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So, I've been using ITB verbs for a while now and haven't been unhappy, but I decided to hook up my old LXP-1 for grins and giggles the other day and thought the difference was pretty drastic. Naturally, it got me thinking about purchasing a good 'all around' reverb unit so I thought I would come and ask you guys for some advice and/or direction.

My budget could be as much as $1000, but I'd prefer to keep it under $700. Delays would be nice too, but it's not a deal breaker.

Most of the applications would probably be around vocals (lead and BGVs) and acoustic guitars. In the meantime, I'm going to keep playing with and using the LXP-1 as it doesn't suck.

Thanks in advanced.

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TopherNeverDies Thu, 02/18/2010 - 15:56

Bustermud,

Now is a good time to buy used gear, that's for sure. I just purchased a PCM91 for 699 used. Best part was when it came in it was still in original package with the manual and everything. In fact it looked like it had never been touched minus two small marks from rack screws. I made have lucked out with that one but there's other gems to find. Guitarcenter.com has a used section and you can check all of their store's used stock. I've been checking every now and then and it has paid off. The studio I work for got a great deal on a 737sp.

AudioGaff Thu, 02/18/2010 - 21:02

Picked myself up a Mint PCM91 several weeks back for $700 on craigslist from a desperate tearful soul. I was going to flip it and make a few bucks as I don't need it, but I think I may just keep it as a thrasher in my live effects rack.

I wasn't thinking forward enough when I bought mine that now that Lexicon sells the PCM series reverbs in plug-format, that the 90/91 hardware versions were bound to drop to insane prices compared to just a few years ago.

RemyRAD Fri, 02/19/2010 - 14:09

A really good hardware electronic reverb should have some randomness built into it. The best ones have it. The cheaper ones don't. Case in point. I have 2 Lexicon LXP 1's. In a peculiar situation I thought I would get a better, denser reverb if I used one for each channel of a stereo pair. This turned out not to be the case. Since these are mono in & stereo out, I thought the density of having both channels summed would provide me with a better reverb. It didn't. What I got was solid mono. This turned out this way because these lesser expensive reverbs have no randomness in their algorithms. It's strictly a mathematical equation and when both are set the same, there is no difference between the two outputs. This really blew my mind. In that respect, I should've taken the stereo output from each having adjusted the 2 with slightly different settings on each, running them in parallel. But I just got lazy and utilized a single unit instead.

I don't have my QUANTEC room simulator anymore. Just a bunch of cheap units.
Mx. Remy Ann David

AudioGaff Sat, 02/20/2010 - 11:15

AG, do PCM series reverb plugins sound as good as the hardware?

Ya, they do. The plugs are 99% the same as the newer PCM92 hadware unit (based on the PCM91) and the plugs have some tweaks and bug fixes that are yet to be updated in the PCM92 hardware. Lex got it right and they are not the CPU hogs that you might expect them to be. I won't be selling my old school Lex M300 anytime soon as I still like and prefer that box for some things, but those two reverbs and my two Eventide's, TC M5000 and TC PowerCore (verbs from M5000 & M6000) should get me by for for most projects. And it's nice to know that for some projects I won't need to use any of those other half-ass wannabe reverb plugs but still not need to rely on external hardware reverb like I did in the past.

lambchop Fri, 03/12/2010 - 14:33

Too bad! You just missed a chance of getting an AKG BX10 spring reverb off of evilbay for $1,225.00. We had one of those in our recording studio back in the 1970's. What a sweet sounding reverb that was.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://cgi.ebay.ca/…"]AKG BX 10 Vintage Studio Spring Reverb on eBay.ca (item 170453874721 end time 09-Mar-10 23:28:48 EST)[/]="http://cgi.ebay.ca/…"]AKG BX 10 Vintage Studio Spring Reverb on eBay.ca (item 170453874721 end time 09-Mar-10 23:28:48 EST)[/]

kmetal Sat, 03/13/2010 - 02:27

Not sure if your looking for studio or live, but ever considered a high end (processor hungry) reverb pluggin? You gain the advantage of multiple "instances". From what i've read of the pro's, lexicon (hardware) seems to be a prevalent reverb in their mixes. "Behind The Glass" by Howard Massey, mentions quite a bit of gear.

RemyRAD Sun, 03/14/2010 - 18:27

Anyone interested in an AKG BX 20? I've had this since the late 1970s, I worked for the original owner of this unit. I used this extensively in the late 1970s, early 1980s. It's still quite sweet and dense sounding. Not at all like an EMT 140 and certainly a lot smaller.

Let me know? Remy@RemyDavid.com Make me an offer I can't refuse.

Dancing with reverbs
Mx. Remy Ann David

RemyRAD Sun, 03/14/2010 - 20:47

Yup, that's the one. It is the BX20E version. Not sure what the difference was prior to the E version? I don't have the reverb time remote control. But that is just a couple of potentiometers and no additional circuitry. Easy to build one up since I have the schematics/manual. I had been using it at the home studio which I am in the process of dismantling. It's actually quite amazing how this thing works. For those that are not familiar with it, it was the only good sounding spring reverb ever made. Sure, there were plenty of others but nothing like this. Each spring is 3 m long. That's more than 9 feet per spring. The spring is folded over twice with both transducing emitters & receivers at both ends. The signal was fed into both ends of the spring and the signal was received from both ends of the spring. The direct single is nulled out electronically. I guess this is what they referred to as their TTL or " Torsional Transmission Line". The reverb time is controlled electronically and not mechanically as in an EMT. Yeah, not an easy item to ship to say the least. But I am interested in lightening my load. Although it has handles on it it should not be thought of as a portable unit. In fact AKG does not recommend moving it around a whole lot as it is rather fragile. Another reason why I have not installed it in the truck. Back in October I heard Allen Sides demonstrating his $32,000 speaker system. He was playing some of his recordings from the late 1970s. As I was listening, I thought it sounded marvelous and asked him if it was an EMT. He told me it wasn't, "it was a BX 20E". Make no mistake, it does not sound like a plate. No real sizzle. Just beautiful smooth reverb. Yeah, great on acoustic stuff.

Taking offers
Mx. Remy Ann David

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