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Topic: Music man amp reverb question... |
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 4:51 am |
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So, I got a decent deal on a MM RP 112-65 watt..$355 shipped here, on an Ebay "best offer" Nice little amp, loud enough for any gigs I will be doing. pretty warm sound, built in phase.. 2 EL 34-
However I am pretty disappointed in the reverb.. It works ok but lacks depth, and has a very short tail.. It has a small 3 spring tank.. just a cheap crappy reverb sound.. Tank looks original.. I checked to see if one of the springs came off, but everything looks good.. Is there any way to get a "better" tank for this, perhaps a long 2 spring unit??.. Has anyone ever upgraded a MM reverb?.. I have a Holy Grail, but simply don't want more junk in the signal path, and I bought an amp with spring reverb for a reason.. any help would be appreciated.... 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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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 5:23 am
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Yes Scott, I had seen their site earlier this am.. I was concerned however that their MM replacement tank was a short one.. I would be really annoyed if I replaced the tank and it sounded the same.. I suppose I should give them a call, and ask some questions... thanks for the advice!...bob
_________________
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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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 5:28 am
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Just did some more research, and these tanks are very highly regarded.. Great reviews all around, with most saying they have a deeper, more lush sound than original accutronic tanks.... I may try one... bob
_________________
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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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 5:50 am
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Does it have room for the long tank?
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Joseph Napolitano
From:
New Jersey, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 6:21 am
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| Is there room to mount a longer tank vertically? |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 5:59 pm
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Be aware that you can't just put any old tank in... the input and output impedances need to match what you're replacing. If you want to get down to the fine points of it, there are separate part numbers for horizontal and vertical mounting as well, although this is not as important as matching the impedance. Also, the tank needs to be in a bag or otherwise (wrapped in foam works) to prevent feedback, especially in a combo situation. Good luck.
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Too much junk to list... always getting more. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 17 Aug 2014 2:14 am
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Right, Stephen. Aren't those the two letters after the type and before the delay time? Those two MUST match: the orientation codes weren't even obeyed by the manufacturers...
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 17 Aug 2014 4:26 am
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Besides the impedance, there's also a sound quality coming from those transformers.
Laurens Hammond, (Hammond B3, et al organ) who came up with the Hammond Type 4 tank which then became the Accutronics Type 4 tank that made Leo Fender's Twin reverbs sing, then became the Gibbs tank.
Accutronics makes/made the 17 inch long
2-spring (type 4) and the 3-spring units (type 9), and the 9 inch long 3- spring ( type 8 )
The older original spring tanks are the ones to look for. You can find them on eBay for cheap but do pay attention to the impedance needed for your MM.
So it's not an easy project. I'm guessing since Leo was behind MM, that he may have had Fender ideas behind the MM amp but can't say for sure. And it might also be the preamp (the reverb's preamp) in the MM that is "adding" to the reverb tone.
I had a MM 2x10 130 watter some years back but I don't remember it having that lush Fender reverb tone going for it.
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ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Stephen Cowell
From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
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Posted 17 Aug 2014 6:10 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
| Right, Stephen. Aren't those the two letters after the type and before the delay time? Those two MUST match: the orientation codes weren't even obeyed by the manufacturers... |
That's correct, Lane... here's a decent link to the codes:
http://home.comcast.net/~machrone/bjr/reverbcodes.htm
Here's a link where they discuss tank codes for Music Man, specifically 8BB2A1B:
http://pacair.com/mmamps3/node/1578
Unfortunately they also mention that "Some early specimens of the RP/RD series with the EL-34 tubes used a different tank"... so the hunt goes on.
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Too much junk to list... always getting more. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Posted 18 Aug 2014 5:37 am
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| SOme of the best reverb I have ever heard came out of a 3 spring short tank. Often times it is the circuitry that drives and recovers the reverb that can influence the tanks performance. However I would not hesitate to try a 3 spring tank by MOD in the amp. Great tanks for sure. I have a Music Man HD-150 and am equally unimpressed with the reverb and it is a long tank. If I ever get settled down again I want to change it out to a MOD tanka nd see if that helps any. |
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Bill A. Moore
From:
Silver City, New Mexico, USA
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Posted 18 Aug 2014 7:26 am
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| I replaced the short tank in my 115RD Onehundred with a 4 series, long delay MOD tank,(4FB3A1B),and really improved the 'verb. |
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