DIY Reverb

Posted by Michael Recchione on March 21, 2013 at 8:23am

I'd like to build a decent-sounding reverb to use as a pre-processor for my practice amps (which don't have reverb).  I'm not really interested in a foot-pedal - I'd probably package up the reverb along with the guts of an old preamp/distortion/sustain pedal that I have, in a new enclosure that I'd either sit on top of the amp or wear on my belt.

I've seen reverb pedal kits, built around the Belton "Brick", for around $80, but they're not really what I'd want - I don't want the pedal, footswitch, jacks, etc - I have all that.  I also have the enclosure.  And I can get a decent used practice amp that has reverb for not much more than that, so it really wouldn't pay to spend it on just a reverb pre-processor.  The Belton chip is about $18, and the only other stuff you need are a couple of op-amps, a voltage regulator, some caps and resistors, a couple of pots ...  I figure about $25 - $30 in parts, not counting the box and hardware.

Does anyone have schematics/plans (including part numbers for the op-amps) for a decent, DIY reverb that I could build for about $30 or so?

Thanks!

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Replies

  • BrianQ. March 22, 2013 at 2:38am

    Hey Michael, a friend of mine gave me this layout regarding the "Brick" awhile back,I'm a spring reverb guy,so I don't need it305999994?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    Is this what yer lookin' for? Belton based Reverb? if it is ,Enjoy! It's kinda cool it tells U what pins of the Belton to connect to what.

    • Michael Recchione > BrianQ. March 22, 2013 at 9:00am

      Brian, thanks! That's exactly what I'm looking for.  I'm also mostly a spring reverb guy, but I thought this would be more portable - my "real" amps have spring reverb.  But they're big and heavy, so a lot of times I just use a small practice amp, which can also run on batteries, so it's great for playing outdoors, etc. 

      I did notice, as I was shopping for parts, that a spring reverb tank costs about the same as this Belton Brick chip, and the driver circuits look similar (though I think they might draw more power, making battery operation kind of iffy...).  Hmmm.  So there might be a spring reverb pre-processor in my future ...  :-) 

      Thanks again, I'll let you know how it turns out.

      - Mike

    • BrianQ. > Michael Recchione March 22, 2013 at 4:24pm

      yea, I've seen the belton chip up close & it's kinda amazing what that thing can do, I've also heard Accutronics makes one that's basically the same thing, I'd like to see what's inside of it? Happy Buildin'!

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