Zoom me-70cdr, boss frv-1 or Catalinabread Topanga choices?

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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Zoom me-70cdr, boss frv-1 or Catalinabread Topanga choices?

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DoninOhio Joined: Jul 27, 2016 Posts: 5 Wooster, Ohio	Posted on Aug 05 2016 10:55 AM I am researching reverb pedals to make a decision on which to buy for trad '60's surf guitar. I have decided on one of these 3 pedals: A. Zoom mc70cdr B. Boss 63 frv-1 C. Catalinabread Topanga. The Topanga seems to have the best reviews, but that $200.00 price tag? Ouch! I am looking at pedals only, so I am not interested in the surfy bear reverb Any opinions? Don Last edited: Aug 05, 2016 10:58:04 Top
Surf_Skater Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1299 Lawrenceville , GA	Posted on Aug 05 2016 11:06 AM https://reverb.com/marketplace/effects-and-pedals?condition%5B%5D=used&query=boss+frv-1 Get a used Boss. You just need to eq it right. Top
imafunkyman Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 548 Utah	Posted on Aug 05 2016 09:18 PM I have the Topanga and it's well worth the 200 bones. However, I agree with Surf Skater on this. Get the Boss used. It's a great pedal and it looks cooler! — Either you surf, or you fight. Top
ifallalot Joined: Mar 14, 2012 Posts: 100 Huntington Beach, CA	Posted on Aug 06 2016 06:16 AM Keep an eye out on Reverb and Ebay, you can get the Boss for like $90 Top
Ariel Joined: Aug 29, 2009 Posts: 1556 Israel	Posted on Aug 06 2016 12:30 PM Looking back, (I'm now on Surfy-Bear), the Topanga isn't worth the doe. It has a more 'refined' sound, but that's not necessarily what you'd look for. It's more like an amp's reverb than the Boss. The FRV will give it to you that pronounced drip for cheap. I have a feeling it cuts better in a mix/band situation. Then, you upgrade to a real tank device. Top
gibsonkal Joined: Feb 16, 2013 Posts: 3 NC	Posted on Aug 06 2016 05:02 PM I have the Zoom MS70CDR, and not only (for around $80 or less used) does it have an excellent surfy spring reverb -it's got a bunch of cool modulations 'verbs trems etc. It's a Swiss Army knife for your board. Top
Chippertheripper Joined: Mar 11, 2011 Posts: 819 Semass	Posted on Aug 06 2016 05:13 PM Topanga was a little too slapback-ish sounding for me. Frv1 was good enough. I'd buy a used one again. I have no experience with the zoom, but cats gush over the hardwire verb too. Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Aug 06 2016 05:38 PM When not using a tank I've used: a Zoom MS-50, similar or same voice engine as the MS-70 - I really like the way the Spring setting retains the body and punch of your original guitar sound. Boss FRV-1 - Does the job, good drip. A little "smaller" sounding and a cheaper hi frequency response than the Zoom or real Tank but gets the job done just fine for me. Play right, play well and these can be more than sufficient. If I had to choose between the two pedals it would be tough but for the time being I've stuck with the FRV-1. Cheers, Jeff — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
devinomatic Joined: Feb 02, 2016 Posts: 61	Posted on Aug 06 2016 09:38 PM I own a tank and have played the Topanga and the Boss. As stated before, the boss does a nice job, you just have to EQ everything to compliment it. I'd rock the boss. Top
Las_Barracudas Joined: Apr 24, 2011 Posts: 1087 Surf City, NC	Posted on Aug 07 2016 08:43 AM I use the Zoom MS70-CDR and really like it, not only for the "63 Spring" but also for the other reverbs and delays. For the price point it's a great bang for the buck imho. I prefer it over my Boss FRV-1 btw. — METEOR IV on reverbnation Top
Clarry Joined: Oct 01, 2014 Posts: 519 Streatham, London	Posted on Aug 26 2016 06:41 AM I've just bought a Zoom MS70-CDR (£45 Ebay) and it has some great stuff on it. I've programmed some Shadows delays on it and they sound great. The preset "63 spring" is good also, and of course it can be copied and adapted. A lot of the presets are just showing off what it can do and I doubt I'll use them, but it'll teach me how to mess with parameters etc. and find my own sounds. Top
Toneschaser Joined: Jun 14, 2012 Posts: 462 Ohio!	Posted on Aug 26 2016 10:47 AM As far as pedals go, I have been digging the new MXR M300 Reverb. Sounds great and is bulletproof. Top
CrazyAces Joined: Jul 31, 2012 Posts: 4052 Nashville, TN.	Posted on Aug 26 2016 10:58 AM Clarry wrote: I've just bought a Zoom MS70-CDR (£45 Ebay) and it has some great stuff on it. I've programmed some Shadows delays on it and they sound great. The preset "63 spring" is good also, and of course it can be copied and adapted. A lot of the presets are just showing off what it can do and I doubt I'll use them, but it'll teach me how to mess with parameters etc. and find my own sounds. Glad you're enjoying your Zoom. We really dig our Zoom MS-50's. There are so many uses - Delays, Reverb, Tremolos. Ten years ago I might not have given this line a second thought but I'm really glad my mind was open when I found mine. I can't say enough about how versatile this pedal is. Cheers, Jeff — http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic Top
el_camello Joined: Jul 04, 2010 Posts: 369 Ottawa	Posted on Aug 26 2016 11:18 AM Got a Topanga as a backup for tank and was also disappointed by the sound and the above mentioned slapback effect. Considering the Boss but will probably hold out for the pre-built surfybear. — -Pierre The Obsidians! (Ottawa surf) The Obsidians debut EP Top
josheboy Joined: Mar 13, 2009 Posts: 2365 Twin Cities, MN	Posted on Aug 26 2016 12:04 PM Obligatory Top
IvanP Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 10331 southern Michigan	Posted on Aug 26 2016 12:16 PM I got a Topanga some year and a half ago as a backup or even the primary reverb generator for various trekkin' I've been doing. I've had to use it on a couple of occasions, primarily for band practices. While I can understand that some people might object to its sound if listening to it in complete isolation at home, I found that it actually sounds quite great in a band setting and responds nicely to my playing. I would feel pretty comfortable having to use it live more often - though, of course, I'd rather use a real reverb tank. But overall I definitely give it a thumbs up. (I don't have any experience with any other pedals.) — Ivan Lords of Atlantis on Facebook The Madeira Official Website The Madeira on Facebook The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook The Space Cossacks on Facebook The Madeira Channel on YouTube Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2228 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Jan 17 2017 08:22 AM Got a Zoom me-70cdr yesterday and pretty happy with it tested it along with Boss FRV-1 and liked it's 63 Spring Reverb a lot better plus a possibility to add some nice delay, echo or tremolo Great pedal! — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
Clarry Joined: Oct 01, 2014 Posts: 519 Streatham, London	Posted on Jan 17 2017 10:14 AM Yeah it's a great fun pedal. I've nearly got me a Hammond organ sound which needs tweaking...at the moment it sounds like an old cinema organ. I've also got an "Eastern" sound, I'm loathe to say sitar as it isn't, but it works enough on Paint It Black. Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2228 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Jan 17 2017 11:33 AM Clarry wrote: Yeah it's a great fun pedal. I've nearly got me a Hammond organ sound which needs tweaking...at the moment it sounds like an old cinema organ. I've also got an "Eastern" sound, I'm loathe to say sitar as it isn't, but it works enough on Paint It Black. Yep! I manage to nail a reverb plus echo surfy sound (a kind of The Madeira Ivan's tone), a great Spaghetti Western sound with vibrato and slightly overdriven delay-reverb for some heavier side of the surf! — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Last edited: Jan 17, 2017 11:33:56 Top

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