Polytone Mini Brute II reverb question.

Ted Duncan · Post by **Ted Duncan** » 5 Oct 2023 5:22 am

I guess I'm just bored waiting around to find out how the doc is gonna fix my fingers.

I bought this Polytone Mini Brute II back when I was messing with Jazz a million years ago. It's still in good shape, sounds real good, and living on Social Security, I'm not going to replace it in the foreseeable future.

I think its a great amp ... but the reverb ... well, it works just the same as ever, but it's just not "reverb enough" for lap steel.

Is there anything I can do to punch it up a bit? I've done searches, some folks talk about installing a new 3 spring box ... but that was years ago.

Are these things available anywhere?

Is it a simple plug-in mod?

Back then a 3 spring box ran about $25... can't imagine the cost now.

Has anybody tried this? Any improvement to speak of?

I guess the alternative is buying some kind of stomp box. As somebody on a fixed income, I have to ask if there is anything "decent" between $50-$100?

EDIT: THIS AMP IS A MINI BRUTE II. SORRY FOR ANY CONFUSION.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 5 Oct 2023 7:00 am

I didn't remember this III amp having a reverb circuit, but memory is not my long suit. Anyway, if there's a tank in there, you can get the model number off it and match it up with the new MOD brand reverb tanks from www.tubesandmore.com These are really good replacement units and sound great. Priced there usually less than $30.

Of course a lot of the reverb's character lives in the amp circuitry.

If you're interested in an external rev. stomp box, there are several choices. Some have been posted here from time to time.

FWIW, I have a Behringer Reverb and Delay combo pedal for sale in the classifieds if you're interested in that.

Ted Duncan · Post by **Ted Duncan** » 5 Oct 2023 7:29 am

Jerry Overstreet wrote:I didn't remember this III amp having a reverb circuit, but memory is not my long suit.

As it turns out, your memory is probably better than mine. Its a MB II ... and yes, it has a reverb. I adjusted my post ... and I am sorry if there was any confusion.

Thank you for your reply. I went to that shop you suggested. They have a couple of GREAT articles about these things. Very helpful for those of us who only know about that crashing, echoing sound when your girlfriend slams your car door for the last time.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 5 Oct 2023 7:40 am

No biggie. Hope you get it sorted out.

Scott Denniston · Post by **Scott Denniston** » 5 Oct 2023 9:08 am

Love those old Polytones. Unless you're set on something integrated though there's such a variety of great reverb boxes out now. The only one I have presently is the Nux Atlantic Reverb/Delay and you can get a very wide spectrum of reverbs through it. Also as a bonus you can mix in some delay if you like. I've seen them for $100 used but for another $30 you can get a new one. There are a lot of other boxes out there that are pretty good. There's also the budget friendly Joyo Reverb for under $50. I've never actually heard that one but was told they're good. >>>> https://reverb.com/p/joyo-jf-20-moist-reverb

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 5 Oct 2023 10:57 am

Does it have a long tank, or a short one?

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 5 Oct 2023 11:58 am

....Very helpful for those of us who only know about that crashing, echoing sound when your girlfriend slams your car door for the last time.

....uh yeah...been there...

Ted Duncan · Post by **Ted Duncan** » 5 Oct 2023 12:23 pm

Donny Hinson wrote:Does it have a long tank, or a short one?

In all these years I've never had a reason to take the back off this amp ... Considering your question, and since I'm curious as an old raccoon, I took the back off ... and can't find the tank right off. Looks like I'm going to need to pull more out of the case to even get close to it.

So before getting insulation everywhere, I did a little looking around on the internet. According to a guy who replaced his, the MOD replacement (MOD8DB2C1D) measures 7 X 5 X 7 inches ... and that's a 3 spring tank. BUT, according to Antique Electronic Supply ... it's a "medium decay" type, and their article on reverb tanks say guitars need a "long decay". I don't find anything that tells me I would be gaining anything after all the work to take the amp apart.

Any experience in this?

BTW ... the price is right for me at about $25.00

Ted Duncan · Post by **Ted Duncan** » 5 Oct 2023 12:30 pm

Jerry Overstreet wrote:
....Very helpful for those of us who only know about that crashing, echoing sound when your girlfriend slams your car door for the last time.
....uh yeah...been there...

There might be a Country song in there somewhere ... if you could get the bass player to reach over and kinda give your amp a kick when the song calls for that crashing sound, it could be very effective.

Bill A. Moore · Post by **Bill A. Moore** » 5 Oct 2023 1:42 pm

Ted a replacement "long" decay tank would be a 8DB3C1D, I didn't find one.
BTW, the connectors for that tank face down, so the tank is mounted vertically.

Ted Duncan · Post by **Ted Duncan** » 5 Oct 2023 2:07 pm

Bill A. Moore wrote:Ted a replacement "long" decay tank would be a 8DB3C1D, I didn't find one.

I didn't either. I really don't know ANYTHING about this and am feeling my way as I go along. The article I saw and the shops website said that the "long decay" is the one for guitars ... and then they don't have one.

Bill A. Moore wrote:BTW, the connectors for that tank face down, so the tank is mounted vertically.

This I didn't know. There isn't a lot of room in that cabinet ... but somebody got one of them in there.

More looking and learning.

It's important to keep in mind that this isn't a repair. It's a modification. In the long run, I just might be better off saving for an external box.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 5 Oct 2023 4:47 pm

Be careful when working on the inside of a Polytone amp. There is insulation in there and over time is gets loose and fiberglass particles fly around. The Polytone reverb is somewhat weak. A reverb pedal would be better than replacing the tank. I have a few Polytone amps and they still sound nice after 40 years.

Ted Duncan · Post by **Ted Duncan** » 5 Oct 2023 7:21 pm

Len Amaral wrote:Be careful when working on the inside of a Polytone amp. There is insulation in there and over time is gets loose and fiberglass particles fly around.

Don't I know it.

That's where I stopped and started rethinking all of this.

Len Amaral wrote: The Polytone reverb is somewhat weak. A reverb pedal would be better than replacing the tank.

Yep. Back in the day it was fine for what I was doing ... but I think the Lap Steel needs a little more than the Polytone has. The more I look into it I'm thinking I'm better off just getting some kind of pedal.

The truth is I'm kinda bored with not doing anything because my fingers can't bend. Maybe I should just take the wife's washing machine apart.

Len Amaral wrote: I have a few Polytone amps and they still sound nice after 40 years.

Mine too ... and I would hate to mess up an Amp that is working just fine. Maybe I'll just put the cover back on in the morning and forget about the whole thing.

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 6 Oct 2023 1:45 pm

I'm also a fan of the old Polytones and sometimes play through the Mini Brute II. It has a reverb, but I've never been crazy about the reverb, so I just use a reverb pedal.

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 6 Oct 2023 1:45 pm

Deleted

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 7 Oct 2023 3:27 am

I used my Mini Brute II for pedal steel on the bandstand for years, and found its reverb perfectly acceptable. But I use only enough reverb that it's barely noticeable, turning it up until it's obvious that it's on, and then backing it off a notch. I use small (5-15 watt) tube amps without reverb for lap steel.

Ted Duncan · Post by **Ted Duncan** » 7 Oct 2023 7:43 am

Susan Alcorn wrote:I'm also a fan of the old Polytones and sometimes play through the Mini Brute II. It has a reverb, but I've never been crazy about the reverb, so I just use a reverb pedal.

I really like mine as well, but it looks as if you like yours twice as much as I do.

Susan Alcorn · Post by **Susan Alcorn** » 7 Oct 2023 7:57 am