The SolidGoldFX Surf Rider IV is a compact spring reverb pedal with modulation, handmade in Montreal, Canada by SolidGoldFX12. It digitally emulates the classic spring reverb effect312 and packs three distinct spring tank emulations, each based on a vintage piece from the builder's collection, plus a flutter-style modulation you can apply to the reverb trails with the footswitch312. It is the fourth version of the Surf Rider, a ground-up redesign of the line4.
Three spring tanks with flutter modulation
The Surf Rider IV's three reverb modes are emulations of specific spring tanks, chosen by a three-way toggle on the pedal512. SolidGoldFX describes the available modes as a tight tank based on the company's 60s Reverberocket, the classic splash of an early silver panel Super Reverb, and the company's own fantasy tank with a slightly exaggerated drip and decay1.
The flutter is the modulation side of the pedal. It is a flutter-style modulation of the reverb trails, and it is applied by holding the soft-touch footswitch down5. An internal dip-switch changes the flutter between momentary and latching, so you can set it to stay on without holding the switch21.
The modes: Reverb-O-Rocket, Super Reverb, Fantasy Reverb
| Mode | What SolidGoldFX says it emulates | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Reverb-O-Rocket (left) | Spring reverb found in low-watt vintage combos and tape units, modeled after the shorter tanks of the '62 Reverberocket and Space Echo47 | Adds depth and space without soaking the rig; emphasizes warmth with a smooth, subtle spring tail724 |
| Super Reverb (center) | Classic 60s surf rock spring reverb, based on the builder's favorite 4x10 Fender, an early silver panel Super Reverb41 | Wider tails that bounce back and forth with what the maker calls an unmistakable metallic twerp4 |
| Fantasy Reverb (right) | The SGFX fantasy tank, a spring tank pushed to its limits4 | Exaggerated decay, floppier springs and a thicker body, with attack and tail pushed to physically impossible limits47 |
The three positions run from tight and subtle to exaggerated. Reverb-O-Rocket is the restrained end, built for players who want space without the drip overwhelming the guitar. Super Reverb is the surf-rock sound the pedal is named after. Fantasy Reverb is the extreme end: as Delicious Audio's Christopher Scapelliti put it, it is a mode that pushes the idea of spring reverb into novel territory7.
The footswitch and internal switches
The Surf Rider IV uses a single multi-function footswitch: tap it and the pedal switches on or off, hold it down and the flutter modulation engages1. Inside the pedal, two dip-switches shape how that footswitch behaves:
- Flutter dip-switch: sets the flutter modulation to momentary or latching21
- Bypass dip-switch: selects between trails bypass, where the reverb tail continues after the pedal is switched off, and buffered bypass6
Guitar World's Matt Parker noted the bypass dip in the launch coverage, describing it as a choice of buffered bypass or switchable trails6. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley reported the same arrangement in his piece on the pedal5.
The Surf Rider IV is not true bypass. It offers buffered bypass or trails bypass, chosen by the internal DIP switch, so players who want a completely untouched bypass signal should factor that in.
History and versions: the fourth Surf Rider and the Shermy edition
The Surf Rider IV, revealed in May 2022, is a ground-up redesign and the fourth version of the Surf Rider5. Gearnews described it as a new revision of the previous third version, the Surf Rider III, now packing even more features into a smaller housing3. A limited-edition Shermy version followed in the Galaxy Pink colourway, designed in collaboration with Shermy Freeman, with each purchase including a Surfrajettes sticker and a personal thank-you note from Shermy2.
In 2023 SolidGoldFX also released a limited-edition Shermy version of the Surf Rider IV, in a Galaxy Pink colourway, designed in collaboration with Shermy Freeman2. Each purchase of the Shermy Limited Pink Edition includes a Surfrajettes sticker and a personal thank-you note from Shermy2.
"Solid Gold FX's fresh drip serves up a totally redesigned Surf Rider IV modulated spring reverb pedal."
Videos
R.J. Ronquillo
The Pedal Zone
Sasha Ivantic
Questions
Is the Surf Rider IV true bypass?
No. It offers switchable trails or buffered bypass, selected by an internal DIP switch216.
Does the Surf Rider IV have reverb trails?
Yes, trails are one of the two bypass options on the internal DIP switch; the other is buffered bypass216.
How do I make the flutter latching on the Surf Rider IV?
An internal dip-switch switches the flutter modulation between momentary and latching12.
How much current does the Surf Rider IV draw?
Approximately 65 mA, from a regular 9V DC supply with a center negative plug2.
Is the Surf Rider IV analog or digital?
Digital. It digitally emulates the classic spring reverb effect312.
Sources (7)
- SURF RIDER IV, SolidGoldFX
- SURF RIDER IV SPRING REVERB, SolidGoldFX
- SolidGoldFX Surf Rider IV: More compact, more surf?, gearnews.com, 2022-05-13
- SURF RIDER IV, SolidGoldFX
- Solid Gold FX's fresh drip serves up a totally redesigned Surf Rider IV modulated spring reverb pedal, MusicRadar, 2022-05-13
- SolidGoldFX launches Surf Rider IV modulated spring reverberator, Guitar World, 2022-05-16
- SolidGoldFX Surf Rider IV Spring Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2023-05-12
