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get reverberated!
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Tremolo and/or reverb in an amp..do you use/want/need it?
Joined: Apr 20, 2006 Posts: 2056 
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 12:27 PM
In the current surf community I am curious how many of us buy/have amps that you don't use the trem or on board reverb much during a gig/show/practice. It seems that there are people that don't use/like either or both on-board effects but just want a clear, clean sound. What do you say? Inquiring minds would like to know. — |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle 
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 12:40 PM
I don't use either. Blackface tremolo is terrible. I have a Guyatone VTX tremlolo that is fantastic. I'd use the onboard reverb of a tank but never for a live surf gig. I used Two Super Reverbs in stereo one with onboard reverb and one with no reverb in the studio for 4-5 tracks. I personally like any combo amp I have to have reverb although if the amp sounds great it doesn't really matter. One can get reverb from other sources. |
Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 215 West Hartford, CT 
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 01:27 PM
I prefer amp-tremolo to a pedal - and on my two old Ampegs there's no volume change when using it. http://www.aquatudes.com |
Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Posts: 580 San Antone, TX
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 05:05 PM
Nothing beats BF tube driven tremolo. —The Phantomatics on Facebook |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 05:09 PM
I'd say 60-70% of tremolos are better than Blackface trem. |
Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 648
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 05:40 PM
I love the tremolo in my brownface Showman Amp, and use it for rehearsal, gigs and recording. I think the black/silverface vibrato sounds cool, but the volume drop when you use it bothers me. In both amps with this tremolo I've had (A '76 Bandmaster Reverb and a '67 Twin Reverb) I've modified the circuit to use the brown vibroverb style bias modulating tremolo. This tremolo also uses a single tube and you can fit it on the board without any permanent modifications. The only drawback is that the intensity drops off when you have the amp volume cranked. On board reverb is fine, the Fender and Ampeg onboard circuits are cool, but I really like the outboard Fender tank with it's three controls. I've never tried one of the Fender custom shop amps with the onboard three-knob reverb to see how close they get in tone. |
Joined: Mar 16, 2007 Posts: 1342 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 06:54 PM
I voted for reverb. I prefer my Fultone Trem over the Trem on my Twin. It has a much slower pulse that I prefer. I like the reverb on my Twin and use it on occasion in place of my tank - and sometimes I use it in combination with the tank. It's exceptionally wet & drippy for onboard reverb. For what it's worth - My amp tech put the Ceaser Diaz mod on my Twin, which I think is a good mod. He also routed the reverb before the pre-amp, so it has more of a tank effect. And he put both effects through both Channels so I have the option of using them in Channel A - which is voiced more for an acoustic sound. — |
Joined: Aug 18, 2006 Posts: 1732 |
Posted on Dec 25 2008 07:15 PM
I probably won't ever need 100 watts again in my lifetime, but I wish there was a "slacktone" amp available for purchase. Dave's amp seems like such a great (if heavy) solution. Big combo modified to hold a "tank" reverb. A Gomez "Wronski" model anyone? |
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Joined: Aug 29, 2008 Posts: 694 Surf City |
Posted on Dec 25 2008 10:11 PM
Jake, how close is that to Harmonic vibrato of a Brownface? —
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 10:17 PM
Not really the same but still great tremolo. You can dial in more sounds with the Guyatone. Lots of options. Also, never buy a pedal just because it has tube in it. It just so happens the Guyatone FLIP(the ones with tubes) series pedals are pretty good. The delay and trem anyways. |
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Joined: Aug 29, 2008 Posts: 694 Surf City |
Posted on Dec 25 2008 10:39 PM
Ok. I'm still confused on if I'm gonna save up for some sort of amp next year or the year after. In that case, I won't buy a trem. Though my next amp will be a Brownface or Surfer. Since I already have Blackface tone, I want the next step up. And am willing to wait for it, and earn it through practicing. —
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Joined: Sep 24, 2007 Posts: 2728
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 10:44 PM
This post has been removed by the author. Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 21:15:43 |
Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 1140 Davenport Iowa
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Posted on Dec 25 2008 11:32 PM
Brown trem is the best ever! I heard a pedal called the tremulator once and thought that was pretty cool. I have a boss TR2 Trem pedal for my non trem amps but dont really use it anymore, never use onboard verb, tank or bust! Give me reverb or give me death! |
Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 1778 Star, Idaho. Formerly lived in Surf City USA.
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Posted on Dec 26 2008 12:07 AM
image |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Dec 26 2008 12:27 AM
I must add in my two cents to steer people away from any Carl Martin effect. I have never found myself to like one of their pedals. To me they are the Jay Turser of the pedal world. |
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Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Posts: 142 Houston, TX |
Posted on Dec 26 2008 12:43 AM
The Blackface Trem is fine by me. I have to say, I've never played a Brown Face amp with Trem, so I can't compare. |
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Joined: Apr 20, 2006 Posts: 2056
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Posted on Dec 26 2008 10:44 AM
Just a heads up --thanks for taking the time to post your comments and cast your vote. I think it is highly helpful and informative to all of us. Keep on keeping on...Dario — |
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Joined: Jul 05, 2006 Posts: 264 Waco Texas |
Posted on Dec 26 2008 11:48 AM
IMO, BF tremelo is very good especially if your handy with a soldering iron and can do some simple mods to it. But the absolute best I ever heard was a 60's brown face ( Vibroverb I belive) I heard when I was just starting guitar as a kid. Our neigbor kid was starting on guitar and my parents and I went over to check his new guitar and amp out one night. His new guitar turned out to be a dot 335 and amp was a brown Fender. Both of these at the time, 62-63, where just another guitar and amp. This was the first time I or my Dad had heard a Tremelo amp. I as well as my Dad thought it sounded just sooo cool. About 4 years latter my Dad upgraded my amp to the BF Pro Reverb I have today. It had tremelo and it sounded cool but it did'nt quite sound as neat as my friends brown Fender. I puzzled over this for many years and finally found out the brown Fender probably had the bias vary type tremelo as opposed to the opto isolator my Pro Reverb had. I have thought about trying the Area 51 BMT-60 add-on tube tremelo on a doaner amp some time. Anybody tried this setup?? —2012-2013: FILTHY POLAROIDS |
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Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Dec 26 2008 11:55 AM
I'm pretty sure the Vibroverb has the bias vary, which to my knowledge, I have never played. The best Fender vibrato is supposedly the Harmonic vibrato on most of the other brown amps. Of course I have never heard bias vary so I can only repeat what I've heard. |
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Joined: Aug 29, 2008 Posts: 694 Surf City |
Posted on Dec 26 2008 01:00 PM
Thanks Kahuna, I'll try it out whenever I can. I saw that a while ago, but forgot about it. —
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Of course he has some tube shenanigans going on in there, but a straight fendery tubed one is what I'm thinking of.