Allen Amps Reverb Unit

lowselfesteem

Joined: Apr 08, 2010
Posts: 8
Michigan

Posted on Sep 04 2014 04:48 AM

Does anyone have any experience with a reverb unit made by Allen Amps? Thanks.

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ColtsSurf

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2014 10:07 AM

I asked David earlier this year if he would make a reverb unit, but he politely declined.

—

Paul

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Richard

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2014 10:19 AM

Hey Paul, just out of curiosity, did he say why? Just not something he does or is he full-handed with his other amp work? His amps are extremely popular and I wonder if he just doesn't have any desire to be another maker of Fender reverb unit clones.

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The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31

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FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 685
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on Sep 04 2014 10:22 AM

If such a thing exists I'm sure it's of as high a quality as him amps, which are fantastic.

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ColtsSurf

Joined: Apr 03, 2008
Posts: 477
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2014 10:39 AM

Richard,

He just said that a reverb unit was not something that he offered. He then referred me to Clark amps for a custom unit.

I have bought a few amps from David over time. He is exceptionally well organized with great attention to detail in his builds. My impression is that doing reverb units wouldn't be worth the time or effort for him.

As an aside, I ended up buying a Fender reissue 63 reverb unit hand wired by Alessandro. I'm very pleased with it.

—

Paul

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lowselfesteem

Joined: Apr 08, 2010
Posts: 8
Michigan

Posted on Sep 04 2014 02:33 PM

Thanks for the responses. I just ran into a unit that says "Allen Amplification" and "Tube Reverb" on the front. From what little I can find, it looks like Allen Amps offered a Tube Reverb kit at one time but no longer does.

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Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2014 02:53 PM

lowselfesteem wrote:

Thanks for the responses. I just ran into a unit that says "Allen Amplification" and "Tube Reverb" on the front. From what little I can find, it looks like Allen Amps offered a Tube Reverb kit at one time but no longer does.

A pic would be interesting. And, uh, did you query David directly as to whether that's his kit?

—

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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Richard

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2014 02:56 PM

He may very well have. I'd also like to see pics if you can get them.

—

The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31

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BJB

Joined: Jul 28, 2008
Posts: 413
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2014 03:19 PM

Both Top Hat and Matchless used to make reverb units. When Fender reissued the 6G15 reverb unit in 1994 (I think it was 1994), there was a brief fad where every boutique amp company had to build one. A few were good but they all faded away.

The Matchless reverb unit was interesting because it used tiny tubes in the power supply and reverb drive circuit. It was not capable of surf reverb so what was the point? Naturally, very few were made and now collectors pay big $ for them. Another case of guitarists hearing with their wallets instead of their ears.

http://www.dtsvinyl.com/guitar-gear/matchless-reverb-rv-1

—

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.

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lowselfesteem

Joined: Apr 08, 2010
Posts: 8
Michigan

Posted on Sep 04 2014 03:36 PM

I bought it, so I'll try to take and post a picture tonight.

Last edited: Sep 04, 2014 15:57:24

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lowselfesteem

Joined: Apr 08, 2010
Posts: 8
Michigan

Posted on Sep 04 2014 08:57 PM

Here it is.

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Badger

Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4537
Wisconsin
United States

Posted on Sep 04 2014 09:17 PM

Neat. Would be interesting to know more about it.

How's it sound?

—

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.

Top

lowselfesteem

Joined: Apr 08, 2010
Posts: 8
Michigan

Posted on Sep 05 2014 06:46 AM

I'm really a surf wannabe so I don't have the experience with reverb units to really judge it but it sounds surfy to me I spent 5 minutes last night comparing it to someone else's fender reissue and they sounded a lot alike based on that very brief comparison. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Top

lowselfesteem Joined: Apr 08, 2010 Posts: 8 Michigan	Posted on Sep 04 2014 04:48 AM Does anyone have any experience with a reverb unit made by Allen Amps? Thanks. Top
ColtsSurf Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 477	Posted on Sep 04 2014 10:07 AM I asked David earlier this year if he would make a reverb unit, but he politely declined. — Paul Top
Richard Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 1683 Georgia	Posted on Sep 04 2014 10:19 AM Hey Paul, just out of curiosity, did he say why? Just not something he does or is he full-handed with his other amp work? His amps are extremely popular and I wonder if he just doesn't have any desire to be another maker of Fender reverb unit clones. — The Mystery Men? El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists SSS Agent #31 Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 685 Sonoma, CA	Posted on Sep 04 2014 10:22 AM If such a thing exists I'm sure it's of as high a quality as him amps, which are fantastic. Top
ColtsSurf Joined: Apr 03, 2008 Posts: 477	Posted on Sep 04 2014 10:39 AM Richard, He just said that a reverb unit was not something that he offered. He then referred me to Clark amps for a custom unit. I have bought a few amps from David over time. He is exceptionally well organized with great attention to detail in his builds. My impression is that doing reverb units wouldn't be worth the time or effort for him. As an aside, I ended up buying a Fender reissue 63 reverb unit hand wired by Alessandro. I'm very pleased with it. — Paul Top
lowselfesteem Joined: Apr 08, 2010 Posts: 8 Michigan	Posted on Sep 04 2014 02:33 PM Thanks for the responses. I just ran into a unit that says "Allen Amplification" and "Tube Reverb" on the front. From what little I can find, it looks like Allen Amps offered a Tube Reverb kit at one time but no longer does. Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin	Posted on Sep 04 2014 02:53 PM lowselfesteem wrote: Thanks for the responses. I just ran into a unit that says "Allen Amplification" and "Tube Reverb" on the front. From what little I can find, it looks like Allen Amps offered a Tube Reverb kit at one time but no longer does. A pic would be interesting. And, uh, did you query David directly as to whether that's his kit? — 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. Top
Richard Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 1683 Georgia	Posted on Sep 04 2014 02:56 PM He may very well have. I'd also like to see pics if you can get them. — The Mystery Men? El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists SSS Agent #31 Top
BJB Joined: Jul 28, 2008 Posts: 413	Posted on Sep 04 2014 03:19 PM Both Top Hat and Matchless used to make reverb units. When Fender reissued the 6G15 reverb unit in 1994 (I think it was 1994), there was a brief fad where every boutique amp company had to build one. A few were good but they all faded away. The Matchless reverb unit was interesting because it used tiny tubes in the power supply and reverb drive circuit. It was not capable of surf reverb so what was the point? Naturally, very few were made and now collectors pay big $ for them. Another case of guitarists hearing with their wallets instead of their ears. http://www.dtsvinyl.com/guitar-gear/matchless-reverb-rv-1 — If it ain't broke, fix it until it is. Top
lowselfesteem Joined: Apr 08, 2010 Posts: 8 Michigan	Posted on Sep 04 2014 03:36 PM I bought it, so I'll try to take and post a picture tonight. Last edited: Sep 04, 2014 15:57:24 Top
lowselfesteem Joined: Apr 08, 2010 Posts: 8 Michigan	Posted on Sep 04 2014 08:57 PM Here it is. Top
Badger Joined: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 4537 Wisconsin	Posted on Sep 04 2014 09:17 PM Neat. Would be interesting to know more about it. How's it sound? — 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. Top
lowselfesteem Joined: Apr 08, 2010 Posts: 8 Michigan	Posted on Sep 05 2014 06:46 AM I'm really a surf wannabe so I don't have the experience with reverb units to really judge it but it sounds surfy to me I spent 5 minutes last night comparing it to someone else's fender reissue and they sounded a lot alike based on that very brief comparison. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Top

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Allen Amps Reverb Unit