Topanga Users...How do you use it?

[vashondan]

Just got one yesterday for my 5e3. Wanted some reverb for when I wanted it. Was initially worried that it would be too surfy drippy (not that there's anything wrong with that) but found some very very nice subtle sounds that were just what I was looking for. Was also worried about having "only" Spring but it's so nice that I'm no longer afraid.

I use it (so far) on a clean or near breakup amp. Dwell and Mix to taste in the range of 10- 2 O'clock. Tone straight up and still figuring out the volume.

I still love the amp straight in or with a bit of OD but this is a fun variant to play with

 

[artdecade]

The Topanga is not drippy enough for Surf. It is based on a Fender combo reverb - not the outboard unit. It will work in a pinch for a surf gig, but it is more Ventures than Dick Dale.

 

[vashondan]

The Topanga is not drippy enough for Surf. It is based on a Fender combo reverb - not the outboard unit. It will work in a pinch for a surf gig, but it is more Ventures than Dick Dale.

Gotcha, Small waves vs a big day?

 

[artdecade]

Spot on.

 

[E5RSY]

Spot on.

Canyon vs. beach?

 

[screamin eagle]

I always thought that it sounded more like onboard reverb than outboard reverb, but don't they advertise it as an outboard reverb style pedal?

 

[E5RSY]

I always thought that it sounded more like onboard reverb than outboard reverb, but don't they advertise it as an outboard reverb style pedal?

Yep, you are correct. They do.

 

[Axis29]

Uh... when Catalinbread dropped the Topanga, they marketed it as sounding and acting like an outboard tank.

With Dwell, Mix, Tone and Volume, it has the right controls to be more tank-like. If you read the manual, they compare it to a tank unit.

To me it sounds more like a tank than onboard reverb.

But, it doesn't really matter. It's the first reverb pedal I liked enough to buy (besides some of the Strymon stuff).

I use mine like a tank into my tweed amps. Not heavy drippy surf stuff, but to add a little preamp oomph and a nice mild reverb to add some space in dry rooms.

 

[artdecade]

I really have to argue that it sounds nothing like a tank. It sounds much more like the verb in my Deluxe more than my 1966 Fender Reverb Unit or my Gomez G-Spring. The Topanga doesn't drip at all like a Surf Reverb.

 

[Jimmy Dean]

I think the Topanga has a wide range. I use mine to a little space & color to my bass rig.

 

[red57strat]

I get great surf sounds out of mine by cranking the dwell and tone. I set the mix to 11:00 and the volume to about 10:00.
It's a digital emulation so it'll never sound like the real thing, but that's the sacrifice you make for it's price and convenience.

 

[mgreene]

Here's fun tip - to me anyway Turn the mix all the way up so you only have reverb signal. To me it sounds and feels like someone is playing in an empty club and you are in another room in the back or upstairs.

Or maybe I just have a weird imagination...

 

[Fearnot]

From Catalinbread's description:

"Surf's up! And we're all headed to Topanga, our spring reverb pedal based on the legendary Fender 6G15 outboard spring reverb unit! We've captured all the drip, flutter, cluck, clang, and splash of the original tubes and springs unit in a small pedal format! The outboard spring reverb unit is the sound of surf guitar as well as many other great guitar sounds from the sixties. Part of its magic, and how it differs from the internal spring reverb found in most Fender-style amps, is that it is run *in front* of the amp, causing the reverb signal to distort and get more intense than the internal circuit could. It also had a Dwell knob, which controlled how hard the springs were getting hit by the guitar signal, as well as a Tone knob that gave more control over the reverb sound. It was also essentially a tube preamp, so it would color the sound going into the amp. All this added up to a very distinctive reverb sound that is hard to replicate. But we here at Catalinbread had to try! And we think we got it! Besides giving you the classic three knob control compliment of the original, we've also added a great discrete preamp that you can control via the Volume knob for a healthy amount of great clean boost when you want it."

 

[Axis29]

I really have to argue that it sounds nothing like a tank. It sounds much more like the verb in my Deluxe more than my 1966 Fender Reverb Unit or my Gomez G-Spring. The Topanga doesn't drip at all like a Surf Reverb.

See, I don't think it sounds like the Blackface internal reverb or like the reverb in my '63 Vibroverb RI (which is much warmer than BF reverb, but that might just be the whole amp). I picked up a Mr. Black Deluxe+ which sounded just like a Deluxe Reverb.... (I couldn't wait to get rid of it).

To be clear, I do not own, nor have I ever owned a real tube driven tank. (I thought i had mentioned that earlier, but if not, I do apologize). I also don't play surf music... I fool with it form time to time to annoy my drummer.

However, to me the Topanga sounds more like those Surf records of yesteryear than any other pedal I've tried. It also gives me that West Coat Blues sound, which was traditionally a tank in front of a Tweed amp.

The Topanga is the first reverb pedal I've actually liked... I liked it so much, I bought a second one to use with the grab and go setup of reverb pedal and amp.

 

[TexMax]

I would like to hear about the sound quality from guys with really picky ears - does the Topanga sound 'real'? Like Fender amp reverb? Tank? Or does is sound like a digital simulation?

I have used and love the onboard Fender amp reverbs for a long time, and I sort of want to take that sound and apply it to an AC30 for deep reverb, surfy, and ambient tones. I did look briefly at pedals several years ago - HOF, Cathedral - and was surprised at how bad they sounded to me, so I am hesitant to even look at reverb pedals. But pedals are ever-evolving, so....

From my research, I have the Topanga and FRV-1 at the top of my list, but my past experiences with pedals in hand proved to be quite different from the demos I listened to.

 

[mgreene]

I would like to hear about the sound quality from guys with really picky ears - does the Topanga sound 'real'? Like Fender amp reverb? Tank? Or does is sound like a digital simulation?

I guess you could call me a fender reverb snob - played or owned all the fender reverb amps over the years as well as owning Cesar Diaz' original tube outboard unit - I cant remember off hand if I ever had an actual Fender outboard unit.

The Topanga is the first reverb pedal I have ever heard that I thought was worth buying - I did buy one. That said - I have liked the demos I heard of the Mr Black Deluxe+, which I dont need because I have a silver deluxe - but I would still buy, if one came up on craigslist

 

[TexMax]

I guess you could call me a fender reverb snob - played or owned all the fender reverb amps over the years as well as owning Cesar Diaz' original tube outboard unit - I cant remember off hand if I ever had an actual Fender outboard unit.

The Topanga is the first reverb pedal I have ever heard that I thought was worth buying - I did buy one. That said - I have liked the demos I heard of the Mr Black Deluxe+, which I dont need because I have a silver deluxe - but I would still buy, if one came up on craigslist

Thanks!
I've got no use for gear snobbery, but I did want to hear from Tone snobs on this one.
Any experience with the FRV-1?

 

[BBill64]

Any experience with the FRV-1?

It's great.

http://soundcloud.com/mechabb/trem-boss-frv1-mustang

 

[mgreene]

Thanks!
I've got no use for gear snobbery, but I did want to hear from Tone snobs on this one.
Any experience with the FRV-1?

I meant snob in a good way I just like fender reverb and vibrato. Ampeg's is possibly superior, eg the original 6V6 Reverberocket. The Gibson RVT79 is also awesome in that respect. I played a wedding reception once (just the dinner part) using the RVT79 and someone came up later and asked me who I was. I said I'm the guitar player - their response - "oh, I couldnt see you - it sounded so beautiful I thought it was a record playing".

Dats what I meant by snob! I jus likes it to sound pretty.

To answer your question - the FRV-1 has a good "drip" - that "boink" sound on the leading edge of the surf reverb sound - but I thought the Topanga was more versatile and sounded better overall. Some people say you cant go wrong with it. They turn up on Craigslist... try it.

Living in a small town, I now depend on utube gear demos. I have a small home theater box that gives a decent full range sound. I think I get a pretty accurate idea of how pedals sound if the user has made a good demo.

 

[vashondan]

I'm really liking the Topanga the more I get into it.