lower gain reverb driver?

[ruger9]

I've got a Fender Supersonic, and it has a 12AT7 as the reverb driver. It is the only function this tube position (V9) is used for. The reverb on this amp is very splashy and wet even at 3 on the dial. I was wondering if changing the driver to a 12AY7 or 12AU7 might make the reverb more usable in it's entire range? And also, what, if anything, this change might do to the base signal/tone?

[scottl]

You could add a 1 meg trimmer in the amp to create a dwell control. This will dump gain.

You could also try a different pan. They have such variability you may find a different pan is perfect.

Of course, a 12AX7 has less current drive than an AT7 so that may do it.... But, the voltages may not be ideal.

[Blue Strat]

12AX7s won't hold up, for long, because the current demands of this circuit are too high.

A 12AU7 will handle the heat and has a lower voltage gain so that might work.

Sometimes a different, higher quality, 12AT7 (like a Mullard CV4024) will help.

[scottl]

True, but they do if you tweak the circuit. That is what several of my amps use.

12AX7s won't hold up, for long, because the current demands of this circuit are too high.

A 12AU7 will handle the heat and has a lower voltage gain so that might work.

Sometimes a different, higher quality, 12AT7 (like a Mullard CV4024) will help.

[ruger9]

12AX7s won't hold up, for long, because the current demands of this circuit are too high.

A 12AU7 will handle the heat and has a lower voltage gain so that might work.

Sometimes a different, higher quality, 12AT7 (like a Mullard CV4024) will help.

That's what I've got in there now (CV4024)

I'll try the Mullard 12AU7. Thanks!

[lonestargtr]

I'm not sure how similar they are circuit-wise, but Paul C modded a Fender Prosonic one time and put in audio taper pots in place of the linear taper pots for the reverb and clean gain pots. It may not kill all of the splashiness, but it does allow for more gradual dialing in.

[VacuumVoodoo]

You can try removing cathode capacitor from the reverb driver, it will lower drivers' gain by ca 4db.

[donnyjaguar]

I can confirm that when you sub in a 12AU7 it drops the drive to the reverb and lowers the level. Its easier than cracking open the amplifier too. I know Accutronics says to drive the reverb hard. I think the reason for this is so you can reduce noise in the recovery section of the circuit.