[SOLVED!] Strymon BlueSky Vs. BigSky: Struggle In The Sky

From outside, Strymon is just one of many brands of effect pedals but several of its models have no competitors, especially in the reverb category. Actually, various guitarists rate Strymon BlueSky and BigSky as the best choices for reverb in pedalboards which makes Strymon BlueSky vs. BigSky a hot topic. If the Strymon pedals look good in your eyes but you cannot make up your mind on what to get, my article is for you. Through the paragraphs down below, I will introduce you to key aspects of Strymon BlueSky and BigSky.

Specifications And Features 

 

 

 

Note: In the comparison, we use the latest version of Strymon BlueSky, BlueSky V2.

	Strymon BlueSky	Strymon BigSky
Power	9V 300mA	9V 300mA
Processor	520MHz ARM Superscalar	366MHz SIMD SHARC
Audio	24-bit 96kHz	24-bit 96kHz
Reverbs	3	12
Presets	1	300
Knobs	6	9
Footswitches	2	3
Price	$379	$479

Reviews Of The Pedals: Complication 

Strymon BlueSky 

For your information, BlueSky V1 and V2 resemble each other in a number of regards but there is a key difference: processor. BlueSky V2 packs the 520MHz ARM Superscalar processor which is a cut above the processor of BlueSky V1 and the 366MHz SIMD SHARC processor of BigSky. Consequently, for those that place processing power above all else, BlueSky is the one that comes out on top in Strymon BlueSky vs. BigSky. Then again, it’s worth pointing out that the processing power of Strymon BigSky is more than enough in most of the cases.

To facilitate control, BlueSky integrates a straightforward interface of 6 knobs (decay, low damp, pre-delay, high damp and mix) and 2 footswitches (favorite and bypass). Even if you know little about effect pedals, you should be able to master the interface of BlueSky beforehand. Aside from that, BlueSky is slim and sleek so it won’t occupy a lot of space. Thanks to the excellent handling characteristics of BlueSky, relocating it is a walk in the park as well.

About acquisition, since BlueSky costs less than BigSky ($379 vs. $479), it’s a solid unit for budget-minded guitarists. Plenty of retailers nowadays have BlueSky on hand too, thus, you will have an easy time getting your hands on one. That being said, for good measure, you should stick to well-known names and steer clear of unbelievable deals. Considering the number of scammers and evolving schemes, it won’t hurt to adopt a vigilant attitude while reviewing bargains.

Strymon BigSky 

Designed to be the staple of guitarists’ pedalboards, BigSky is capable of taking on all sorts of tasks in times of need. Boasting 300 presets and 12 reverbs, BigSky by all accounts outmatches BlueSky (1 preset and 3 reverbs) in terms of adaptability. The interface of BigSky is also more sophisticated than BlueSky: 9 knobs (type, value, tone, decay, param 1, pre-delay, param 2, mix and mod) and 3 footswitches (A, B and C). Despite the learning curve, BigSky is popular among those who prioritize the capabilities of their pedal.

In the case of connectivity, BlueSky and BigSky use a similar layout but BigSky holds a slight advantage. Unlike BigSky, BlueSky requires people to use a splitter and special cables to get the stereo input and take advantage of MIDI respectively. Consequently, depending on the settings, BigSky is going to provide a superior degree of convenience compared to BlueSky. Still, the connectivity of BlueSky is not half bad and it can fit quite a few arrangements given the chance.

At the moment, for the average guitarist, BigSky is no small investment but the values it offers justify its price. BigSky lasts a long time as well so if you pick it up, it’s going to be years before you have to find a replacement.

Conclusion

To put it plainly, there is no clear winner Strymon BlueSky vs. BigSky as they have unique pros and cons. If a no-nonsense reverb pedal for casual use is all you need, it’s strongly recommended that you go for BlueSky. On the other hand, if you desire a reverb pedal that grants you tons of options, feel free to spend extra bucks and pick up BigSky. As long as you take your needs and requirements into account, you will be able to determine which pedal suits you most.

The Positioning Of Reverb Pedals

In case you don’t know,  the order of components in pedalboards affects the final sound so it requires special attention. To make sure that reverb pedals like Strymon BlueSky and BigSky perform to their full potential, you must position them properly.

Ideally, you should keep the reverb pedal at the end of your pedalboard (furthest from the guitar, closest to the amplifier). That means you must remember to set up other pedals such as overdrive, distortion, modulation, compression and so on before the reverb pedal. If you set up the mentioned pedals after the reverb pedal, the resulting tone is going to be messy.