Tube Reverb?

[MarkDonMel]

Hey all,

Anyone know of a well explained reverb project?  I am looking to build a spring reverb in a stompox type setup, not integrated into an amp.

I really like the ultra splashy reverb sound like old fender amps ala dick dale.  When the reverb is turned up you can really hear the springs rattle...  That's the sound.

Anyone have any info?  Will the spring reverb project, stage center reverb, on gen guitar gadgets sound similar to this? When looking for a project to build, does the number of springs in the tank, or it's length, make a difference in trying to obtain this sound?  Any tube reverb projects? Or, would tube reverbs need to be integrated into an amp to use it's tubes?

Thanks a lot, Matt.

[gtrmac]

You can get a kit for a Fender style tube reverb. I can't remember the company that sells them at the moment. The shematics are on the Fender Amp Field Guide website though. Weber VST has a chassis and Mojo sells a cabinet and other parts.

[Peter Snowberg]

If you build the stage center reverb, and use a 3 spring (sometimes called a 6 spring) long tank with either a medium or long delay time, you will be plenty reverberated. The length and number of springs do make quite a difference, but all of them sound "springy".

You don't need tubes for a reverb, and in fact opamps will drive them with more clarity. I don't know what mods Dick Dale used in his amp, but the stock Fender circuit only adds reverb to the treble. I like a fuller, more round "surfy" sound so I increase the input cap for the reverb circuit. The stage center already has this change included.

The only problem with taking the tank out of the amp is that any foot induced vibration will crash the springs, but that may be what you want . I would advise mounting the circuit in a box, and using a 3 foot dual RCA patch cord to connect to the tank. That way you can set the tank on a piece of foam to avoid unwanted spring crashing. I think you'll like it quite a bit.

Take care,
-Peter

[Paul Marossy]

I personally feel that tube reverb sounds better...
but that's just me.

[Peter Snowberg]

I personally feel that tube reverb sounds better...
but that's just me.

Just curious Paul, have you tried an A/B test with the same circuit topology comparing tubes and transistors?

I gave up on judging a circuit by it's components for the most part.

I'll add that the typical Fender driver is really pretty poor IMHO. There's a lot of room to make that side of the circuit sound better. The recovery side never sees clipping so if you voice a solid state circuit the same way, it sounds really good.

Just another cent being thrown in.

-Peter

[MarkDonMel]

Thanks a lot, Peter, Paul, and..Mar...I mean gtrmac.  :lol:


I was hoping that the stage center reverb would be a good sounding project because, being a beginner, I would have an almost impossibly difficult time trying to build one without the wiring diagrams that JD provides. Sound like it is.  Thanks.

Thanks for the parts sites gtrmac.

Wiring the switch away from the tank is a good tip, thanks Peter.

Will a longer delay make the springs vibrate for a longer period of time, so-to-speak?

Thanks again, you all are always willing to help, and it is very much appreciated.

Thanks, Matt.

[Paul Marossy]

Peter,

Well, I have a '74 Fender Twin Reverb with tube reverb and a 1985 Seymour Duncan Convertible with SS reverb send and return.

The Fender sounds a lot better to me, and is a lot quieter when you turn the reverb way up. The Convertible gets quite noisy, and it has decent chips in it.

But maybe that's not fair to say that SS reverb doesn't sound as good. I guess you would have to isolate the reverb circuits and then compare them.

[Jim Jones]

Hi Matt,

Check out this site for all the cool old Fender stuff: http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/  Here's the standalone reverb unit page http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/reverb_60s.html  There's your Dick Dale machines!  

Jim

[petemoore]

That IVE been looking for for my accutronics tank...kool...
 Never had enough reverbs IMO. One for each channel is best according to Fender and Me.
 You can mix channels into one reverb but get better definition the less complex the signal you put in/get out.
 The thing were usin on the PA is one of those 'Digisorry' [sorry that my opinion] thingy's with the readouts like 'hall' 'room' ...and a counter...the only knobs are for input overload [with the LEDs input level meter] and a mix...after going through al the presets I can't see how anyone could prefer that to a regular reverb like old boards had....just MY O. Plugging in that thing and hearing the efkt makes me think I'm singing through a tube or something...as long as the efkt is very faint I guess it could be considered as 'enhancing'...lol
 Build one of these and carry it around for reverb on my mike I will...and another for my guitar too !!!

[MarkDonMel]

Right on Jim.  I was on that site, but didn't find that page with the reverb unit on it. Very cool.  Thanks,  Matt

[MarkDonMel]

Hmm..
After looking at the schematic, I think that's a bit advanced for me,  I should probably wait a while for that one lol.