Catalinbread Talisman Plate Reverb Review: Lush Sound of the 70s

The EMT-140 plate reverb was, in many ways, the definitive sound of music throughout the 1970s. Used on mammoth records like Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon and the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers, plate reverb is prized for its deep projection and ability to work both in the front of a mix and as a background effect.

However, the size of the EMT-140 (akin to a king-size bed!) has kept it out of reach of most players. Oregon-based brand Catalinbread has shrunken the original plate sound down into pedal form with their new Talisman. Let’s take a closer look and check out what makes this one of the best reverb pedals around.

Features

The Talisman emulates the sound of the EMT-140, with the specifics of the pedal modeled after the original in Portland’s Jackpot Studios. Catalinbread created this stompbox to provide both light and heavy ‘verb while preserving the integrity of the dry signal – unlike many other reverb units, the Talisman does a remarkable job of eliminating muddiness and low-end looseness.

Beyond the simple emulation, though, Catalinbread has also included a set of features on the pedal that are commonly paired with plate reverb in professional music studios. The high-pass filter adds additional top-end clarity and focus to your signal for sharper, brighter playing, especially in a crowded mix.

Meanwhile, the pre-delay adds up to 100ms of delay between your pick and the reverb kicking in. When used with slower, chordal playing, this effect creates ephemeral, dreamy soundscapes.

Finally, the Talisman is automatically programmed to tail the reverb into your signal when switched off – no more jarring cuts or choppy sonic transitions!

Controls

Like pretty much every reverb pedal around, the Talisman offers controls for time, volume, and mix. As you might expect, the time control affects how long your reverb tails last, the volume changes your overall signal volume, and the mix dial tweaks the strength of the reverb added to your dry signal.

Beyond that, an additional two knobs control the high-pass filter and the pre-delay. The ability to gradually blend in the high-pass filter makes this pedal perfect for players looking for a variety of different plate sounds. It’s easy to adjust for exactly the right tone without getting the stark difference so often found with filter switches.

Likewise, the range of pre-delay times (from 0 to 100ms) means the Talisman can handle pretty much any style, from short and sweet slapbacks to cavernous, lush ‘verbs. Guitarists just looking to get their feet wet with a bit of delay will have no problem, while those looking for a more aggressive effect will find it as well.

Performance

Players who have experience with plate reverb settings on multi-style reverb pedals will know that all too often the plate sounds either indistinguishable from the other settings or offers only a thin, tinny approximation of true plate reverb. Those players, then, can be forgiven for underestimating the uniqueness of the Talisman.

This stompbox oozes warm, lush tones with exceptional clarity and vibrance. At lower levels, the Talisman functions as an outstanding always-on effect for adding color and space to your signal. And there’s plenty of tail on tap here. With the mix and time cranked, this box pumps out gorgeous, cavernous ‘verb with a gossamer-like delicate quality.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about this pedal is the balance it maintains between the depth and breadth of the reverb and the purity of the dry signal – even at its most swampy, underwater sounds, the Talisman preserves a striking amount of integrity, never losing the central focus on your signal. Players concerned about standing out in a mix with this unit can safely stop worrying.

Conclusion

Catalinbread’s Talisman offers studio-quality plate reverb at a fraction of the size and cost of a traditional unit. Even beyond the plate category, its outstanding clarity and sonic breadth distinguish it from most other general reverbs around. Guitarists looking for a distinctive vintage reverb sound that plays well in a mix should give the Talisman a whirl.

For more info about the Catalinbread Talisman, click here.

For more of the best reverb pedals, click here.