Building an external Spring Reverb

Gulliver · July 14

Here's the thing. One of my amps doesn't have reverb - but does have a switchable FX loop. I could just buy a HOF to get close-enough and be done with it, but where's the fun in that? I could just buy a Surfybear, but a reverb tank is under-£50, so even if I spend another £50 on other bits to make it work, I'll be £100 ahead of buying a Surfybear - also this seems like a fun and stupid project.

Here's the thing - I have absolutely no idea what I need beyond the reverb tank. Presumably a pot to blend between the clean signal and the 'verb and a couple of jacks to attach it to the loop. I've had a look at some other projects people have made, but they are either using a spring they've hi-jacked from something else, or is designed for synths.

If you've got other guides, I'd be happy to look and receive any other wisdom!

thermionic · July 15

You’ll need some circuitry to send and return signals to and from the transducers. I’d be looking for schematics of solid-state amps with spring reverbs (early Marshall Valvestates for example), they’re probably done with opamps.