TVTheWiredTurtle
Joined: Dec 03, 2009
Posts: 846
Sandy Eggo
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Posted on Aug 29 2014 08:15 PM
I guess I understand the Topanga hate in a purist way as I would never EVER NEVER use a solid state amp in place of my beautiful tube amp. I'd rather die.. YET if you cannot always take a tank along, what is going to
suffice? The topanga with a preamp in front is all the convincing the audience needs, and only the guitarists ..err SURF guitarists in the audience will know the difference.
ps. if I couldnt use my tube amp, I would use an acoustic before I would go solid state 
— http://www.thenocturnebrain.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nocturne-Brain-Preamp-Zombies/240721872969
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JONPAUL
Joined: Apr 29, 2010
Posts: 2460
Venice, CA
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Posted on Aug 29 2014 10:44 PM
TVTheWiredTurtle wrote:
I would never EVER NEVER use a solid state amp in place of my beautiful tube amp. I'd rather die.
 
— Insect Surfers
The Tikiyaki Orchestra
The Scimitars
Lords Of Atlantis
Fiberglass Jungle - Surf Radio
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Louie7
Joined: Jan 30, 2007
Posts: 448
50,000 Light-Years Beyond Planet Claire
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Posted on Sep 13 2014 11:02 PM
Here's my Topanga story....
I drove off to a show last night and FORGOT to load my Fender Reverb Tank.
I can't tell you HOW thankful I was that my Topanga was in my gig bag.
It was not a precise replacement, but it shure beat the onboard reverb on my Pro Reverb amp.
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Sep 15 2014 01:34 PM
It's really not bad at all. I have not gotten around to fixing my tank yet, so I brought the Topanga to a recent event. My ears would prefer more drip, but honestly the audience was none-the-wiser. I'm building a Surfy Bear pedal too, but will probably still hold on to this... it's not fun when you lose all reverb options during a set!
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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surferjoemusic
Joined: Jan 01, 2008
Posts: 2105
Livorno
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Posted on Sep 22 2014 02:38 PM
And if someone wants a real demo of the Topanga  this is what I have been using at North Sea Surf Festival... just Jazzmaster straight into Topanga and Showman.
— Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25309
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Sep 22 2014 03:06 PM
Sellout!
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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bamboozer
Joined: Jan 18, 2010
Posts: 672
Delaware
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Posted on Sep 22 2014 04:37 PM
Until I find a tank I can afford the Topanga does the job and is dramatically better than my amp's reverb. Not enough drip, I agree, and with plastic jacks not all that road worthy but still worth having.
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Surf_Skater
Joined: Sep 06, 2012
Posts: 1288
Lawrenceville , GA
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Posted on Sep 22 2014 05:29 PM
Surfer Joe using a reverb pedal? Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse? 
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25309
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Sep 23 2014 12:39 AM
Surf_Skater wrote:
Surfer Joe using a reverb pedal? Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse?
Yes, yes it is.
Or at least the fact that he's getting lazy in taking a tank with him on the road.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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surferjoemusic
Joined: Jan 01, 2008
Posts: 2105
Livorno
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Posted on Sep 23 2014 05:18 AM
bigtikidude wrote:
Surf_Skater wrote:
Surfer Joe using a reverb pedal? Isn't that one of the signs of the apocalypse?
Yes, yes it is.
Or at least the fact that he's getting lazy in taking a tank with him on the road.
I have the tank, but when you have to jump on the stage and have only 35 min set, better using what is on stage. One of the tanks was not working alright for what I understood, so better not to take risks... the worst thing that can happen in a fest is stuff not working
— Lorenzo "Surfer Joe" Valdambrini
(www.surfmusic.net)
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1350
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jan 25 2015 10:49 PM
Crazy question, could one possibly use both the Topanga and the FRV together, to maximize the reverb/drip? Is this at all possible? What would happen if one did this? Btw, great thread, thanks for all the reviews and videos of this cool pedal. The only thing that concerns me is the consistency of everyone mentioning the "lack of drip."
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale.
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arny
Joined: Aug 22, 2010
Posts: 608
Netherlands, Europe
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Posted on Jan 26 2015 03:18 AM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
Crazy question, could one possibly use both the Topanga and the FRV together, to maximize the reverb/drip? Is this at all possible? What would happen if one did this? Btw, great thread, thanks for all the reviews and videos of this cool pedal. The only thing that concerns me is the consistency of everyone mentioning the "lack of drip."
Since I got a Topanga pedal for X-mass, I did the experiment for you and even added The Flint in the mix too. EPIC REVERB!!!! But not for surf... 
Only try this if you are big My Bloody Valentine fan. It doesn't give you more drip, just more 'reverb tail'.
A better way to increase your drip is to ad a little slapback echo in front of your reverb pedal(short echo with only 1 return/feedback).
— www.alohasluts.com
Aloha Sluts on BandCamp
www.arnyzona.com (my photography)
Aloha Fest on facebook
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Ariel
Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
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Posted on Jan 26 2015 08:36 AM
SixStringSurfer wrote:
Crazy question, could one possibly use both the Topanga and the FRV together, to maximize the reverb/drip? Is this at all possible? What would happen if one did this? Btw, great thread, thanks for all the reviews and videos of this cool pedal. The only thing that concerns me is the consistency of everyone mentioning the "lack of drip."
Yes, I tried this. In all variations: feeding each other; parallel, trying to compliment, compensate and enhance... Add attack to the Topanga or warmth to the FRV... well It adds nothing , expect distancing your clean sound even further. More digital artifacts, hiss and phasing. Either too much or not enough, sounds like a cavern or a bucket.
A waste of time IMO, unless you have a true stereo rig, then I imagine it can be fantastic actually.
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SixStringSurfer
Joined: Sep 23, 2014
Posts: 1350
Memphis, TN
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Posted on Jan 26 2015 09:46 AM
Thank you Arny and DreadInBabylon, you guys saved me both time and money. I am sticking with my Flint pedal, as I am happy with the "drip" that it gives me. 
— MooreLoud.com - A tribute to Dick Dale.
Last edited: Jan 26, 2015 09:46:52
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4127
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Feb 18 2015 10:43 PM
All I can add is that my Topanga has worked very well for my needs. I'm planning on selling my tank, not because the Topanga is better, but because it's good enough. If I was playing nothing but Surf, and willing to go through the effort of lugging my Surf amp to every gig, I would stick with the tube reverb, but I'm not and 75% of the time I use reverb in doses more suited to Country or Rock than Surf.
This is an amazing product, IMHO, and the clean preamp makes it even more amazing.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
Last edited: Feb 18, 2015 22:51:15
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da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1299
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Feb 19 2015 02:53 AM
I'm interesting in seeing if the Topanga is a worthwhile pedal. I have a 6G15, but I recently travelled up to London for a practice with a drummer, and carrying a reverb tank around for half a day was not much fun. I was thinking a pedal would be a better idea for a practice.
I'm considering a Surfy Bear, but with a 17" tank it's not really any more compact that the 6G15. Something compact enough to fit in the gigbag for rehearsals (or even emergencies!) would be ideal. Does the Topanga drip enough? Or are there any better alternatives?
— http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/
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SaschaReynders
Joined: Dec 26, 2013
Posts: 251
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Posted on Feb 19 2015 04:07 AM
da-ron wrote:
I'm interesting in seeing if the Topanga is a worthwhile pedal... Does the Topanga drip enough? Or are there any better alternatives?
For me, the Topanga is a worthwile pedal. In fact, ever since I got mine, I haven't used my tank for rehearsals or gigs anymore. I use lots of overdrive and/or distortion pedals for the stuff I play, and my overall sound is much tighter with the Topanga than with the tank. On those rare occasions where I use a more traditional clean sound, it delivers a pretty convincing surfy reverb as well.
No pedal will ever sound or "drip" like the real thing, but the Topanga comes damn close IMHO. Much closer than any other reverb pedal I ever tried.
— "Duck Tape is like The Force: it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together"
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speedball-JR/151771678181829?fref=ts
https://twitter.com/SPEEDBALLJR
https://itunes.apple.com/be/artist/speedball-jr/id389972205
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ElBirkerio
Joined: Dec 17, 2012
Posts: 519
Vienna
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Posted on Feb 19 2015 04:15 AM
hi! if the austrian mail does not fail, i will be able to compare the topanga to my flint and my surfy bear this weekend - the Fender tank unfortunately broke down again the very day i assembled the surfy bear.
yours
wolfi
— http://www.surfgrammeln-san.org
https://www.facebook.com/BaluUndSurfgrammeln
http://greencookierecords.bandcamp.com/album/coming-out-soon-los-chicharrones-del-surf-10
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czech-one-2
Joined: Aug 06, 2009
Posts: 94
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Posted on Mar 22 2015 07:07 AM
Wolfi, I'm on the fence about getting a re-issue tank or a topanga.Setting up at this summers festivals with a tank doesnt sound too appealing, but it may be nice to have some tubes infront of my JC-120.
I'm looking forward to your comparison!
BK
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synchro
Joined: Feb 02, 2008
Posts: 4127
Not One-Sawn, but Two-Sawn . . . AZ.
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Posted on Mar 22 2015 10:15 AM
czech-one-2 wrote:
Wolfi, I'm on the fence about getting a re-issue tank or a topanga.Setting up at this summers festivals with a tank doesnt sound too appealing, but it may be nice to have some tubes infront of my JC-120.
I'm looking forward to your comparison!
BK
That's a tough one. A tube preamp in the chain is a good thing to have. OTOH, lugging and setting up a JC-120 is plenty of work for anyone and I can certainly understand the desire for compactness.
— The artist formerly known as: Synchro
When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.
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