Spring Reverb Pedals

[mjt335]

I'm looking at a couple different spring reverb pedals to use in conjunction with my Tascam 388. I've seen a Van Amps Sole-Mate and Carl Martin Headroom for sale recently for really reasonable prices. Have any of you guys ever worked with either of these in a studio context?

FYI, I'm record a bunch of reggae and dub as well some old school funk and soul type stuff.

Thanks!
Mike

[Tims96]

I can recommend the Sole-Mate. It's pretty natural and smooth-sounding, so it's really great as a textural tool if you don't want the slappy/springyness to be really obvious. It's not super-flexible, but sounds really good. If you're looking for something that you can make pretty trashy-sounding, this might not be the best best. But I've used it in mixes and love it.

[ott0bot]

What about a rack unit? I have a Sound Workshop 242a and it's completely awesome for this kind is stuff. I use is with a Deltalab Super Time-Line for more slap, both pre and post. Effectrons are awesome for this too. It can be super clean, and somewhat plate-ish if needed, but get dirty and overdriven quite nicely. I found mine on craigslist for $240, definitely worth it.

[mjt335]

I wouldn't be opposed to a rack unit, but it would depend on what I can find. There's a 242a on eBay right now for $1,100... you found quite a deal!!

Seems like one of these pedals might still be the most bang for my buck, but we'll see. I'm not quite ready to buy yet so I'll be browsing and researching for a while longer. I'm still open to any other recommendations!

[vvv]

Paul Westerberg, recording as Grandpaboy, re-amped entire mixes through a Fender Twin just to use the reverb.

There's actually a TOMB thread about spring verbs in mixing, here.

[kslight]

Is it important to be a pedal?

You could probably find a decent amp with spring reverb builtin for not too many beans. For example, something like the Carvin x100b (or its smaller incarnations) can frequently be found for a couple hundred.

[mjt335]

It wouldn't have to be a pedal necessarily, but something compact like a pedal or rack unit would be preferred. I do own a few different tube amps that have spring reverb (twin reverb RI, 1970 pro reverb, blues jr), but they come and go for gigs all the time.

Re-amping could be a fun trick when it makes sense, but I'm working on a Tascam 388 so I'm limited on tracks. My preference is something that can live in my FX loop or aux send.

[ott0bot]

I wouldn't be opposed to a rack unit, but it would depend on what I can find. There's a 242a on eBay right now for $1,100... you found quite a deal!!

Seems like one of these pedals might still be the most bang for my buck, but we'll see. I'm not quite ready to buy yet so I'll be browsing and researching for a while longer. I'm still open to any other recommendations!

Wow...that price is over-inflated. Should be 200-400...but maybe they are getting rarer these days. bought mine about 6 years ago.

Anothe option, if you have a 500 series rack is a Radial Tank driver, so you can just hook it up to the reverb tank directly and get a 100% wet signal. Although re-amping is pretty fun too...you do tend to get more dry signal along with the wet...sometimes that is good, sometimes not so much. It depends in the room quite a bit too.

Check it out:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TankDriver500

[mjt335]

Cool. That Tank Driver seems like a good option... except I don't have a 500 rack!

I will most likely go the pedal route (one that has a real spring), and was hoping to get some feedback on those two specific models. I like all the other suggestions, but something small and compact will be best for my current set up.

[The Scum]

Oh yeah, the flowerpot guy, with prices sky-high.

No basis in reality, just wishful thinking.

(A gentle reminder that sellers on Ebay are free to ask whatever they wish to. That doesn't mean that things actually sell for those prices. Click the "completed listings" button to see what auctions actually close at. 242's are indeed selling in the $200-400 range)

[markjazzbassist]

pioneer sr 202 are like 20 bucksl. pioneer sr 101 are 100 bucks and are TUBE. sansui ra 500 are cheap,

look for these budget rack units. biamp mr140, multivox, univox smr 4 , dod 845, tascam rs 20, fostex 3180.

hope that helps.

[mjt335]

Ahhh good point. I rarely ever use eBay. I prefer Reverb and the Gear Page, haven't purchased anything from the TOMB forum yet, but I'm sure I will at some point.

Random aside: @The Scum, I see you're in Denver too. I'm pretty new here, but it's good to see another mile high tape nerd on the board!

[mjt335]

Thanks, Mark.

I do see an SR-202 on Reverb for $100+shipping and SR-101 on eBay for $110+shipping. Would the 101 be the clear winner?

[hogfish]

The Demeter Reverbulator is an awesome pedal based unit, with 2 springs, it has long short or both reverbs, a polarity reverse, input gain, wet/dry blend, and master output . Tons of control over the reverb. I use it every day, either as reverb for Hammond or in my GTR rig. Probably the best of these type of units, although I havent tried any of the other stuff. Useful and versatile......

[mjt335]

Yeah, we occasionally with an engineer that uses a Reverbulator at FOH for live gigs (he also uses a Fulltone TTE) for live dub stuff. It sounds awesome, but is pretty expensive for my current situation. I was hoping the Sole-Mate or Headroom might sound similar.