Cheapest Reverb Tank

shadowlink867

Joined: Apr 12, 2013
Posts: 13
Maryland
United States

Posted on Aug 09 2017 09:20 AM

What is the cheapest outboard reverb tank out there? I've done some searching around but all the ones I see are more expensive than the amp
I'd be playing them through. Thanks!

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Gilette

Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
Montserrat

Posted on Aug 09 2017 09:30 AM

The Surfy Bear is a very good alternative. If you're familiar with a bit of diy you can build it yourself at very low cost.

https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/24295/

http://www.surfyindustries.com

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Ariel

Joined: Aug 29, 2009
Posts: 1556
Israel
Israel

Posted on Aug 09 2017 11:29 AM

About 2 years ago the reply to your question would have been complicated, and full of compromises.
Not anymore. The only answer is a Surfy-Bear.

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remora1

Joined: Jan 04, 2008
Posts: 1278
San Pedro, CA
United States

Posted on Aug 09 2017 11:51 AM

Ariel wrote:

The only answer is a Surfy-Bear.

+100

—

Bill S._______

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derekirving

Joined: Nov 03, 2011
Posts: 660

Posted on Aug 09 2017 05:39 PM

After having and dearly missing my vintage '64 reverb tank (had to sell to make ends meet 5+ years ago), 3 reissue reverb units, 1 Gibson RVIII reverb unit, 3 topanga reverb pedals, 3 boss FRV and at least 3 holy grails -

I'm considering the surfy bear. Nothing has come close to my vintage reverb unit. The Topanga and FRV1 while nice at what they do, just don't have the vibe and tone as a great reverb unit. The Topanga seems to get lost in the mix and has a long tail, the FRV1 sounded more authentic but hollowed out my tone too much.

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shake_n_stomp

Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Posts: 623
Vancouver BC
Canada

Posted on Aug 09 2017 05:49 PM

A great spring reverb tank has more effect on the surfy tone than the amp does in most cases. Equating the cost ratio of the reverb tank to the amp is beside the point. If you give me one of thoae $40 pocket sized battery powered Fender mini amps but I played through a real spring reverb, I would still enjoy those heavenly surf tones.
A used Reissue Fender tank is a great way to go, if DIY is possible, use the Surfy Bear kit, or the Surfy Bear reverb floor pedal thingy that was recently released.

—

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

Last edited: Aug 09, 2017 17:49:43

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Aug 10 2017 04:47 AM

I might let one of my three surfy bears go for the right price.

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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shadowlink867

Joined: Apr 12, 2013
Posts: 13
Maryland
United States

Posted on Aug 10 2017 08:01 AM

I'm not seeing much on the surfy bear online. Their website only seems to have a pedal, not a tank. What makes it so good?

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FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 685
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on Aug 10 2017 08:21 AM

The Surfy Bear reverb unit is available in kit and pedal form (although it's kind of big to really be called a pedal). Don't let the size fool you, it's just as good as a tank. It's the same circuit as a tube unit but using JFET components instead of tubes. The circuit board is miniaturized so the unit can be a lot smaller than a tube tank. If you get the kit you can choose your own enclosure and customize it to your whims. The pre-built pedal costs a lot more but is still about half the price of what Fender or other boutique builders are selling their tank for.

Last edited: Aug 10, 2017 08:21:35

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11077
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Aug 10 2017 08:54 AM

shadowlink867 wrote:

I'm not seeing much on the surfy bear online. Their website only seems to have a pedal, not a tank. What makes it so good?

The pedal is brand new having only been released a couple months ago. Logic should dictate that: if there's 1699 responses on a thread about it on the internet's biggest surf music forum, and the consensus is overwhelmingly positive, then it's a good bet.

https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/24295/

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

Top

shadowlink867 Joined: Apr 12, 2013 Posts: 13 Maryland	Posted on Aug 09 2017 09:20 AM What is the cheapest outboard reverb tank out there? I've done some searching around but all the ones I see are more expensive than the amp I'd be playing them through. Thanks! Top
Gilette Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734	Posted on Aug 09 2017 09:30 AM The Surfy Bear is a very good alternative. If you're familiar with a bit of diy you can build it yourself at very low cost. https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/24295/ http://www.surfyindustries.com Top
Ariel Joined: Aug 29, 2009 Posts: 1556 Israel	Posted on Aug 09 2017 11:29 AM About 2 years ago the reply to your question would have been complicated, and full of compromises. Not anymore. The only answer is a Surfy-Bear. Top
remora1 Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1278 San Pedro, CA	Posted on Aug 09 2017 11:51 AM Ariel wrote: The only answer is a Surfy-Bear. +100 — Bill S._______ Top
derekirving Joined: Nov 03, 2011 Posts: 660	Posted on Aug 09 2017 05:39 PM After having and dearly missing my vintage '64 reverb tank (had to sell to make ends meet 5+ years ago), 3 reissue reverb units, 1 Gibson RVIII reverb unit, 3 topanga reverb pedals, 3 boss FRV and at least 3 holy grails - I'm considering the surfy bear. Nothing has come close to my vintage reverb unit. The Topanga and FRV1 while nice at what they do, just don't have the vibe and tone as a great reverb unit. The Topanga seems to get lost in the mix and has a long tail, the FRV1 sounded more authentic but hollowed out my tone too much. Top
shake_n_stomp Joined: Jan 09, 2014 Posts: 623 Vancouver BC	Posted on Aug 09 2017 05:49 PM A great spring reverb tank has more effect on the surfy tone than the amp does in most cases. Equating the cost ratio of the reverb tank to the amp is beside the point. If you give me one of thoae $40 pocket sized battery powered Fender mini amps but I played through a real spring reverb, I would still enjoy those heavenly surf tones. A used Reissue Fender tank is a great way to go, if DIY is possible, use the Surfy Bear kit, or the Surfy Bear reverb floor pedal thingy that was recently released. — Lorne The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers Vancouver BC Canada Last edited: Aug 09, 2017 17:49:43 Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Aug 10 2017 04:47 AM I might let one of my three surfy bears go for the right price. — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
shadowlink867 Joined: Apr 12, 2013 Posts: 13 Maryland	Posted on Aug 10 2017 08:01 AM I'm not seeing much on the surfy bear online. Their website only seems to have a pedal, not a tank. What makes it so good? Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 685 Sonoma, CA	Posted on Aug 10 2017 08:21 AM The Surfy Bear reverb unit is available in kit and pedal form (although it's kind of big to really be called a pedal). Don't let the size fool you, it's just as good as a tank. It's the same circuit as a tube unit but using JFET components instead of tubes. The circuit board is miniaturized so the unit can be a lot smaller than a tube tank. If you get the kit you can choose your own enclosure and customize it to your whims. The pre-built pedal costs a lot more but is still about half the price of what Fender or other boutique builders are selling their tank for. Last edited: Aug 10, 2017 08:21:35 Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11077 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Aug 10 2017 08:54 AM shadowlink867 wrote: I'm not seeing much on the surfy bear online. Their website only seems to have a pedal, not a tank. What makes it so good? The pedal is brand new having only been released a couple months ago. Logic should dictate that: if there's 1699 responses on a thread about it on the internet's biggest surf music forum, and the consensus is overwhelmingly positive, then it's a good bet. https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/24295/ — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac' Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top

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Cheapest Reverb Tank