little seen spring reverb features I like

[gordian knot]

ya know, I'm not a "spring reverb is the only kind" of guy. In fact, as a simulator of natural reverberation, it's really shitty
I don't find it "warm" or "lush" and they are electro-mechanical which adds a weird layer on top of "analog"

and yeah, I've owned things like the RT-921

BUT I given all that, I think they are a cool effect in their own right and like overdrive clipping have become a signature sound of their own.

I was playing through my Motion sound the other day, and thinking about the external verbs I've owned and a couple of things that I really wish there would be more of on amplifiers (which I think is mainly where we still see spring tanks) :

1) and foremost...tone control. Now I don't think these have to be all super sophisticated EQ. Just a simple low pass can really add a lot to the versatility of a spring tank verb. Just like its electronic counterparts, scrubbing off a little high end can let you up the reverb in the mix without getting too in the way and really smooths things out

2) dwell control (that's basically setting how hard you drive the input transducer as opposed to a "mix" which is how much level you get from the recovery).
As a real generalization (and it's generalization so take it that way), I think the dwell can change the character of the tank across a number of different parameters (which is why I think of it as "character" as a catch-all)

anyway, rant over

but yeah, wish more amps had those. I think they add a lot for not a ton of design

[BoatRich]

I've been wondering how hard features like that would be to add to an existing unit. I have an old Lafyette spring that I got on here and I want to add a tone control for sure, along with an actual mix knob.

[The_Active_Conundrum]

it makes me sad when people doon't even use the reverb they have.

[DRodriguez]

As an engineer, reverb is my favorite effect. And that is why I love my digital verbs. So many things I can tweak to get it just right. Additionally, eq pre and post reverb, delays into verbs, modulating the verb, distorting the verb. So many options! I am however spoiled with a daw, and can't do the same on pedals.

[backwardsvoyager]

agreed with OP.
i do like spring reverb but i find myself seldom using it on amps when there's just a volume knob for it.
my 70s Yamaha amp has spring verb but its a single thin exposed spring inside the guts rather than a stand-alone tank with multiple springs, and it actually sounds nicer to my ears than any tank i've heard, the volume of the verb is independent of the amp volume though so it gets drowned out very easily. i think spring verb is something a lot of amp makers just tack on without even thinking about how it could be improved with little effort.

[Dandolin]

I like the features on my spring reverb.

[The_Active_Conundrum]

i think spring verb is something a lot of amp makers just tack on without even thinking about how it could be improved with little effort.

Its a feature that also seems like its added just to avoid the outcry when people see an amp doesn't come with reverb. Like tacking on a reverb makes one amp a "better value" even though they never use said reverb.

[lordgalvar]

I like the features on my spring reverb.

You are a man of mystery, Dandolin. I always thought those were cool back in the day but never got to use one.

[backwardsvoyager]

i think spring verb is something a lot of amp makers just tack on without even thinking about how it could be improved with little effort.

Its a feature that also seems like its added just to avoid the outcry when people see an amp doesn't come with reverb. Like tacking on a reverb makes one amp a "better value" even though they never use said reverb.

yeah definitely. i would rather an amp come with no reverb and be smaller/lighter/cheaper or come with a well featured reverb section. like you see 3 channel amps with full EQ sections and tube buffered fx loops and the reverb is just one knob that says 'REVERB'.
THANKS GUYS

and yeah that retroverb is tits.

[D.o.S.]

I wish there were more kickable spring reverbs.

[BoatRich]

i think spring verb is something a lot of amp makers just tack on without even thinking about how it could be improved with little effort.

Its a feature that also seems like its added just to avoid the outcry when people see an amp doesn't come with reverb. Like tacking on a reverb makes one amp a "better value" even though they never use said reverb.

yeah definitely. i would rather an amp come with no reverb and be smaller/lighter/cheaper or come with a well featured reverb section. like you see 3 channel amps with full EQ sections and tube buffered fx loops and the reverb is just one knob that says 'REVERB'.
THANKS GUYS

and yeah that retroverb is tits.

For the longest time I assumed reverb was a really stagnant effect because of amps like that. It'd be cool to see a full featured reverb tank like that retroverb up there for a lower price point than most of them sell for.

Also that Ekdahl Moisturizer is really rad and features like that would be fantastic to implement. I need to learn how to build a simple tone stack and maybe give a predelay control/circuit to mine.

[backwardsvoyager]

I wish there were more kickable spring reverbs.

i've heard you can mod them pretty wacky too

[D.o.S.]

Those are discontinued, I believe.

[backwardsvoyager]

Those are discontinued, I believe.

yeah i think so, still in stock at some retailers though and <$100 used generally.

[The_Active_Conundrum]

i think spring verb is something a lot of amp makers just tack on without even thinking about how it could be improved with little effort.

Its a feature that also seems like its added just to avoid the outcry when people see an amp doesn't come with reverb. Like tacking on a reverb makes one amp a "better value" even though they never use said reverb.

yeah definitely. i would rather an amp come with no reverb and be smaller/lighter/cheaper or come with a well featured reverb section. like you see 3 channel amps with full EQ sections and tube buffered fx loops and the reverb is just one knob that says 'REVERB'.
THANKS GUYS

and yeah that retroverb is tits.

For the longest time I assumed reverb was a really stagnant effect because of amps like that. It'd be cool to see a full featured reverb tank like that retroverb up there for a lower price point than most of them sell for.

Also that Ekdahl Moisturizer is really rad and features like that would be fantastic to implement. I need to learn how to build a simple tone stack and maybe give a predelay control/circuit to mine.

reverb is too cool to be a crap effect. I never knew I liked it until I had it outboard.