The TC Electronic Drip Spring Reverb is a compact spring reverb pedal for guitar, built around the sound of the spring reverb units found in Fender amps of the 1960s. TC Electronic describes it as a retro reverb with adjustable Dwell, Mix and Tone for a shimmering reverb sound, and says the single best way to give a dry guitar distinctive character and depth is to spice it up with a good spring reverb1.
Although it models a spring tank, the effect itself is digital: the January 2018 press release announcing the pedal described the series as using state of the art digital algorithms and high quality materials, made for the gigging musician2.
Controls
The pedal keeps things simple with three knobs:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Dwell | Sets the length of the reverb tail, for everything from a whisper to a wave crashing into a Californian coastal cave1 |
| Mix | Dials in the perfect balance between the reverberated signal and your dry tone1 |
| Tone | Sets how bright the reverberations are, for either a clear, piercing sound or a more subdued and dark effect1 |
Sound and character
TC Electronic pitches the pedal squarely at vintage amp reverb. In the maker's words1:
"DRIP SPRING REVERB instantly takes your tone back to the good old days of amp reverb, to the iconic California surf scene and the countless classic blues recordings that made history."
That puts it in the same family as the other reverb pedals in the TC Electronic range, such as the Hall of Fame 2 and the Skysurfer, though the Drip Spring Reverb is the one aimed specifically at the spring reverb sound. For more on the effect type itself, see the Reverb Pedals page1.
On the board
Two practical points for pedalboard use: the top-mounted jacks make it easy to fit on even the most crowded of boards, and the true bypass circuitry keeps your signal clean and clear when the pedal is off1. The pedal is built with a sturdy metal frame, which TC Electronic says is made to withstand the test of time1.
The pedal was announced in January 2018 as a pre-order at Musician's Friend, with in-store availability at Guitar Center in the US in late Q1 20182.
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Questions
Is the TC Electronic Drip Spring Reverb analog or digital?
It is a digital pedal. When TC Electronic announced the Drip Spring Reverb alongside three other pedals in January 2018, the press release described the series as built with state of the art digital algorithms and high quality materials, made for the gigging musician. The circuit is modeled on the spring reverb units found in Fender amps of the 1960s, but the reverb itself is generated digitally.
Is the Drip Spring Reverb true bypass?
Yes. TC Electronic says the pedal uses high quality true bypass circuitry that keeps your signal clean and clear when the effect is off, so your dry tone passes through untouched.
Where are the jacks on the Drip Spring Reverb?
The input and output jacks are mounted on top of the pedal. TC Electronic points out that top-mounted jacks make it easy to fit the pedal on even the most crowded of boards, since patch cables run upward rather than outward.
What does the Dwell knob do on a spring reverb?
Dwell sets the length of the reverb tail. TC Electronic describes the range as everything from a whisper to a wave crashing into a Californian coastal cave, so the knob takes you from a short, subtle spring response to a long, saturated decay.
Sources (2)
- DRIP SPRING REVERB, TC Electronic
- TC Electronic announces four new pedals, MusicPlayers.com, 2018-01-09
