The T-Rex Whirly Verb is a reverb pedal from T-Rex Effects of Denmark, built around the idea of recreating "the most beautiful room in the world"1. What sets it apart from a standard reverb box is its Modulation function: a simple, warm vintage chorus circuit that T-Rex says lets you "thicken, twist and turn" the reverb1. The pedal is related to the famous T-Rex Roommate, and it was sold only through Guitar Center and Musician's Friend in the US1.
The Whirly Verb is discontinued. Pedal of the Day reported it as discontinued in April 20152.
A reverb with a vintage chorus modulation
At its core, the Whirly Verb is a reverb pedal. T-Rex says that no matter how you set the reverb amount and decay time, it "just sounds warm, rich and delicate"1. The maker describes the pedal as a reverb dreamed up to recreate the most beautiful room in the world, with the Modulation function as the extra layer on top1.
That modulation is the pedal's distinguishing feature. T-Rex says the modulation effect uses a simple, warm, vintage chorus circuit, and that the Modulation function lets you take the reverb and "thicken, twist and turn it"1. In practice, this means the reverb tail is not static: the chorus circuit moves it, which can push the sound from a normal room reverb into something more ambient and textured.
Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, described the result in his 2015 review:
"This creates some rich sonic textures, like a weird ambient blanket covering up the 'room' your reverb is supposed to sound like"2
He called the pedal "just a great, warm, rich-sounding reverb from T-Rex, with a special bonus to kick it up a notch," and summed it up as "Best analog sounding Reverb"2.
The controls and the second footswitch
The Whirly Verb keeps its control set simple. T-Rex lists the controls as on/off, volume, reverb, modulation, and decay1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| On/Off | Turns the pedal on and off1 |
| Volume | Adjusts the overall level of the effect2 |
| Reverb | Works with Decay to set the intensity of the effect2 |
| Decay | Works with Reverb to set how long the effect trails off after you play a note or chord2 |
| Modulation | Sets the amount of chorus-style modulation on the reverb1 |
The pedal has two footswitches. The main on/off switch bypasses the pedal, and a second stomp switch at the bottom of the pedal accesses the Modulation control2. That second switch is the practical difference from a plain reverb pedal: you can leave the reverb running and kick the modulation in only when you want it.
Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the Modulation control to be "the real fun here," noting it ranges "from a subtle hint of weirdness to extreme ambience" and makes the pedal "unique to hear and super fun to play"2.
Power: 9V, 90 mA
The Whirly Verb runs on a 9V DC power supply, which T-Rex specifies as its FuelTank, with a current draw of 90 mA1. It also takes a 9V 6F22 battery1.
Battery life is rated at 30 to 60 minutes1. With a 90 mA draw, a battery is a short-term option only; a 9V DC supply is the practical choice for regular use.
Other specifications from T-Rex:
- Input impedance: higher than 1M Ohm at 1KHz1
- Output impedance: lower than 1K Ohm at 1KHz1
- Maximum input signal: 2V p-p1
A Roommate variant sold through Guitar Center
The Whirly Verb is related to the T-Rex Roommate, described as a variant of "the famous T-Rex Roommate"1. The Room-Mate is a tube-driven reverb pedal2, and the line continued after the Whirly Verb with the Room-Mate Junior and, more recently, the RoomMate D'Luxe, both reverb pedals3.
The difference between the two lines is the modulation. The Roommate family focuses on the reverb sound itself, while the Whirly Verb layers the vintage chorus circuit on top of it, controlled by its own footswitch1.
The Whirly Verb was a US retail exclusive. T-Rex's product page states it was "only available at Guitar Center & Musician's Friend"1, and Pedal of the Day likewise noted it was "only available originally at Guitar Center or Musician's Friend"2. Since the pedal is discontinued, it now turns up only on the used market.
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Questions
Is the T-Rex Whirly Verb discontinued?
Yes. Pedal of the Day reported the Whirly Verb as discontinued in April 2015, and T-Rex's own product page lists it as available only through Guitar Center and Musician's Friend in the US. It is no longer a current product in the T-Rex lineup, which has since moved on to reverbs like the RoomMate D'Luxe.
Does the Whirly Verb run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal takes a 9V 6F22 battery in addition to a 9V DC power supply, which T-Rex specifies as its FuelTank. Current draw is 90 mA at 9V DC, so a battery is an option for short sessions but not a long-term power solution.
How long does a battery last in the Whirly Verb?
T-Rex rates battery life at 30 to 60 minutes. With a 90 mA current draw at 9V DC, the pedal drains a standard 9V battery quickly, so most players will want to run it from a 9V DC supply such as the T-Rex FuelTank instead.
What is the difference between the Whirly Verb and the T-Rex Roommate?
The Whirly Verb is related to the T-Rex Roommate, but it adds a Modulation function built on a simple, warm vintage chorus circuit that thickens and twists the reverb. The Roommate line, including the Junior and the later RoomMate D'Luxe, focuses on the reverb itself, with the D'Luxe adding tube circuitry and multiple reverb modes.
Where could you buy the T-Rex Whirly Verb?
The Whirly Verb was sold only through Guitar Center and Musician's Friend in the US, according to both T-Rex's product page and Pedal of the Day's 2015 review. Since the pedal is discontinued, it now turns up only on the used market.
Sources (3)
- → T-REX EFFECTS ← Pedals for guitar and bass players!, T-Rex Effects
- T-Rex Effects Whirly Verb Reverb, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-04-02
- T-Rex Guitar Effects pedals, Analog Man (analogman.com), 2015
