C
camus
New member
There's this "vintage" Tapco Spring Reverb going for 85 bucks at ebay. Anyone heard or used this thing before? Is it worth getting?
mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
I've used one...and have the matching 2200 10 band EQ. You don't see the reverbs around that much...but they are from the late 70's and are dinosaurs. You would be much better off buying a new rack reverb...or even a used Alesis wedge on ebay (see them all the time for $125). If you are strickly looking for a spring reverb sound...you'll get it..but that is it. It is a 3 space high unit, looks cool, but technology has moved on. For 25 bucks or so, I'd snatch it up...but $85 is getting a little high...Don't buy it for the "vintage", however...It aint a Neve piece.
C
camus
New member
Well, I do have a couple of digital reverbs (plug ins and so forth), but I am looking for stuff that's a bit different. I'm figuring the spring rev is probably a one-trick pony, but if it's a "good" (or strange? 
) trick, I don't really mind. How's it sound on guitars?
) trick, I don't really mind. How's it sound on guitars?
mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
can't help you on the guitar angle...I guess you're looking to duplicate a *Fender-type* spring sound maybe.... I only used it on electronic keyboards at the time (and it has been 20 years now!) and remember then it kinda sounded cheesy. I am not a big fan of amp spring reverbs either, as I prefer a more 'quality' sound rather than *different*. If 85 bucks doesn't hit your wallet to bad, and you're just looking for some odds and ends, it might do it, but I still think I'd pass and get more of a variety of current digital reverbs instead...like the Lexicon to the Alesis to the Yamahas to the Rolands. I'd look around maybe for an older AKG Bx10 or Bx20 spring reverb if you could find one. They don't come up too often for sale, but they are more studio suited and more of a vintage spring sound. You might find one for $200 if you're lucky.
C
camus
New member
TAPCO defend themselves!!
Hey, hey, found this forum where all these old TAPCO guys hang out and asked about the 4400. This is what one of them had to say:
Posted by Bob Gudgel (12.104.71.89) on December 19, 2000 at 09:41:46:
In Reply to: tapco 4400 spring reverb? posted by surf's up on December 19, 2000 at 00:55:03:
Well, I may be a little biased, but, the TAPCO 4400
reverb was based on the 6000R reverb circuits and
I believe this is one of the best sounding spring
reverbs around. At TAPCO, we took great care
in making the reverbs sound good. Greg Mackie
had us "shim" the Hammond reverb tank pickups
when they needed it so the ends didn't twang on
the coil laminations etc... Also, Rodger Rosenbaum
designed a great balanced driver and EQ circuit,
(drive and pickup EQ) so we would get the best sound we
could from the reverb tank. I remember there was
a slight difference between the 6000R and 4400
circuit but I can't remember exactly what it was.
Basically the same although I seem to remember the
6000R was slightly better sounding reverb than
the 4400.
If I get the service manuals up here, then we will see.
The 4400, of course, had the separate 4 channel graphic
EQ and the reverb tail switch. Did anyone else
have one of those switches where it cut out the
direct signal and the reverb drive signal and just
left the tail so you could adjust it better?
Bob
I suppose he got marginally offended when I posted that the general consensus among the bulletin boards I frequent was that the 4400's best use was as a "boat anchor"!
Hey, hey, found this forum where all these old TAPCO guys hang out and asked about the 4400. This is what one of them had to say:
Posted by Bob Gudgel (12.104.71.89) on December 19, 2000 at 09:41:46:
In Reply to: tapco 4400 spring reverb? posted by surf's up on December 19, 2000 at 00:55:03:
Well, I may be a little biased, but, the TAPCO 4400
reverb was based on the 6000R reverb circuits and
I believe this is one of the best sounding spring
reverbs around. At TAPCO, we took great care
in making the reverbs sound good. Greg Mackie
had us "shim" the Hammond reverb tank pickups
when they needed it so the ends didn't twang on
the coil laminations etc... Also, Rodger Rosenbaum
designed a great balanced driver and EQ circuit,
(drive and pickup EQ) so we would get the best sound we
could from the reverb tank. I remember there was
a slight difference between the 6000R and 4400
circuit but I can't remember exactly what it was.
Basically the same although I seem to remember the
6000R was slightly better sounding reverb than
the 4400.
If I get the service manuals up here, then we will see.
The 4400, of course, had the separate 4 channel graphic
EQ and the reverb tail switch. Did anyone else
have one of those switches where it cut out the
direct signal and the reverb drive signal and just
left the tail so you could adjust it better?
Bob
I suppose he got marginally offended when I posted that the general consensus among the bulletin boards I frequent was that the 4400's best use was as a "boat anchor"!
mixmkr
we don't need rest!!
hey hey...now, I didn't suggest a boat anchor. :-D
I just happen to be in the marine business, and we have sold some anchors easily costing upwards of $500. You sure hate to get those snagged and cut them loose if you have to. A typical anchor we sell averages about $200 for a 30'+ boat......oh yeah....this is a recording forum...sorry!!!!
Hey...so are you going to get the 4400?...or is the auction over....?
I just happen to be in the marine business, and we have sold some anchors easily costing upwards of $500. You sure hate to get those snagged and cut them loose if you have to. A typical anchor we sell averages about $200 for a 30'+ boat......oh yeah....this is a recording forum...sorry!!!!
Hey...so are you going to get the 4400?...or is the auction over....?
C
camus
New member
The TAPCO's still there methinks....but I'll look around for something else in the meantime. Heard some good things bout the old Orban 111B's.....heheh