accutronics reverb tank

tosh · June 7th, 2006, 04:57 PM

hi
I recently installed a brand new accutronics reverb tank to my Fender Twin....as the old one broke (model 4ab3c1b).
The issue i have now is that the amp sounds very different on reverb.The sustain is much shorter and it doesnt have that clanky drippy vintage sound that my old tank had.The new tank is silver looking as opposed to brass looking and is more microphonic.Has anyone else had this experience with these tanks?
Any advice on a better replacement appreciated.Thanks

Ringo · June 7th, 2006, 08:18 PM

I've had the same experience with the new Accutronic tanks, even though they are supposedly built the same as the old tanks.
I don't know if it's something to do with compent tolerances, aged parts or what , but the Accutronic tanks just don't sound the same to my ears as the vintage units.

From what I've read some of the new tanks just sound better than others, so I guess it's just a crap shoot as far as getting a "good" one.

A couple of options, you can try to find a good used original Fender reverb tank, or try an old Hammond organ / Gibbs reverb tank.
I recently bought a used SF Princeton Reverb that was missing the reverb tank, I bought a Gibbs tank on ebay, it sounds good, not as wet and splashy as the Accutronics.

CancerLeoCam · June 7th, 2006, 08:24 PM

...recommend a new 3-spring tank (9AB3C1B). They are very cathedral sounding and cavey and get you in to 'verb super quick. I love the sound of them. They are a simple swap with the old tanks.

Tremo · June 7th, 2006, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CancerLeoCam

...recommend a new 3-spring tank (9AB3C1B). They are very cathedral sounding and cavey and get you in to 'verb super quick. I love the sound of them. They are a simple swap with the old tanks.

I tried a 3 spring tank and found it to be too much for my tastes.

reverbbb · June 8th, 2006, 10:07 AM

I am assuming that you got a matching model to model number replacement. But in the event that you had even one letter difference in the old one, this can be a dramatic difference.

I would call the tech support at Accutronics. I called once and talked to an engineer that had been working there for 35 years. He knew EVERYTHING there is to know about their tanks and the history of the company.

http://www.accutronicsreverb.com/

The company has change the corporate name to Sound Enhancement Products, Inc. But they still manufacture the Accutronics brand.

BTW, the history of Accutronics is very interesting to me. It was originally a spin-off company of Hammond. Leo Fender wanted that distant and big room sound, so he went to Hammond and adopted their portable sized tank and the rest is history. It is interesting to see how inter-twinded Hammond, Fender, Leslie, Dick Dale and JBL (James Bullough Lansing - but under the ownership of William Thomas) became as part of modern music history.

tosh · June 8th, 2006, 04:25 PM

Yes.I replaced tank like for like with the same model numbers.But i believe there is a design fault with this new tank.If i compare old with new, the new container shell rings when you tap it ,but the old one does not.The new tank has heavier small springs on the support plate ,i would suppose this is to counteract the microphonics but in doing so, it zaps the reverb effect.
This is why i think my old tank was better.
By the way ,i fitted a different 12ax7 and it made the reverb louder but also gave me more feedback.
I must say that i feel a bit disallusioned about my amp because a short while ago it sounded great but now no longer has THE sound.
Will keep my eyes skinned for something else or may try the 9AB3C1B that tremo suggested.
Thanks

PhatTele · June 8th, 2006, 05:29 PM

I've been using the three spring tanks in my homebrew projects, but I've needed to mod the circuit to knock the dwell back a bit.

There's a 1meg resister going to ground connected to Pin 7 of V3 (the 12AT7 reverb send tube) in an AB763 circuit. That resister controls the dwell. After some experimenting, I ended up with a 470K resister in that spot and that seemed to help a lot in taming the dwell of the 3 spring reverb tanks. In fact, I'll probably go a bit lower on the next project.

June 7th, 2006, 04:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
tosh Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 146	accutronics reverb tank hi I recently installed a brand new accutronics reverb tank to my Fender Twin....as the old one broke (model 4ab3c1b). The issue i have now is that the amp sounds very different on reverb.The sustain is much shorter and it doesnt have that clanky drippy vintage sound that my old tank had.The new tank is silver looking as opposed to brass looking and is more microphonic.Has anyone else had this experience with these tanks? Any advice on a better replacement appreciated.Thanks __________________ Raw Power

June 7th, 2006, 08:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,927	re Accutronics tanks I've had the same experience with the new Accutronic tanks, even though they are supposedly built the same as the old tanks. I don't know if it's something to do with compent tolerances, aged parts or what , but the Accutronic tanks just don't sound the same to my ears as the vintage units. From what I've read some of the new tanks just sound better than others, so I guess it's just a crap shoot as far as getting a "good" one. A couple of options, you can try to find a good used original Fender reverb tank, or try an old Hammond organ / Gibbs reverb tank. I recently bought a used SF Princeton Reverb that was missing the reverb tank, I bought a Gibbs tank on ebay, it sounds good, not as wet and splashy as the Accutronics.

June 7th, 2006, 08:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
CancerLeoCam Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mule Deer-Mt. Lion Safari, CA Posts: 1,692 5 Photos	I would... ...recommend a new 3-spring tank (9AB3C1B). They are very cathedral sounding and cavey and get you in to 'verb super quick. I love the sound of them. They are a simple swap with the old tanks.

June 8th, 2006, 10:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
reverbbb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Just Plano, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 3,733 36 Photos	I am assuming that you got a matching model to model number replacement. But in the event that you had even one letter difference in the old one, this can be a dramatic difference. I would call the tech support at Accutronics. I called once and talked to an engineer that had been working there for 35 years. He knew EVERYTHING there is to know about their tanks and the history of the company. http://www.accutronicsreverb.com/ The company has change the corporate name to Sound Enhancement Products, Inc. But they still manufacture the Accutronics brand. BTW, the history of Accutronics is very interesting to me. It was originally a spin-off company of Hammond. Leo Fender wanted that distant and big room sound, so he went to Hammond and adopted their portable sized tank and the rest is history. It is interesting to see how inter-twinded Hammond, Fender, Leslie, Dick Dale and JBL (James Bullough Lansing - but under the ownership of William Thomas) became as part of modern music history. __________________ "I come here to reflect a little."™ Buffalo Blues Band

June 8th, 2006, 04:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
tosh Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 146	Yes.I replaced tank like for like with the same model numbers.But i believe there is a design fault with this new tank.If i compare old with new, the new container shell rings when you tap it ,but the old one does not.The new tank has heavier small springs on the support plate ,i would suppose this is to counteract the microphonics but in doing so, it zaps the reverb effect. This is why i think my old tank was better. By the way ,i fitted a different 12ax7 and it made the reverb louder but also gave me more feedback. I must say that i feel a bit disallusioned about my amp because a short while ago it sounded great but now no longer has THE sound. Will keep my eyes skinned for something else or may try the 9AB3C1B that tremo suggested. Thanks __________________ Raw Power

June 8th, 2006, 05:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
PhatTele Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 756	I've been using the three spring tanks in my homebrew projects, but I've needed to mod the circuit to knock the dwell back a bit. There's a 1meg resister going to ground connected to Pin 7 of V3 (the 12AT7 reverb send tube) in an AB763 circuit. That resister controls the dwell. After some experimenting, I ended up with a 470K resister in that spot and that seemed to help a lot in taming the dwell of the 3 spring reverb tanks. In fact, I'll probably go a bit lower on the next project.