SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 02:20 PM
Hey folks,
I finally found the time to compare the reverb units I own and demo them.
The units compared are:
- BOSS FRV-1
- Strymon Flint
- Fender RI tank (6K6, C10 mod, good 70s pan I pulled out of a Bandmaster Reverb TFL5005D)
- The Surfy Bear FET Reverb (R4 connected to a MOD 4AB3C1B)
- Gomez G-Spring
Initially I thought I'd use a looper and simply play a lick and switch to each reverb, so I won't play along to the reverbs 'character'.
But I don't have a looper and after asking on Facebook if anybody could borrow one, all I got was dissed by Ralf! 
So I played each part by hand, that's why it's sometimes quite sloppy - it became pretty exhausting after some time.
Please forgive my bad playing, it is solely for comparison purpose. Reverb science, if you like.
What came to me as a suprise is that the best sounding reverb in this shootout (to my ears) is NOT my favorite reverb in a live situation.
Maybe because it has been recorded in a sterile (home) studio situation.
As I am aware that most people will favor one or another unit, I simply named the files A, B, C, D and E.
You can make your guess, which letter applies to which unit. Trust your ears! Choose what you like most.
I will solve the puzzle in a couple of days.
I also apologize that I couldn't throw in a real vintage unit. I simply do not have one!
Same goes for all the other pedals/clones out there (Topanga, Supernatural, etc.)
Hope you guys enjoy this little puzzle and maybe it is useful for some of you who are still looking for the 'right' reverb.
Here's a pic of the 'session'.
And finally - the link to the sound files:
Click here.
Cheers
Sancho
— The Hicadoolas
Last edited: Jan 21, 2015 05:59:11
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HallmarkSweptWinger
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: 1284
Berlinesia, Germanifornia
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:07 PM
SanchoPansen wrote:
all I got was dissed by Ralf!
…I just was thinking a looper is a pedal for time traveling…
— Twang cheers!
Ralf Kilauea
www.kilaueas.de
https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien
Last edited: Jan 17, 2015 15:08:33
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Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:08 PM
Fantastic job, Sancho! 
Your playing is good, and this is by far the most detailed comparison yet. You know of course the Topanga is glaring in it's absence... IMO it's the best digital emulation by far.
It's really hard to nail the analog ones, since the sound depends so much on the pan itself. I guess the Gomez is Accutronics 4AB3C1B? And the Surfy Bear is attached to what?
From the hip:
A. Flint
B. SurfyBear
C. RI
D. Gomez
E. FRV1
BTW, if you have a PC+Soundcard setup, it's not so hard to re-amp, just use an available out with a buffered boost pedal.
Last edited: Jan 17, 2015 15:13:04
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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 Jan 17 2015 03:10 PM
That's a lot of work. I started listening, got as far as C2, and then realized I didn't have enough time to finish. I will, later. Whew!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:12 PM
Thanks Ariel! You are right regarding the pan in the Gomez. The Surfy Bear is attached to a MOD 4AB3C1B. I did not notice any 'longer decay' with the MOD (some people complain about the long tail).
Oh, and you got 2 out of 5 
Edit: I thought about using my PC as a playback device. Had to use it for recording, unfortunately. Maybe my laptop would work as 'looping' device. So laptop > reverb > amp > mixing console > desktop PC. Mmmh...
— The Hicadoolas
Last edited: Jan 17, 2015 15:19:06
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Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:14 PM
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homerhead
Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 530
Portland, OR
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:16 PM
my brain hurts :)
Rick
— Rick
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Big_Ryan
Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 578
San Diego
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:25 PM
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:29 PM
Absolutely Ryan, me too!
Rick: sorry, didn't wanna hurt you
Ralf: If you are interested in time traveling, be here last monday!
— The Hicadoolas
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LaFleur
Joined: May 20, 2009
Posts: 525
Leipzig
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:30 PM
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:36 PM
LaFleur wrote:
A,C and D are real tanks, so far 
Don't want to spoil here
— The Hicadoolas
Last edited: Jan 17, 2015 15:39:36
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LaFleur
Joined: May 20, 2009
Posts: 525
Leipzig
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:39 PM
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:45 PM
B is the only one I'm not a big fan of. It doesn't sound bad, more like the onboard from a Princeton Reverb.
Me, I gig with a Gomez but I'm more than happy using the reverb tank pedal in Logic Pro. I'm not on the chase for the perpetual 'perfect reverb', although using the modeling in Logic allows me to tweak to my hearts content.
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LaFleur
Joined: May 20, 2009
Posts: 525
Leipzig
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 03:50 PM
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 04:41 PM
My ear's not that discerning but have to play to at least honor all the work; damn Sancho, thanks!
FRV-1
Surfy Bear FET
Gomez
Strymon Flint
Fender RI Tank
When the puzzle gets solved I hope someone can take a minute (in case I forget) to crank that into the site's Reverb Wiki; there's a section for these alternate solutions.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 05:11 PM
I'm curious to hear what others think, I've only ever played the Gomez and an RI from this list so I can't really partake in the guessing. I just don't like sample B, whichever one that is!
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2533
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 05:42 PM
Fantastic study! I would guess A,C,D to be real springs and they sound the best. I'm going to shoot the works that the Surfy Bear is C???
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
Last edited: Jan 17, 2015 17:50:38
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 07:41 PM
A and E sounded clear as though they weren't adding tone.
B Had tone a plenty
C Sounded the sweetest and my favourite of the bunch.
D Sounded ok but something suspect about the tail maybe.
Tough one, have no idea other than C sounds best.
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P_Murphy
Joined: Jan 17, 2015
Posts: 15
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 10:29 PM
new guy here, kinda knowing what a reverb pedal is 
just going off my music experience, and what I personally like:
I really like "D" - good depth, good brightness, good all around.
A would be my other favorite.
Last edited: Jan 17, 2015 22:31:47
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kruelkats
Joined: Mar 26, 2012
Posts: 206
Bogor, West Java
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Posted on Jan 17 2015 11:48 PM
crumble wrote:
A and E sounded clear as though they weren't adding tone.
B Had tone a plenty
C Sounded the sweetest and my favourite of the bunch.
D Sounded ok but something suspect about the tail maybe.
Tough one, have no idea other than C sounds best.
I agree, C is the best for my ear so far.
— Umar
The Mentawais
The Rentones
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December Birthdays 
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