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One of the best budget reverb pedals money can buy.

If you’re on the hunt for an affordable—yet feature-rich—reverb pedal, the FS02 Reverb from Flamma Innovation might just be exactly what you need. This compact stereo-capable reverb pedal offers seven high-quality reverb algorithms, stereo inputs and outputs, the ability to save presets, and an extremely straightforward control layout—all at a price that is hard to beat.

In this hands-on review, we are taking a deep dive into the Flamma FS02 Reverb’s features, its build quality, and most importantly, its sound.

If you’re wondering whether this is the best budget reverb pedal for your setup, keep reading—We’ve got all of the details below to help you make an informed decision.

First Impressions & Build Quality

Right out of the box, the Flamma FS02 Reverb gives off a solid first impression. While it sits in the “budget reverb pedal” category, the FS02 punches well above its weight in terms of build quality. The enclosure is made of metal—unlike some pedals in the ‘affordable’ category—and overall, it is a pedal that I wouldn’t be worried about taking to a gig and enduring some wear and tear.

As far as looks go, I like the design of the FS02. It has a super clean aesthetic with clearly-labeled knobs and the word “REVERB” plastered on the front—telling you exactly what it is.

One cool feature of the FS02’s design is the way the LEDs around the footswitch light up when the pedal is engaged. Of course, this has no bearing on how the pedal sounds, but it does look really cool–and that counts for something.

Reverb Modes, Features & Controls Overview

The Flamma FS02 Reverb packs a surprising amount of features for its price. With seven different reverb modes to choose from, mono or stereo operation, presets, and its unique (yet useful) control scheme it offers a lot of versatility for you to explore all kinds of different reverb sounds and ambient textures.

Unlike some budget reverb pedals that may limit you to just one or two sounds, the FS02 provides a range of reverb options ranging from short, subtle room reverbs to vast, atmospheric ambient sounds.

Reverb Modes – Exploring the 7 Different Reverb Algorithms in the FS02

• Room Reverb – This is a small room reverb sound with a relatively fast decay.
• Hall Reverb – A large, spacious concert hall-style reverb.
• Church Reverb – A large reverb sound with a slight shimmer effect.
• Cave Reverb – A vast, cavernous reverb – great for ambiance.
• Plate Reverb – A studio-style plate reverb effect.
• Spring Reverb – A classic, drippy spring reverb tank sound.
• Mod Reverb – A reverb sound with a modulation effect.

Knob Functions – How Each Knob Tweaks The Sound

• The Level Knob – The Level knob controls the wet/dry mix of the reverb
• The Decay Knob – The Decay knob adjusts the length of the reverb trail.
• The Hi-Cut Knob – The Hi-Cut knob rolls off the high frequencies of the reverb when turned up.
• The Lo-Cut Knob – The Lo-Cut knob rolls off the low-end frequencies of the reverb when turned up.
• The Pre-Dly Knob – The Pre-Dly knob controls the pre-delay of the reverb or the gap between when you hear the original sound of your guitar and the sound of the reverb.
• The Save/Select Button – This button allows you to change between the seven different reverb modes and can be held to save your current settings as a preset.

Mono and Stereo Inputs and Outputs

The Flamma FS02 features two input jacks and two output jacks that allow you to run it in mono or stereo depending on your pedalboard setup and your needs. This is a massive bonus for the FS02 as it is not something you see too often with other budget reverb pedals. 

Trails Toggle

The FS02 gives you the option to choose whether or not you want your reverb to trail on when the pedal is turned off as opposed to completely cutting the reverb sound when you step on the footswitch.

• Trails On: The reverb sound fades out naturally when the pedal is bypassed. Personally, I prefer this since it makes the transition from “On” to “Off” more smooth.
• Trails Off: The reverb sound cuts off immediately when the pedal is bypassed. This can be good for tight, rhythmic playing or when you want complete control over when the effect stops.

You can choose either option by simply unplugging the pedal from the power source, holding the footswitch down, and plugging it back in. The “Save/Select” button with be blue when trails are on or red when they are off.

Check out our hands-on demo of the Flamma FS02 here, which goes over all of the controls and each of the seven reverb modes:

Sound Quality – How Does It Perform?

For a budget-friendly reverb pedal, the Flamma FS02 delivers on a lot of what I would want out of a reverb pedal. In fact, it competes with some of the higher-end reverb pedals in my collection.

Each of the seven reverb modes sounds like they should—the room reverb sounds like a nice room reverb, the spring reverb has that drippy spring sound that we all know and love, and the more ambient modes sound massive. 

One downside of the FS02 is that I would like to have a bit more control over things like the amount of modulation in the Mod Reverb or the level of the shimmer effect in the Church reverb setting. While the modulation and shimmer effects don’t sound bad, it would just be nice to have more ways to shape the sound of these two algorithms.

Final Verdict – Is the Flamma FS02 Worth It?

The Flamma FS02 Reverb is one of the best budget reverb pedals available today. It provides impressive sound quality, useful features, and stereo capability—all at a fraction of the price of high-end units. While it may not be the ultimate reverb for tone chasers, it’s an excellent option for guitarists who want great reverb tones without spending hundreds of dollars. If you need a versatile, affordable, and great-sounding reverb pedal, the FS02 is definitely worth it.

If you’re still unsure, check out our full list of the best reverb pedals (including several $100 options).