FOSTEX 3180 Spring question

netlas · Post by **netlas** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 2:22 pm

Hi i bought a fostex 3180 spring reverb for a month ago.

I opened it up just to see how the springs where place (paralell or in a "Z" pattern)

They where in paralell, BUT the thing im wondering about is this:

Should there be three springs for each channel?

becuse i have 3x2 small springs for each channel a total of 12 springs!

And there isnt much of a wet "BOING" sound either. maybe the previous owner or the one before him has modified it?

Anyone knows if this is the original setup?

Post by **interruptor** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 5:11 pm

Hi

This site has an inside view of a Fostex 3180:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~fokkie/IR.htm

Yes the 3180 seems to have 3 springs per channel (see this page). I also remember that the unit sounded rather high and not particularly boingy, when compared to a fisher spacexpander. I guess this was done intentionally to cater for the prevalent taste in sound of the early eighties.
Both, using 3 springs per channel as well as employing rather thin and tight springs helped to even out the "grit" and "boing" of the units built in the sixties and seventies.
To maximise your boing you can use one channel only and furthermore damp the two higher sounding springs with a piece of lace, cotton or whathever so that only the lowest of the three springs is audible.

regards
Daniel

netlas · Post by **netlas** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:56 am

thanks for the answer!

I will now try to damp the damn thing.

I get back with a answer of the result.

netlas · Post by **netlas** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 5:59 pm

ok, so, ive tested it with the muting of two of the springs and the result is defenitly better, but still not as splashy as i would prefer. but it will do for the time. maybe i should just mute it better

well anyway, thanks for the help interruptor.

Post by **interruptor** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:42 pm

The same thing happened to me.. I wasn't fully satisfied and eventually got a fisher spacexpander.