Spring reverb recommendations?

System 55 • System 35 • Model 15
Charlie Labs
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: New York, USA
Contact:

Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by Charlie Labs » Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:47 pm

Hello,

I'm looking for a real spring reverb unit for my modular. I have a few guitar pedals (Meris/Strymon/others) that I enjoy, but I want the real thing and preferably something new. I'm not looking for a 905 clone but if there's one out there that's a stand alone unit I'd love to hear about it.

Currently the Dr.Z Z-Verb (tube) and the Surfybear Compact (solid state) top my list but I haven't found any info about using either of them with a synth, just mostly folks playing surf guitar. Surfybear says you can swap out the reverb pans so that's definitely a plus if the stock tank doesn't play nice with a synth or if I just want to experiment around, I'm not sure if the same can be done with the Dr. Z.. As far as if I want tube or solid state? I'm not sure, maybe someone can explain why one would be welcomed/unwelcomed over the other.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and if you'd like to share what reverb you're using I'd love to hear about it (new or vintage)

Thanks!

edit: After posting this I ran across the Anasounds Element pedal (with different tanks) Put that on the list as well!

User avatar
stiiiiiiive
Posts: 2534
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:58 pm
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by stiiiiiiive » Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:09 pm

Hey Charlie Labs!

I've used some spring reverbs with synths over the years, here are some thoughts.

Carl Martin Headroom: my Voyager Old School got the springs to shake too much, hence making it saturate. There is no way to set the input level. I ended selling it, unusable for me.

Van Amps SoleMate: I still have it and I use it mainly with guitars; I don"t remember how it behaves with synths, but I think it is ok. Sounds quite vintage, it's on the dirty side with respect to the following two. Unless you have an option, there is no way to have the wet signal alone.

Vermona Retroverb Lancet: much, much more that a reverb. It is kind of an analogue multieffect with its 4-pole VCF (LP/BP/HP), VCA, Drive and LFO, envelope follower or AR envelope to control all of that. Two routings are available placing the reverb after or before the other processors. The reverb itself is not wild; you can adjust the tone of it. I don't use this thing a lot but I like it very much as it's capable of many things, including happy accidents!

Roland RV100 (or Boss RX100): this one right between HiFi and studio. Connections are in Cinch as well as 1/4 jacks and there is a way to use it with wet signal only (a connection tip, actually). It sounds wonderful, really: I like dirty reverbs (think Boss RE20 emulation) and although this one is very clean, it's lovely to my ears. I have added it a ClusterFlux in order to make it "pseudo-stereo" just for when I'm playing home.

The one I did not use -but it sometimes appeals me- is the Anasounds Element spring reverb. 2 band Eq, embedded drive and you can use three different tanks. See details here.

Hope this helps :)

PS: does your pseudo relate somehow to those old guitar amps?
Last edited by stiiiiiiive on Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Charlie Labs
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: New York, USA
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by Charlie Labs » Wed Jun 23, 2021 12:02 am

Hi stiiiiiiive, If I understand your p.s. correctly, Yes, I'm looking for something like the actual spring reverb in vintage and modern guitar amps. I'm hoping to find something that work well with a modular synth.

Thanks for the comments!

User avatar
stiiiiiiive
Posts: 2534
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:58 pm
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by stiiiiiiive » Wed Jun 23, 2021 4:25 am

Yep, I understood what you are after, my PS was actually referring to your nickname vs this :D

Charlie Labs
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: New York, USA
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by Charlie Labs » Wed Jun 23, 2021 12:50 pm

Oh sorry lol! No, that's my real name!

EricK
Posts: 6009
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 2:09 pm

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by EricK » Wed Jun 23, 2021 2:08 pm

This is my "tone stack." It is an AKG BX10 (with a proprietary spring system) that sounds like a plate, with the RE-301's spring reverb, and the Roland DC-50 with a Hall Echo that is a BBD that generates a great reverb effect.

Also, the Vermona VSR 3 spring reverb, if you can find one cheap. Synth-Werk has a reverb module that is also worthy of consideration.

Image
Support the Bob Moog Foundation:
https://moogfoundation.org/do-something-2/donate/

I think I hear the mothership coming.

Charlie Labs
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: New York, USA
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by Charlie Labs » Wed Jun 23, 2021 4:07 pm

Thanks for the reply Eric, That synth-werk 905 sure looks tempting!

edit: At some point I'm going to try using my old Teac reel to reel for delays or pick up a Fulltone tape echo (sold my old tube ep1 years ago), I havent thought too much about plate reverbs yet but that's definitely on the list.

User avatar
stiiiiiiive
Posts: 2534
Joined: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:58 pm
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by stiiiiiiive » Thu Jun 24, 2021 6:25 am

Charlie Labs wrote: Wed Jun 23, 2021 12:50 pm Oh sorry lol! No, that's my real name!
:D

User avatar
_DemonDan_
Posts: 1273
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:52 pm

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by _DemonDan_ » Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:30 am

Hi Charlie Labs,

Here's a low-cost possibility:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkY6d2eDBT8

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... verb-pedal

There are some YT videos out there that show you how to access and modify the internal delay.

You can also connect larger springs to the pedal if you want.
_ :twisted: _DemonDan_ :twisted: _

Charlie Labs
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: New York, USA
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by Charlie Labs » Thu Jun 24, 2021 3:47 pm

Thanks for the info DemonDan! (I've been enjoying your videos for years!)

I just ordered the Z-Verb and the Spring King from you guys! I have a gamechanger audio Light Pedal on reserve so I'll a/b/c/ those once I have all three.

User avatar
ummagumma
Posts: 827
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:37 pm
Location: Canada

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by ummagumma » Sat Jun 26, 2021 5:17 am

I use a Zverb with synth ( and guitar) and it works great. You should be happy with it

Also the Moog Grandmother has a nice sounding spring reverb you can tap into externally

Erick that is a monster setup!!! Drool....

*edit* I thought Radial made a reverb driver pedal, you could hook up with your own spring, but can't seem to find it?

Charlie Labs
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: New York, USA
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by Charlie Labs » Sun Jun 27, 2021 12:00 am

Thanks for the info ummagumma.

Have you messed around with different spring pans or tubes in your Z-Verb or did you find it perfect out of the box?

I poked around on Radials site and found the Tank Driver, it's a 500 series reverb interface module. Very cool indeed. I picked up Radials EXTC-SA 1-channel Active Re-Amping Device in the hopes that it will let me use the modular with the Z-Verb and whatever sort of tape delay I end up getting with no issues. I might have to dig deeper into the 500 series stuff. Oh well, further down the rabbit hole I go. =)

User avatar
AlakaLazlo
Posts: 77
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 7:18 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by AlakaLazlo » Sun Jun 27, 2021 4:34 pm

A relatively inexpensive 5u reverb module with a spring tank. I have one and it does the "sprang thang" pretty well. A little eq before and/or after really helps.

https://synthesizers.com/q115.html
Moog IIP, One 16V and MiniMoog, DotCom/FSFX/Moon/STG 110, Cubase 12Pro, Ableton Live 10/64, RME UFX+, 2xMR816, MioXL, Expressionist, Cirklon, Analog Rytm Mk II, Axon AX50, Customized Variax JTV69s (the Hexstainocaster), Strat, Godin ACS Slim, Helix.

Charlie Labs
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: New York, USA
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by Charlie Labs » Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:32 pm

Thanks AlakaLazio, Yeah the .com stuff from what I have seen and heard is solid and sound great. I'm trying to not start another modular rack! =)

Charlie Labs
Posts: 60
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:12 pm
Location: New York, USA
Contact:

Re: Spring reverb recommendations?

Post by Charlie Labs » Sun Jun 27, 2021 10:46 pm

I tried out the Danelectro Spring King tonight, here are some of my initial thoughts.

It's a good pedal but I am most likely not going to keep it. The reverb sounds good, especially at the $120 price point, but it also contains a digital echo/slapback delay that's built in and cant be turned off. I don't need that feature..

Running the Model 10 directly into the Spring King works as long as the you don't drive the modulars mixer too hard, 4-5 or so per input and 4-5 master were working ok for me. Any higher/ more overdriven and I would get intermittent pops as I pressed a key down full signal/no attack. Running the Spring King through a Radial EXTC-SA1 Reamp box first, then into the Spring King allows the modulars mixers to be turned up fully(I haven't spent enough time testing this).

Like DemonDan pointed out earlier, the Spring King can be modded, and different pans hooked up and it looks like that digital delay can be adjusted or possibly turned off. I'm not looking to do any solder work but for others who don't mind, I'm one could have fun modding this pedal.

When I have more time I plan on a/b/c'ing the Spring King against the digital spring pedals I have. and I still have to dig into the Z-Verb. I'm kind of saving it for last to measure up against all the others.

Something strange happened when using the Radial EXTC with the Spring King, when it's send, receive and blend (wet/dry) knobs are all set to 12 o'clock, the audio level gets much lower and the effect becomes 100% wet. Inverting the phase (button) fixes this. If you don't invert the phase and turn the knob to 100% wet, the sound becomes 50/50 wet/dry. Move the knob to dry and the sound is dry. Maybe to someone who knows electronics this is normal or easily explainable, but it's above my knowledgebase.

Thanks again for all the help/info!

Post Reply