True spring Reverb
112
Guitarist January 2019
F
ender amps from the early 1960s are
objects of desire for many, not just
for that Fender amp sound but also
for their in-built spring reverb and tremolo.
At the time, players using these amps were
getting the state of the art: basically, a fully
formed amp and effects system long before
pedalboards were even imagined.
Now, while new amps with built-in
spring reverb and, to a lesser extent,
tremolo, are still available, those players
with amps that aren’t so equipped need
to take a different approach if they’re
looking to cop some of those older sounds
– namely by using pedals. Strymon took
on the ‘reverb and tremolo in one pedal’
challenge with its Flint, which offered
spring, plate and hall reverbs and three
tremolo types. And now Source Audio has
come along with the True Spring, which,
arguably, digs deeper into the vintage vibe
by offering three tremolo types alongside
three distinct variations on spring reverb.
SOUNDS
While the pedal’s hidden depths can
be explored via Source Audio’s Neuro
Desktop Editor or Mobile App, there’s
plenty available from manual operation.
A three-way toggle switch lets you choose
a short reverb based on those found in 60s
‘blackface’ amps, a long spring as found
in some vintage combo amps, and a tank
spring that emulates the sound of Fender’s
6G15 standalone outboard reverb. For
tweaking, the Mix knob sets the dry/wet
level, Tone controls the brightness, and
Dwell alters the intensity, setting how
hard those virtual springs are being driven.
Level sets the pedal’s output level and
incorporates up to 6dB of boost if needed.
To add tremolo into the equation, press
and hold the small rear panel Control
Input button, select the trem type with the
toggle switch, and use the Dwell and Tone
knobs to respectively set its depth and rate.
The available tremolos are Opto and Bias
types, plus Harmonic tremolo as found in
Fender ‘brownface’ amps made between
1959 and 1963. You can have reverb with
tremolo, or just reverb or tremolo on their
own, depending on the setting of the
reverb Mix knob and tremolo Depth.
If you set up some tremolo and then
switch to another reverb type you’ll lose
the tremolo, but the True Spring features
three presets so you can store sounds
True Spring Reverb
Source Audio captures the vintage charm of 60s amps on your ’board
Words Trevor Curwen Photography Phil Barker
PEDALBOARD
MANUFACTURER
SOURCE AUDIO
MODEL
TRUE SPRING REVERB
PRICE
£219
CONTACT
01626 853019 / WWW.SOURCEAUDIO.NET
Source Audio
GIT441.peds_source.indd 112 11/29/18 6:32 PM