edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 755
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Posted on Oct 29 2023 03:17 PM
It's been a while since we've had a new topic about Reverb (like more than a day at least), so I've got a question about something I have not seen addressed in previous threads (indeed, I even used the search function to look). Specifically, I'm wondering if people know anything about why Fender sometimes added foam rubber strips to the top of reverb pans in a number of amps?
I've seen it on pans for some amps from the 60s, but never seen any discussion about it. It has occurred to me that it may have been to dampen some of the extraneous vibrations that the pan may be subjected to, and that it may improve the overall sound of the reverb itself. I've recently built an amp with an AB763 circuit and noticed a big difference in random reverb sounds by cushioning the reverb pan underneath, and I suspect if I added some of the foam rubber or other damping material it might also help.
The main reason this occurred to me is I recently saw a video on how 3M damping tape can significantly reduce noise and vibrations in a metal plate. I'm tempted to try some out, but it's a bit pricey for just a random test.
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 755
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Posted on Nov 01 2023 10:13 PM
I thought for sure people would have many things to say on this question, so I'm surprised nobody has any insights. Has nobody ever wondered why some reverb pans in Fender amps come with those strips of rubber glued to their tops? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Redfeather
Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 883
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Posted on Nov 01 2023 10:33 PM
Onboard reverb?
Eww.
Seriously, though, I bet you're right that it was to dampen the reverb tail. And whomever was behind that effort would probably be aghast at the pans we have to deal with today!
You know what!? You just gave me an idea. I have one of those Vibroverb 90s reissues and while the onboard reverb is quite full, it's also much more cavernous than I like. Maybe I should swap in a vintage reverb pan!
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DeathTide
Joined: Apr 13, 2018
Posts: 1374
New Orleans
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Posted on Nov 02 2023 09:52 AM
Can you post a photo of said strips? I don't know if I've seen those on the SFTRs I've got. I do have a mint 1964 6g15 and that had three pieces of yellow foam glued inside the cab. They were positioned directly over the springs. The reverb got duller and splashier the more I pressed the tank down onto the foam. I ended up ripping out the foam, but sometimes I question that decision. The drips were just incredible but that was about all the reverb there was.
Have you removed the rubber strips and listened for a difference?
— Daniel Deathtide
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 755
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Posted on Nov 03 2023 08:30 AM
Might be difficult to take a photo of mine the way it's installed in my amp at the moment, but here's a photo of one for sale on ebay.
I have not tried taking off the foam strips yet, since it would be a pain (and then if I preferred the sound with them on, I'd have to figure out the right adhesive).
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Garrett_Immel
Joined: Jul 07, 2023
Posts: 20
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Posted on Nov 10 2023 09:38 AM
I always assumed the foam strips, along with the vinyl bag, were the bare minimum effort by Fender to protect the tank since it’s at the bottom of the cab and has the footswitch and all that other junk rolling around on top of it.
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mike_fried
Joined: Aug 02, 2012
Posts: 162
Nashville, TN
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Posted on Nov 10 2023 09:47 PM
The rubber strips help prevent or reduce a tank's resonant ringing that can happen in combo amps. I would't remove them if the tank's in a combo amp. They don't adversely affect the sound of the reverb otherwise (certainly not the decay), and they were definately put there for a reason.
Last edited: Nov 10, 2023 21:50:40
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Garrett_Immel
Joined: Jul 07, 2023
Posts: 20
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Posted on Nov 10 2023 11:14 PM
mike_fried wrote:
The rubber strips help prevent or reduce a tank's resonant ringing that can happen in combo amps. I would't remove them if the tank's in a combo amp. They don't adversely affect the sound of the reverb otherwise (certainly not the decay), and they were definately put there for a reason.
That makes complete sense, not unlike tape on a drum head. Thanks for the good knowledge.
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edwardsand
Joined: Jun 29, 2018
Posts: 755
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Posted on Nov 11 2023 08:13 AM
Garrett_Immel wrote:
I always assumed the foam strips, along with the vinyl bag, were the bare minimum effort by Fender to protect the tank since it’s at the bottom of the cab and has the footswitch and all that other junk rolling around on top of it.
That's the sort of thing I was expecting. In my latest amp build, I definitely get a lot of resonant ringing, and insulation and padding make a difference to quite down that extraneous noise. I still get some of it, so that's why I was thinking of adding some of the 3M damping tape.
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