Valve Train Spring Thing
In my search for a new reverb unit, I ran across this interesting unit by Valve Train. I know, it looks like an amp, but it’s a tube-driven reverb unit with a dedicated reverb tank – very cool. There’s really nothing like a good spring reverb unit, especially ones done the old school way. I’d love to try one of these. However, one issue I might raise is where to put it in my chain. Ideally, I’d run it through an effects loop, so I reverb the amplified signal. But what about using with an amp that doesn’t have an effects loop? I’ve had mixed results with reverb unit in the past that I’ve run before my amp. Maybe because they were digital units – who knows? But that’s definitely a concern, though I suppose I could run it from the amp output, into the unit, then into the speaker, though that might be bad idea considering what kind of impedance the unit can handle.
This just in:
Rick from Valve Train Amps sent me a message. Here’s his answer to my question:
Brendan,
my favorite place to put the ST is actually in a effects loop if the amp has one…
otherwise, put it anywhere in the effects chain that you like the sound… (some folks like it before overdrive pedal, some after)
because it is an active tube circuit, placing in front of a high gain amp may cause some unwanted hiss, etc…
I have a lot customers that use it in between the guitar and a tweed style amp with no other toys in the chain…
hope that helps…
Rick Gessner
Sure does! Thanks, Rick! I probably could’ve answered my own question – You have to experiment! 🙂
In any case, check out this video I found on YouTube about this unit.
Guitar Gear 
Awesome find and thanks for the video. Now, if I only had some extra money…
No kidding… don’t know if I could shell out $699 for this, but you know what? Where there’s a will, there’s a way… 🙂
I’m actually saving my clams for a Reason amp right now…