Hello everybody.

I think we all know that modern reverb pans have a much longer decay than the pans of the 60s.

Like many, I bought an Accutronics 4AB3C1B (long decay) for my Surfybear kit and while it sounds great, the decay is too long for my tastes. It just makes the guitar sound too distant and fast passages a big mess. Unfortunately Accutronics doesn't make the same pan with medium or short decay so after watching as many videos I could I bought a MOD 4AB1C1B (short decay).

Well I just threw 30+ Euros down the drain because not only is its decay not shorter than the long decay pan, it's actually longer. More precisely, the decay length is the same as the Accutronics 4AB3C1B but the reverb tail is compressed, so it lacks a bit of drippy attack and it's much fatter, i.e. it stays louder longer.

Getting a vintage pan or springs is out of the question, especially here in Europe, so the question for you guys is how do I shorten the decay on these pans? I tried using pieces of foam but the results are unpredictable and they degrade the sound too much.

Also, why are vintage pans better than modern ones? How's it possible that our technology keeps getting better but music technology keeps getting worse?!

Thanks in advance, I'm sure this is a common issue among us surf guys.

ldk wrote:

Anybody ever take the springs from a new and vintage pan and compare their characteristics, especially the spring constants? Anybody ever put vintage springs in a modern pan and vice versa and compare results back to original pans?

Yes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QePZQz1u9dg

This is the video that convinced me to buy the MOD 4AB1C1B but mine has a much longer decay.

Redfeather wrote:

Yeah, modern pans of all types are total crap. It's a weird, unfortunate, and mysterious situation. But why is getting a vintage one out of the question when they're all over ebay?

From my own experiments, I've found that input and output impedance doesn't seem to affect the sound or functionality very much so it is possible to get away with a pan that was not intended for a Fender unit (like one for an organ.)

Because all vintage pans are in the US and between shipping and import tax I'd end up paying at least 50% more. Not to mention the gamble of buying a pan that might not work well, be noisy or have the wrong impedances - I don't know enough about electronics to be able to predict whether or not a pan will work with the Surfybear. I know I need 8 Ohm for the input impedance, what if a pan had 600 Ohms?

surferjoemusic wrote:

Don’t be sad... maybe you all just wait a little longer and Surfy Industries solves your problems. Not too long actually... but I will not say anything more now.

You tease, Lorenzo.

Los Fantasticos

andare wrote:

Yes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QePZQz1u9dg

This is the video that convinced me to buy the MOD 4AB1C1B but mine has a much longer decay.

That’s a very informative video—thanks to Mel. I lined up the recordings in a DAW so I could listen to snippets head to head. In addition to the modern pans sounding more cavernous, they also cut a lot of high frequencies. The modern pan with vintage springs brought back most of these frequencies, but not all.

If I'd stop buying old guitars to fix, I might actually learn to play.
Bringing instruments back to life since 2013.

DaveMudgett wrote:

I agree that Mel's video is very useful. Personally, I liked the modern short-decay AB1 pan and the vintage long-decay AB3 pan best by a significant margin. The modern long-decay pan is pretty overwhelming, but probably cool if you want an almost underwater sound. The only one I didn't care for was the modern pan with vintage springs. It sounded too dry to me - I assume he had things pretty cranked. I want more when I crank the reverb.

But the thing is that this is all subject to personal taste, and also subject to application. Not all music is created alike, not even all surf music. There are times I like a real drenched reverb sound. But for most stuff, I prefer more definition.

Over the last 10 years, I have bought several modern pans with both short and long decay, and my experience is that the shorter decay pans have had a noticably shorter decay. The last time I bought any was a few years ago, so maybe QC has gone to hell since then. But I said this on another thread - for me, reverb pans have always been a bit of a crapshoot going back 30-40 years. I have always had to sort through a few pans to find one I like in a particular reverb unit or amp, and I guess that's the other thing - the reverb unit or amp make a difference too. At least that's my experience.

I agree with you that the reverb unit/amp changes the sound of the pan. Makes sense as it is the driver.
The modern short decay sounded great in that video, a nice short decay with a dark but pleasant drip. However with my Surfybear kit the decay is too long and overwhelming.

I actually solved my issue for now. I taped a small piece of foam to the piece of foamboard that I use to close the bottom of my Accutronics long decay pan and now I have drip with a subtler decay.

So how do you "dampen" if you wouldn't mind sharing. I put some very light plastic bag on the springs and it almost sounded like slapback echo and not in a pleasing way. Like stuttered echo with chatter. Where or what or how are you applying the tissue? Thanks in advance

Peace to you, not on you

i keep watching ebay for some old pans to try out, but never manage to see any. i thought my '99 fender reverb unit pan was surprisingly good. I sold the whole reverb unit to someone on here and regret it.

the belton in the 6g15 I built is pretty good, but not as great as it could be, and I agree on the decay.

i do not like the Mod pans whatsoever.

Last edited: May 09, 2021 17:48:23

DannySnyder wrote:

cosmonaut wrote:

i keep watching ebay for some old pans to try out, but never manage to see any. i thought my '99 fender reverb unit pan was surprisingly good. I sold the whole reverb unit to someone on here and regret it.

the belton in the 6g15 I built is pretty good, but not as great as it could be, and I agree on the decay.

i do not like the Mod pans whatsoever.

I posted this many years ago, perhaps it still holds true?

https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/7914/?page=1#p150236

yep. i read that when you posted it, and I agree. just finally in the position to look for some old pans.