Spring Reverbs .. How do these sound ??

cjacek

Analogue Enthusiast
Can someone please point me to a sound example of a Spring Reverb at work ? I'm looking at ones from Fostex and TASCAM (both considered "vintage" now). I've heard that these can sound "bright" but also that these can be adjusted to sound a bit "darker" ??? Comments ?

Btw, I'm having a real hard time liking ANY digital reverb units, even the higher end ones, which sound too "modern" and .. well ... "digital" ... :(

THANKS!

Daniel :)
 
The best example of a spring reverb at work on a professional recording would be from Deep Purple's Machine Head album.

I believe the song Highway Star ends with a spring reverb unit be thrown against a wall as a special effect!

If you want quality analog reverb, look into getting a plate reverb or building your own reverb chamber which makes use of a very live room and mic'ing the effects of it back into your mix to achieve the desired effect.

Cheers! :)
 
The Ghost of FM said:
The best example of a spring reverb at work on a professional recording would be from Deep Purple's Machine Head album.

I believe the song Highway Star ends with a spring reverb unit be thrown against a wall as a special effect!

If you want quality analog reverb, look into getting a plate reverb or building your own reverb chamber which makes use of a very live room and mic'ing the effects of it back into your mix to achieve the desired effect.

Cheers! :)

Thanks Jeff but isn't there a happy (financial) medium between what I wish to have and a rather expensive and involved "plate reverb" option ?

Thanks again! :)

Daniel
 
Perhaps our esteemed colleague, Regebro, can shed some additional light on this topic as he seems to have some experience with these devices.

Are you there, Regebro?

Cheers! :)
 
Guitar amps use spring reverb. That's pretty much what it sounds like. Marshalls use short springs, Fenders use long springs.

Fender makes a stand-alone unit that lets you adjust some of the parameters.
 
The high frequency response on the Fostex, Tascam and other similar spring reverbs tops out at 7 to 8k -- so I wouldn't describe them as bright, at least compared to plates and especially digital.

"Highway Star" -- now that's real rock 'n roll and a lot of spring use throughout.

Hey, did you ever watch "Davey and Goliath" when you were a kid? You know, the show produced by the Lutheran Church about a Christian boy and his talking Christian dog? ("Oh Davey")

Well in one episode (I think he was lost in a cave or something) Davey's footsteps echoing in the cave are the best damned example of spring reverb I can think of.

When I was older and first accidentally bumped my fender amp with the reverb setting up, I thought, "Hello... That's Davey's footsteps!" Anyway, I always remember that now when I think of spring reverb.

'Betcha wish I could think of something a little less obscure, eh?

:cool:
 
Ok, thank you VERY much for the replies! Good info!

(I'd be mostly using the spring reverb for my vocal)

Say, how much would you bid for a good and clean condition FOSTEX or TASCAM spring reverb unit ? I'm not sure of their model number but I've seen them on eBay occassionally ... Is one neccessarily superior to the other ?

Thanks!!!

Daniel :)
 
I would post something with my fostex reverb but I have all of my stuff torn down now waiting for new carpet.
As far as price I think i paid less than 50.00 dollars for my reverb.
 
Herm said:
I would post something with my fostex reverb but I have all of my stuff torn down now waiting for new carpet.
As far as price I think i paid less than 50.00 dollars for my reverb.

Thanks and please DO post a sound sample if you get a chance! :)

Daniel
 
For a spring reverb reference, I always think of that old tune,"Long, cool woman" Good example of it on the vocal and guitar.
Back in the early days, many studios had a large water tank outside that they would put a speaker and a mic. in. They got some really cool reverb on some of those old songs.
 
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