Donner Verb Square Pedal Review – Solid Reverb in a Small and Rugged Package

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Features:
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It’s no secret that good effects pedals can end up costing quite a bit. However, every now and then, you run across one that has a lot of bang for your buck. The Donner Verb Square is a perfect example of a value-priced option that offers similar features to some of the best reverb pedals around, at a price everybody can relate to. Let’s take a closer look.

Features

Although it’s more rectangle than square, the Verb Square is a mini pedal, meaning it is about half the size of what you’d consider a traditional pedal package – great for freeing up space on your pedalboard. The case is made from a sturdy aluminum alloy and features a high-quality footswitch that will stand up to repeated use. It may be the budget option, but it feels built to last.

Featuring not one, not two, but SEVEN different reverbs, the Verb Square is a sure bet to give you what you’re looking for. These ‘verbs comprise the classics you’d expect – Room, Hall, Church, Spring, Plate, Studio, and Mod. It also has single 1/4” input and output jacks, while an LED indicator lets you know when the pedal is on at a glance.

The Verb Square is powered by a 9V adaptor, which sadly isn’t included. As battery power isn’t an option – most likely due to the small footprint of the case – the inclusion of an adapter would have been nice, especially as you can’t play it straight from the box without one.

Controls

Mini pedals don’t have a lot of real estate for controls, but the Verb Square gives you everything you need. There is a self-explanatory large knob in the center of the pedal that allows you to select which reverb type you want to use.

Located above the selection knob are three smaller controls. The first is the effect level dial, which adjusts the overall level of the effect that’s mixed in with the dry signal. The decay dial sets the amount of time it takes for the reverb effect to fade out, and the tone knob allows you to add a little color to the reverb as it decays. Other than that, you have the on/off footswitch. Easy peasy.

Performance

The quality of the reverbs built into the Verb Square is pretty impressive, especially when you consider the low price point. There’s a genuine difference between each of the reverb flavors and the control that the three knobs offer allows you to dial in deep, foreboding, cavernous sounds while easily going to brighter tones with quicker decay (just to add a touch of color to the dry signal).

While all perform well, there’s nothing particularly standout about any of them – they do the job that’s asked and little more. However, the Mod setting adds a little chorus to the mix, which is a pleasing sound. Perhaps not useful for every guitarist, but we liked it.

Finally, it may be a small pedal, but it’s solid. Both the footswitch and the case are rugged enough to withstand any abuse you can throw at it, making it a great addition for any pedalboard.

Conclusion

The Verb Square pedal may not have a ton of features, but it certainly has everything that you would need to add a lush-sounding reverb to your signal chain. It falls a bit short compared to some of the higher-end reverb pedals we have featured, but it still sounds great, is built for the working musician, and you can get it at a price that won’t stress out your wallet.

For more info about the Donner Verb Square, click here.

For more of the best reverb pedals, click here.