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FDP Forum / Fender Amps: Vintage (before 1985) / the tale of two reverb tanks

barry.b
Contributing Member
*

australia

Apr 23rd, 2012 12:55 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
#2 is a 2003 built reissue
#3 is a 1966, looks stock**, recently arrived

in comparing the two, same settings:
- reissue sounds sweet, 66 sound "brittle"
- 66 spring is "faster" than reissue (reissue is nice: almost "slow")

is that showing a difference with the reverb pans? or is it a 12AX7 drive/Dwell issue with the 66?

** #1 is also a reissue with a dead PT, awaiting attention. #2 was the spare, which is now #3.

SoK66
Contributing Member
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USA

We had the hit but Van got the money
Apr 23rd, 2012 07:12 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Are you talking about two different amps here, or one amp, two different tanks? Only way to A/B tanks is to run them in the same amp at the same settings. If you're comparing two different amps, the '66's tubes may be tired, and/or the caps & resistors in the amp's circuit may have drifted off spec.

barry.b
Contributing Member
*

australia

Apr 23rd, 2012 08:13 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"two different tanks?"

yep

" Only way to A/B tanks is to run them in the same amp at the same settings"

yep - my cute little champ at home, with the same source: a Fender steel, with nice sustain to hear the wash of each verb, using the bypass pedal on both, alternating between them

I hooked up #2 for comparison when I heard #3 and thought "Ewww... that's not right"...
(This message was last edited by barry.b at 08:14 AM, Apr 23rd, 2012)

John Peden
Contributing Member
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U S A

John Peden
Apr 23rd, 2012 10:22 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Could it be you are comparing two reverb units (6G-15s) ? I don't see how you could be putting tanks in a champ unless it's a super Champ. If it's 2 unit's as I suspect then you must see if everything in the '66 hasn't drifted out of spec during it's extended lifetime as SoK66 has suggested. I've handled more than a dozen original 6G-15s and have never been disappointed with them. In fact I just placed one with someone who preferred the original to his reissue. Good luck.

barry.b
Contributing Member
*

australia

Apr 23rd, 2012 04:57 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
yes, I'm comparing two external reverb tanks: 6G-15s.

I take your point about drifting out of spec, but how about the difference in the "speed" of the reverb washes? The 66 is a lot faster. Is that governed by the amount of drive (dwell) that the preamp valve is giving spring or the actual spring itself?

I'm asking to see if:

- that speed difference between the two is electrically controlled (and there's a valve/circuitry issue)

- or -

- whether the drive/dwell only controls the amount of signal getting to the spring and what I have is a mechanical difference in the actual spring units themselves to sort out (the reissue sounds nicer - my benchmark).
(This message was last edited by barry.b at 06:19 PM, Apr 23rd, 2012)

amphead4

Cincinnati, USA

Apr 25th, 2012 01:18 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
The dwell varies the strength of the signal sent to the springs. The springs have thier own slapback and decay rate.

Use the same pan with both units to compare the differences in the way the circuits sound.

The one that's over 40 years old probably has something wrong with it.

barry.b
Contributing Member
*

australia

Apr 25th, 2012 06:33 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Thanks @amphead4 for clarifying that. I was kinda guessing what you've said was the case but wasn't sure/not knowing that much about 6G-15s.

"The one that's over 40 years old probably has something wrong with it"

I suppose delacate springs like this sag over time?

the reverb slapback and decay of the '66 doesn't sound "bad" per se, just very different to the lush sound of the reissue.

FDP Forum / Fender Amps: Vintage (before 1985) / the tale of two reverb tanks

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