Modded Fender reverb tank RI

[5F6-A]

I know most guitar players really like reverb as it helps getting a very special, richer touch.

With that purpose I've found that the Fender reverb tank is a nice effect but more so with some mods I've performed.

I had a look inside and I noticed some very so-so looking coupling caps... uhmmmmm... time to plug the soldering iron in.

I got some Mustard type caps (Sozos and TAD ). They sound fairly smooth and a bit darker than others like Auricaps which are sooooo transparent. I've found out that that very slight dullness is not bad in such circuit. I used an Orange Drop in one slot as I didn't have a mustard type cap for that particular slot there and then.
The infamous C10 cap was cnahged for a silver mica type and following Mike Fuller's suggestion I went for a much bigger value than stock ( 250 pF ). I used a 1000 pF which sounds better to my ears.
The output tranny is a Mercury Magnetics replacement as the original looked and sounded weak.

Some pics;










Any comment will be greatly appreciated....

[5F6-A]

forgot to mention: valves were changed to NOS type. Marconi 12AX7, Mullard ECC81 and RCA 6V6

[rockinlespaul]

Very interesting stuff. I love my Bandmaster Reverb, but I've never tried a stand alone Fender reverb unit. I'd love to some day though. Have you got a chance to A/B the reissue with a original unit? What are the differences, if any, in sound, performance and internals?

Do you ever use it with a Marshall type amp? If so, how is it?

Thanks for the post...very cool stuff!

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by rockinlespaul

Very interesting stuff. I love my Bandmaster Reverb, but I've never tried a stand alone Fender reverb unit. I'd love to some day though. Have you got a chance to A/B the reissue with a original unit? What are the differences, if any, in sound, performance and internals?

Do you ever use it with a Marshall type amp? If so, how is it?

Thanks for the post...very cool stuff!

Those old Fender, and some cases Gibson Tube tanks are cool the dwell control, you can really tune in some truly natural reverbs with alot of experience you can dial in any kind of room or hall , even staircase reverbs They really work well in effects loops , so your reverb comes after your drive/ breakup, as it occurs natually Reverb before breakup is just a mess of muddy tones

[rockinlespaul]

Originally Posted by lp59aholicDon

Those old Fender, and some cases Gibson Tube tanks are cool the dwell control, you can really tune in some truly natural reverbs with alot of experience you can dial in any kind of room or hall , even staircase reverbs They really work well in effects loops , so your reverb comes after your drive/ breakup, as it occurs natually Reverb before breakup is just a mess of muddy tones

Now I really want one, lol. Have you used one before Don? I've had a few opportunities to get original ones for not much more than a reissue...hmmm...

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by rockinlespaul

Now I really want one, lol. Have you used one before Don? I've had a few opportunities to get original ones for not much more than a reissue...hmmm...

Yep COuple originals and one later hand wired one, Take your favorite drive pedal of choice, run it into this, or put into your favorite tube amp with a loop, By far the best reverbs you can ever get from anything mechanaical , I understand Gary Moore back in the 90s bought two of em , when he was running Soldano's < If I had cash to smear around, I'd get one myself ,use in either my Seymour Duncan or Mesa Recto

[rockinlespaul]

Originally Posted by lp59aholicDon

Yep COuple originals and one later hand wired one, Take your favorite drive pedal of choice, run it into this, or put into your favorite tube amp with a loop, By far the best reverbs you can ever get from anything mechanaical , I understand Gary Moore back in the 90s bought two of em , when he was running Soldano's < If I had cash to smear around, I'd get one myself ,use in either my Seymour Duncan or Mesa Recto

Awesome!

I'd love to try one through my old Traynor. Sometimes a hint of verb would really set things off.

Ugh...GAS....AGAIN.

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by rockinlespaul

Awesome!

I'd love to try one through my old Traynor. Sometimes a hint of verb would really set things off.

Ugh...GAS....AGAIN.

I hope your Traynor can push ultra clean or has a good loop though

[rockinlespaul]

Originally Posted by lp59aholicDon

I hope your Traynor can push ultra clean or has a good loop though

Channel one can('59 bassman). No loop though(I dont think..I'll have to look).
How would it sound overdriven? Can you dial anything decent in like that?

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by rockinlespaul

Channel one can('59 bassman). No loop though(I dont think..I'll have to look).
How would it sound overdriven? Can you dial anything decent in like that?

Honestly never over drove the Reverb tank I'd have to ask a friend where the actual springs come in and how clean the pre amp, again you dont want breakup after the verb comes out, I have heard this both digital and analog verb and Ya get a tone that is just plain doggy doo doo nasty

[rockinlespaul]

Originally Posted by lp59aholicDon

Honestly never over drove the Reverb tank I'd have to ask a friend where the actual springs come in and how clean the pre amp, again you dont want breakup after the verb comes out, I have heard this both digital and analog verb and Ya get a tone that is just plain doggy doo doo nasty

Ok, thats what I was wondering. Doggy doo doo nasty isn't a tone I'm looking for.

[lp59aholicDon]

Originally Posted by rockinlespaul

Ok, thats what I was wondering. Doggy doo doo nasty isn't a tone I'm looking for.

Always remember that rule when adding Verb, Comes or should come after all other effects and drive, again it comes out more natural, a trick I learned from Joe Satriani , Many times if Joe wants verb in a tune, gets added from the mixing board

[ThroBak]

I have never tried to mod one of those reverb units but what you have done is certainly a plus. I did do some mods to my Deluxe Reverb Reissue though that smoothed it out nicely. I did the transformer thing and the surf bug but I also swapped out almost all of the resistors for carbon composite. I know this is the big debate with amps and effect but in a bright amp carbon composites will give the amp a smoother more compressed sound IMO. Now I don't recommend it though with Fender printed circuit boards. The traces on their amps are super thin. I toasted a couple of traces in my DRRI. But I could hear the results when it was finished.

[coldsteal2]

Man all of those Guts just for Reverb? .............................
werid

[BOBBO]

Originally Posted by 5F6-A

forgot to mention: valves were changed to NOS type. Marconi 12AX7, Mullard ECC81 and RCA 6V6

Like to hear about how it sounded before and after the mods !! I have a non reverb Marshall and was considering one of these to add reverb to my rig !

[coldsteal2]

Originally Posted by BOBBO

Like to hear about how it sounded before and after the mods !! I have a non reverb Marshall and was considering one of these to add reverb to my rig !

Marshall reverbs suck so a good outboard reverb
would be good. I never use them on either of my Marshalls
but use digital through the loop

[5F6-A]

Before the mod the reverb sounded nice but lacked depth and subtlety. With these cap and valve swap it sounds nicer, richer, bigger and usable. Before I couldn't use it past 2 on the mix, now it's so nice and rich you love most of of the positions... and each day it sounds better as the mustards rippen....

[coldsteal2]

bet it sounds nice, i remember having one we used on our Fender
PA we had back in the day

[5F6-A]

I'm a massive fan of Sozo stuff. They sound really nice in many audio applications. The regulars sound looser, wilder, thick grain. Think gritty and mean. The premiums sound smoother, furry and tighter. Really fantastic midrange response.

For reference, the TAD mustards are very good as well yet they sound much more modern than the Sozos. Somebody else mentioned "the TADs make the circuit sound 15 years younger". They add some clarity and some resilience and they might need less burning-in time.
The reverb uses regular Sozos and TADs and a single Orange Drop 715 if a recall correctly.
I'm happy with the results.

[5F6-A]

bump

[5F6-A]

arriba!