Are you looking to add some “spatial spice” to your sound? Maybe your amp already has reverb but you want something a little more versatile. In this Donner Reverb Pedal Review, I’ll tell why this stompbox is a great choice for a mini-pedal, especially if you are on a budget.
The Donner Verb Square has 7 versatile presets that will give you everything you are looking for in a reverb effects pedal and then some.
Keep on reading to learn more!
What Is The “Verb Square” Reverb Pedal?
The Donner Verb Square is a reverb mini-pedal that gives you seven selectable reverb modes with 3 setting adjustments that control each mode.
It features a digital circuit design with true bypass to keep your sound pure when the unit is not engaged.
The unit’s small footprint allows it to take up minimal space on your pedalboard. It is built to last and is housed in a sturdy aluminum-alloy case.
Donner Company Profile
Donner was founded in 2012 as a company that became known for making high-quality and affordable musical instruments and accessories.
The company has four separate brands (divisions).
- Donner – guitars, effect pedals, keyboards, amplifiers, DMX wireless products, electric drums, mandolins, and ukuleles
- Eastar – violins, wind Instruments, and children’s drums
- Moukey – microphones, headphones, and party lights
- Reditmo – various children’s products
They offer a 30-day return on their products and
free technical support. Donner has a 1 to 2-year warranty on their products, 1 year on all instrument accessories.
Who Is The Verb Square Pedal For?
The Donner Verb Square reverb pedal is for anyone that wants a high-quality unit at an affordable price.
This pedal is a popular choice for beginning players and can easily satisfy the requirements of seasoned professional guitarists.
The Verb Square is most useful with amplifiers that do not have a built-in reverb but it can be used with any amp to add extra types (modes) of reverb.
How The Verb Square Works
The pedal’s operation is straightforward and works exactly as expected.
Seven Reverb Modes With Three Control Knobs
The seven modes feature six classic reverb sounds plus one modern (mod) choice, which all essentially sound the way you would expect them to, based on their name.
The Studio mode has a higher output and can give your signal in a hint of overdrive.
Mod (modulated) can add some interesting chorus-type overtones to your playing. It is a very unique setting.
Each reverb mode is controlled by 3 adjustment knobs. Begin by setting the E.Level, Decay, and Tone control knobs at 12 o’clock and then adjust to taste.
The following table summarizes the unit’s layout, function, and specifications.
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reverb Mode Switch | |
| Room | Rich & Well-Balanced |
| Hall | Bright & Dimensional |
| Church | Huge Ambience |
| Spring | Analog spring reverb |
| Plate | “Midrangey” & Sweet |
| Studio | Powerful & Audacious |
| Mod | Modulated & “Chorusy” |
| Reverb Control Knobs | |
| E. Level | Adjusts reverb intensity |
| Decay | Adjusts reverb decay time |
| Tone | Turn clockwise to make tone brighter |
| On/Off Switch | True bypass |
| LED On/Off Indicator | Lights up yellow-amber when unit is on |
| Input/Output Jacks | Mono |
| Power Adapter Jack | 9 Volts DC (Center Pole Negative) |
| Weight | 8.81 oz (250 g) |
| Dimensions | 95(D)*45(W)*48(H) mm. |
| Warranty | 1 year |
To check out my review on the Donner echo unit, go to Donner Echo Square Review – This Pedal Hits The Jackpot!
Features And Benefits
Here are some of the features and benefits of this pedal, which generally apply to the entire Donner effects pedal line.
Simplicity
This reverb has a simple digital circuit design that can give you years of problem-free service.
The pedal’s controls are laid out logically, and with a little practice, you can quickly find all the reverb settings and tones you will probably ever need.
Functionality
For the price of this pedal, the Verb Square reverb gives you a ton of functionality! The three control knobs make it easy to change guitars and dial in your sound.
If your sound relies heavily on reverb then this unit can easily become an irreplaceable part of your setup. It won’t take you long to find your favorite settings.
Sturdy Housing
The pedal comes housed in a high-quality aluminum-alloy case that can withstand the rigors of the road or an overly aggressive pedal stomper. All Donner pedals are attractively color-coded for easy identification, even on a dark stage.
True Bypass
True bypass keeps your original guitar signal transparent and pure. It is a must if you have a large pedalboard.
What I Like About The Verb Square
Here are some of the things I really think stand out about this reverb pedal.
Great Value For The Money!
You probably cannot find a nicer-sounding and fuller functioning reverb pedal for the money! Donner is well-known for making high-value, low-cost products. This reverb could easily be used on-stage or in a recording studio.
Seven High Quality Reverb Modes
Each reverb mode is natural-sounding and can be customized with the E. Level, Decay, and Tone controls to work well with a variety of guitars and amplifiers. The unit works fine between the guitar and amp but is best placed in the effects loop.
Add your favorite delay pedal to make the Verb Square really come alive.
Although it can’t equal the quality of an analog tube reverb, the Verb Square does not sound artificial, brittle, or tinny, as some digital reverbs do.
Pedalboard-Friendly Mini-Pedal Design
The Donner Verb Square has a compact design that will take up minimal space on your pedalboard. Mini pedals are great, especially if you have a small overcrowded pedalboard setup.
What You Might Not Like About The Verb Square
There’s very little to criticize about this pedal. Donner has done a great job in every regard. Still, here are some things you might consider.
Power Adapter Not Included
An AC power adapter is not included with the unit. To be fair, you can’t really expect to get one with a $50 pedal! Most of the digital reverb pedals that cost four times as much do not come with a power adapter.
No Stereo Input Or Output
The Donner Verb Square has a mono input and output, but you still get more than you pay for with this unit. Compare the Donner to a stereo product like the $150 TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 reverb pedal and the price difference is obvious.
Small Control Knobs May Be Difficult To Adjust
To be picky, the small E. Level, Decay, and Tone control knobs could be difficult to adjust if the unit is in a large crowded pedalboard on a dimly lit stage. This small knob setup gives you the tradeoff that you find in any mini-pedal design.
Beware Of This Pedal’s Power Requirements
This pedal is not made to put a 9 Volt battery inside the unit because the housing is too small to accommodate one. This is not unusual for mini-pedals, which are made to be connected to the external power supply of a pedalboard.
If you are not using this unit on a pedalboard, then you can either buy a stand-alone power adapter or an external battery connector that attaches a 9 Volt battery to the power adaptor jack
What Is The Donner DP-1 Guitar Pedal Power Supply?
The DP-1 Power Supply is an effect-pedal power distribution system that is powered by its own 18 Volt power adapter.
It is specifically made to power eight Donner 9-Volt mini-pedals, one 12-Volt pedal, and one 18-Volt pedal. The 9 volt outputs, which would power the Donner Reverb, are rated at 500 mA.
The DP-1 has an LED power indicator for each of the 10 outputs. Each output is voltage regulated with its own short circuit protection circuit.
You can add the DP-1 to your pedalboard if it doesn’t already have its own power supply.
What Is The Donner 9V Battery Clip Connector Converter?
The Donner 9 Volt battery clip converter allows you to connect your Donner mini-pedal to a 9 Volt battery via the power adaptor jack.
This can be useful if you don’t want to buy a single 9 Volt power adapter (not included) for the pedal.
If you have more than one effects pedal then you might want to eventually purchase the Donner DP-1 or another 9 Volt (center negative) multi-pedal power supply.
Is The Verb Square Pedal Legit?
The Donner Verb Square gives you a full complement of high-quality reverb modes.
The three control knobs let you dial in virtually any reverb sound you require for any musical style. This pedal is very easy to adapt to any guitar and amp setup.
The Verb Square routinely gets high user-review ratings and is designated as an “Amazon’s Choice” item. You really can’t go wrong with this unit!
What Is The Verb Square Evolution+ Pedal?
The Donner Verb Square Evolution+ Pedal represents a bit of an upgrade from the Verb Square Reverb that is being reviewed in this article.
Here are the differences between the two units.
| Verb Square Pedal | Verb Square Evolution+ Pedal |
|---|---|
| Has Studio Mode | Studio Mode is replaced with DarkSea Mode |
| True Bypass | Buffer Bypass |
| No Effect Tail | Has Effect Tail |
| $50 (street) | $47 (street) |
The Studio mode is replaced by the DarkSea mode in the Evolution+, which has a uniquely darker sound and different decay dynamics.
The Evolution+ also has an Effect Tail. It’s activated by holding down the effect switch and keeps the reverb effect going while changing modes.
I would recommend that you try both pedals and see which one you prefer. I like the Studio mode a little better than the DarkSea mode, but it’s really a personal choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the questions I get asked most about Donner effects pedals.
Where Are Donner Pedals Made?
Donner is based in Hong Kong. Their pedals are made in China and shipped to warehouses in California, USA, and Canada for distribution.
Is There A Warranty On Donner Pedals?
All Donner effects pedals come with a one-year warranty.
Can You Use This Pedal With A 9 Volt Battery?
Yes, you can connect a 9 Volt battery to the pedal’s power adapter jack on the outside of the unit.
Does The Verb Square Evolution+ Pedal Sound Better Than The Verb Square Pedal?
The Evolution+ Pedal does not sound better but it gives you the DarkSea mode, which is not available on the Verb Square unit. You should try both pedals and decide which one you prefer.
Final Thoughts On The Donner Reverb Pedal Review
Donner is well known for making high-quality, low-cost musical equipment. Their effects pedals are popular among beginning players and professionals.
The donner reverb guitar pedal has seven very usable modes that can cover virtually any playing style and musical genre. If your amp has an effects loop then this is where the Verb Square pedal will sound best, otherwise put it in the signal chain between your guitar and amplifier input jack.
All in all, for the money, the Donner Verb Square unit is an excellent reverb pedal. So, if you are looking for a highly versatile mini-pedal for your pedalboard, then you should definitely give the Donner Verb Square a try.
Be aware that this pedal requires an external 9 Volt (center negative) power source.
Don’t forget to check out the Evolution+ pedal, which gives you the DarkSea mode and the Effect Tail.
For more info on reverb pedals, see What Is A Guitar Stomp Box – Attractive, Little, Tantalizing.
Tell Me What You Think
Please leave a comment below if you enjoyed this Donner reverb pedal review, have any questions about this product, or want to leave your own review. I will be happy to help you.
- Do you own a Donner Verb Square reverb pedal or have you tried one? What do you think about it?
- Which Donner reverb pedal do you like better, the Verb Square or the Verb Square Evolution+? Why?
- After reading this review would you buy this pedal? Why or why not?
I love that the Donner Reverb Pedal is for beginners and has an affordable price tag. My dad has been teaching my daughter and her husband how to play and they have only been learning for about 5 weeks. I think this pedal would be a great choice for them. The way you describe it, it sounds pretty straightforward and easy to use. I see it doesn’t come with a power adapter, but I think my dad has an extra one, so that wouldn’t be a problem.
Hi, Alicia
Thank You for your comments!
That’s great that your dad is teaching other family members how to play guitar. If they are learning on an electric guitar, a little reverb might come in handy at some point. If they have a guitar amplifier, then it might already have a built-in reverb setting.
Most pedals don’t come with a power adaptor, and mini-pedals are not usually big enough to be battery-powered. Mini-pedals can have the same electronics as full-size models, but they take up less room on a pedalboard, which means there is room for additional effects.
Maybe you should think about taking a few guitar lessons too; you might really enjoy it.
I appreciate your visit to my website,
Frank
WOW, I’m overwhelmed by the amount of information there is just for one little box. Absolutely awesome content, well written, and very informative. Now don’t get me wrong I’ve never played an instrument in my life, tried learning but just don’t have the musical talent.
Love it when other people play though, and there is some great talent out there and on the horizon, Your website will definitely help them along the way.
My hats off to you keep it up
Hi, Ben
Thank You for your comments!
Sometimes, if you try to learn too much too quickly, then it can be discouraging.
So maybe you should give the guitar another try. Check out my article, How To Stay Motivated To Learn Guitar – Top Tips For Success, to get some pointers that will really help you get started.
Frank
Anyone know what the mA draw is for this pedal? Did I miss it in the overwhelming volume of information on this product?
Hi, Gerald
Thank You for your inquiry!
Donner sells two power adapters for their effects pedals:
1. The Donner DPA-1 Guitar Power Adapter Output 9V DC 1A with 5 Way Daisy Chain
https://www.donnerdeal.com/products/donner-dpa-1-power-adapter-output-9v-dc-1a-with-5-way-daisy-chain
This adapter can daisy-chain five 9 Volt pedals, including the Donner Reverb, so it has an output of 9 Volts at 1 Amp.
2. The Donner DP-1 Guitar Pedal Power Supply 10 Isolated DC Output for 9V/12V/18V Effect Pedal
https://www.donnerdeal.com/products/donner-dp-1-guitar-pedal-power-supply-10-isolated-dc-output-for-9v-12v-18v-effect-pedal?_pos=3&_sid=a56c0ed44&_ss=r
This power adapter can handle 10 pedals rated at 9, 12, and 18 volts. The 9 volt outputs, which would power the Donner Reverb are rated at 500 mA.
*** NOTE: You can use a generic 9 Volt power adapter or any of the well-known brand-name adapters but the important thing to note is that THE POWER OUTPUT MUST BE SET UP TO BE TIP (CENTER) NEGATIVE, or you will damage your pedal!
Enjoy Your New Pedal, Whatever You Decide To Buy!
Frank
Hi There….Could you give me some information of this product. Especially I’m wondering about the impedance of this pedal ( input/output impedance ). In advance thanks
Hi There Sung
Regarding your question about this pedal’s input & output impedance, I left Donner an inquiry since the info is not available on their website.
I was able to find that info for their Vintaverb pedal:
input impedance = 1 Meg Ohms
output impedance = 100 Ohms
This may be similar to the Verb Square pedal
If Donner emails me back with the info on the Verb Square pedal I will forward it to you immediately.
Frank