Lately I've been in the design process trying both new production, and New Old Stock reverb tanks from MOD, Belton, Accutronics (both new & old), and Fender branded units all found at CE Distribution.
From my testing the new production reverb tanks are too inconsistent. I've had to try many reverb tanks just to get one that sounds good using a 2 tube post overdrive, and clean only platform reverb circuits in my D-style amps.
I've had the best success with older Accutronics tanks found in vintage fender amps from the late 60's and early 70's.
Anyone run into similar issues?
Reverb Tank (in)consistency
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Stevem
- Posts: 5144
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Re: Reverb Tank (in)consistency
The fit of the coils on there iron core is always too loose, with some way more than others, no tight fit, no proper transfer of energy into and out of the springs , pure and simple !
The casting of the nylon or plastic bobbin the winding is made on seems to the main issue, and a change in size on that effects the fit on the core as mentioned, and how much winding and in turn impedence the tank has.
Besides this, if the bobbins are hand wound the number and placement of the windings can make for a very big change in how the tank sounds, just think about how much it effects pickups in the same way.
Some of the vintage ones are killer and some are at best generic in terms of pickups!
I use medium thick super glue to dribble down in the coils core hole to fill the gap, and I set the glue with spray accellerent.
Some folks will stuff a trimmed up tooth pick down in there and then glue that up, but I perfere to do just as I posted as this trims off a bunch of the difference in performance that you get from pans of the same part number no less manufacturer!
I have used the 5 volt Beltronics SS reverb module in some up grades and builds of late, and they sound great and make for a far smaller amp since the need to keep a tank type away from the PT is no longer a need .
The casting of the nylon or plastic bobbin the winding is made on seems to the main issue, and a change in size on that effects the fit on the core as mentioned, and how much winding and in turn impedence the tank has.
Besides this, if the bobbins are hand wound the number and placement of the windings can make for a very big change in how the tank sounds, just think about how much it effects pickups in the same way.
Some of the vintage ones are killer and some are at best generic in terms of pickups!
I use medium thick super glue to dribble down in the coils core hole to fill the gap, and I set the glue with spray accellerent.
Some folks will stuff a trimmed up tooth pick down in there and then glue that up, but I perfere to do just as I posted as this trims off a bunch of the difference in performance that you get from pans of the same part number no less manufacturer!
I have used the 5 volt Beltronics SS reverb module in some up grades and builds of late, and they sound great and make for a far smaller amp since the need to keep a tank type away from the PT is no longer a need .
Last edited by Stevem on Sat Jul 18, 2015 11:44 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Not screaming like the passengers in his car!
Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
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Leo_Gnardo
- Posts: 2585
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2012 1:33 pm
- Location: Dogpatch-on-Hudson
Re: Reverb Tank (in)consistency
Noticed it a long time ago, late 80's when Accutronics was all there was. I'd buy a dozen tanks at a time and grade them I thru IIII (that's ay-yi-yi-yi how am I gonna sell THIS?) Not surprised there's still inconsistency, 'twas always thus.Duble wrote: From my testing the new production reverb tanks are too inconsistent
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Anyone run into similar issues?
down technical blind alleys . . .