverb consumes 70mA2 against the original's 74mA9.
Both pedals run on 9V DC negative center power29, the standard for modern pedalboards. Neither figure leaves much headroom on a small daisy chain, so a powered board or isolated supply is the practical choice.
Where it came from and where it is made
JHS Pedals launched the 3 Series as a collection designed, in the company's words, to give players "affordability and simplicity without compromising" quality1112. The Hall Reverb arrived in November 2021 alongside the Flanger and Phaser, branching the range beyond its original drive, delay and reverb pedals7. Every 3 Series pedal, including the Hall Reverb, is made by JHS in Kansas City, Missouri215, something Guitar World's budget reverb guide highlighted, noting that JHS is "able to manufacture these pedals in the US while still keeping the cost low"215.
The list price is $99.00 USD2, which Delicious Audio noted made the 3 Series "the most affordable in their roster" at launch8. The line has since grown to include the Octave Reverb, Harmonic Tremolo and, most recently, the JHS 3 Series Pherb, a phaser-plus-reverb hybrid7.
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Questions
How much power does the JHS 3 Series Hall Reverb draw?
It runs on 9V DC negative center power and consumes 70mA, according to JHS Pedals. That is modest by reverb pedal standards, but it means you will want a spot on a powered pedalboard rather than relying on a battery.
What does the toggle on the JHS Hall Reverb do?
The toggle switch turns the modulation on and off. With modulation engaged, the reverb gets a moving, chorus-like character; with it off, you get the plain hall decay. It is the only switch on the pedal besides the bypass footswitch.
What is the difference between the JHS 3 Series Reverb and Hall Reverb?
The 3 Series Reverb is a general-purpose reverb that covers everything from small room sounds to nearly endless washes of ambiance, with an EQ control and a pre-delay toggle. The Hall Reverb is built specifically for large-space sounds, with cathedrals and halls as its reference, and adds a modulation toggle instead.
Where are JHS 3 Series pedals made?
JHS Pedals builds every 3 Series pedal in house in Kansas City, Missouri. The company says it uses high-quality parts and attention to every detail, which is notable at the line's $99 price point.
How big is the JHS 3 Series Hall Reverb?
It measures 4.42 inches long, 2.38 inches wide and 1.22 inches high, the same compact enclosure used across the 3 Series line. It takes up little board space and pairs with the other pedals in the range.
Sources (12)
- JHS Pedals adds Hall Reverb, Flanger and Phaser units to its $99 3 Series range, Guitar World, 2021-11-22
- 3 SERIES HALL REVERB, JHS Pedals
- JHS Pedals expands its entry-level 3 Series, adding Hall Reverb, Flanger and Phaser to the $99 stompbox range, MusicRadar, 2021-11-23
- JHS 3 Series Hall Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2022-06-29
- 3 SERIES SCREAMER, JHS Pedals
- 3 SERIES DISTORTION, JHS Pedals
- THE JHS OCTAVE REVERB AND HARMONIC TREMOLO, JHS Pedals, 2021-11
- JHS 3 Series Phaser, Flanger, And Hall Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2021-12-28
- 3 SERIES REVERB, JHS Pedals
- JHS 3 Series, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2021-12-07
- 3 SERIES OCTAVE REVERB, JHS Pedals
- JHS 3 Series Octave Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2022-12-16
