I hate my reverb

[tubesornothing]

The reverb I have been putting into my amps sucks. Too deep and sproingy (technically speaking).  After totally messing with a large number of reverb circuits, I think it is my tank.  Looking up the specs, I see it has the most springs(6), the longest springs and the longest decay time.

I played through a car vincenzo amp the other day.  Real nice reverb. It can get deep, but not too sproingy, and not too cluttered.  As I increase the reverb, the guitar slowly moved back into the room - very nice.  I would like to have the same.

For spring reverb fans out there, what kind of tanks do use?  whats the decay?  any other suggestions?

thanks
ToN

[madison]

I use the standard 2 spring Accutronics pan.
Do you have a dwell pot?
Dwell seems to tame reverb for me.

[tubesornothing]

Hey Madison, thanks for the quick reply. Do you know what number of accutronics tank?  The first and forth digits tell all...

the first digit describes the tank size and springs (unfortunately there is no standard tank, there are lots of variations)

the fourth digit describes the decay

thanks
ToN

[madison]

2 Spring.
http://www.hoffmanamps.com/MyStore/perlshop.cgi?ACTION=thispage&thispage=parts16.htm&ORDER_ID=115603423

[HotBluePlates]

I like the 6 spring tank, because more springs means more delays and more complexity to the reverb sound. However, I prefer the sound of a medium delay tank rather than the standard long delay. The reason is that it sounds more natural and less sproingy... Better reverb quality can be had from good digital boxes for recording or from a real plate reverb, but neither are practical for use with a guitar amp (a real plate reverb is enormous).

Accutronics makes a 6 spring medium delay tank, model # 9AB2C1B. Their website gives the meaning for each position in the part #, allowing you to specify something other than typical.

[LooseChange]

I agree with HBP. - 9AB2C1B (6 spring, medium).
I have tried many tanks and many modifications to the reverb circuit.  IMO every tank sounds different.  I heard this 1964 Princeton that had an amazing sounding reverb.  I plugged my amp into the reverb tank and it was the tank providing the awesome tone.
A quick way to see if a dwell control may be helpful is to swap the 12AT7 with a 12AU7.

[tubesornothing]

Hey thanks gang.  I ordered a bunch of different tanks, and tried a bunch of different driver and recovery circuits.  Supports your conclusions.  The tank is the big thing. 

I am back in business.

[LooseChange]

What did you wind up using?

[tubesornothing]

The circuit is a typical fender style but over a 1M with no bypass cap.  A 1/2 12ax7 driver and 1/2 recovery (AT7 didn't make a big diff).  1M to ground for dwell, and the typical 2 spring reverb tank 9AB.

With the 1M bypass, I need to pull down the gain a bit.  Clean gets dirty a bit too quick.

[tubesornothing]

OOPS - that was meant to say "2 spring reverb tank - 4AB".  The 9AB tanks are the 3 spring ones.