The Steel Guitar Forum

I am curious if anyone has used the Fender Reverb Box that they reissued in the early 90’s, or an original for that matter. I have a Standel amp without reverb and am checking out my options. I know, I know, I can use a reverb pedal for a lot less money, but back to the box. Thoughts?

James Zurek

They can sound very good or just average. There's lots of variation between tank to tank but when you get a good one, it can be alot of fun. The stand-alone Fender Reverbs can be modded (electronically) into a much more reverb friendly creature.

Bob M.

Yeah, what Bob said. I have played with guys who have had them, messed around with one myself in the mid '80's for a short time. They are rather large and heavy, if I remember right, another piece to haul around. A stomp box or like an MPX 100 would be a better deal.

I used to play steel through a Fender Bassman and a Fender reverb unit. I got a good sound but got tired of lugging it around. Also, you don't want to bump that reverb unit or you'll think the world is coming to an end!
Uff-Da!

James, check out the Electro Harmonix 'Holy
Grail Reverb'. I got one a week ago and I really like it!

The old Gibson units (solid-state...from the early '70s) sound just as good, and are cheaper than the Fender. There's good stomp-box units out there too, but nothing gets that exact long-tank sound unless you go into the "4-figure price tag" rack mounts. Studios spend thousands just to get that "old time" reverb sound.

I have an old black Fender reverb unit. I really love it. Never heard a digital machine come even close. You should hear it with my Fender tweed Deluxe. Awesome.

One of my Webb amps gets squirrely in the reverb section. Sometimes I'll use the Fender with that. Nothin' like it.

Check out Ebay for some deals on spring reverb boxes. The "Premier" reverb is pretty close to the old fender boxes and quite a bit cheaper.

Like Brandin I just went with the EH Holy Grail stomp box. I'm very happy with it so far.

Bob

Hey James,
If you do get a Fender RI Reverb take it to Time Pinnel at Top Gear, here in San Diego. Tim's great he works on all of Dave Gonzales' from the Paladins stuff. Top Gear 619.464.4969

I have one that I rarely use, but one day for kicks I set it up with the steel. Sounded great for all the classics. But I doubt I would use it on a gig for steel, I have enough to carry already. I do use it for regular guitar gigs though - Dick Dale for a Day.

IMHO, the Fender RI is a specific tool for a specific task.

I have an RI Fender that I got from a wonderful Forumite. I use it with my non-reverb Standels when playing retro gigs with either the Bigsby or Stringmaster. No digital unit available for under 1K provides that unique sound, and for some strange reason known only to me , I can't feature hooking up an MPX100 to a Bigsby and a Standel.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Well, those are the key words. Classics and Retro. That is the music I am interested in and that is where I am headed. Now to find the box....

James

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><HR><SMALL>No digital unit available for under 1K provides that unique sound, and for some
strange reason known only to me , I can't feature hooking up an MPX100 to a Bigsby and a Standel.</SMALL><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>To us, darlin'. I have a Fender and I have a Stamps, rack mount tube spring, that just died. After that it's Demeter Real Reverb, Lexicon or TC Electronics.

What is is about "long tank" reverbs that sound so good? I recently started using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe for practice and some gigs. To hear that reverb sound again after years of not owning a Fender amp was like visiting an old friend. I keep it set on about 2 1/2 or 3, that's all (plus the analog delay).

Cheers to Leo Fender for "getting it right the first time." That applies to the Telecaster as well!
--JR

Cheers to Laurens Hammond (Hammond Organs) for inventing it and Alan Young for refining it. http://www.accutronicsreverb.com/history.htm <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by chas smith on 05 July 2002 at 11:02 AM.]</p></FONT>

John, I don't know if that old sound is better or not. One thing for sure, though, it is unique! People who grew up on the newer solid-state stuff really don't realize what all the hoopla is about. As one who started over 40 years ago, I assure you that there's people who can spot that "character" of the old technology (tubes and springs) a mile away!

James, I surmise that you're a beginning player...and therefore to just start playing is more important now than the intricacies of the sound equipment that you might choose. After you've been playing a couple of years, you'll have <u>plenty</u> of time (and a lot more opinions) to make your equipment choices.

In short...learn to drive first, and then go pick out your "dream car"!

I have a couple of 1962 original stand alone fender units (the Brown Ones). as far as fender spring reverb goes, they are the ultimate (IMHO),because of additional tonal adjustment, (dwell Knob, etc.) hence the current price selling price. the reissues are good, but not like the originals. if you don't want to spend the money, they are 2nd best.

I have a Kendrick model 1000. It is an exact copy of a Fender stand alone unit, point to point wiring etc. It sounds great, every bit as good as a Fender. They can often be found on ebay in the $400 range. They are far superior both sonically and structurally to the Fender re-issues.
A big part of the tone with stand alone reverb units is in the 6K6 tube. Different ones can give considerably different tones. It is worth experimenting with different tubes. They are no longer producing the 6K6 but they are still cheap and plentiful in N.O.S.

I play through a rack mounted Tube Works reverb unit and I really like the sound I get. It is a spring reverb with tubes.
Uff-Da!

The first amp I used while learning pedal steel was the'72 Deluxe Reverb from my Tele rig. I had Mr. Webb build me a 614-E this spring. I think I was so familiar with the deep fender reverb that I was disapointed with the reverb in the Webb. I can barely notice a difference in the amount of reverb from 0 to 10 on the amp. I love everything else about it, but I bought an RV-3 to use until I come accros a good Fender tube reverb. Ultimately, use what sounds best to your ears... and have fun!
BW