Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 11:48 AM
Here is my comparison of my awesome new Texotica Reverb with my equally awesome 1965 Fender Reverb unit through my 1964 Fender Showman. I chose to compare the Texotica to the vintage unit because there really isn't any comparison to the reissue unit. The reissue sounds really thin compared to the Texotica. The Texotica even sounds as if it has more depth to it when compared to the vintage unit. I used different settings on the Texotica to show how much control one has over the tone. So, here I am, flared nostrils (yes, I flare them when I play guitar and my wife thinks it's funny), mess-ups and all, demonstrating how GREAT this unit actually is. I plan on using the Texotica in all of my live shows. Had I turned up the volume of the amp, one would have been blown away. I'll definitely post videos of me playing live with the unit to give a demonstration on how it sounds at a louder volume.
Billy Horton makes an incredible unit, and for less than it costs to buy a reissue Fender unit! To me, the choice is clearly for the Texotica over the reissue any day!
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
Last edited: Oct 16, 2011 23:01:15
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 12:01 PM
You can skip around on the video to hear the comparisons back to back. I think the triple 8 setting, the last one I used, sounds virtually identical to the vintage tank. 1.38 for the Fender and 5.19 for the Texotica.
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
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Voodoocurse
Joined: Jan 13, 2009
Posts: 53
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 12:21 PM
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 12:36 PM
Voodoocurse wrote:
Sounds really good!
Thanks, I surely think it does! Unfortunately, the video doesn't do it justice and live it sounds even better. Honestly, the Texotica also sounds so much better than a reissue reverb. Point to point makes such a difference and the Texotica offers it for a great price.
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 12:37 PM
Sounds good but I prefer the Fender unit. The Texotica has more of a bassier "concert hall" sound to me.
— METEOR IV on reverbnation
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 12:39 PM
Thanks for the comparison vid btw, very helpful.
— METEOR IV on reverbnation
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 12:48 PM
Las_Barracudas wrote:
Sounds good but I prefer the Fender unit. The Texotica
has more of a bassier "concert hall" sound to me.
I use the neck position pickup, which gives a bassier sound, especially when used with the Showman's 15" JBL and tone ring. When you say Fender unit, are you saying the vintage unit or the reissue? The reissue can't get the same sound as a vintage unit just as it can't get the same as the Texotica. For those looking to invest in a unit, who can't find the vintage unit at a decent price, I think the Texotica is the best choice for the price it costs for a reissue.
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
Last edited: Oct 16, 2011 12:49:15
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 12:56 PM
I don't know, I've played and performed with RI units that sounded just as good as some vintage ones. Personally, I think people unjustly bash the Fender RI amps (because of the PC boards / not being hand-wired).
We once did a blind 3 person A/B test using a vintage Fender SR and a SRRI, and the RI won out???
You could surley do worse than the Texotica, but the circuit def sounds different to my ears. 2nd vid I've heard and my opinion has been reaffirmed based on this one.
— METEOR IV on reverbnation
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 01:10 PM
I've never bashed any of the RI Fender stuff and I also don't bash the RI reverb. The other guitarist for the Coconauts uses a custom 15 RI Twin Reverb that sounds GREAT.
For you, maybe you'd need to play around with the Texotica and compare it on your own. The video, of course, can't pick up everything with regard to the sound. Compare a vintage unit to the reissue and you'll see a huge difference. There are mods one could do to the Reissue to make it sound better and the easiest is to change the tubes to the correct 6K6, 12at7 and 12ax7. The difference alone in a reissue that has a 6V6 and a 6K6 is remarkable itself.
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 02:13 PM
I finally got to play one live...great units!
— METEOR IV on reverbnation
Last edited: Jun 13, 2013 16:01:32
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 02:19 PM
OK, thanks for listening. I don't know of any rockabilly guys who use a reverb unit, so I don't know what your comment means there.
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
Last edited: Oct 16, 2011 16:40:33
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Las_Barracudas
Joined: Apr 24, 2011
Posts: 1087
Surf City, NC
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 02:34 PM
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 04:41 PM
?
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
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rockfish
Joined: Jun 12, 2006
Posts: 65
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 06:34 PM
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 06:45 PM
rockfish wrote:
Good video matt!
Thank you kind sir!
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 07:42 PM
Okay. I don't play as well as most of the guitar players here, but I'm working on it. I know that how well I play is the biggest component to how my gear sounds. Having said that, I was pretty satisfied with my FRV-1, especially after combining it with the FDR-1 as per BOSS's recommendation. The FDR-1 definitely warms up the tone and adds depth to the crash and makes the drip heavier.
Then I listened to the Texotica reverb sound samples. This one by Matt was the kicker. I've spent two days with my gear (this started before Matt's post) trying to create that sound. I've tried every possible combination of settings on all my pedals (FRV-1, FDR-1, RV-5), guitars (2001 MIM Strat and 2011 Cort Source-BV) and amp (Fender Stage 112SE). I got a lot closer, and I discovered I can even create that fantastic flying saucer sound effect from the old B-movies if I go nuts with my tremolo pedal (Rogue analog tremolo; hey, it works!). That's fun; I'll have to play something that uses it.
What I can't do is reproduce the total effect produced by the Texotica that Matt gets from his guitar and amp. I don't know how much of that is me, but I've worked hard on my palm-muting and trem-picking. That sound doesn't seem to be in my gear.
So, to finally get to the point, I'm going to buy a Texotica reverb as soon as I've saved up enough. I just hope the price isn't necessarily increased by demand or that there's a long waiting list. I think I need six months.
Thanks, Matt, though I can't speak for my wife. 
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Oct 16, 2011 19:58:05
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 09:41 PM
Noel, I'm glad you made the decision to get the tank. It's well worth the money, if you ask me, especially with the price of the reissues. It definitely gets the drip you're looking for.  Tell your wife what Billy Horton told me to tell my wife: "You're not buying another piece of gear, you're investing in a quality Made in USA product and helping out the small businessman."
Send him an email or give him a call. He's a great guy and doesn't pressure you at all. He'll answer all of your questions honestly.
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
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Matt22
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2858
Fredericksburg, Virginia
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Posted on Oct 16 2011 11:02 PM
I decided to do another demo, this time with my Vibro Champ Amp. Thanks for viewing and having patience with my mistakes. I tried to get as much diversity in as possible in a short amount of time and as quietly as possible so as not to wake up a sleeping little girl.
— Matt "tha Kat" Lentz
Skippy and the Skipjacks: 2018-2020
Skippyandtheskipjacks.net
https://www.facebook.com/skippyandtheskipjacks
Otto and the Ottomans: 2014-2015
The Coconauts surf band: 2009-2014
www.theamazingcoconauts.com
Group Captain and the Mandrakes 2013
http://www.gcmband.com/
The Surfside IV: 2002-2005, 2008-2009
the Del-Vamps: 1992-1999, 2006-2007
http://www.dblcrown.com/delvamps.html
Last edited: Oct 16, 2011 23:04:54
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krupanut
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
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Posted on Oct 17 2011 02:29 PM
Cool! Sounds great Matt.
They are very versatile units with that excellent tone control.
Billy recently A/B 'd Joe Emery’s 64 Fender with the Texotica and it was nailing the sound of the vintage tank.
As for Las Barracudas observations:
The Boss pedal gives very good impresonation of a outboard tank.
and is a great alternative if money is tight.
It works well.
But to my ear it is just that, and impresonation not the real thing.
They are sultle differances, but they do exist and when I plug into a hand wired tube driven unit I go "ah there's the sound."
The Texocita is WELL worth the dough. Hand wired with the higest quatily components less than a RI pc board Fender and way less than a vintage unit. This makes it a great choice in my opion.
Could I tell the differance listening to a Boss pedal, a RI unti, a Gomez unit or a Texoctia through my little computer speakers from a digital camera video on you tube? I doubt it but sitting next to my Showman with a vintage Fender, a Gomez or the Texocita I can sure tell!
The Texoitca can get very that Fender high end ice pick tone but you can roll it off and make the reverb warm and full with out losing the drip.
It really handels both extremes with no problem.
— The Thunderchiefs
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stilettoace
Joined: Oct 12, 2012
Posts: 25
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Posted on Jun 13 2013 02:06 PM
Thanks, Matt. I think the Tex is the one I need as well.
— https://gnarlymen.bandcamp.com/
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