Reverb Tank

TheOutpost

Joined: May 26, 2020
Posts: 264
Highlands Ranch
United States

Posted on Jan 05 2025 02:39 PM

I have only ever played a Surfy Bear. for those of you who own both or have played both. Is a real Fender tube tank worth it?

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da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Jan 06 2025 03:26 AM

If you have a Surfy Bear, it's probably not really worth getting a Fender unit. They sound and behave very similarly in my opinion.

I have one of the original SB kits, a home built 6G15 and a Fender reissue and they all sound pretty much the same. The difference between these is not as noticeable as the difference between these and a pedal.

If you see a reissue unit at a good price it's worth getting one if you have the space, but I wouldn't stress that you're missing out on anything

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

Last edited: Jan 06, 2025 03:28:22

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edwardsand

Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 771

Posted on Jan 06 2025 11:05 AM

I have not played through a Fender unit, but do have a Surfybear metal and one of the original kits I put together. I have been reading these forums comparing the Surfybear to the Fender 6G15 for quite some time, so the issue has been covered in depth.

So rather than telling you to search the forums, I can tell you that the consensus is that the Surfybear gives you a sound that is quite comparable to the 6G15, and that it has several advantages. In particular, it costs less, you don't have to deal with tubes going out, it doesn't weigh as much and takes up less space (making it more portable). Not to mention that there are differences between the original 6G15 units and the reissues - the reissues are sometimes found wanting, and the original units seen as the holy grail. So unless you have loads of money to spend or are a purist and must have all original equipment, it's not worth it when you've already got a Surfybear.

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RobbieReverb

Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2355
San Jose, Ca.
3 News Pins

Posted on Jan 06 2025 11:35 AM

Hi Steven. I'm just a hobbyist, and not a n actively gigging guitarist, so take that in mind. Here's my two cents.

Fender reverb tanks vary greatly in tone. In my opinion, the Surfy Bears are more consistent.

My Surfy Bear absolutely smokes my Fender '63 Reverb reissue, which sounds good, but rather dull & lifeless, in comparison. That said, some of the reissues sound great. At the current costs, the '63 reissues, to me, aren't worth it. Yet a lot of top-notch surf guitarists use them, are very happy with them, and sound very good.

There are some "magical" original vintage Fender reverbs out there, but they can be very expensive, and it is a crapshoot to get a really great one, or not. After buying one, you might end up needing to swap out different pans to get the best tone. At the end of the day, you might end up with a tank that sounds infinitesimally better than a Surfy Bear, but at a much higher cost.

What is a truly great sounding tank, and if it is really worth it, is, in my opinion, a totally subjective thing. To some, the reissues and vintage units are worth it. To me, it's not worth it. I would stick with the Surfy Bear.

—

Bob

Last edited: Jan 06, 2025 11:42:47

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TheOutpost

Joined: May 26, 2020
Posts: 264
Highlands Ranch
United States

Posted on Jan 09 2025 01:07 PM

Thanks All. I have a SurfyBear Compact that i love(not to mention i love the aesthetic of the original White stripe graphic).

I think i'm now contemplating buying a Classic or Metal to have as well.

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Fady

Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2263
North Carolina
United States

Posted on Jan 09 2025 03:34 PM

Everyone will have their own ruler to decide difference and degrees, and calculus to determine value for money.

For me, I’ll take tubes, traditional transformers & choke and pan.

As mentioned earlier, there can perhaps be more variability vs Surfys. While some of that is component variance and drift (factor for both), the up side of tube variance (a factor as important as the pan, IMHO), is user tunable options. Of course, both tube models and Surfys’ can experiment and explore pans. Transformers & choke are far less ‘user’ serviceable, but can also be swapped with a reasonable tech, and also affect performance (I’ve done it on one of my units).

And beyond those things, I just really dig and prefer the sonic aspects, response and feel of tubes, traditional transformers & choke, and pan. It is a beautiful thing you get the recipe to your liking, and I don’t mind the tinkering, journey and exploration.

I do concede current market prices have the costs further apart than they ever have been, but it is something that has had ebb’s and flows over the years (like most all gear), and invariably will continue to - be that classic versions coming back down some, or Surfy prices continuing to rise, or both.

The other thought that goes thru my mind in tubes vs transistors… how many folks with Surfy Bear setups are playing thru Tube Amps vs Solid State, digital or modelers. I see it as the same conversation really as the 6G15 circuit is largely a Fender Champ, basically with springs/pan instead of the speaker. Again, any of it can sound good, and degrees of difference depend on YOUR ruler & calculus. I’m just saying the amp comvo (tubes vs solid state vs modelers) is the same convo in my mind, and I genuinely wonder how it all shakes out with our surf/instro crowd when you add the amp into the convo. At the end of the day, it’s a system and all components are a factor.

—

Fady

El Mirage @ ReverbNation

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AgentClaret

Joined: Jan 30, 2024
Posts: 130
United States

Posted on Jan 09 2025 04:04 PM

I kind of have this idea in the back of my head that I'd like to try and get a decent deal on a reissue Fender tank and then throw a Surfy Pan Extra in to get closer to the original Gibbs pan sound...

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Fady

Joined: Mar 07, 2010
Posts: 2263
North Carolina
United States

Posted on Jan 09 2025 04:17 PM

Tube rolling and pan swapping can be a lot of fun. Yes, pan can absolutely have a significant impact on what you get out, and in the exploration ya gotta swap just one element at a time to see if what you change is having the impact you want, but tubes, strings, picks, where you pick the string, if you have guitar knobs maxed or rolled off, amp settings, and, and, and… it ALL matters in pursuit of ‘that’ sound (whichever sound you are after). And that was kind of one of my call out… a traditional style setup (doesn’t have to be vintage!) gives you a few more things to tinker with than the Surfy avenue.

—

Fady

El Mirage @ ReverbNation

Top

dirtysocks

Joined: May 08, 2024
Posts: 5

Posted on Jan 17 2025 02:58 PM

I have a reissue 6g15 from the mid-90s and a SurfyBear classic. Using a line selector, I compared them, and the tube unit had something the SurfyBear didn't. However, it wasn't enough to justify the tank's size and maintenance requirements for me.

In a studio situation, I would use the 6g15. For rehearsal and gigging I leave the 6g15 at home.

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TheOutpost Joined: May 26, 2020 Posts: 264 Highlands Ranch	Posted on Jan 05 2025 02:39 PM I have only ever played a Surfy Bear. for those of you who own both or have played both. Is a real Fender tube tank worth it? — Social Media https://www.facebook.com/TheOutpost/ https://www.instagram.com/theoutpostmusic/ Music https://theoutpostmusic.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/theoutpostmusic/ Merch https://the-outpost-merch-store.printify.me/products Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Jan 06 2025 03:26 AM If you have a Surfy Bear, it's probably not really worth getting a Fender unit. They sound and behave very similarly in my opinion. I have one of the original SB kits, a home built 6G15 and a Fender reissue and they all sound pretty much the same. The difference between these is not as noticeable as the difference between these and a pedal. If you see a reissue unit at a good price it's worth getting one if you have the space, but I wouldn't stress that you're missing out on anything — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Last edited: Jan 06, 2025 03:28:22 Top
edwardsand Joined: Jun 29, 2018 Posts: 771	Posted on Jan 06 2025 11:05 AM I have not played through a Fender unit, but do have a Surfybear metal and one of the original kits I put together. I have been reading these forums comparing the Surfybear to the Fender 6G15 for quite some time, so the issue has been covered in depth. So rather than telling you to search the forums, I can tell you that the consensus is that the Surfybear gives you a sound that is quite comparable to the 6G15, and that it has several advantages. In particular, it costs less, you don't have to deal with tubes going out, it doesn't weigh as much and takes up less space (making it more portable). Not to mention that there are differences between the original 6G15 units and the reissues - the reissues are sometimes found wanting, and the original units seen as the holy grail. So unless you have loads of money to spend or are a purist and must have all original equipment, it's not worth it when you've already got a Surfybear. Top
RobbieReverb Joined: Feb 28, 2006 Posts: 2355 San Jose, Ca.	Posted on Jan 06 2025 11:35 AM Hi Steven. I'm just a hobbyist, and not a n actively gigging guitarist, so take that in mind. Here's my two cents. Fender reverb tanks vary greatly in tone. In my opinion, the Surfy Bears are more consistent. My Surfy Bear absolutely smokes my Fender '63 Reverb reissue, which sounds good, but rather dull & lifeless, in comparison. That said, some of the reissues sound great. At the current costs, the '63 reissues, to me, aren't worth it. Yet a lot of top-notch surf guitarists use them, are very happy with them, and sound very good. There are some "magical" original vintage Fender reverbs out there, but they can be very expensive, and it is a crapshoot to get a really great one, or not. After buying one, you might end up needing to swap out different pans to get the best tone. At the end of the day, you might end up with a tank that sounds infinitesimally better than a Surfy Bear, but at a much higher cost. What is a truly great sounding tank, and if it is really worth it, is, in my opinion, a totally subjective thing. To some, the reissues and vintage units are worth it. To me, it's not worth it. I would stick with the Surfy Bear. — Bob Last edited: Jan 06, 2025 11:42:47 Top
TheOutpost Joined: May 26, 2020 Posts: 264 Highlands Ranch	Posted on Jan 09 2025 01:07 PM Thanks All. I have a SurfyBear Compact that i love(not to mention i love the aesthetic of the original White stripe graphic). I think i'm now contemplating buying a Classic or Metal to have as well. — Social Media https://www.facebook.com/TheOutpost/ https://www.instagram.com/theoutpostmusic/ Music https://theoutpostmusic.bandcamp.com/ https://soundcloud.com/theoutpostmusic/ Merch https://the-outpost-merch-store.printify.me/products Top
Fady Joined: Mar 07, 2010 Posts: 2263 North Carolina	Posted on Jan 09 2025 03:34 PM Everyone will have their own ruler to decide difference and degrees, and calculus to determine value for money. For me, I’ll take tubes, traditional transformers & choke and pan. As mentioned earlier, there can perhaps be more variability vs Surfys. While some of that is component variance and drift (factor for both), the up side of tube variance (a factor as important as the pan, IMHO), is user tunable options. Of course, both tube models and Surfys’ can experiment and explore pans. Transformers & choke are far less ‘user’ serviceable, but can also be swapped with a reasonable tech, and also affect performance (I’ve done it on one of my units). And beyond those things, I just really dig and prefer the sonic aspects, response and feel of tubes, traditional transformers & choke, and pan. It is a beautiful thing you get the recipe to your liking, and I don’t mind the tinkering, journey and exploration. I do concede current market prices have the costs further apart than they ever have been, but it is something that has had ebb’s and flows over the years (like most all gear), and invariably will continue to - be that classic versions coming back down some, or Surfy prices continuing to rise, or both. The other thought that goes thru my mind in tubes vs transistors… how many folks with Surfy Bear setups are playing thru Tube Amps vs Solid State, digital or modelers. I see it as the same conversation really as the 6G15 circuit is largely a Fender Champ, basically with springs/pan instead of the speaker. Again, any of it can sound good, and degrees of difference depend on YOUR ruler & calculus. I’m just saying the amp comvo (tubes vs solid state vs modelers) is the same convo in my mind, and I genuinely wonder how it all shakes out with our surf/instro crowd when you add the amp into the convo. At the end of the day, it’s a system and all components are a factor. — Fady El Mirage @ ReverbNation Top
AgentClaret Joined: Jan 30, 2024 Posts: 130	Posted on Jan 09 2025 04:04 PM I kind of have this idea in the back of my head that I'd like to try and get a decent deal on a reissue Fender tank and then throw a Surfy Pan Extra in to get closer to the original Gibbs pan sound... Top
Fady Joined: Mar 07, 2010 Posts: 2263 North Carolina	Posted on Jan 09 2025 04:17 PM Tube rolling and pan swapping can be a lot of fun. Yes, pan can absolutely have a significant impact on what you get out, and in the exploration ya gotta swap just one element at a time to see if what you change is having the impact you want, but tubes, strings, picks, where you pick the string, if you have guitar knobs maxed or rolled off, amp settings, and, and, and… it ALL matters in pursuit of ‘that’ sound (whichever sound you are after). And that was kind of one of my call out… a traditional style setup (doesn’t have to be vintage!) gives you a few more things to tinker with than the Surfy avenue. — Fady El Mirage @ ReverbNation Top
dirtysocks Joined: May 08, 2024 Posts: 5	Posted on Jan 17 2025 02:58 PM I have a reissue 6g15 from the mid-90s and a SurfyBear classic. Using a line selector, I compared them, and the tube unit had something the SurfyBear didn't. However, it wasn't enough to justify the tank's size and maintenance requirements for me. In a studio situation, I would use the 6g15. For rehearsal and gigging I leave the 6g15 at home. Top

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Reverb Tank