I need a simple ss reverb for a ss guitar amp.

[yeto]

I want to add a simple ss reverb circuit to a ss guitar amp just to give the guitar signal a little depth and color. I don't need echo, repeat, or any other effects.

Would anyone know of some schematics that I could take a look at?

Thanks,
Yeto

 

[teemuk]

This is one of the simplest spring reverb circuits i've seen so far:

http://www.stlouismusic.com/downloads/division_logos/Schematics/Crate_Schematics/GX15RCA/24701C4.PDF

Of course you have to match the circuit to the impedance of the spring reverb device.... Where this page might come as a help:

http://members.tripod.com/~roymal/

Teemu K

 

[testlab]

If you go to the Sound Enhancements website, they have lots of information about spring reverbs. They manufacture Accutronics spring reverb tanks.

 

[yeto]

Would you know of some reverb circuits that do not use springs?

Thanks,
Yeto

 

[teemuk]

Would you know of some reverb circuits that do not use springs?

I guess you can always go digital and look for IC's that are designed for the job, there should be plenty of them. I don't know about any circuits but i guess they become less simple since you have to have at least an oscillator or crystal circuit, ADC, the reverb IC or ICs and a DAC. I bet you will find some information from chip datasheets though, many manufacturers like to publish circuits in them to further sales. However, these chips have a bad tendency to become obsolete very quickly.

Some reportedly good sounding "circuits" have been built to sound proofed enclosures. The signal is fed through a tube (or any other reverberating piece) and the reverberated sound is recorded at the other end of it. These designs usually have a metallic sound and the acoustics play a very important role in creating a pleasing tone.

You could also build a plate reverb with quite similar way: Hang some metal sheets inside a (large) enclosure, make them resonate (for example with a speaker) and record the outcome. Dry signal can be filtered away from the output with some careful phasing. This approach needs a quite powerful amplifier to drive the resonator device and a huge box. They will also be quite heavy, which is nothing new for plate reverbs. With a little searching i guess you could find some examples of projects similar to my descriptions.

Is there a particular reason why you do not want to use a spring? In my opinion it's the most ideal reverb device for guitars and probably will even end up being less expensive than all the hassle of building a digital circuit.

Teemu K

 

[leadbelly]

Would you know of some reverb circuits that do not use springs?

If you look hard through some published schematics, you can probably find one that uses an analog bucket-brigade chip that you will still be able to buy. This is one area that digital has taken over completely, and you will probably be able to buy some kind of digital delay with reverb function for far less than you could build an analog version with poorer performance.

 

[yeto]

I think I will give the PT2399 chip a try.

Thanks for your help,

Yeto

 

[leadbelly]

I think I will give the PT2399 chip a try.

There you go! It had never ocurred to me that somebody had developed ADC + DAC + delay in one chip. Of course that's what's in those karaoke players! 🙂

 

[Enzo]

And hopefully you will be able to use one of the existing power supply voltages in the amp. The digital circuits will require a well filtered 5vdc most likely. Not usually found in small SS amps.