Strymon BigSky MX Reverb

stratjacket

stratjacket

Well-known member
Anyone using it? I did a search on here and found nothing.
It’s crazy expensive (used about $550-580, new $679) but looks to have everything I can ever imagine for Reverb. Can load up convolution reverbs as well which is kinda cool.

I like having a dedicated reverb pedal at the end of the chain and currently use a Strymon BlueSky, the smaller brother of the big ones. It sounds great and does the trick…just gas I guess on something that’s probably overkill for my uses.

On one hand I know I’ll never use all the atmospheric Reverb (shimmer, etc..) types, but nice to know they’re there if I wanted to try them.

But curious if anyone has tried it?
BigSkyMX_Press_AngleBeauty_Trans_HeroSite.png
 
Never played one, was looking at them a couple years ago but I bought the Meris Mercury 7 instead. Fat and juicy, lush. The swell mode is cool. Angelic and demonic tones are available inside but plus very tweakable reverb, reflection parameters control 'verb on the lows and highs, all kinds of stuff, plus the modulation.

I wish the Meris was laid out more like that Big Sky and its seems to be with the newer MercuryX but the original is pretty geeky and you have to memorize the layout, adding the footswitch pedal can store like 4 presets and that's in the Mercury7. I built my own switcher pedal. I personally don't like digital reverb mixed with a cranked tube amp, I always hear a harshness added to the highs regardless of what unit I tried so I never gig that stuff. It's a fun toy but a cool one.
 
stratjacket said:
That’s cool, I did some reading on the Meris site. Looks like a beast.
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Meris designer worked at Strymon prior to founding Meris. I would definitely go Meris MercX if you are spending the coin but the Strymon will have the resale factor if you don't want it later. The Meris is just a much newer designed unit whereas I think Strymon has been making the same big sky over a decade. The Specular Tempus might be another unique reverb/shimmer to have a look at but it's not a big daddy unit like the Strymon and MercX

EDIT: Nevermind, looks like the MX version is the updated model....
 
I have one. It's very good. This, the Meris MercuryX, and the Eventide H90 are my current favorite reverbs. Though there are other good ones out there, like the Walrus Audio Sloer, the Neunaber Wet, Earthquaker Devices Avalanche Run, etc.
 
Thanks dudes, I went ahead and placed an order. Hopefully will be in before I get some time off for Christmas so I can spend some time with it
 
I've played the MX, and also ended up on the Meris Mercury 7.

The MX has more stuff I wont ever use, definitely, but the Meris has almost as much versatility and IMO better sound quality, along with being easier to dial in.

Not to say the MX is a bad option, it's just a lot more fiddly
 
Also wanted to mention that the Strymon Cloudburst is great for a cheaper, less flexible option. It's not nearly as tweakable and doesn't have as many kinds of reverbs, but it sounds very good, and it's smaller and cheaper.
 
DanTravis62 said:
I've played the MX, and also ended up on the Meris Mercury 7.

The MX has more stuff I wont ever use, definitely, but the Meris has almost as much versatility and IMO better sound quality, along with being easier to dial in.

Not to say the MX is a bad option, it's just a lot more fiddly
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The Mercury 7 is a great reverb but it's irritating how knobs have two functions and you have to memorize the whole thing to make use of them all. I'm still mind blown but the sounds you can pull out of it. It's truly uncharted territory. Both Plate and Cathedra are amazing. I would love to give the MercuryX a go sometime....
 
VonBonfire said:
The Mercury 7 is a great reverb but it's irritating how knobs have two functions and you have to memorize the whole thing to make use of them all. I'm still mind blown but the sounds you can pull out of it. It's truly uncharted territory. Both Plate and Cathedra are amazing. I would love to give the MercuryX a go sometime....
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I don't find it very hard to use, especially compared to the strymon

As far as multi-function reverbs go, the meris is actually a very simple pedal

I also would like to try the MercuryX, but I still feel like theres more I can delve into with the OG
 
DanTravis62 said:
I don't find it very hard to use, especially compared to the strymon

As far as multi-function reverbs go, the meris is actually a very simple pedal

I also would like to try the MercuryX, but I still feel like theres more I can delve into with the OG
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Are you referring to the Bigsky or the BigSky MX?
I used to have a BigSky and sold it because it was cumbersome to edit. The new MX looks very easy and straight forward.

I only ask since I watched a few comparison videos of the Meris vs MX and they commented the MX was much easier and faster to dial in. But I could see if you’re used to the Meris it might be more intuitive.
 
stratjacket said:
Are you referring to the Bigsky or the BigSky MX?
I used to have a BigSky and sold it because it was cumbersome to edit. The new MX looks very easy and straight forward.

I only ask since I watched a few comparison videos of the Meris vs MX and they commented the MX was much easier and faster to dial in. But I could see if you’re used to the Meris it might be more intuitive.
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The MX is just as complicated as the bigsky imo, I haven't played the mercuryx though.
 
DanTravis62 said:
I don't find it very hard to use, especially compared to the strymon

As far as multi-function reverbs go, the meris is actually a very simple pedal

I also would like to try the MercuryX, but I still feel like theres more I can delve into with the OG
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It's easy enough to use I just never committed the double functions of the knobs to memory since I never use reverb at gigs. Basically without the control manual to remind me I'm hosed, And you are right, there is a lot of possibilities in that original box. It was marketed as that getting bladerunner sound but I also found heavenly and angelic shimmers. I would assume the X edition is even more mind blowing but I only got money for tools not toys these days. I couldn't even swing the Polymoon on top of the Merc at the time. That was his other creation of his that is completely nuts through a stereo rig.
 
I haven’t messed around with an MX in person, but I did kind of raise an eyebrow when I read it uses an OLED screen. They look great, but aren’t they notorious for image burn-in? Doesn’t seem like the most well-informed choice to use a screen like that with a pedal that always basically displays the same couple of things.

I'd imagine if you spent that kind of cash on a single pedal, you'd want all the parts of it to stay good as long as possible.
 
japetus said:
What type of reverb do you guys use mostly?
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The spring verb on the strymon volante for "standard" fender type

The Meris mercury 7 for any "effects" type reverb (blade runner style, cathedral, shimmer)

And then the NUX Atlantic for auxiliary reverbs and delays - as in for a song specific tone
 
TheGreatGreen said:
They look great, but aren’t they notorious for image burn-in? Doesn’t seem like the most well-informed choice to use a screen like that with a pedal that always basically displays the same couple of things.
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Yeah this is another reason I prefer the Meris

The strymon is probably fine for a "buy it, use it for 3 months, sell it" pedal

But long term that's not a risk I'm willing to take
 
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