Inexpensive vintage spring reverbs for modular synth usage

Peake · Last edited by Peake on Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:11 am; edited 1 time in total

Tube:
JVC Nivico Eca-101e (don't know if it's true stereo)
Pioneer SR-101 (true stereo, two short spring tanks)
Current pricing on both: $40-100.00

Seller donramon2 on ebay stores says that they have a Pioneer for $150, if you can't find one elsewhere.

Solid-State:
Pioneer SR-202 (don't know if it's true stereo)
Current pricing: $20+

Found an example of the 202:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFULF-ot_yg&NR=1

Bucket Brigade, if you're into that simulating reverb, should be fun to mod!
Pioneer SR-303
Current pricing: $30+

There are also Sansui and later Pioneer models but I have not researched them and can't tell you anything about them.

Although lacking in variable damping, 17" tanks, and other amenities as found on say an Agonizer or the Modcan, here is your source for a DIY spring reverb module. Or two. Add switchable pre- or post- EQ...

I have an SR-101, and it's pretty quiet, but twangy. I'm going to look at the Buchla schemos to see if he's rolling off the bass at the input to smooth it out.

Peake · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject:

DVD player straight into the SR-101- a little level imbalance and more noise than when I used it with the Selector. The source music is Drexciya (how did he spell that?). Obviously this unit must be modded to allow for wet signal out only.

Oh, and an interesting note found online:

"As a reverberation amplifier, it serves its purpose very well. But for those who just want to add a little "valve" sound to their system, it also works as a tube buffer stage. Turn the "Reverb Time" down all the way (removing the reverb tanks from the mix), and you have a nice cheap way to add a little tube warmth to your system for a pittance. The signal still passes through the tubes and it works out very well."

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Luka · Joined: Jun 29, 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: Melb.

Drexciya

Peake · Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I should have google'd it Smile

Luka · Joined: Jun 29, 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: Melb.

species of the pod Smile

i love that album

i finally got around to getting a Nueral Agonizer Smile

Now i have to get some tanks.

Where do you mount your spring Peake?

Peake · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 9:40 am Post subject:

Both springs are inside the Pioneer, twanging away. I have yet to "modularize" the unit, and will likely put the electronics and springs inside the rack with the other modules.

The Modcan springs sound a LOT better, but you pay for what you get.

oldmanfury · Joined: Oct 20, 2006 Posts: 57 Location: CA

mono-poly · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject:

Drexciya

ericcoleridge · Joined: Jan 16, 2007 Posts: 889 Location: NYC

andrewF · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:31 pm Post subject:

Peake · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

ericcoleridge · Joined: Jan 16, 2007 Posts: 889 Location: NYC

The one I had in mind, offered by Doepfer, is here.

Pretty expensive, relative to a dollar organ, but it looks very compact.

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Peake · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

Wow, are those RCA jacks? That is TINY...and $300.00 for stereo. Pretty good sounding too:

http://www.analoguehaven.com/doepfer/springreverb/springreverb.mp3

My frustration with expensive devices led me to the hi-fi items; some may not take that route, but there they are for all us cheapskates Laughing

The BBD version might be interesting for hot-rodding, however...

Peake · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:19 pm Post subject:

Here's one currently up for bid:

http://preview.tinyurl.com/68xvfu

wooster · Joined: Jul 25, 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Austin, TX

fluxmonkey · Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 708 Location: cleve

elektro80 · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:20 am Post subject:

This one is quite nice.

Posted Image, might have been reduced in size. Click Image to view fullscreen.

http://www.synthesizers.com/q115.html

Peake · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:45 am Post subject:

Yes, but that's $272.00 for a pair (not so bad for you Euro folks due to Bush's continuing destruction of the US dollar/economy). Roger also sells blank panels for $12.00 (http://synthesizers.com/q131.html) which are lighter than the original Moogs, and have that powder-coating...; STG sells blanks with the old-school process for $20.00 (if only it didn't have his logo on it!!! http://www.stgsoundlabs.com/products/blank_mu.htm).

My post is for DIY'ers, you know, this is the DIY forum Wink

Of course, if you wanted to go the luxury route, re-creating the Buchla 275 is by far the best way to go, with all of that VC... Very Happy

creatorlars · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:53 am Post subject:

I've got a Tapco 4400A Dual Spring Reverb that's rackmounted in my modular case. It sounds great... you get two channels with separate 4-band EQ. Inside are 2 tanks. Overdriving it sounds crazy, and with the EQ's you can really get some extreme sounds. From what I understand, they are pretty cheap (~USD $100) when you can find them.

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Peake · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:54 am Post subject:

Peake · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:55 am Post subject:

andrewF · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:09 am Post subject:

If you want to fit a spring reverb behind a 1U panel try Chuck's - smallest ever and sounds great. From memory there were 2 springs in there. Sorry I don't have a link (it's my photo) but if we ask nicely he may provide some more info.

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ericcoleridge · Joined: Jan 16, 2007 Posts: 889 Location: NYC

andrewF · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject:

Chuck is a Japanese synth diy-er, so it is not a product.
I had a listen to this reverb at the 2007 Japanese synth summit and was very impressed. No idea about the circuit but it looks like just in&out plus some level and drive pots. Maybe the main point is that size doesn't matter (too much)?
I could ask and see if he has some design info available.
The Electronic Peasant has some page on constructing spring reverbs from scratch.
http://www.electronicpeasant.com/projects/springs/springs.html

mono-poly · Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject:

Here is a dutch guy working on a cheap diy spring reverb.

http://www.synthforum.nl/forums/showthread.php?t=99463