The Jonny Rock Gear Moby Depth is a reverb pedal that emulates a spring reverb, driven by a Belton BTDR-3 chip1. The maker describes it as "basically a spring reverb, but with many adjustments that make it unique among other reverb guitar pedals"2. What sets it apart from most Belton-based pedals is a Regen control that feeds effected signal back into the reverb, plus an effects loop that only the reverb signal passes through.
Premier Guitar found the range wide: "it yields a nice spring approximation that runs the gamut from subtle/traditional to insanely 'underwater'"1. Pedal of the Day put the same idea another way in 2019: "From a short spring type of reverb to the experience of being swallowed by a giant whale, the range here is wide"3.
The controls
The Moby Depth's front panel covers the usual reverb territory and then adds the Regen function. Premier Guitar lists the core controls as "reverb level, decay, tone, and wet/dry mix knobs"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Reverb (level) | Sets the amount of reverb signal1 |
| Decay | Sets the length of the reverb effect23 |
| Tone | Brightness control, shaping the reverb tone to fit the rest of your rig23 |
| Mix | Blends the wet effected signal with your dry sound3 |
| Regen | Controls the amount of effected signal sent back into the reverb, like a delay's feedback13 |
| Toggle switch | Switches Regen on or off3 |
The Regen control is the unusual one. Premier Guitar calls it "the bonus regen feature (essentially like a delay's feedback function)"1. Pedal of the Day notes that "the Regen and Depth controls work in tandem as well, with more Depth producing a more powerful, deeper Regen effect"3, so the two controls interact rather than working independently.
The effects loop
The pedal carries a side loop with Send and Return jacks. As Pedal of the Day describes it, "the Send jack goes through the Input of any outside effect pedal, and Return receives the output of the pedal(s)"3. GUP Tech's page states the same in short form: SND "goes through the Input of any effect pedal" and RTN "receives output of any effect pedal"2.
The key point for a pedalboard builder is what the loop is for. Premier Guitar describes it as "a side-loop for inserting a chain of effects that'll only be heard when Moby is activated"1. Anything you plug in there processes the reverb signal only, and only while the pedal is on, so you can, for example, put a fuzz or delay after the reverb without affecting your dry sound.
History: a Belton chip and Jean-René Gosselin
The Moby Depth was built by Jean-René Gosselin in Montréal, Quebec1. It is a spring-reverb emulator rather than a pedal with a physical spring tank: Premier Guitar notes it "is driven by a Belton BTDR-3 chip"1, and both the maker and Pedal of the Day describe the circuit as using Accutronics (Belton) digital reverb technology23.
The pedal is housed in a powder coated die cast aluminum enclosure with silk screened artwork23, and uses Neutrik jacks throughout: NYS229 for In and Out, NMJ4HCD2 for Send and Return3.
The pedal now appears on GUP Tech's site alongside two variants:
- The GUP Tech Moby Depth, listed at a sale price of £123.00 GBP2
- The GUP Tech Moby Depth - Douche Edition, the same spring reverb pedal in a different finish, at £148.00 GBP4
- The GUP Tech Moby Depth Spring Reverb Pedal Gold Rush Edition, "exactly the same circuit as the original, in a super limited Gold box," at £164.00 GBP5
The Moby Depth needs a standard 9V AC adaptor with a negative center DC output23. Most compact pedals run on 9V DC, so a typical daisy chain or isolated DC supply will not power it. Make sure your power unit has a 9VAC output before buying.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's 2026 verdict was concise: "Compelling range of traditional to out-there spring-'verb tones"1. Pedal of the Day, reviewing the pedal in August 2019, called it "a lush, exploratory reverb effect that makes it unique, and stands out amongst other reverbs in its class"3.
Videos
JonnyRockGear
Pedal of the Day
Pedals Fusion
Questions
What does the Regen switch do on the Moby Depth?
Regen controls the amount of effected signal fed back into the reverb, working much like a delay pedal's feedback control. A toggle switch turns Regen on or off depending on the sound you want. It works together with the Depth control, so more Depth produces a more powerful, deeper Regen effect.
What can I put in the Moby Depth's effects loop?
The Send jack goes to the input of any outside effect pedal and the Return jack receives that pedal's output, so you can insert a whole chain of effects. Anything in the loop is only heard when the Moby Depth is activated, which makes it a place to put effects that color the reverb alone.
What reverb chip does the Moby Depth use?
The Moby Depth is driven by a Belton BTDR-3 chip, part of the Accutronics (Belton) digital reverb technology. It is a spring-reverb emulator rather than a real spring tank, and the maker describes it as a spring reverb with many adjustments that make it unique among reverb pedals.
What power supply does the Moby Depth need?
It uses a DC output with negative center, compatible with a standard 9V AC adaptor. That means a typical 9V DC pedal supply will not run it, so check your power brick supports 9VAC output before plugging in.
How much did the Moby Depth cost?
Premier Guitar listed a street price of $220 in its 2026 review. GUP Tech, which now carries the pedal, lists a sale price of £123.00 GBP as of October 2026, with the Douche Edition at £148.00 GBP and the Gold Rush Edition at £164.00 GBP.
Sources (5)
- Quick Hit: Jonny Rock Gear Moby Depth Review, Premier Guitar, 2017-04-16
- Moby Depth Spring Reverb Pedal, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
- Jonny Rock Gear Moby Depth Reverb, Pedal of the Day, 2019-08-19
- Moby Depth, guptech.ca
- Moby Depth Spring Reverb Pedal, guptech.ca
