Gilette wrote:

kizzer wrote:

Hi Guys I'm new to the forum. I'm looking to order and start a build of a Surfy Reverb and Tremolo unit within the next month. Although i've wired up a couple of make your own pedals in the past this will be a step up for me.

I was wondering what way around you guys were wiring up joint units, whether reverb into tremolo or tremolo into reverb? Also, where would I place a front mounted switch in the circuit to be able to switch the tremolo out of the circuit?

Thanks for any help you can give guys.

Kieran

I've made such a switch in my Surfy Hybrid. It's an easy schematic, just like a true bypass switch.

It looks like this:

So you'll need to get a DPDT switch, which looks like this:

That's great, thanks for the help Frank

I tried the search function but couldn't get any results. Anyone know what is the current draw of the surfy reverb pedal?

https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/
https://www.dirtyfuse.com

RaistMagus wrote:

I tried the search function but couldn't get any results. Anyone know what is the current draw of the surfy reverb pedal?

The driver part of the reverb is a class A amp which draws about 5 watts at peak. In Bjorn's words: Single-ended class A design. Power disipation = 2 x 2.5 W. A lot of HEAT.
So, in theory, you could work with 12 volts at 0.5 Amps. But to keep it safe better stick to 1 Amp.

For whoever is not interested in DIY, we announce that from today the SurfyBear Pedal is available online

http://www.surfyindustries.com/surfybear

Very few pieces available in the 3 colors. This is still a quasi-hand made product so the production is quite limited. But we are working to have a large availability in the shortest time possible!

Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)

Can anyone post a video or clip of their Surfy Bear getting a pronounced drip and let me know what spring pan you're using? I've fussed around with mine for over a year and I've never been able to get a pronounced drip out of it. Used a MOD pan to start, then an Accutronics, no luck tracking down a vintage pan and I don't really want one honestly (G-Spring and Little Kahuna don't use vintage pans and always sound drippy in clips). It sounds great as just a lush reverb, there's maybe the faintest hint of a drip if I listen really closely, but it's not the surf rock sound I was after by making it. I'm getting close to just shelling out for a Fender RI unit or seeing if I can track down a used boutique build with a reasonable budget somewhere. I've tried every permutation of settings, using a jag, boost/od pedals, palm muting, plectrum thickness. It's just not happening.

I just wanna know if my expectations are way off, I'm missing something huge and obvious or maybe something got fudged in my kit and I didn't realize it.

Sorry to hear that Corey. I've hade a MOD in mine but that didn't splash as clear as I wanted so I took the accutronics from an old LAB amp. I do like that one better although the sound the Mod wasn't bad at all.

But, I expect there is something wrong with the electronics. It's all about the power with which the springs are driven. Yours doesn't seem to go loud enough to get any drip, because it should be very close to the 6G15 actually. Any chance of posting some pictures of the wiring inside?

5-5-5. Its just a quick clip so excuse the technique.

Last edited: Jul 11, 2017 12:34:08

Ahw come on. We'll be judging the reverb, not your playing.
We probably all have recordings we'd rather forget.

Hi Corey
To me it doesnt sound as bright as an Accutronics pan normally sound.
You say the settings are 6-6-8. Is the 8 the Tone?

Have you tried other amplifiers?
This type of reverb circuits are sensitive to the amp's input impedance.
/Björn

8 is the Tone setting, yes. The amp is built off a brownface Showman schematic, the normal channel only (no tremolo) and just has some tone stack mods. The video I posted is the Accutronics pan. The Accutronics made it a bit brighter and more vintage voice (to my ear) compared to the MOD, but neither have that pronounced "sproing" sound that I associate with drip. I hear it immediately and prominently on every demo and even when I just use a vintage voice spring reverb in Logic.

For some references and comparisons in different settings...

Here's a properly recorded comparison I made of the two tanks. MOD first, then Accutronics. This is with a boost/light OD running up front:

Surfy Bear FET Reverb - Pan Comparison

Here's a song I recorded all in Logic, with no real amps or effects, using their Fender voiced vintage spring reverb effect:

Surf Rock Instrumental

Here's a song I recorded with the same rig I used in the video, but different guitar (Fender MIM Strat with Fat 50's CS pickups, also used in the previous track). It's a different vibe of song, but still lots of single note palm muting. It has a very nice tone, but pretty much no identifiable "drip" to my ear. More similar to what I hear from a pedal like the Topanga. There's an audible slapback sound before the decay, but "sproing" sound snapping with the attack of the palm muted notes.

Frugal Amps Showman Demo

EDIT: Compare to this video. A '63 copy vs a Billy Zoom Little Kahuna. It's a MIM Strat and running into an interface with a simulated Fender amp. You hear the drip instantly on both, if the mix/dwell/tone are up beyond a little under halfway or so. My reverb never makes this sound.

Last edited: Jul 11, 2017 14:35:40