The Mr Black Mini Reverb is a compact reverb pedal from Mr Black, the Portland, Oregon pedal maker, unveiled in July 2019. It packs the company's reverb tones into a small mini enclosure with just three controls, and it listed at $99.95 when it launched. Guitar World described it as a pedal that "packs big verb sounds in a small enclosure"1.
What it does
Mr Black pitched the Mini Reverb as a universal reverberator covering a wide range of reverb tones from a single small box. In the company's words, it runs from "old-fashioned Fifties-style studio plate reverb to cavernous 60-foot ceiling concert halls and even into the depths of nearly endless caves"1. MusicRadar put the same range more briefly: the pedal "promises to cover reverb tones from '50s-style studio plate, to concert halls and endless caves"3.
Because the enclosure is small, the controls are kept to three. That makes the pedal simple to set: one dial blends the reverb level against your dry signal, one shapes the tone of the wet signal, and one sets how long the reverb decays21.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Wet/Dry | Blends the amount of reverb against your dry signal |
| Tone | Shapes the character of the reverb |
| Decay | Sets how long the reverb tail lasts |
The mini dials are labeled Wet/Dry, Tone and Decay2. Guitar World confirms the same three controls: "The compact unit boasts just three controls: wet/dry, tone and decay"1.
Power and bypass
The Mini Reverb draws 60mA of power, according to gearnews.com2. MusicRadar notes that it is daisy-chain friendly, so it can share a supply with other pedals rather than demanding its own outlet3. The pedal also has true-bypass switching, so it drops out of your signal path entirely when switched off2.
The Mr Black mini pedal line
The Mini Reverb was designed by Jack DeVille and was the latest effect in his series of mini pedals at the time, following the Mini Echo-Delay and Mini Chorus2. MusicRadar places it in "the company's new handmade mini-pedal line"3. Mr Black continued to expand that line of smaller profile pedals afterward, with names including Mini Vintage Chorus, Mini Echo Delay, Mini Reverb and Mini Octaves4.
Delicious Audio, writing about another Mr Black pedal, describes the company's approach to this format: "several US-based boutique manufacturers have embraced the format and build them by hand with the best components"5. gearnews.com states plainly that "Mr Black pedals are all hand built in Portland, Oregon, USA"2.
What reviewers said
gearnews.com's reviewer, Jef, came away positive despite the small control set. On the sound range: "You can go from dynamic retro '50s-style studio plate to more modern sounding concert halls, and it will even do the endless cave thing, as well"2. On the value question: "it is well priced and I think it packs some serious sonic punch for its size, too"2.
Questions
Is the Mr Black Mini Reverb true bypass?
Yes. gearnews.com's report on the pedal notes that it has true-bypass switching, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes straight through without the reverb circuit in the path. That matters on a pedalboard where several effects sit between the guitar and the amp, since each buffered stage can subtly change the feel of the signal.
How much power does the Mr Black Mini Reverb need?
gearnews.com reports that the Mini Reverb draws 60mA. MusicRadar adds that the pedal is daisy-chain friendly, meaning it can share a power supply with other pedals on the same chain rather than needing its own dedicated outlet. As with any pedal, the supply should be the correct voltage and polarity for the unit.
Who designed the Mr Black Mini Reverb?
According to gearnews.com, the Mini Reverb was designed by Jack DeVille, and it is the latest effect in his series of mini pedals at the time of its 2019 release. It followed the Mini Echo-Delay and Mini Chorus in Mr Black's handmade mini-pedal line.
Where is the Mr Black Mini Reverb made?
gearnews.com states that Mr Black pedals are all hand built in Portland, Oregon, USA. Delicious Audio likewise describes Mr Black as one of several US-based boutique manufacturers that build pedals by hand with quality components, so the Mini Reverb is an American-made pedal.
How much does the Mr Black Mini Reverb cost?
The Mini Reverb listed at $99.95 when it was announced in July 2019. Guitar World reported it as available for $99.95, MusicRadar reported the same figure, and gearnews.com gave an RRP of USD 99.95.
Sources (5)
- Mr. Black Introduces New Mini Reverb Universal Reverberator, Guitar World, 2019-07-12
- Mr Black Mini Reverb: Reverberations galore from a pocket-sized pedal, gearnews.com, 2019-07-13
- Mr Black keeps it smart and simple with the Mini Reverb universal reverberator, MusicRadar, 2019-07-12
- Mr Black's handmade Mini Tremolo pedal offers vintage-leaning sounds for $120, Guitar.com, 2019-09-24
- Mr Black OD-503 Dynamic Amplifier Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2019-11-07
