Pioneer SR-202W - 240v

A fabulous dark and characterful spring reverb unit, this is the secret weapon used by Tom Elmhirst for Adele, Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson. Scroll down for a demo and more information about these effects.

NOTE: PHOTOS ARE OF A PREVIOUS UNIT. Current machine is in good condition with minor signs of wear. We can send photos before shipping if needed.

This listing is for a “Standard” 240v machine: In good overall condition with only some scuffs/dings/signs of age but nothing major. Good working order. It’s been cleaned, tested, checked for safety, set to 240v and fitted with a three core earthed mains cable. Note that the connections on these are phono sockets.

Note that we also produce “Studio Ready” 1/4″ jack modded machine: See one here or get in touch if you need one of these. (They have input and output on the rear converted to 1/4″ jack. Knobs on the front disabled except for power and reverb adjustment.)

For sales in UK/EU the price will include VAT. VAT-free sales are possible to businesses and individuals in the EU (outside the UK) with a valid VAT Number – please get in touch if you wish to buy this way.

(Note that some crackle may happen when adjusting the pots if it’s not been in regular use, but this will clear with use.)

MORE INFORMATION:

As the original Pioneer advert (see in the product photos) says: the SR202W is “a solid state reverberation amplifier that adds natural depth, extra brilliance and sound realism to all stereo tapes and sound recordings.”

If you want more information on which spring is best for you then check out our detailed spring reverb blog and “Springathon” demo (13 springs head-to-head). You can also see our full current stock of vintage studio signal processors here, but if you have any questions please get in touch as we have many years experience with these machines.

Tom Elmhirst interviewed about mixing Rolling In The Deep by Adele (Sound On Sound, Sept 2011): “…the Pioneer on 55‑56 is an old ‘70s‑’80s spring reverb that was made for the domestic market.” …and on mixing Mark Ronson’s Record Collection album (Electronic Musician Sept 2010): “I used a lot of external reverbs: a Fairchild 670, old spring reverbs, and a couple 1970s Pioneer Reverberation Amplifier Model SR-202s. They’re old home hi-fi units; they’re not normal! I am not a fan of digital reverb, so I have a few springs I really like… Spring reverb was a big part of the Winehouse record, and it’s in Mark’s sound as well. I use two or three different springs on a track and even on the vocal.”

This unit has a darker sound that can work wonders in a mix. Spring reverbs are a great ‘secret weapon’ to have in the studio arsenal – not just for the ‘boingy’ effect as used by dub and reggae pioneers such as Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, but also for adding that unmistakable classic shimmery vibe to electric guitars. It’s a sound that lends itself well to modern production: the perfect treatment for overly-sterile digital delays and reverbs and it can be heard all over today’s music. Whether it’s cutting-edge dubstep from Rusko, or a top pop mix engineer like Tom Elmhirst, the sound of springs is everywhere.

Try using a little tape delay before sending to a spring reverb, or use a digital/plug-in reverb and send the wet output from that to the spring to add character.