Guyatone FR-3000V Tube Drive Reverb

Very simple to use.

This reverb has a dark sound. It is darker than the typical fender reverb. I usually run the treble control at 3/4 and the bass at 1/4. DO NOT SIT IT ON TOP OF OR NEAR AN AMP HEAD!. As you may already know reverb units usually sit way down in the bottom of a combo amp for a good reason. The magnetic fields from the amplifier transformers will penetrate the unit and cause hum. This unit is very quite. I am hooking it up to multiple amps in an effects loop and no ground loops are present. The through put is transparent. I am very glad to have a unit that sounds this good to use with my non-reverb amps.

So far so good.

No contact yet

I have been playing guitar 45 years. I play blues jazz and rock. I play clean guitar with reverb alot. I prefer fender amps for clean tone. I wanted a reverb unit to use with my Marshall and Budda amps that do not have reverb and also to not be limited in my amp selections based on whether or not the amp has reverb. This unit is working well for my purpose. I would have rated the sound quaility a 10 if the brightness were better centered. I can adjust it to be too dark but not too bright.

input level, reverb level, bass & treble, master (output) level. you can push the guitar signal with reverb, or just the reverb signal.

I ran it into the front of a Vox AC15H1TV and it was too noisy to mic on stage and a complete joke for recording. The reverb effect can be adjusted from very mild to VERY heavy, and it's great quality. If I rated it on the quality of the reverb alone I would give it a 10. On the other hand, if I rated it on the useablility of the unit then it would get a 1. Note that I was running the effect at a 2 or 3 and the master at about 1/3. Needless to say, I returned it to the retailer. If you have an effects loop and it works quietly there, then it will be a keeper.

Talked to tech support about the noise issue. We checked the NOS tubes, which are actually very low-noise.

Noisy

Not too many of you are familiar with this superb tube reverb, so here's another review: First, great sound, easy to dial in, no need for the manual, all analog tube unit, much smoother than a Fender reissue (no icepick treble clashing tone to deal with), all in all one of the best reverb unit's I've purchased, and I've almost had them all. Only mod you need to do is swap out the 12AT7 tube for a nice high-gain 12AX7 and you'll have all the reverb output drive you need (the stock tube is a little low in output gain).

Smooth, deep and complex reverbs, suitable for subtle shading or full bore surf snap tones without the garbage sound the Fender reissue reverbs produce. I actually think this reverb sounds every bit as good as an original early 60s Fender, perhaps even stronger due to it's ability to shape the signal more (due to the extra controls). You can also swap out either the input tube, output tube, or if you like replace the 6K6 with a 6V6, quite versatile. For me, all I needed to do was replace the output tube (as mentioned previously), I then had exactly what I was seeking tone-wise and gain-wise. Not noisy unless you really crank it full bore (and you don't need to). Lots of depth to the tunnel tone, and by tweaking the input and depth control (and adjusting the treble/bass controls accordingly), you can add as much depth or reverb "snap" to the guitar tone, getting that great percussive reverb twang and background thickness to the bottom strings, and singing expansion to the upper register, all in all a great sound (after I replaced the low output tube).

I use a 73 stock Strat and a hybrid Tele custom direct into the reverb (which has inputs on the front and back), and then out to a Vox Tonelab (original tabletop model) controlled by a VC12 footpedal, and then into my amp rig (two Fender Stage 112SE combos), or direct into a mixer for recording. My Tonelab has a great spring simulation patch in the effects but it didn't have the surf "snap/twang" I was looking for and the FR3000V did the trick.

I've had just about every rackmount and standalone reverb unit available over the years, and some of them I've really liked (Orban 111B stereo studio reverb being one of the best). I've bought and sold quite a few Fender reissue reverbs as they just didn't cut it for me sound-wise (as I was really seeking the quality of my original 1962 Fender Blonde Reverb that I had for many years and then sold and have regretted it every since - that was many years ago), and the Guyatone comes right up there and fills the bill.

Built like a tank, should be no issues. I do have spare tubes just in case of a tube failure or tube that starts going noisy.

Available if you need it but unlikely.

I bought my unit used on Ebay for $300, they typically sell new for almost $500 which tends to put off folks who are seeking a tube reverb and typically purchase the Fender reissue. Don't get me wrong, the Fender reissues are good (except for the annoying treble brittleness that is hard to get rid of) and the lack of gain (to my ears) in the balance between the non-reverb and reverb-enhanced output of the guitar (using Fenders). I've waffled back/forth quite a few years trying every type of reverb unit available (Behringer, Fender, Lexicon, Zoom, TCElectronics (hated it), and many many more), and I think I've settled on the Guyatone as the one for me. If you get an opportunity to purchase the FR3000V for around $300, don't hesitate, buy it, and swap out the output tube for a 12AX7 (high gain, use a quality tube), and you'll be set to go.

I don't know how much easier it could be... Turn it on, adjust the knobs and ta-da. Hook up is pretty easy too. It's easiest just to put it in the FX loop of your amp.

I use this with a full stack in Stereo, Eminence Patriot/Redcoat speakers, all mixed up... It's my own creation. Randal Stereo Chorus 200 watt head... It's really quite a beast of a rig. Love it.

I find that the Tube Drive Reverb gives a nice warm sound, and it can range between a gentle ambiance to a slappy "bathroom" sound. Overall they've done a very nice job in designing it. I don't get any buzz or hum, it warms up the sound, doesn't distort it... My rig is incomplete without it!

Its got the LOOOOOONG reverb springs.....and tubes. It's built tough, but I don't consider it a road warrior. I love it for studio, but for Live I'll take a "almost" reverb from a solid-state source.

I called them before I got it, They told me everything I needed to know, and offered me the chance to send it back if it wasn't all that and more.... No gripes there.

I play varieties of rock music........ from retro to modern. Overall Reverb is one of the most versitile effects, and it's always in my sound to some degree. It's really really expensive, but it's very very very good. I'd give it a higher rating, but it's very hard to stomach the price

Very easy to use, but minor changes to the settings can dramatically change the dynamics - a good thing in my opinion, since it gives you a lot of control over the effect. The primary controls are on the front of the unit for easy access. The controls include LEVEL, which is the equivalent of the more common Dwell control. This is the major parameter missing on most on-board reverbs and accounts for a great part of the variability in the effect. This unit also provides both Bass and Treble controls vs. the single tone control on other outboards. I have found the bass to be subtle whereas the treble is decidedly more obvious. The REVERB VOLUME controls the Mix of the dry/wet signal. The MASTER VOLUME is the last control. It gets noisier after the mid point, but adds some drive to the overall effect. Additionally, there is a front and rear input, rear output, on/off switch on the front, and a bypass switch on the rear. The bypass can also be controlled by a footswitch (not included). The user's manual is one page with 3 suggested settings that are true to their description.

I am using this effect with A U.S. reissue Jaguar and Jazzmaster, Nashville Deluxe Tele, and a Paul, but mostly the Jag/Jazz. My amp is a blackfaced Twin driving a closed-back 2x15 loaded with Weber Ceramic Californias. Also used on several vintage tube amps with same results. I Have not tried it with a solid state amp.
This effect is extemely quiet for an outboard. The exception is when the master volume is past the mid point - at that point it is okay for live sound, but probably not recording, but there is really no need to push the master past the mid point.
The reverb itself has great range. At low settings it enhances the signal without making itself obvious at all. Half-way is lush, deep, warm, and spacious - more like a 3 spring short/medium delay. Lastly, this box will surf. I have no problem getting the heavy dripping sound of the Chantays, Astronauts, the Original Surfaris, and Centurions. It can also provide more edge for Eddie and the showmen style or Dick Dale. Want boink it's got boink.
One of the most significant features of this reverb unit is that Guyatone has used NOS (new, old stock) tubes. If you know much about the Fender reissue units you may know that people often switch out the stock tubes for NOS tubes. Those in the know also replace a certain capacitor in order to bring it within range of the original. Guyatone has done the work for you and the difference is noticable. No ice-picking highs from this box.
I have made every conceivable modification to on-board reverbs, including 2 and 3 spring pans, long and short delays, adding tone and dwell controls, switching out pots, resistors, and capacitors with good success, but not as good as this. I don't use it with much distortion so I can't really rate that. Outboard units are not known for being great in that area. It seems to hold up pretty well at any level for the kind of drive you get from a vintage fender though. I'm assuming it works well with a Marshall given the obvious look of the plexi.

I haven't had it long enough to rate this for durability, but it seems to be made fairly well. According to Guyatone, they burn-in the tubes prior to shipping. That should improve reliability. They also use the industry standard accutronics reverb pan. The cabinet construction is more than adequate. The electonics are a Printed Circuit Board platform like the Fender Reissue: a drawback for do-it-your-selfers. The product has not been available for long (at this point), so there is almost no information available to research. I'm giving it an 8 for reliability based on product components and comparisons to other products I'm familiar with. It also comes with a 3 year warranty.

In researching the product I emailed Guyatone (Godlyke Distributing Inc) and was amazed to get an immediate response answering all my questions and providing me with a pdf copy of the users manual and a copy of a review from Vintage Guitar magazine. They even went as far as offering to open up a unit and take pictures of the electronics for me. Not a usual reponse from anyone other than Ted Weber, Torres, Hoffman, etc... - the kind of people that shouldn't have time to respond. And as I mentioned, this product comes with a 3 year warranty.

I bought this primarily for Surf and Instrumental music. I needed more than what's been offered or I could create with modifications. I wanted something equivalent to the original Fender unit, without the cost or risk of using a valuable, vintage piece of equipment. At the current $450 I paid, it is only a little more than a Fender reissue and not that much less than an original 60's unit, but it also provides more control features, NOS tubes, and great tone. I have to admit that I do hate the Marshall Plexi look, but it fills a niche in that department for Marshall lovers.
Overall, this unit provides a great vintage reverb tone without the noise or ice-pick qualities of the reissue units. It has awesome every-day reverb with the ability to really get wet. A good deal for gigging and recording.