Digitech Polara Reverb

Unadan360

Joined: Mar 21, 2015
Posts: 9

Posted on Mar 23 2015 08:57 AM

Curious if anyone here has picked up the Polara reverb by Digitech. I'm looking to add a reverb pedal to my setup - it really comes down to this or the Topanga by Catlinbread. However, the Topanga has been criticized as having issues with "gating," i.e., the effect cutting out when playing more lightly on the guitar.

Anyone here digging the spring setting on the Polara?

Top

Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Mar 23 2015 11:48 AM

Unadan360,
Welcome to the site! I'm not sure if any members have the Polara yet. I saw someone else asking about it a couple weeks ago. I've had a Topanga since it came out and never noticed any "gating" issue. If you're handy with a soldering iron the Surfy Bear seems to be the way to go.

Top

Mark2Bra

Joined: Sep 01, 2013
Posts: 248

Posted on Mar 23 2015 12:07 PM

Skater , I asked about it.
And actually played it two weeks ago in the music store.

I really liked it. But bare in mind that I never played other reverb pedals. Only digital effects,Hot Rod III's and Twin's built in reverb (for me only the last sounded better)

I was planning to buy this pedal , but in the last minute decided to go for the Surfy Bear - cheaper and real springs sound.

Hope it helped some how. . .

Cheers,
Mark.

Last edited: Mar 23, 2015 13:36:24

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Unadan360

Joined: Mar 21, 2015
Posts: 9

Posted on Mar 25 2015 12:10 AM

Surf_Skater wrote:

Unadan360,
Welcome to the site! I'm not sure if any members have the Polara yet. I saw someone else asking about it a couple weeks ago. I've had a Topanga since it came out and never noticed any "gating" issue. If you're handy with a soldering iron the Surfy Bear seems to be the way to go.

Thanks. I ended up going with the Topanga. There is no loss of effect anytime I've used it so far.

Top

Surf_Skater

Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1300
Lawrenceville , GA
United States

Posted on Mar 25 2015 09:10 AM

Unadan360 wrote:

Surf_Skater wrote:

Unadan360,
Welcome to the site! I'm not sure if any members have the Polara yet. I saw someone else asking about it a couple weeks ago. I've had a Topanga since it came out and never noticed any "gating" issue. If you're handy with a soldering iron the Surfy Bear seems to be the way to go.

Thanks. I ended up going with the Topanga. There is no loss of effect anytime I've used it so far.

Get a 18v power supply, it opens up a lot more. Also try disconnecting the power, turn the tone all the way counterclockwise and power back up. You get a cool shimmer effect. Disconnect again to turn off.

Top

Noel

Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
United States

Posted on Mar 25 2015 09:33 AM

Welcome to sg101, Unadan360! Very glad you're here. For what it's worth, when I finally get around to replacing my FRV-1 backup reverb, I'm getting a Digitech Supernatural Ambient Reverb pedal.

Here's why.

—

This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.

Top

Big_Ryan

Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 578
San Diego
1 News Pin

Posted on Mar 25 2015 12:04 PM

i really want to try out the polara, if anyone wants to buy it and send it to me i will gladly produce a demo video

—

http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/
http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com

Top

maximumsurfandroll

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 182
Edinburgh, Scotland
United Kingdom

Posted on Mar 30 2015 04:12 PM

I tried one out the other week. I liked it, but it didn't sound any better than my Flint. Still, it undercuts the Topanga and was definitely better than the FRV1. It didn't really have the full bodied quality of the Topanga, but nothing 7 extra reverbs can't make up for, right?

Top

Unadan360

Joined: Mar 21, 2015
Posts: 9

Posted on Apr 01 2015 06:58 PM

I ended up getting the Polara as well on a good deal from Proguitarshop. The Topanga is a bit more "hi-fi" sounding vs. the Polara in spring setting. However, the Polara actually sounds closer to my 79 Deluxe Reverb's built-in reverb. The "hifi" sounds of the Topanga are maybe not as realistic compared to a real tank or even the Polara's spring setting.

I think they're both worth owning. The Topanga for the excellent spring and modulated settings. The Polara for the very good spring and bunches of other modes. Actually the "room" setting is subtle but VERY good on the Polara - as well as the modulated reverb mode.

Top

Big_Ryan

Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 578
San Diego
1 News Pin

Posted on May 20 2015 01:24 PM

i tried the polara at band practice last night vs the topanga and frv-1

I did NOT like it, it was very muddy and the drips really disappeared in the mix, the topanga has the best 'tone' for me overall but I think the frv-1 still has the better drip.

if anyone wants to buy a polara i will be selling it, lol

—

http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/
http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com

Top

Unadan360 Joined: Mar 21, 2015 Posts: 9	Posted on Mar 23 2015 08:57 AM Curious if anyone here has picked up the Polara reverb by Digitech. I'm looking to add a reverb pedal to my setup - it really comes down to this or the Topanga by Catlinbread. However, the Topanga has been criticized as having issues with "gating," i.e., the effect cutting out when playing more lightly on the guitar. Anyone here digging the spring setting on the Polara? Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1300 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Mar 23 2015 11:48 AM Unadan360, Welcome to the site! I'm not sure if any members have the Polara yet. I saw someone else asking about it a couple weeks ago. I've had a Topanga since it came out and never noticed any "gating" issue. If you're handy with a soldering iron the Surfy Bear seems to be the way to go. Top
Mark2Bra Joined: Sep 01, 2013 Posts: 248	Posted on Mar 23 2015 12:07 PM Skater , I asked about it. And actually played it two weeks ago in the music store. I really liked it. But bare in mind that I never played other reverb pedals. Only digital effects,Hot Rod III's and Twin's built in reverb (for me only the last sounded better) I was planning to buy this pedal , but in the last minute decided to go for the Surfy Bear - cheaper and real springs sound. Hope it helped some how. . . Cheers, Mark. Last edited: Mar 23, 2015 13:36:24 Top
Unadan360 Joined: Mar 21, 2015 Posts: 9	Posted on Mar 25 2015 12:10 AM Surf_Skater wrote: Unadan360, Welcome to the site! I'm not sure if any members have the Polara yet. I saw someone else asking about it a couple weeks ago. I've had a Topanga since it came out and never noticed any "gating" issue. If you're handy with a soldering iron the Surfy Bear seems to be the way to go. Thanks. I ended up going with the Topanga. There is no loss of effect anytime I've used it so far. Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1300 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Mar 25 2015 09:10 AM Unadan360 wrote: Surf_Skater wrote: Unadan360, Welcome to the site! I'm not sure if any members have the Polara yet. I saw someone else asking about it a couple weeks ago. I've had a Topanga since it came out and never noticed any "gating" issue. If you're handy with a soldering iron the Surfy Bear seems to be the way to go. Thanks. I ended up going with the Topanga. There is no loss of effect anytime I've used it so far. Get a 18v power supply, it opens up a lot more. Also try disconnecting the power, turn the tone all the way counterclockwise and power back up. You get a cool shimmer effect. Disconnect again to turn off. Top
Noel Joined: Mar 15, 2011 Posts: 8528 Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.	Posted on Mar 25 2015 09:33 AM Welcome to sg101, Unadan360! Very glad you're here. For what it's worth, when I finally get around to replacing my FRV-1 backup reverb, I'm getting a Digitech Supernatural Ambient Reverb pedal. Here's why. — This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got. Top
Big_Ryan Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 578 San Diego	Posted on Mar 25 2015 12:04 PM i really want to try out the polara, if anyone wants to buy it and send it to me i will gladly produce a demo video — http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/ http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com Top
maximumsurfandroll Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 182 Edinburgh, Scotland	Posted on Mar 30 2015 04:12 PM I tried one out the other week. I liked it, but it didn't sound any better than my Flint. Still, it undercuts the Topanga and was definitely better than the FRV1. It didn't really have the full bodied quality of the Topanga, but nothing 7 extra reverbs can't make up for, right? Top
Unadan360 Joined: Mar 21, 2015 Posts: 9	Posted on Apr 01 2015 06:58 PM I ended up getting the Polara as well on a good deal from Proguitarshop. The Topanga is a bit more "hi-fi" sounding vs. the Polara in spring setting. However, the Polara actually sounds closer to my 79 Deluxe Reverb's built-in reverb. The "hifi" sounds of the Topanga are maybe not as realistic compared to a real tank or even the Polara's spring setting. I think they're both worth owning. The Topanga for the excellent spring and modulated settings. The Polara for the very good spring and bunches of other modes. Actually the "room" setting is subtle but VERY good on the Polara - as well as the modulated reverb mode. Top
Big_Ryan Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 578 San Diego	Posted on May 20 2015 01:24 PM i tried the polara at band practice last night vs the topanga and frv-1 I did NOT like it, it was very muddy and the drips really disappeared in the mix, the topanga has the best 'tone' for me overall but I think the frv-1 still has the better drip. if anyone wants to buy a polara i will be selling it, lol — http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/ http://sixtycyclehum.podbean.com Top

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Digitech Polara Reverb