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Post subject: Reverb units
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 5:13 pm
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Ever since Fender stopped making the outboard reverb units, the price of used ones has skyrocketed.

Please make them again Fender people!

I know most players are going to digital pedals, but none of them come close to a true spring tank. Lots of other amp builders don't make them anymore either, and if they do, they're pretty costly. The only thing that comes close is the Surfy Bear unit, but they're solid state, no tubes.


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2018 5:20 pm
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Fender periodically re-issues their 6G16 reverb tank but given the corporation's current cash-flow problems, I wouldn't look for one anytime soon.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 5:06 am
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Stew Mac offer a '64 Reverb unit kit.

https://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_Ele ... t_Kit.html


Image[url=https://flic.kr/p/2dFEXRb]


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 8:24 am
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I've seen kits from StewMac and Mojotone, but for $800 or more, I'd expect a ready-to-go unit, not a kit.


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 8:32 am
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rickwicz wrote:
I've seen kits from StewMac and Mojotone, but for $800 or more, I'd expect a ready-to-go unit, not a kit.


For a point to point high quality circuit with high quality parts forget a ready- to- go unit under $1200 and more


Specs;

The cabinet interiors are genuine 3/4" North American Pine (not plywood), just like the ones made in the Fullerton factory in the 1960s
Superior craftsmanship on the tolex covered exteriors with perfectly aligned seams
Premium quality hardware
Top-shelf 6V6, 12AX7, and 12AT7 tubes and vintage spec
Heyboer transformers to give your tank the perfect vintage tone
High-quality period-authentic resistors, CTS pots, Orange Drop caps, and Switchcraft jacks for their authentic tone and a lifetime of trouble-free use
Authentic fiber eyelet boards just like the ones used in the original vintage amps
Period-correct pushback wire


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 9:04 am
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Up until a few months ago, Gomez and Texotica had premium component hand-wired units for $700. Both stopped making them around the same time Fender did, which I thought was strange (and frustrating). Maybe they thought reverbs weren't worth their time anymore.

Surfy Bear has two solid state (FETs in place of tubes) spring units for $350 or $450 and kits are available too.


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 9:33 am
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rickwicz wrote:
Surfy Bear has two solid state (FETs in place of tubes) spring units for $350 or $450 and kits are available too.


Back in the late 60s to early 1970s Fender made a nice solid state unit.

The FR1000.

If you don't do Surf music the unit is darn good at doing traditional Fender spring reverb. It's powered by SS opamps with a 2 spring tank. Paired with a traditional Fender amp like a Bassman or Bandmaster head ... as good or better than as any modern pedal.

It will do the surf drip thang... But not quite as good as the 6g15. One critique of the FR1000 has... it isn't as warm as the tube units. Still to figure that out myself.... Obviously one is running the unit through the front of the amp.. by the time I adjust the EQs of the amp.. I can't tell.

I don't do surf music so the unit is totally on point for me...

IMO Well worth snatching one up. Usually they go $300-$400


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 9:41 am
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You won't find a high quality kit.
Most use cheap plastic tube sockets with 2spade contacts. Upgrade these with porcelain sockets with full circle gold contacts.
The switches are knockoffs, not Carling.
While the caps are orange, they're not the same orange drops you buy from suppliers.
The power transformer has only two green wires for the filament, no center tap for grounding the filaments. Floating filaments is a recipe for hum.
The average builder doesn't recognize the deficiencies. All the parts are there and it works.
But if you haven't seen the Mona Lisa, how do you know the difference?

For best quality reproductions, get a good chassis, spec all your own components, use Fender brand transformers. Use silver plated wire in the signal path.


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 11:10 am
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I have a original '60 Blackface Reverb Unit at home.


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2018 6:30 pm
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TimsAudio wrote:
You won't find a high quality kit.
Most use cheap plastic tube sockets with 2spade contacts. Upgrade these with porcelain sockets with full circle gold contacts.
The switches are knockoffs, not Carling.
While the caps are orange, they're not the same orange drops you buy from suppliers.
The power transformer has only two green wires for the filament, no center tap for grounding the filaments. Floating filaments is a recipe for hum.
The average builder doesn't recognize the deficiencies. All the parts are there and it works.
But if you haven't seen the Mona Lisa, how do you know the difference?

For best quality reproductions, get a good chassis, spec all your own components, use Fender brand transformers. Use silver plated wire in the signal path.

+1
But even after all of that, while you will have a quality unit that will last a lifetime, you'll still be stuck with a modern reverb tank, which is the root of the problem on current production amps.

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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2018 12:03 am
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CB91710 wrote:
But even after all of that, while you will have a quality unit that will last a lifetime, you'll still be stuck with a modern reverb tank, which is the root of the problem on current production amps.


Indeed. I was wondering whose tank is supplied with the Stew-Mac kit. The failure rate for Korean-made Accutronics is running close to fifty percent.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Reverb units
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2018 9:07 am
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Great info TimsAudio! Thank you.


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