SCReverb + compressor + EQ = too much?

[mth5044]

I like to think out my projects for a long time before finally putting it all together (basically I start it then move on without finishing  ), and I'm finally getting my reverb together, along with some suggestions put out by Mark Hammer, which include putting a compressor (orange squeezer) on the wet signal before it goes to the springs, then an eq circuit (tonemender) after the signal comes back from the springs, before it's mixed with the dry signal.

So as I'm working it out, I've got room for six knobs and a switch. There are two knobs that are necessary from the SCR, which are Dwell and Mix. Dwell is the amount of wet signal and mix is the dry (or so I've read). The tonemender has a Treble, Mids, Bass, Volume and a mid switch. The compressor has a volume and a trimmer for compression. I was also thinking about adding a switch for both the on/off for the comp and an on/off for the tonemender.

That leaves 7 knobs and 3 switches. Too many. So I'm thinking about what will be tweaked on a play by play basis. I can assume that the TMB and the mix and dwell knobs will be. When I'm not sure about is the volume of the compressor, volume on the tonemender and the midshift of the tonemender. The volume on the comp would just control the amount of signal going into the springs, where the volume on the tonemender would control the amount of volume coming out of the springs.. isn't that same as the dwell pot? Maybe thats not necessary.

Just looking for some more insight from people who are a bit more familiar with reverb.

Maybe I should just sleep on it.

[mth5044]

Hmm... maybe I should put the tonemender before the dwell control, put the volume on the tonecontrol as a trimmer, set it to unity gain then keep the dwell control as it is.

Then I could put the mid switch of the EQ on the outside, then on/off controls for the comp and the eq stage inside the unit. It's a huge enclosure, so there is plenty of room.

Writing stuff out always makes it easier.

[Mark Hammer]

1) The original OS had an on-off switch and was set for approximately unity gain.  That's all you need too.  Remember, the purpose is not to provide more sustain for the springs, but rather simply not to slap them too hard.  If you want more gain, that's what a (proper) Dwell control is for.

2) There ARE rackmount spring reverbs with sweepable midrange, but quite frankly you really only need some sort of treble and bass shelving.

There, does that simplify enough?

[mth5044]

Yes, thanks Mark, you have been vital in my (slow) process.

I just got word from a guy who you recommended the orange squeezer to a while ago, and he said that the orange squeezer was basically useless, he couldn't tell the difference between on or off.

He did say how bassy it was, and said there were some other mods on this board, so I'll have to have a little looksie. You had recommended a two pole highpass filter before, but it blew my mind. Guess I'll have to look about.

Thanks!

[Mark Hammer]

I just got word from a guy who you recommended the orange squeezer to a while ago, and he said that the orange squeezer was basically useless, he couldn't tell the difference between on or off.

The OS does not change the tone and is not supposed to either.  It is there simply for insurance when peaks occur.  People who use it for nonreverbed guitar often have a hard time hearing it, or being able to tell if its on, so I would not expect any major audible impact on reverb sound unless you were processing something with big-time dynamics (e.g., a mic'd snare).

[d95err]

The Orange Squeezer is very sensitive to how you set the bias trimmer. Mine can go from almost inaudible to squished completely flat. It's not very transparent either, adding a bit of dirt to the signal somehow. That's when using it like a regular guitar pedal of course; I have no idea how it would work when used on only the wet reverb signal.