My reverb sounds like I'm in a cave

[SophieB]

I use electric guitar to accompany my voice. When I use the reverb on my amp, it either sounds too dry or too muddy, I can't get it to sound right.
Do I need a reverb pedal? What are the good ones?
My amp is a Fender Blues Junior

[DawgBone]

[ruger9]

Fender reverb does get deep, fast. The only thing you can do is get a different reverb pan, one with a short decay.

The one that's in there is a medium decay, part# 8EB2C1B

You could replace it with this one, just unplug the old one and plug in the new one. Otherwise, yes- you'll need a reverb pedal. And that's an OCEAN to swim through.

Reverb Tank - Mod(R) 8EB1C1B, Short Decay, 3-Spring | Antique Electronic Supply

[Doctor Jeff]

My thought is you probably want less reverb than you think. A little bit of "dry reverb" plus the room acoustics will go a long way, so maybe your amp reverb will be OK IRL.

I personally use an EHX Holy Grail Nano, which I like quite a bit. I use the "hall" setting.

I have some experience using pedal reverb and tremolo in a live setting--somewhat crowded club. It sounds much better in my living room than it did on the recording from that event.

Of course that's just the view from the cheap seats. I'm sure more accomplished players will chime in with good advice.

[DawgBone]

My thought is you probably want less reverb than you think. A little bit of "dry reverb" plus the room acoustics will go a long way, so maybe your amp reverb will be OK IRL.

I personally use an EHX Holy Grail Nano, which I like quite a bit. I use the "hall" setting.

I have some experience using pedal reverb and tremolo in a live setting--somewhat crowded club. It sounds much better in my living room than it did on the recording from that event.

Of course that's just the view from the cheap seats. I'm sure more accomplished players will chime in with good advice.

I half posted it in jest because OP didn't provide a budget and because I used to have one of those Fender tanks and for light reverb it was absolutely outstanding and I say that as someone who mostly hates reverb for it's pick attack destroying properties and I have had horrible luck with digital equipment and OD sounds. The mix and dwell controls give you the perfect amount of reverb.

[ruger9]

I half posted it in jest because OP didn't provide a budget and because I used to have one of those Fender tanks and for light reverb it was absolutely outstanding and I say that as someone who mostly hates reverb for it's pick attack destroying properties and I have had horrible luck with digital equipment and OD sounds. The mix and dwell controls give you the perfect amount of reverb.

Having both controls is key. The only way to do that (besides a Fender tank) is with a pedal, or one of the other small tanks available, like Surfy Bear or Reverbamate... real spring reverbs in smaller/cheaper enclosures. To keep it SIMPLE, try the smaller pan in the amp first. It's cheap and easy, just plug-n-play.

Link to the real spring reverb pedals:

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[DawgBone]

Having both controls is key. The only way to do that (besides a Fender tank) is with a pedal, or one of the other small tanks available, like Surfy Bear or Reverbamate... real spring reverbs in smaller/cheaper enclosures. To keep it SIMPLE, try the smaller pan in the amp first. It's cheap and easy, just plug-n-play.

Link to the real spring reverb pedals:

HTTP 429 Too Many Requests(6)

Yes it is key.

Haven't tried any of those pedals in the link but I won't be wasting dough on digital reverbs again cause of the harshness in the high end when using a mildly driven tone. The other guitarist I work with showed up with a Gamechanger Audio Light Pedal Reverb the other day. Has real springs in it, all the parameters are controllable but it's about 400 bucks new. Really great sounding pedal.

Not really applicable to the OP but someone, either here or elsewhere posted some stuff a while back about how you can tweak the reverb on a BF Fender so that it becomes more controllable. I took the tanks out of both my Twins for the same reason as the OP. It's either dry or it's washed out. In due time I'll probably just reach for another Fender RI tank because it was that good and it provides a really nice, warm preamping effect.

[Gitfiddler]

I use electric guitar to accompany my voice. When I use the reverb on my amp, it either sounds too dry or too muddy, I can't get it to sound right.
Do I need a reverb pedal? What are the good ones?
My amp is a Fender Blues Junior

Fender Blues Jr. amps have a reputation for mediocre reverb. It's been discussed by BJ owners for years. Fender supposedly improved the reverb on newer production Blues Jr.s.

I've owned a BJ since 2008 and had techs mod the circuit for better tone and address the reverb with only marginal effect. I prefer to use a reverb pedal like a EH Holy Grail or most any other quality reverb pedal for this rig. The BJ reverb is not horrible, but it lacks the typical Fender lush quality.

[jads57]

Why not get a T.C. Pedal Hall of Fame,and put in your effects loop?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Why not get a T.C. Pedal Hall of Fame,and put in your effects loop?

IIRC, the BJ doesn’t have an effects loop.

[jads57]

Then get a used Quilter Aviator and the Reverb has amount and dwell controls. And never needs new tubes either,Lol!

[rpjazzguitar]

I've heard good things about the TC reverb from players I trust.

I think that the last time I saw Vic Juris he was using a Dispatch Master and, of course, he sounded terrific.

And, a low cost solution might be this, depending on your situation. Since you're singing, I'm guessing you're going through a PA which has some reverb? And, also through the BJ? Can you run a line to the PA from the BJ, or a splitter or something, and add the reverb from the PA? That is, continue to use your amp, if you prefer that, but just add some ambience with the PA?