Fender Showman reverb

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Steve Alcott
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Fender Showman reverb

Post by Steve Alcott »

I have a Fender Showman model TFL 5000D.The amp sounds great,but the reverb is shallow,short and boingy.Is it possible to put in a different reverb tank?Antique Electronics has a bunch of tanks,and I wonder if one of these
might be usable as a plugin replacement.Any advice and/or opinions appreciated.
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Rick Johnson
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Post by Rick Johnson »

Steve
Replace the Reverb driver and recovery
tubes too.

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Rick Johnson
Steve Alcott
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Post by Steve Alcott »

Thanks for the reply-my question is really which tank to use;there's a lot of specs in the AE catalogue I don't understand.
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Ken Fox
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Post by Ken Fox »

I worked on one for a Forum member. I Black-Faced the amp, but brought the reverb back to the early 1970 reverb circuit used in a Twin. Some consider the early Silverface the best reverb Fender ever had, they drove the reverb tank quite a bit hotter. If tubes and a tank do not help, this will. It is an undertaking for an experienced tech, however.

I found the original Dual Showman Reverb amp to have a shallow reverb. Partly due to the unbypassed reverb drive tube (no bypass cap on the one I modded). The above mod made the amps reverb nice and full.
KENNY KRUPNICK
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Post by KENNY KRUPNICK »

My Showman is a TFL 5000D,and sounds sweet. Image
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Hiro Keitora
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Post by Hiro Keitora »

Usually, 4AB3C1B is the replacement for BF and SF Fender with reverb. Yes, it's a great idea to replace both driver and recovery tubes( 12AT7 and 12AX7) along with Cap. jobs, but you'll be amazed what a good, new reverb tank sounds when you replace it.

If you like, you're welcome to borrow one of my tank and hook it up to your Showman to see how it sounds. If you like it better, replace the tank with new one. If it doesn't make much of change in sound, try replacing tubes and caps. <H>
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Brad Sarno
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Post by Brad Sarno »

Yea, get those ceramic caps that surround the reverb send and recovery out of there and put in some orange drops. You'll hear smoother and more detailed reverb.

Brad Sarno