Re-purposed Danelectro 9100 reverb

[balcorn80]

Here's a build I finished over the weekend that was a lot of fun, actually. I had a Danelectro Model 9100 that the transducers had gone gunnybags in, and word in the webz is these sounded craptacular at best. I had a customer ask me to build a tube-powered spring reverb for him, so I repurposed the chassis, cabinet, transformer(these only had a PT in them) and tube sockets(2 7-pin and one 9-pin)

I used a 3 spring Accutronics tank and built a tube-rectified version of a Premier/Multivox 'Model 90' reverb in it, but I added a Dwell function, which was a nice addition with that 3 spring tank(it can get real deep and dark and thick, and having the dwell lets you tame it a bit which is a good thing). The Premier uses a 6aq5 and a 6eu7 in it, but I set it up to use a 12ax7 instead as these are a more realisitc tube for non-tube junkies to be able to acquire. Since the chassis already had 7 pin sockets, I kept the 6aq5 power tube and the 6x4 rectifier.

I'm pleased to say this thing sounds sweet! I am goign to have to build another one for myself, as I really like the addition of the dwell function over my vintage Premier tank. Not that i don't like my vintage one(thats what led me to want to build this one) but that Dwell knob is nice...

http://flic.kr/p/bB5uZY

[HotBluePlates]

Very nice!

I found I preferred a 3-spring (they like to call it "6-spring" but it's 3 delay lines) Medium Delay tank. You can probably get enough reverb for any application other than extreme novelty sounds, and paired with the dwell control you can also do subtle thickening of the sound.

[balcorn80]

Thanks for the compliment! I like being able to bring new life to unuseable junk. 

The 3 spring tank (its probably the same style as you're talking about. 6 springs, 3 lines with little ferrules in the middle where each spring is attached to) in this sounds way better than the short 3 springer I tried in it, but without that dwell control, it was too much in my vintage Premier. And even though someone has re-capped and re-upholstered it, and I added a fuse and 3 prong cord, I don't really feel like drilling a hole in the front of it to add another knob. Not when I can build another one. ;-)

[davide]

Hi,
I have a Danelectro 9100 with a new mod Reverb tank,it's been serviced and works well, I came across your post and I would like to add a dwell function too, could you please post a diagram or pictures saying what I have to do? I can solder... in the case you cannot do that would you be considering do this mod if I send you the unit? Thanks a lot

[sluckey]

Look again at the first post. You'll see that the only thing about this project that relates to a Danelectro 9100 is that he repurposed a Danelectro 9100 chassis to build a Premier model 90 reverb. Also, balcorn80 has not visited this forum since June 2012 so he probably won't see this post.

There is a schematic for the Danelectro 9100 in the schematics library. It should be fairly easy (at least on paper) to add a dwell. Can you read a schematic?

[PRR]

http://el34world.com/charts/Schematics/files/danelectro/DANELECTRO_REVERB_BOX_9100.pdf

Mod: