Best Reverb Pedals Under $100
Reverb is the most universally applied guitar effect — almost every recorded electric guitar tone includes at least subtle reverb. Under £100, the options range from simple but musical (EHX Holy Grail Neo) to highly featured (TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 Mini).
Best Reverb Pedals Under £100
TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 Mini — £90 | Best Overall
Six reverb modes (Spring, Room, Hall, Plate, Shimmer, Church), TonePrint capable, simple three-knob operation (Decay, Tone, Level). The Hall of Fame 2 Mini is the most feature-complete reverb at this price.
TonePrint: Like the TC Electronic Flashback delay, the Hall of Fame 2 Mini can download custom reverb algorithms from the TC Electronic library — including reverbs from specific professional guitarists, vintage reverb simulations, and experimental designs.
Shimmer mode: An octave-shifted reverb trail — ambient, ethereal, popular in atmospheric rock and post-rock. More dramatic and unusual than standard reverb modes.
Best for: Players who want multiple reverb types plus expansion capability.
Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail Neo — £85 | Best Spring Simulation
Three modes (Spring, Hall, Plate), simple wet/dry control. The Holy Grail's spring reverb simulation is widely considered the most realistic available under £200 — the natural "drip" and bounce of real spring reverb.
Why spring matters: Real tube amplifiers (Fender, Vox) have spring reverb tanks. The Holy Grail Neo's spring simulation is closer to this organic character than the TC Electronic's digital spring algorithm.
Best for: Blues, country, classic rock — players who want realistic spring reverb without a spring tank amp.
Boss RV-6 — £130 | Best Under £150
Six reverb modes (Dynamic, Spring, Plate, Hall, Room, Shimmer), stereo operation, expression pedal input, 250ms internal pre-delay. Slightly above the £100 budget but the most full-featured reverb under £150.
Expression pedal: Connect a Boss FV-500H expression pedal to control decay time in real-time — swell reverb in as notes play, or adjust room size dynamically.
Stereo: The RV-6's stereo output creates a wide, immersive reverb in stereo rigs — more dimensional than mono reverb.
Best for: Players who want the most complete reverb feature set under £150, or who use stereo rigs.
JOYO Aquarius — £35 | Best Budget Multi-Mode
Seven reverb modes (Hall, Church, Plate, Spring, Room, Echo, Shimmer) under £40. Excellent value — tone quality is lower than the TC or Boss but functional.
Best for: Players on the tightest budget who want mode variety.
Reverb Settings by Style
Blues/Country (spring): Holy Grail Neo Spring mode or Hall of Fame Spring TonePrint. Decay 40%, Level 25–30%.
Rock (room/plate): Hall of Fame Room or Plate mode. Decay 30%, Level 15–20%.
Ambient/Post-rock (hall/shimmer): Hall of Fame Shimmer or Hall mode. Decay 70%, Level 40%.
Matching Reverb Type to Playing Style
Reverb is easy to buy on feature count alone, but the right choice depends on what you actually need it for. A blues or country player whose amp already has spring reverb gains little from a six-mode digital unit — a dedicated spring simulator like the Holy Grail Neo fills the actual gap (amp-less rigs, added modes) more precisely.
If your amp already has decent spring reverb, buy for the modes it lacks (Hall, Shimmer, Plate) rather than duplicating spring. If your amp has no reverb at all, prioritize spring-accuracy first since that's the most universally useful starting point.
Common Mistakes
Buying a six-mode reverb pedal when your amp already has good spring reverb. As the FAQ notes, using the amp's built-in spring reverb first is often the better call — a pedal is most valuable for adding modes (Hall, Shimmer, Plate) the amp genuinely can't produce, not duplicating what it already does well.
Setting Decay and Level too high on a first reverb purchase. A heavy reverb setting can make a tone sound distant and washed-out rather than deep — starting at Room or Hall mode with Decay around 30% and Level 15-20% adds subtle depth without overwhelming the dry signal.
Assuming Shimmer mode suits every genre. Shimmer's octave-shifted, ambient trail is popular in atmospheric and post-rock contexts specifically — applying it to blues, country or straightforward rock playing usually sounds out of place rather than enhancing the tone.
Choosing the Boss RV-6 purely for its expression pedal input without owning an expression pedal. That feature only becomes useful with a Boss FV-500H or similar connected — without one, the JOYO Aquarius or TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 Mini deliver comparable mode variety for meaningfully less money.
ToneStakr's Take
For most players under this budget, the TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 Mini remains the strongest all-round purchase — six genuinely useful modes plus TonePrint expandability future-proofs the pedal as your needs change. Blues and country players whose amp already has spring reverb should skip straight to the Holy Grail Neo instead, since duplicating an already-good amp reverb wastes the budget on redundant functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best reverb pedal under $100?
The TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 Mini (£90) — six reverb modes, TonePrint expandability, and genuinely excellent tone quality across the full price range covered here.
Should I use the amp's reverb or a pedal reverb?
If your amp has spring reverb (Fender, Vox), use it first — it's often the best spring reverb available without spending anything extra. Add a pedal specifically when you need additional modes (Hall, Shimmer, Plate) the amp's built-in reverb can't provide.
What reverb setting should I start with?
Room or Hall mode, Decay around 30%, Level 15-20%. This adds subtle depth to almost any tone without making it sound like you're playing in a cathedral.
Is the Boss RV-6 worth the extra £40 over the Hall of Fame 2 Mini?
Mainly for stereo rigs and players who use or plan to use an expression pedal for real-time decay control — without those specific needs, the Hall of Fame 2 Mini's six modes and TonePrint expandability deliver comparable everyday value for less money.
Is the JOYO Aquarius a viable long-term reverb pedal?
As a budget entry point, yes — seven modes under £40 is genuinely good value. Tone quality is a step below the TC Electronic or Boss options, so players who find themselves relying on reverb heavily should plan to upgrade eventually.
Does Shimmer mode work for standard rock and blues playing?
Generally not well — Shimmer's octave-shifted, ambient character is built for atmospheric and post-rock contexts. For standard rock and blues, Room, Hall or Plate modes at moderate settings suit the material far better.