Few guitarists haven’t wrestled with the frustrations of traditional spring reverb and optical tremolo units: persistent background noise, limited tonal flexibility, and technical reliability that often leaves much to be desired. Enter the Benson Amps Tall Bird Plus—a tube reverb pedal that boldly reimagines these classic effects. Through a ground-up redesign, this pedal addresses the core issues that have long plagued players, delivering pristine tone, innovative optical tremolo effects, and an EL84 reverb circuit engineered for modern performance and versatility.
Key Takeaways
- The Tall Bird Plus’s ground-up redesign tackles classic circuit limitations head-on. Readers understand the product’s innovation context and technical significance.
- Separate Wet and Dry controls alongside EL84-driven transformer reverb offer unprecedented tonal shaping. Players learn how to customize their sound with precision.
- Dual tremolo modes and independent bypass enhance versatility and user control. Guitarists appreciate practical usability improvements.
The Legacy Problem: Why Classic Spring Reverb and Optical Tremolo Fall Short
Classic spring reverb units have been a staple in guitar tone for decades, prized for their lush ambiance and distinctive character. However, their vintage circuits often come with a catch: excessive noise and mechanical artifacts. The metallic springs themselves introduce a kind of static and rattle that, while sometimes charming, can become a distraction in studio or live settings. This noise is akin to the static you might hear on an old radio—nostalgic, yes, but invariably intrusive when clarity is paramount.
Optical tremolo effects, on the other hand, offer a smooth, pulsating modulation that many players love. Yet, traditional designs often provide only a single tremolo mode, limiting expressive possibilities. Moreover, these circuits can suffer from noise and instability, which detracts from their musicality. Imagine a painter restricted to a narrow color palette: you can create a picture, but the range of expression is inherently limited.
These technical shortcomings affect not only tone but also player confidence, especially in demanding performance environments. The challenge has always been to preserve the beloved character of these effects while improving their reliability, noise floor, and versatility—goals that the Benson Amps Tall Bird Plus sets out to achieve. For players and engineers eager to deepen their understanding of how reverb shapes guitar tone and how classic designs compare, A Brief but Complete Guide To Guitar Reverb – Anatomy of Tone offers an insightful exploration that complements these considerations perfectly.
Understanding the limitations of Spring Reverb
From Collaboration to Creation: The Engineering Journey Behind the Tall Bird Plus
The Tall Bird Plus didn’t emerge in a vacuum. Its origins trace back to Benson Amps’ collaboration with The Beach Boys on the Surf’s Up limited edition unit, which itself drew heavily from classic Fender reverb circuits. While revered for their sonic signature, these vintage Fender designs carried known “dragons”—persistent technical problems such as noise, limited control, and circuit inefficiencies.
Rather than patching the old schematics, Benson Amps chose to slay these dragons by discarding them entirely and starting fresh. This bold move allowed the engineering team to rethink every aspect of the circuit, focusing on three core goals: enhanced versatility, significant noise reduction, and expanded tremolo capabilities.
The result is a pedal that honors the spirit of those classic Fender circuits but redefines their technical foundation for today’s guitarist. This journey reflects a commitment to guitar effects innovation that balances respect for tradition with forward-thinking engineering. For a detailed look at the Tall Bird Plus’ features and the engineering philosophy behind it, see Benson Amps releases Tall Bird Plus – Premier Guitar, which offers an in-depth exploration of this groundbreaking pedal.
Figure 1: Internal layout and circuit schematic overview of the Benson Amps Tall Bird Plus, illustrating the EL84 tube reverb circuit and dual tremolo modes integration.
Video tutorial: DIY Tube Driven Spring Reverb Circuit
Technical Breakdown: Key Features and Circuit Innovations of the Tall Bird Plus
At the heart of the Benson Amps Tall Bird Plus lies a suite of technical innovations designed to maximize tonal control and minimize noise. One of the most significant features is the inclusion of separate Wet and Dry controls. This allows players to blend the reverberated signal with the dry guitar tone independently—offering precise control over the spatial effect without sacrificing clarity.
The reverb circuit itself is driven by an EL84 tube coupled with a transformer, a configuration that is relatively rare in pedal form. This EL84-driven transformer reverb imparts a warm, organic character to the effect, providing a sonic richness that solid-state circuits struggle to replicate. The tube acts like a warm heart pumping life into the reverb’s sonic body, delivering both depth and harmonic complexity.
Complementing the reverb section are the ‘Size’ and ‘Dwell’ controls. ‘Size’ adjusts the perceived length and spatial dimensions of the reverb, ranging from splashy, short reflections to cavernous, expansive ambiance. ‘Dwell’ controls the intensity and sustain of the reverberated signal, allowing for subtle enhancement or dramatic washes. For guitarists interested in understanding how reverb and tremolo effects interact and how tube-driven reverbs compare to other designs, Add Reverb & Tremolo – Rob Robinette’s offers an in-depth breakdown and helpful diagrams that illuminate these concepts further.
The tremolo section features dual modes: Classic and Harmonic. The Classic mode offers the familiar pulsating volume modulation that guitarists expect, while the Harmonic mode introduces a unique tube-driven optical harmonic tremolo effect. This mode adds a musical richness and complexity to the tremolo, akin to adding spices to a recipe—subtle but transformative.
Another practical innovation is the independent bypass for reverb and tremolo, controlled via a two-button footswitch. This design enables guitarists to engage or disengage each effect independently without needing separate pedals, enhancing live performance flexibility and pedalboard efficiency.
Technical tutorial: DIY Tube Driven Spring Reverb Circuit
Practical Implications: How the Tall Bird Plus Elevates Tone and Usability
The technical advancements of the Tall Bird Plus translate directly into tangible benefits for guitarists. The significant noise reduction achieved through the reengineered EL84 reverb circuit and improved optical tremolo design means cleaner, more transparent tone in both studio and stage environments. This clarity allows the true character of the guitar and amplifier to shine through unmasked.
The dual tremolo modes and independent bypass expand creative possibilities, enabling players to experiment with combinations and textures that were previously difficult or impossible to achieve in a single unit. Precise control over reverb character through the Wet/Dry, Size, and Dwell knobs enhances musicality and allows for tailored ambiance that suits any style or venue.
Compared to classic spring reverb units and earlier Benson models, the Tall Bird Plus represents a significant step forward. It offers the beloved warmth and character of tube-driven reverb, combined with modern usability features and optical tremolo effects that respond dynamically to player input and style. For guitarists seeking an in-depth expert opinion, the Benson Tall Bird Plus reverb-tremolo unit reviewed | GuitarPlayer provides a thorough analysis of its sonic capabilities and design nuances.
In-depth tutorial on Tall Bird Plus spring reverb and tremolo effects
The Road Ahead
The Benson Amps Tall Bird Plus exemplifies how thoughtful engineering and a commitment to innovation can redefine classic guitar effects. By addressing longstanding issues in spring reverb noise, expanding tremolo versatility with dual modes, and integrating an EL84 transformer-coupled circuit, this pedal sets a new standard for tube reverb pedals and optical tremolo effects.
As guitarists and gear enthusiasts continue to seek tone that bridges vintage warmth and modern precision, the Tall Bird Plus paves the way for future developments that honor tradition while embracing technological progress. Whether in the studio or on stage, its design philosophy encourages players to explore new sonic landscapes with confidence and creativity.
Experience the Benson Amps Tall Bird Plus firsthand, and join the conversation with fellow guitarists on how this pedal—and innovations like it—are shaping the future of guitar effects.
What technical features do you prioritize in your reverb and tremolo pedals, and how do you see innovations like the Tall Bird Plus shaping the future of guitar effects?
