TEST: EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD

 There is hardly a product that has increased so unbelievably strongly in recent years as the area of stompboxes, which are also often referred to as pedals in German. What initially only covered the areas of overdrive, distortion and fuzz due to the comparatively simple basic circuitry, then spilled over into the area of modulation and room effects. In order to stand out in the almost confusing jungle not only acoustically, but also visually, the respective marketing departments of the pedal manufacturers increasingly strive to collaborate with popular artists to make their pedals also visually stand out from the competition, as happened with the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD, which is a limited edition of 1,500 units and which was created with the collaboration of the artist pool Brain Dead.

The concept of the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD

Even if some readers will ask themselves, why one should bring out an already existing pedal with another optical interpretation again, one may simply look around once in the motor vehicle range and look, which prices are called in this segment for "special lacquer finishes". I myself was recently able to see that Tesla, for example, for a simple "red" or "blue" instead of the standard white like to call up to 2,000 € more, mind you, without the surcharge includes any other additional equipment. Makes a surcharge of a little more than 3%.

Seen in this light, the price premium of the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD of just under 16% compared to the regular Ghost Echo is already a sporty statement. In return, however, you also get a visually much more interesting edition of the pedal, although the changed appearance in practice reveals a small disadvantage. In fact, the optics of the regular EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo is a little, I do not want to sound impertinent, let's say their scwarz-hellblauen Kringeloptik a little trivial. Here, the strong grass green with a high blue content of the Brain Dead team can clearly score more points, although the yellow-black imprints remind me a bit of the motifs of the film series "the fantastic film", which in the seventies provided goose bumps moments on ZDF. What exactly the printed mushrooms (magic mushrooms?) on the upper edge of the case are supposed to allude to, however, remains a mystery to me. Anyway, it's art.

A disadvantage compared to the original Ghost Echo, however, are the three transparent knobs, which look funky, but make their setting difficult to see. Especially in low stage lighting, the black, thinly applied strokes are almost impossible to see, so you have to rely on your hearing as soon as you activate the effect. In terms of readability, the large black knobs with white lines of the original can score points here, which ensure good visibility even in low stage lighting.

The Sound

What kind of effect does the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD actually produce? According to the name it should be a delay, right? Yes and no one would like to say, since it is a special reverb pedal. But since a reverb effect is ultimately just a high number of echoes, you can get over the somewhat confusing type designation, especially since the term "reverb" appears in the portfolio additional. Only on the pedal is listed only the designation "Ghost Echo".

The special feature of the pedal is to be found in the algorithm that is used for the pedal. The EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD simulates a spring reverb, as it was used in the early days of guitar amplifier technology, especially by the company Fender as a bonus performance. For those born in 1990 and later, it involved several coil springs, which were usually mounted on the bottom of the combo, vibrated by the guitar tone, picked up again via a pickup, and then mixed in with the original tone using the combo's reverb control, optionally available with a footswitch. As expected, the effect was not the most perfect possible reproduction of a room, which would not have been technically possible, but more a very characteristic reverberation with a very high diffusion content. Together with the slapback echo, these two effects are largely responsible for the sound aesthetics of the fifties and sixties in terms of guitar sound.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjUwpXu_VUk&ab_channel=fecskefi

To really come into its own, the spring reverb needs an arrangement that is as tidy as possible and a guitar that is as clean as possible, preferably with single notes, as can be seen in the world-famous sound example above. Fat high gain power in fast staccato style does not come into its own in the very wide reverb carpet of the spring reverb and quickly drifts into the muddy.

The control possibilities of the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD

The EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD comes with a small number of three controls for a room effect pedal, which are named Attack, Depth and Dwell. Their tasks are as follows:

Attack: The Attack control determines the duration of the pre-delay before the effect kicks in and can range from 30 - 150 ms depending on the position of the control. If the Dwell control is set to self-oscillation in the rear control section, this control also controls the pitch of the oscillation.

Dwell: This knob controls the length of the effect, up to a point where the effect "rolls over" and self-oscillation begins.

Depth: This control adds the "wet" portion to the "dry" portion. A 50 / 50 ratio of dry and processed signal is obtained in the 12 o'clock position, above which the original signal portion is steadily reduced.

The pedal is equipped with true bypass, which is based on an electronic relay-based circuit. Therefore, no signal is passed on when the pedal is disconnected from the power. The EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD requires the very low current consumption of only 86 mA for a room effect, which means that even a 100 mA connection is quite sufficient for operation. The pedal requires a power supply, which is not included in the delivery, battery operation is not provided.

The pedal is delivered in a small cloth bag, with a sticker and a manual that is also very trimmed to "funky", which contains a sound description in several languages in addition to the most important technical key data, as if the author himself had thrown in some "magic mushrooms" before writing the article. ("creepy version of the spooky Spring Reverb unit ... scary pre-delay ... viscous, ectoplasmic reverb").

The EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD in practice.

The EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD pedal is a classic one-trick pony in the best sense. It offers exactly one effect, which can be adjusted in its intensity, and that's it in the end. However, the same effect is very tasteful and can be used very well in the vintage, as well as in the ambient area. Interestingly, the designation "echo" is not to be dismissed out of hand, because unlike the original reverb spirals, which do not generate a delay effect, the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD has in principle an additional slapback delay still switched to it, which can be heard very nicely in the single note sound example. So if you expect a digital copy of the elaborate analog reverbs as identical as possible, you should look for other pedals, because the Earthquaker pedal puts a higher focus on a certain independence.

Nevertheless, the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD offers a very unique and interesting interpretation of the classic reverb spiral sound and creates an independent sound by combining it with the delay effect, which does a good job as a classic effect in the actual sense. In addition, green is my favorite color, which earns the pedal a highly subjective bonus point.

Conclusion

With the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo V3 Reverb LTD, the American manufacturer carries a limited edition of its Ghost Echo in the portfolio, which was created in collaboration with the artist pool Dead Brain. Despite the template of the reverb spiral sound of the sixties, the device offers an independent interpretation of the analog model and convinces with an interesting "space sound", which in contrast to the original also includes the use of a delay effect.

Who the surcharge of 40, - € compared to the original pedal is worth the artistic look, should take a closer look at the pedal. It is a one-trick pony, but the trick is very appealing!

Additional informations:

EarthQuaker Devices is an American guitar pedal and musical instrument company based in Akron, Ohio. The company was founded in 2004 by Jamie Stillman, who was dissatisfied with the tone and quality of the guitar pedals available in the market at the time. Stillman decided to create his own line of effects pedals that would offer a high level of customization and versatility, and EarthQuaker Devices was born.

Over the years, EarthQuaker Devices has become known for its innovative, high-quality, and versatile guitar pedals. The company's products are used by musicians all over the world, and they have gained a reputation for being some of the best in the industry.

One of the things that sets EarthQuaker Devices apart from other guitar pedal companies is its commitment to using high-quality components and materials. The company takes pride in sourcing its components from reputable suppliers and in using only the best materials in the construction of its pedals. This attention to detail and commitment to quality is evident in the sound and performance of EarthQuaker Devices' products.

Another key factor in EarthQuaker Devices' success is its commitment to innovation. The company is constantly experimenting with new ideas and concepts in order to create pedals that offer unique and interesting sounds. This dedication to innovation has led to some of the company's most popular products, including the Hoof Fuzz, the Dispatch Master, and the Rainbow Machine.

One of the things that makes EarthQuaker Devices' pedals so popular is their versatility. Many of the company's products offer a wide range of sounds and tones, making them suitable for a variety of musical genres and styles. This versatility has made EarthQuaker Devices a popular choice among musicians who are looking for pedals that can help them create their own unique sound.

EarthQuaker Devices' commitment to customization is another reason why the company's pedals are so popular. Many of the company's products offer a wide range of controls and options, allowing musicians to fine-tune their sound and create custom effects that are unique to their playing style. This level of customization has made EarthQuaker Devices a favorite among guitarists who are looking for pedals that can help them achieve a specific sound or tone.
One of the most popular products in EarthQuaker Devices' lineup is the Hoof Fuzz. This pedal is based on the classic Russian Big Muff fuzz pedal, but it offers a range of controls that allow musicians to fine-tune their sound. The Hoof Fuzz is known for its thick and saturated tone, and it has become a favorite among guitarists who are looking for a fuzz pedal that can help them achieve a classic rock or heavy metal sound.

Another popular EarthQuaker Devices pedal is the Dispatch Master. This pedal combines a digital delay with a reverb, offering musicians a range of options for creating ambient and atmospheric sounds. The Dispatch Master is known for its warm and lush tone, and it has become a favorite among guitarists who are looking for a pedal that can help them create ethereal and otherworldly sounds.

The Rainbow Machine is another innovative and popular EarthQuaker Devices pedal. This pedal offers a range of controls that allow musicians to create complex and unusual sounds, including shimmering harmonies, octave-up effects, and pitch-shifted delays. The Rainbow Machine is known for its unique and otherworldly tone, and it has become a favorite among guitarists who are looking for a pedal that can help them create experimental and avant-garde sounds.
In addition to its commitment to quality, innovation, versatility, and customization, EarthQuaker Devices is also known for its commitment to the environment. The company uses sustainable and eco-friendly materials in the construction of its pedals, and it is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting environmental sustainability.