So I got my 18v wall wart yesterday. I started playing with the 9v first and then switched. Wow, huge difference. The pedal really opens up at 18v. If you're thinking about getting this pedal just order an 18v power source at the same time. ( They should include one with it.)
- Home
- News
- Submit News
- Contact
- Contests
- Donations
- Downloads
- Forums
- Guitar Instruction
- IRC
- Member List
- Private Messages
- Podcast
- Polls
- Photo of the Day
- Links
- Search
- Store
- Surf Band Map
- Wiki
- Yahoo Group
Photo of the Day
Shoutbox
SabedLeepski:
Sunburn Surf Fest for some scorching hot surf music: https://sunb...
326 days ago
skeeter:
I know a Polish sound guy.
254 days ago
skeeter:
I know a Czech one too!
254 days ago
PatGall:
Surfybear metal settings
174 days ago
Pyronauts:
Happy Tanks-Kicking!
152 days ago
midwestsurfguy:
Merry Christmas!
121 days ago
sysmalakian:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
114 days ago
SabedLeepski:
Surfin‘ Europe, for surf (related) gigs and events in Europe 
https://sunb...
75 days ago
SHADOWNIGHT5150:
I like big reverb and i cannot lie
8 days ago
SHADOWNIGHT5150:
Bank accounts are a scam created by a shadow government
8 days ago
IRC Status
#ShallowEnd is empty.
Current Polls
No polls at this time. Check out our past polls.
Current Contests
No contests at this time. Check out our past contests.
Donations
April Birthdays
- 1st – Bombora, FekeFez, grackle, juliomoreno, mrbassman1950, pauliweasel, ProfessorLongboard, RogueChiefster, stevel
- 2nd – FritzCat, Marcin
- 3rd – GypsyJay, Rubberboy
- 4th – smid
- 5th – bbigmusic, GS4, johnmcillan61, killbabykill34, Shakey64, themonsterwave
- 6th – BenVoiles, bobwalk, DavidMcCoy, Emilien03, Jaque_Kilauea, Manic_Presley, segler
- 7th – Clint, johnmares, togergo
- 8th – 303vegas, Tiki
- 9th – chicklang, Emguitars, holdenfan101, mrmomo, ToneMonkey, Unca_Stu
- 10th – CARLOSVENTURES, catguy, nightsurfer, PreBeatles, the_eyeberries, vintagesurfdude
- 11th – schrademo
- 12th – dlhogge60, EvilDeadTux, fredder120, jp, RonC57
- 13th – ifallalot
- 14th – JimiDW
- 15th – cricketseed, davis, nickwass, thetwilightsurfers, Thompar
- 16th – ChrisPlatt, miked416, Skizz
- 17th – BMo2xl, jjudas, Taj, Trace
- 18th – Bobc1956, herreisenmax, Yelo
- 19th – Chris_Vierge, MonsterMash, speacial_agent_Conrad_Uno, tonewoods
- 20th – halibutrick
- 21st – Craigthekeg, fattkatt, SurfinUsa2007, Swamp_Surfer
- 22nd – bandita, donbarroso, LHR, Norman, purpletornado, RazorReverb
- 23rd – apolloben, AstroSurf, BigTim, Schwenman, worldmartini
- 24th – CrashHardtop, El_Guerrero, Iron_Fin, Pokerstar, xray1960
- 25th – Alstikis, Baxter, cowabungasurf, McLefty83
- 26th – Jason
- 27th – ActionJosh, Ayatho, Dstreeter, MahdaHairy
- 28th – BigWaveRider69, CaptainThunder, drumuitar, VernJules101
- 29th – brerbo, chuckhughes2, ElPato, HockeyPuck, Mr_Reverb63, petebiltoft, Samurai, sysmalakian, tenniseme, tom_k1tl
- 30th – Cranky, elpacifico, Mariop, SurferJoe46, TheTommyGuns
SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »
Catalinbread Topanga Spring Reverb
• New Topic
Top
Joined: Sep 06, 2012 Posts: 1288 Lawrenceville , GA 
|
Posted on Apr 23 2014 08:38 AM
|
Joined: May 01, 2007 Posts: 20 Wisconsin |
Posted on May 05 2014 12:05 PM
I've been using the FRV-1 for some time now. I use it to save on set-up and tear down time, since we often play gigs with other bands. (The real Tank stays home) You have just convinced me to "upgrade" to the Topanga. Last edited: May 05, 2014 12:33:20 |
Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 6 |
Posted on May 05 2014 12:41 PM
How does the Topanga compare to the Surf Rider? 'Cause I love the SR. |
Joined: Dec 03, 2009 Posts: 846 Sandy Eggo
|
Posted on May 08 2014 01:59 AM
I did a series of 15 second instagram vids with the description underneath.. I hooked the Catalinbread up in front of the 6G15 tank of mine. clickin between the topanga set slightly above the 6G15's 666 setting as a comparison. I could have set the dwell higher on the topanga but it starts morphing into reverb meets delay in my opinion. That seems to get countered if you can turn up the wet mix just before it drops off the dry signal but I find the mix at 2 oclock to be best for me with the tone knob bumped up a bit too. topanga only http://www.thenocturnebrain.com |
Joined: Jul 17, 2011 Posts: 59 
|
Posted on May 08 2014 12:40 PM
Hey Tavo, that's with the 18V in your instagram clips right? —Get wet and loud wit... Abomionable Showmen FB Showmen Twitter |
|
Joined: Dec 03, 2009 Posts: 846 Sandy Eggo
|
Posted on May 08 2014 05:23 PM
Here's the full vid demo, with added Dipinto G4 turned into a C Baritone at the end (someone wanted to hear drip) @26alpha no that was just a 1.7 amp 9v supply since it was guitar straight into it. I keep the topanga on my pedal board playing live, and it needs 18v —http://www.thenocturnebrain.com |
Joined: Sep 16, 2007 Posts: 548 Utah |
Posted on May 08 2014 11:00 PM
Great comparison Tavo. Nice chops and that TK sounds awesome! —Either you surf, or you fight. |
Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 658 |
Posted on May 09 2014 11:32 AM
OK so pedal wise how would you rate Flint, Topanga and FRV1. What's 1, 2 and 3? |
|
Joined: Jul 17, 2011 Posts: 59
|
Posted on May 10 2014 01:36 AM
I'll be honest, mine isn't as wet on the same settings as Tavo's. Interesting! —Get wet and loud wit... Abomionable Showmen FB Showmen Twitter |
|
Joined: Dec 03, 2009 Posts: 846 Sandy Eggo
|
Posted on May 10 2014 02:00 PM
26Alpha20 wrote:
Now you got me wondering... there is a switch inside for true bypass or buffered bypass. I think mine is in true bypass but thats an assumption, where is yours set? buffered would add a bit of high presence and slightly attenuate the bass when in line with other effects. subtle but its there.. —http://www.thenocturnebrain.com |
Joined: Nov 03, 2009 Posts: 228 
|
Posted on May 10 2014 05:29 PM
Totally forgot about the buffer. I tried it, but turned it back to bypass as I didn't like how the volume knob was in my chain even with the pedal off. Interested to see if there's a difference in the reverb tone with the buffer and 18v. And FWIW I found if you put the volume a little higher than your unity dry signal, it 'pushes' the reverb a little, and so gets a little closer to that reverb tank vibe. |
|
Joined: Jul 17, 2011 Posts: 59
|
Posted on May 10 2014 08:33 PM
I wasn't aware! Gotta crack that open like a high school kegger! —Get wet and loud wit... Abomionable Showmen FB Showmen Twitter |
Joined: Mar 30, 2011 Posts: 388 Copenhagen 
|
Posted on May 20 2014 04:16 AM
Just got my Topanga a couple of days ago, I only played it for a short time, not in a band context, and on 9v. I A-B-ed it with my tank. I think that it colors the sound in a very convincing way and has a nice tail, doesn't sound digital at all. However, it seriously lacks the drip. Maybe they could have fitted the drip sound the Boss FRV has and made a perfect pedal. The Topanga is much more fun to play than the FRV, but a recorded sample with the FRV would sound much closer to the real tank. I'll be back with more details on 18v and a band environment. —https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/ |
Joined: Dec 05, 2013 Posts: 14 |
Posted on May 20 2014 01:06 PM
DISCLAIMER: I'm no guitar pro. I play just for fun with some friends that love surf music) But ... I recently put the Topanga Reverb into my pedal mix and was able to give it a try at a local "Relay For Life" fundraiser this past weekend. Here's me playing the lead on "Penetration": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lfCsGT6FXs&list=UUyp9Ft8LLkcBjzP3nlOfSwA Here's the signal path: Fender Jaguar (bridge pick-up) I still need to experiment with settings, but I like it so far! Last edited: May 20, 2014 13:07:30 |
|
Joined: May 20, 2009 Posts: 525 Leipzig 
|
Posted on May 20 2014 04:17 PM
Just got my 18V power supply today. I have to say its a huge difference compared to the 9V on my EP-Booster. The EP-Booster sounds much more juicier and fuller with 18V. Haven't tried it on high volume yet but I guess it will be also great. I think you should expect something similar on the Topanga. ;) —http://www.reverbnation.com/bangmustang Last edited: May 20, 2014 16:18:09 |
Joined: Apr 29, 2012 Posts: 13
|
Posted on May 22 2014 03:10 PM
Any other reports? |
Joined: Apr 29, 2010 Posts: 2460 Venice, CA
|
Posted on May 22 2014 04:09 PM
|
Joined: Jan 18, 2010 Posts: 672 Delaware
|
Posted on May 22 2014 04:15 PM
So I bought the Topanga and love it. Around here tanks are rare and if you do find one expensive to the point where you might as well buy a new reissue. For what I want the Topanga might not sound exactly like a tank but does what I need and really helps my sound out. Playing with it yields a variety of tones and the "hidden" modulation feature is trippy and might be useful in the right circumstances. Definitely will buy an 18 volt power supply, it seems to be the wave of the future in high end pedals in general. |
Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 578 San Diego
|
Posted on May 22 2014 05:51 PM
ive been playing with one almost exclusively but i played a show last night and for the life of me couldn't get the drip sound i wanted, i have it on 18v and everything it just didn't seem to jump through the mix, i dunno, when im in studio next week ill be testing it against a few other options before i decided what will go on the album —http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/ |
|
Joined: Jul 02, 2009 Posts: 56 |
Posted on May 23 2014 07:03 PM
I just bought the silver face inspired limited edition Topanga and it is supposed to have an extra secret sound, but I wouldn't know if I found it and so few have them I can not get any info. I do think I like it best at 18 Volts and I have left the insides stock, but I am tempted to try moving the trim-pot inside. Sadly they did not make it easy to mark it so it can go back to factory settings. I need to go through the whole thread and look for tips on getting the best sound. I use Swart amps which have really nice reverb built in though it sounds nothing like a real tank which is why I wanted to try the Topanga. It might hold me until I can get the real thing. I need to build a new Jazzmaster first! Sea Foam Green with matching headstock! —Owner of Gunbarrel Custom Guitars! |
Please visit our friends in the surf music community:
Contact Us • About Us • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Colophon
SurfGuitar101.com © 2004 - 2024 by Brian Neal. All comments and user contributed articles are property of the posters.
Thanks to all the surf bands, past and present. And thanks to all the fans who care about and keep surf music alive.