REVERB MOD DIY?

[lakehaus]

I have a soldering gun and I'm not afraid to use it! I'm quite comfortable with complete elex swap out on guitars (done a dozen or so Strats & Gibsons), but I am a novice with amps.

I recently acquired a sweet Top Hat Club Royale and want to add spring reverb. I have considered the Holy Grail Plus and the Boss FDR-1, which may be the smart thing to do... but an on board system is a project I think I want to take on.

I also have a solid state Polytone Mini Brute III I'm considering mod'ing in the same manner.

Neither amp has an on board reverb unit.

Can anyone point me to a DIY on this forum, or somewhere else maybe? I tried a search, but can't seem to narrow it down economically. Also, recommendations for parts (and sources) would be greatly appreciated.

I should add that I'm a techno-boob... so simple works for me. I'm just looking to install a preassembled kit. Not even sure it there would be soldering involved...

Thanks - JR

[iknowjohnny]

being a total noob at this i would suggest reverb is not the easiest thing to implement even for those who have built several amps. i would instead suggest looking into a simple effects loop and using verb in the loop, plus then you can use other effects that work much better in a loop. But i wouldn't suggest reverb for a noob. Just my opinion, but i think others may agree.

[Tubetwang]

i woud'nt fart around with the Top Hat..:roll

i'd get a Fender Reverb kit and use that...

The Reverb could double up as a bedroom amp...

[Phil_S]

I have a soldering gun and I'm not afraid to use it!

I'm only half joking when I offer the observation that this kind of statement makes me nervous. BTW, most builders use an iron, not a gun. Guns typically generate much more heat, making it easy to toast a component. A gun requires journeyman builders chops to use properly.

Building a scratch amp with reverb is difficult enough. Retrofitting an expensive amp (boogering it up if you ask me) will be challenging for a more advanced builder.

On http://www.schematicheaven.com I suggest you take a look at any number of Fender designs that come with and without reverb. Compare the differences. Princeton comes to mind, and it is not a very complicated amp. You've got to add a transformer, a tube, a tank, build out the circuit, and decide where and how to insert it into the existing. IMO, this isn't worth the bother, it will be expensive, and it will permanently devalue your Top Hat.

Or maybe you were thinking of a SS driven reverb? I don't know why you'd want such a thing, but see if you can find a Fender Blues Jr. schematic. It think that one is SS. You can compare that circuit to the Pro Jr.

I suggest you might be better off with an outboard unit like the one Fender made, and run it through an effects loop. I don't know if the Top Hat has a loop, but you could probably tuck one in without nearly as much trouble.

Mostly, this isn't a noob project. Just some food for thought.

[lakehaus]

Okay... I'm properly scared! I got the Top Hat because my Mesa Lonestar 100/50W is way too much power for the bedroom. Live and learn. But I sure do miss that reverb... just a touch is all I want. Maybe I'll just get one of those Boss FDR-1's. I don't want to mess up anything... that would really suck. Thanks guys.

[lakehaus]

[Structo]

Not familiar with that amp but if it has an effects loop put a reverb pedal in it and call it good.

I use the Boss RV-5 and it seems to work well.

[10thTx]

I have not played one. But the demo sounds impressive to me.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHv1u023T9k

10thtx