Digital reverb replaces spring tank

[Mike Doolin]

I've replaced the spring tank in my sf Deluxe with an Alesis Nanoverb. I made a couple of RCA to 1/4" cables and plugged the Nano right into the back where the tank had been, and it works flawlessly! I set the input and output gains at 12 o'clock and the mix full clockwise, choose a preset (I like Hall 2, although Plate 2 is nice too), and velcro the thing to the bottom of the cabinet. The Reverb knob on the amp works just as expected. I got a low-profile extension cord to plug into the accessory power jack and ran that down inside the cabinet to plug the Nano's wall wart into, so it's always hooked up and ready to go.

I imagine you could do this with almost any effects unit, but the Nanoverb is small and light and good sounding, and performs the function of the spring tank well, without the SPROING when you accidentally bump the amp.

[Enzo]

And here is one you can try with your pan. Instead of taking the pan out up to the reverb return jack, use one of those RCA to 1/4" cords from the pan output up to the (usually unused) normal channel input. Now the whole normal channel becomes your reverb return, complete with tone controls.

[jrfrond]

I have just started experimenting with the Belton BTDR-1H Reverb Module ("Brick") and it should be dirt simple to retrofit into most amps. You just need to derive a 5VDC power supply. No difficult.

[olddawg]

I have just started experimenting with the Belton BTDR-1H Reverb Module ("Brick") and it should be dirt simple to retrofit into most amps. You just need to derive a 5VDC power supply. No difficult.

Yeah I've seen those. GGG has a kit for a reverb pedal and posts a schematic. The chip itself is pretty cheap if you can find one. It seems like you could use an unused secondary tap, filter it, and use a monolithic regulator for a power supply to add a reverb channel to anything. I mentioned doing this on 18 watt Marshall clones and was met with flames of sacrilege.

[tedmich]

people love the Beltons, check the reviews for Lee Jackson's Mr. Springy

there was a guy over (at ax84?) who was selling a PCB for ~$70 for the Belton units (only $15??) but making your own is simple.

About $70 bought me a used Alesis Picoverb (28bit vs 18bit for the nano) which I run in my FX loop; it sounds great! Super lush Chorus/Flange/reverbs.

[Mike Doolin]

I tried the Belton, didn't care for it. It does sound like a spring reverb, but I'm not going for a direct sound replacement, I'm looking for more of a studio reverb sound. Moreover, the Beltons are not adjustable at all, they do one sound only, where the Nanoverb has lots of different reverb models and one parameter adjustment, which is enough for me to dial in what I want. But if you happen to like that Belton sound, you can get the Belton for $15 and spend another $20 or so in parts for a power supply and have digital reverb for dirt cheap.

[jrfrond]

Many people do not know this, but Belton has ANOTHER identically-sized module that does multi-EFX including reverb. It is a more complex install, requiring a 4-bit encoder and a +/-15V supply in addition to the +5V required by the reverb module. Also, the BTDR-1H comes in 3 different decay times: short, medium and long.

Like anything else digital, nothing is a complete analog replacement, but the Belton is close. It also offers the option for when even an "8"-sized pan (the small ones) won't fit in an amp and/or you just don't want to build drive and recovery circuits into an amp. A unit like the Belton makes it entirely possible to build reverb into even a Champ with minimal hassle. No drive or recovery is necessary, just input and output mix resistors (the latter of which would ideally be a pot for variable control)

[Mike Doolin]

What's the model number, and where can I get one?

[tedmich]

What's the model number, and where can I get one?

its model BTSE-16G, Belton Sound Effector, on p 13 of their catalog
http://www.belton.co.kr/neowiz/img_home/belton_no11.pdf

Garrett audio has its data sheet:
http://www.garrettaudio.com/DATA/BTSE-16G2.pdf

and sells it for 3800 yen (~$45) plus shipping
http://www.garrettaudio.com/reverbunit.html

(I got my picoverb for about the same $)

[Mike Doolin]

Thanks Ted, interesting. It almost looks like it could be what's inside a Picoverb and Nanoverb, it's mostly the same programs. But at $45 plus power supply parts plus your time to wire it up, it makes more sense to me to just buy the Nanoverb and plug it in.