blackba
Well-known member
I recently got to run the Line 6 Verbzilla I owned for a long time against a Digitech Hardwire RV-7.
The verbzilla had some things I didn't like:
- Heavy, way to heavy for a stomp box, over 2lbs. They supposedly have lightened up the newer ones
- Needing own adapter, did not work with my power-all's at all
- Poor bypass. I could measure a difference in resistance with it in the chain. Not bad in the loop for horrible out front. ( I always ran it with the tails switch off)
- Knobs had a cheap feel and wobbled.
- If you changed a mode, it would turn on.
The RV-7 eliminated alot of these issues with its true bypass design (with tails switch off). My only complaint about it is the mode selector switch does not always line up with the graphics on the pedal.
Anyway for sounds, here is how they stacked up head to head all scores out of 10:
Spring. I loved the '63 spring on the Verbzilla, very warm and lush. The RV7 was a little more subtuble in the spring setting, but I liked the liveliness knob. Verbzilla 8, RV7 7
Plate. Probably my favorite mode on the Verbzilla. Always reminded of me of Hendrix for some reason. The RV7 was again close, but lacked the lushness and warmth. Verbzilla 9, RV7 7
Hall. Pretty equal on the both units, not really a sound I would use. No score
Octo versus reverse reverb. The octo setting is pretty cool, gives you a string type sound, I found this useful a few times. I can't see using the reverse reverb on the RV7.
Overall I slightly preferred the sound of the Verbzilla, but I did think it messed more with your base tone than the RV7, which seemed to let the tone through.
These were done with a mark IV in the loop. I thought both were better than the mesa mark IV's onboard reverb.
The Verbzilla has been sold, still have the RV7. I do have 1 knob Hermida reverb, but have not done the head to head yet.
The verbzilla had some things I didn't like:
- Heavy, way to heavy for a stomp box, over 2lbs. They supposedly have lightened up the newer ones
- Needing own adapter, did not work with my power-all's at all
- Poor bypass. I could measure a difference in resistance with it in the chain. Not bad in the loop for horrible out front. ( I always ran it with the tails switch off)
- Knobs had a cheap feel and wobbled.
- If you changed a mode, it would turn on.
The RV-7 eliminated alot of these issues with its true bypass design (with tails switch off). My only complaint about it is the mode selector switch does not always line up with the graphics on the pedal.
Anyway for sounds, here is how they stacked up head to head all scores out of 10:
Spring. I loved the '63 spring on the Verbzilla, very warm and lush. The RV7 was a little more subtuble in the spring setting, but I liked the liveliness knob. Verbzilla 8, RV7 7
Plate. Probably my favorite mode on the Verbzilla. Always reminded of me of Hendrix for some reason. The RV7 was again close, but lacked the lushness and warmth. Verbzilla 9, RV7 7
Hall. Pretty equal on the both units, not really a sound I would use. No score
Octo versus reverse reverb. The octo setting is pretty cool, gives you a string type sound, I found this useful a few times. I can't see using the reverse reverb on the RV7.
Overall I slightly preferred the sound of the Verbzilla, but I did think it messed more with your base tone than the RV7, which seemed to let the tone through.
These were done with a mark IV in the loop. I thought both were better than the mesa mark IV's onboard reverb.
The Verbzilla has been sold, still have the RV7. I do have 1 knob Hermida reverb, but have not done the head to head yet.
