Reverb Tanks and Springs . . . .

[D Rock]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtmWpFbDeT8

Get one of these and be done. I picked one up for around 100 used and since they are discontinued I can only see them going up in value. Can be a little much if you don't hone it in but that is what we like around here right?

[codetocontra]

VanAmps Solemate would be cool to use as a mini pedalboard. I really like the aux footswitch too. But the two jacks on the front? No.

Really like the features in the Vermona Retroverb Lancet but I can't find any guitar demos.

Had a friend with an older Fender reverb unit, said it sucked tone like no other.

[rfurtkamp]

It's running two preamps in a row (since it was designed to run into the front of stuff, long before effects loops) - some of that "tone suck" is what folks looking for that sound is part of the thing's vibe.

Same with the Echoplex or Space Echo preamp, etc.

[codetocontra]

Is that it? Does it normally sound bad in a Fender Reverb unit? No first hand experience and I never heard my friend's unit. The tape unit preamps are quite nice though, the EP3 is the heart of my rig and just sold my RE501 but miss the preamp on it more than anything else.

[rfurtkamp]

"Bad" is subjective, it's just what they sound like.

Could be bad tubes, or whatnot.

But they're not transparent or normal amp verb.

Never was a fan of the 501's preamp, too hi-fi. I used to strip them for parts because a lot of them I could use to keep my old 301 going.

[crochambeau]

It's also possible that the bad sounding unit is in need of service, being 50 years old or so.

[codetocontra]

Never was a fan of the 501's preamp, too hi-fi. I used to strip them for parts because a lot of them I could use to keep my old 301 going.

Savage! I wouldn't call the preamp hifi, but I get what you are saying. I played one show with the RE501 as the only thing between my guitar and amp so it was the source of all my gain, echoes and noise. Previously had never played without a board before, found the experience liberating.

The Fender Reverb unit my friend had may have been faulty, but I was under the impression they were all like that, obviously I was wrong. I only mentioned it to help the OP, maybe trying one first instead of buying online. YMMV sorta thing.

I seriously want to hear guitar with the Retroverb Lancet. Might start a new thread instead of hijacking this one.

[rfurtkamp]

The 501's preamp is hi-fi compared to the 150/201/301 stuff (I prefer the 301/150's, generally).

The video I linked above that has dudes comparing the Boss pedal to the Fender - very, very typical settings.

[crochambeau]

I was under the impression they were all like that, obviously I was wrong.

I wouldn't go so far to say you're wrong, having not heard the unit that cast the tone suck judgment.

I know cascading tube gain sections can be built that do not suck tone, and agree that some of the values in the original circuit can work against it (some very small coupling caps in the reverb path, for instance). If a lot of your fundamental sound lives in low frequencies, and OE Fender outboard will be a poor fit.

They do have a tone of their own though.