Not long ago I unequivocally declared Meris' Mercury X (9/10, WIRED Recommends) the best reverb pedal you can buy. The very day that review went live, Strymon, one of the pioneers of high-end boutique guitar pedals, announced the BigSky MX, an update to its legendary BigSky reverb. To call the update massive would be an understatement.
While it still looks like the BigSky if you squint, and you'll find many familiar reverb algorithms on its front panel, the MX is an almost ground-up reimagining of what the BigSky can be. And while I'm not about to say that Strymon has already usurped Meris, I can no longer say there is a definitive "best" reverb pedal. If you're in the market for either, you're in for a treat.
Into the Weeds The BigSky MX is a particular breed of effect that can turn off players who prefer their guitar pedals to just have a couple of knobs and one or two foot switches. The piles of presets, the screen, and the extensive array of knobs might seem too complex for some at first, but part of the beauty of the BigSky MX is how simple it is to use. Photograph: Terrence O'Brien You can scroll through presets using either the Value knob in the top.
.. Terrence O'Brien.
