RE-reverb

[Andy Le Blanc]

I have a bassman 100 who's owner wants to install reverb. Which is fine and
dandy. The head does not have the room for a long tank, no fun, and I know
exactly how cheap the owner is, and he wants it NOW. So, I go digging in my
boneyard and drag out the pile of old verb tanks from previous repairs and old
projects, and find that there is nothing that is new or in one piece that I can get by with.
And being unwilling to face a minimum order or shipping costs, I start at the
heap of tanks with my multi-meter and find two old hammond tanks.
Between the two there is an input and an output that measure good and have
complete assembles. Disassembly involves removeing little brass rivets with a
drill, but the tricky part is getting the springs off. The send and pickup have
ferrite beads suspended in a metal frame that is magnetized by a small coil.
They are held by the spring tension on one side and by a fine cat whisker
which is soldered into the assemby on the other side. If you break the cat whisker its all over.
There is a little metal clip on the ferrit bead that connects the spring.
Takeing it apart and rebuilding a verb tank isnt too bad, but youll need
forecepts and a microscrewdriver to hold and gently pry open the little
clips that hold the springs. I was able to make a short tank useing the
drive and recovery assemblies, the old remaining springs, from two vintage
tanks and replace the inards of a crap belton tank. So the guy will get to
brag about his custom amp and it custom tank etc.....

Its not too difficult to accomplish, and makes good use of the shop junk
thats ever pilling up. And makes things a little more custom.

[CaseyJones]

I have a bassman 100 who's owner wants to install reverb. Which is fine and
dandy. The head does not have the room for a long tank, no fun, and I know
exactly how cheap the owner is, and he wants it NOW.

I don't care how bad the economy is, tell him to take a hike.

Either that or PM me with your contact information, I'll send every bottomfeeder retard I don't want to deal with over your way.

[dartanion]

Sounds like a fun project, but for that kind of trouble, I would have spent the $20 or so it would cost to buy a new one.

[Andy Le Blanc]

Casey, your absolutly right, and I wish it weren't so.

It is a fun project so far, it took me longer to write the posting than it did to
fab the tank.
and the best part is, that instead of getting a couple bucks mark up on the part I get the whole $20, no cost on my end, plus R&D for a custom part,
win win win.
The rest of the work is a breeze.

[CaseyJones]

You are obviously a Maineiac. If you enjoy working for the, erm, joy of working you should consider moving to Vermont or something.

"Work harder, not smarter!"

Refer to Ohm's law which is of course Pythagorean theorem. There's a triangular relationship of price/deadline/quality that's similar to a power formula with one non-relationship dissimilar to power formula.

You want it right and you want it fast be prepared to pay the square of my normal rate.

You want it right and you want it cheap be prepared to drop to absolutely last place on my priority list. I'll get to you when I get to you.

You want it cheap, right and fast be prepared to go piss up a rope.

I keep a rope hanging from the ceiling in my workshop just for that purpose.

[rfgordon]

Tell him to buy one of the Grail series reverb stompboxes from Electro Harmonix--they're all great! One of them in a loop sounds WAY better than most spring tanks anyway.

[Andy Le Blanc]

I agree 100%, but I'm looking to end of the month. wouldn't have taken the project otherwise.
Try to get as much in as possible. Its looking like this will
lead to a tolex job and maybe a 4x12 cab. I'd like to switch bait, but guy has a
mouth, and plays out at least three nights a week. It works out in the end,
even if it means a little exertion for the time being. And he likes a spring tank.

[CaseyJones]

Tell him to buy one of the Grail series reverb stompboxes from Electro Harmonix--they're all great! One of them in a loop sounds WAY better than most spring tanks anyway.

Grail reverb puts no money in Mr. LeBlanc's till.

Unless he sells Joe Mothpockets an effects loop...

I agree 100%, but I'm looking to end of the month. wouldn't have taken the project otherwise.
Try to get as much in as possible. Its looking like this will
lead to a tolex job and maybe a 4x12 cab. I'd like to switch bait, but guy has a
mouth, and plays out at least three nights a week. It works out in the end,
even if it means a little exertion for the time being. And he likes a spring tank.

Ah, yes. But go easy and be careful, bro... this could backfire. Your guy could tell everyone about how cheap you work, then all his buddies will take turns bendin' you over...

Everyone says I'm an absolute prick. But then... my work speaks for itself.

[Andy Le Blanc]

No arguements here. But, after all, it is what he wants. The client wants springs,
so be it.

[Firestorm]

The REAL annoyance would be if you cobble together a "cheap" tank from parts and find it humming because it's too close to the trannies. There's a reason the Fender "verb" heads were so tall.

[CaseyJones]

The REAL annoyance would be if you cobble together a "cheap" tank from parts and find it humming because it's too close to the trannies. There's a reason the Fender "verb" heads were so tall.

No, that's PERFECT! It's perfect 'cuz Andy can sell Mr. Mothpockets a NEW CABINET!!

[Structo]

BAWAWAWAWAWAWAHA!!!

Casey that just about cost me a keyboard when I spit my coffee out!

[Ronsonic]

Tell him to buy one of the Grail series reverb stompboxes from Electro Harmonix--they're all great! One of them in a loop sounds WAY better than most spring tanks anyway.

Grail reverb puts no money in Mr. LeBlanc's till.

Unless he sells Joe Mothpockets an effects loop...

Everyone says I'm an absolute prick. But then... my work speaks for itself.

That's the one I was thinking. Sell a loop, then the guy can have reverb and echo and any damn thing he wants.

[Andy Le Blanc]

CaseyJones is mind reader.......

and Firestorm is correct also, I share that same worry.

But the man doesn't want a loop, he wants his springs.

I've intalled verb tanks very close to trannies with no hum.
A little attention toward placement, grounding, and a little extra shielding
work well. The one thing that looked very usefull about the belton tank
was that the jacks are on little pcb's with a spot on the board, where a drop
of solder is used to choose how the ins and out are grounded.

Anyway..... I'll see if have to eat my words, the tank was fun, the drive and recovery
are hammond and so far looks like its a go. The excution of the rest of the project is straight forward.

This one will make it 7 repairs/projects for this guy alone in less than a year. He tuff on his gear,
and every time he gets a compliment on his sound out on a gig, he gives me more work. So it works out and I dont need move to
Vermont.

[Firestorm]

If he's well-enough-known (or even if not) make sure he endorses you openly. Amazing how many guys want the sound some other guy has...