[SOLVED!] Faceoff On The Effects: Strymon Flint V1 Vs. V2

Nowadays, there is no shortage of reverb and tremolo pedals but quite a few people still place their trust in Strymon Flint V1 and V2. Built to meet the needs and requirements of most guitarists, Flint effect pedals have gained a shower of praise. Consequently, the topic of Strymon Flint V1 and V2 comes up from time to time in discussions between guitarists. If you like both pedals and struggle to make up your mind, my article is going to be of use to you. 

A Summary Of The Pedals

As the original iteration of the world-famous Flint series, Strymon Flint V1 is the staple in the pedalboards of many guitarists around the globe. Known for its exceptional sound quality and user-friendly interface, Flint V1 is able to deliver a wide range of classic reverb and tremolo effects at a moment’s notice. 

In the case of Strymon Flint V2, it is the next evolution of the critically acclaimed Flint series. Building upon the success of its predecessor, Flint V2 takes reverb and tremolo to new heights thanks to an array of updates and enhancements. 

Strymon Flint V1 Vs. V2: Breakdown

Features And Functions

	Strymon Flint V1	Strymon Flint V2
Dimensions	4.5” deep x 4” wide x 1.75” tall	4.5” deep x 4” wide x 1.75” tall
Tremolo Types	’61 Harmonic Tremolo, ’63 Power Tube Tremolo, ’65 Photocell Tremolo	’61 Harmonic Tremolo, ’63 Power Tube Tremolo, ’65 Photocell Tremolo
Reverb Types	’60s Spring Tank Reverb, ’70s Electronic Reverb, ’80s Hall Rack Reverb	’60s Spring Tank Reverb, ’70s Electronic Reverb, ’80s Hall Rack Reverb
Tremolo adjustment and tone-shaping knobs	Intensity, Speed	Intensity, Speed
Reverb adjustment and tone-shaping knobs	Decay, Color, Mix	Decay, Color, Mix
Input	High impedance mono input (internal jumper enables selectable TRS stereo input)	High-impedance, ultra-low noise discrete Class A JFET TRS stereo input
Output	Stereo	Low-impedance stereo audio signal outputs. Use OUT L for mono output.
Expression Pedal Input	An expression pedal External tap pedal Favorite switch	A TRS expression pedal, A MiniSwitch, MultiSwitch Plus, or TRS MIDI connection
Footswitches	Tremolo Bypass and Reverb Bypass	Reverb On/Off & Tremolo On/Off footswitches
USB-C	Does not have one	Computer connection for controlling via MIDI and for performing firmware updates

Comparison 

Tremolo 

Everyone that owns Flint V1 knows that its tremolo effect can go slow but not quite as slow as the V2. In times of need, Flint V2 can introduce a slow tremolo range and ensure versatility in shaping tremolo textures. In addition, the expanded “Speed” control of Flint V2 allows people to attain a broad range of tremolo speeds. That means the presence of Flint V2 guarantees mesmerizing tremolo effects.

Reverb

Regarding the reverb tonality, reports suggest that between the pedals, V1’s reverb may be darker in character while V2’s reverb is reputedly brighter. Needless to say, the differences in preferences mean the community is at odds about the winner in Strymon Flint V1 vs. V2. Aside from that, V2 incorporates a pre-delay control for the reverb so users may freely adjust the time between the dry signal and the onset of the reverb effect. The result is an enhancement of the space and dimension in the sound.

Miscancellous

Strymon Flint V2 features an externally mounted mono/stereo input switch so it’s easy to switch between mono and stereo operation. By taking advantage of the switch, guitarists should be able to adapt the pedal to various setups and arrangements. Naturally, V2 gives a good account of itself in mono as well as stereo pedalboard configurations. While similar models exist,  Flint V2 stands out as there is no need to disassemble the pedal, tweak internal settings and so on to switch between modes. 

MIDI functionality is another significant addition in the V2: it grants guitarists expanded control and integration options for MIDI-enabled devices. Because of that, if you have Strymon Flint V2, you get the chance to remotely control nearly every knob, switch, and setting via the EXP/MIDI jack/USB-C connector. If you make use of MIDI Clock Sync, you can synchronize the tremolo speed and save sync setting for each preset. Last but not least, since the pedal possesses a vast storage capacity (300 onboard MIDI preset locations), you get to save and recall new sounds effortlessly.

Conclusion

For most of the time, both Strymon Flint V1 and V2 work well as reverb and tremolo pedals. While V1 remains a solid choice for people who desire classic tones, V2 takes things up a notch by incorporating updated algorithms, preset options, MIDI functionality and externally mounted mono/stereo input switch. If you appreciate time-tested designs and straightforward performance, Flint V1 won’t let you down. On the other hand, if you prioritize advanced features and sonic capabilities, it’s strongly recommended that you invest in Flint V2.