Argh!!! Non foot switchable reverb.

[benjaturner]

An ongoing problem as I tend to get a bit anal about exactly how much reverb I should be using at different points in a song.

I really like the reverb on my amp, but can only control it via the knobs on the amps panel. To further complicate things the reverb is two channel. So I have a knob for the clean channel and an independent knob for the 2nd channel.

What I thought about doing was linking the two channels to one, so the clean channel reverb also controlled the 2nd channel reverb. Then replace the knob with a jack socket. I'd plug an expression pedal into the jack socket and control the amount of reverb with that. Would this work?

If I'm playing Pete Townsend style power chords then I think reverb just 'muddys' the sound, though I like to use a lot when I'm playing arpeggios or any other picky type rhythm stuff. At the moment I'm just setting the knob to about the average of all the settings I'd like to use and making do.

Thanks,
Benja

[Kent S.]

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................ only control it via the knobs on the amps panel. To further complicate things the reverb is two channel. So I have a knob for the clean channel and an independent knob for the 2nd channel.

................... linking the two channels to one, so the clean channel reverb also controlled the 2nd channel reverb.

You be better off leaving each as is, to use them as a master reverb amount for each channel respectively.

Then replace the knob with a jack socket.

Most reverb pedal jacks work by grounding out the reverb signal at a certain point in the circuit (varies according to layout). Essentially, the *expression* pedal produces a variable shunt to ground.

I'd plug an expression pedal into the jack socket and control the amount of reverb with that. Would this work?

Thanks,
Benja

Most passive volume pedals work well in this application also, just plug the cable into the output jack instead of the input jack; the pedal then functions as a variable resistance between the tip and sleeve (read reverb signal and ground here). A volume pedal with a minimum volume control is excellent as it lets you set a minimum level of reverb, the maximum level being controlled by the reverb control (or controls) on the amp when the pedal is full up (toe).
Also, make sure that the sleeve is ground (circuit ground, not necessarily chassis or earth ground), and that you use a standard guitar (read shielded) cable.
You'll have to dig thru the amp schematic(s) to find the proper point depending on layout (or take it to a tech, won't be a bank account breaking cost).