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Topic: Can Reverb/Tremolo Be Added to a Fender Amp? |
Lee Rider
From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
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Posted 27 Jan 2013 11:34 pm |
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I just built up a Vibroverb amp with no vibro and no verb. A while back I put a silverface Bandmaster Reverb into a single 15" JD Newell combo cabinet (I also changed out the output transformer to a 4/8 ohm Allen). The amp sounded good but had too much breakup for steel guitar, so I traded off the head to Charlie Wallace for a 7 string McKenna dobro and was left with the cabinet and the JBL D-15S speaker that I have in it. I researched around to see what head would fit in the cabinet but only came up with the same chassis as the Bandmaster Reverb: Silverface Super Reverb or Pro Reverb, which are basically the same as the BMR. I ended up finding another chassis that would fit into it, a '72 Fender Bassman 10. I found one that had a broken cabinet and blown speakers, so I just bought the chassis. Needed some caps and tubes and now works great. Already has the 8 ohm OT and fits right in the amp. Chassis is the same one they used for the above amps, has all of the control and tube holes already cut. Has a master volume. I ordered a Vibroverb faceplate from Mojotone and it fits perfectly, except that there is a mid control and no reverb/tremolo, but there is a master volume (I stuck a pot and knob in the empty hole). The amp sounds great, excellent tone, very clean with little breakup for a 50 watt amp.
My question is: Can the reverb and tremolo circuits and controls be added to this amp for a reasonable amount of money? I could do without the master volume and mid control which would end up making the configuration the same as the faceplate for the vibroverb. I asked the guy who did the caps but he gave me a price of $4k to do the work, which means he did not want to do that work.
Any thoughts or am I crazy? I just got a Tubeworks stereo rack reverb unit that I am going to use with it, but it would be a nice mod to be able to build up a combo with reverb and tremolo built in.
I'll post some pictures tomorrow.
Thanks in advance,
Lee Rider
Last edited by Lee Rider on 28 Jan 2013 6:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 3:27 am
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Years ago (1960) I built a Tremolo circuit into a 59 Fender Bassman amp (the one with 4 10" speakers). It was an external separate module. I no longer have the schematic for the Tremolo circuit (I think I got it from Popular Electronics or one of those publications in that era).
But, it is possible to build additional circuitry into an amp or an outboard module with those functions in and add to the circuit. |
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 5:16 am
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Just use pedals. A lot cheaper and you have way more tone options. Plus, if the stage bounces, you don't get "tank crash".
_________________
To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 6:05 am
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From Weber kits, a nice standalone tube reverb and tube vibrato unit:
$495
5H15 kit.
Weber ReVibe™, designed by Jeff Gehring. Original 6G15 three knob reverb circuit married to 6G12 three tube vibrato.
http://taweber.powweb.com/store/kits_weber.htm |
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J Fletcher
From:
London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 6:38 am
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The short answer is yes, but you might need one or two more tubes. Say a 12ax7 and a 12at7.
You could buy a fibre board circuit card from Weber, for a Super Reverb for example and install it in your amp, after installing all the components on the board. Is this practical for you?
You will need this tube complement to make it work:
12ax7,12at7,12ax7,12ax7,12at7, and the power tubes. |
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Lee Rider
From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 8:22 am
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| Thanks for the replies. I'll take some pictures and send them. There is a ton of room in the chassis for tubes and boards. It really is a great sounding amp and you can pick them up for next to nothing. Would like to carry less equipment into a gig... |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 8:23 am
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it can be done but it does require a LOT of work. You would need to add transformers, drill and mount tube sockets, and gut/rebuild the entire amp. Not really worth it. It would be much less expensive to get either pedals or an amp that already has reverb and tremolo
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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Lee Rider
From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 9:04 am
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| Thanks Tim: Went to your site, great sounding amps! |
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Bill L. Wilson
From:
Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 9:29 am Reverb
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| I don't know much about tremolo pedals, but I use the Boss '63 Fender Reverb pedal, and it sounds just like Fender spring reverb, it's compact, and fits easily in a pac-a-seat. |
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Rich Hlaves
From:
Wildomar, California, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 12:21 pm
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Lee,
Adding the extra gain stage of the reverb may change the whole character of the amp that you now enjoy.
I'd use pedals or tanks for trem and verb in your situation.
_________________
On man....let the smoke out of another one. |
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Lee Rider
From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 12:28 pm
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| Rich: Not sure I understand your comment. Are you referencing adding this to the amp or the Tubeworks unit I just got? |
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Rich Hlaves
From:
Wildomar, California, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 4:39 pm
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Lee, a was talking about adding reverb and trem to the Bassman 10 you have. When you plumb in the 'verb internally the gain will change and you may not like it. Same with possible tone and gain changes with an addition of a trem circuit. You would be getting very close to the Super Reverb/Bandmaster Reverb you didn't like.
You might consider a Weber "Add A Verb" kit as it can live in the existing cabinet. That's just a though however. It's hard to beat a Tubeworks unit.
_________________
On man....let the smoke out of another one. |
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Tim Marcus
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 4:49 pm
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you can add reverb using just a single tube and not affect the internal gain of the amplifier - but its a bit of a hassle to mount the parts to do that.
Tremolo is easier to add - but again, you would need to make room for it. Oscillations at that intensity can cause unwanted ticking in an amp that is packed in too tight.
My concern would be adding extra current draw to the power transformer. You might need to upgrade to one that can handle a few extra preamp tubes. That is a lot of work and expensive to do!
_________________
Milkmansound.com |
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Lee Rider
From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 5:16 pm
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| Thanks for all of the information. I think I'll probably stick with the tubeworks. I can put it on both channels. I have a Korg DTR-1, Firman Power Conditioner and a Rane acoustic pre-amp in that rack now, so I'll just figure on bringing the rack to gigs. |
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Bruce Derr
From:
Lee, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 5:18 pm
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| Another thing to consider: The tremolo circuit in most of the classic Fender amps isn't that great in my opinion. It varies the volume using a photocell controlled by a little neon lamp, which does not make for a smooth effect. An outboard tremolo would probably sound better. |
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Lee Rider
From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
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Posted 28 Jan 2013 5:22 pm
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| Bruce: What do you suggest for a reasonably priced tremolo? |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Cartwright Thompson
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Raybob Bowman
From:
S. Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2013 11:08 pm Re: Can Reverb/Tremolo Be Added to a Fender Amp?
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| Lee Rider wrote: |
| ..My question is: Can the reverb and tremolo circuits and controls be added to this amp for a reasonable amount of money? I could do without the master volume and mid control which would end up making the configuration the same as the faceplate for the vibroverb. I asked the guy who did the caps but he gave me a price of $4k to do the work, which means he did not want to do that work... |
I could do it for $650. Requires punching holes for tube sockets and many eyelets added to the board, but the room is there.
Raybob
_________________
Sierra U12 4+5 / 1933 Dobro / homemade Tele B-bender |
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Jerry Erickson
From:
Atlanta,IL 61723
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 31 Jan 2013 1:49 pm
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| Peavey Valverb. |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2013 8:52 am
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It simply doesn't make any sense.. For what it would cost to convert an existing non reverb Fender amp, You could go and BUY a similar amp with reverb. In this day and age there is simply NO reason to do so.. The small compact digital reverbs are really excellent.. No more digital artifacts in the better ones, and they sound just like a good spring reverb, without the horrific clanging if you kick it. The trem pedals are even BETTER than most original Fender trems as well.. More musical, and a LOT more flexability and adjustability. Sell the amp, and buy a Fender with reverb, or keep it and use good pedals. Why devalue an original Fender amp??.. Yes you WILL devalue one with heavy mods, even if its a well done and expensive mod to "improve" it... bob
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I'm over the hill and hittin'rocks on the way down!
no gear list for me.. you don't have the time...... |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2013 10:49 am
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Yep,for less than$150,you could do the"Tuna Melt"/RV-5 thing(used prices)and keep the amp original...
I had a Valverb...you couldn't use it live because the reverb was too sensitive,and the tremolo didn't sound as good as a Fender or most pedals...I kept it about a week and took a beating on it to get it outta my house! |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2013 11:04 am
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Steve!
You musta had a leaker, cuz mine sounds great, works great too. |
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Steve Hinson
From:
Hendersonville Tn USA
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Posted 1 Feb 2013 11:36 am
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| ...coulda been,John...I'm pretty impatient with gear...if it don't sound good right outta the box,I'm done. |
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