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AAE Stereo Spring Reverb / Valve Amplifier – User Guide  

AAE Spring Reverb / Valve Amplifier designed and built by: 
 

Theo Argiriadis 
Argiriadis Analogue Electronics 

http://www.tube-electronics.co.uk

 
Manual by: 
 
 Dave 

Pape 

 

http://www.museumoftechno.org

 

http://www.memoid.co.uk

  

Introduction 

 

 

 

Argiriadis Analogue Electronics Stereo Spring Reverb/Valve Amplifier 

 
 

 

 

Spring reverb tank 

 
 
Thank you for purchasing this Stereo Spring Reverb / Valve Amplifier unit, custom-designed and hand-built 
by Argiriadis Analogue Electronics. 
 
This unit is bespoke, and has been designed using purely analogue components, so its construction and 
operation are significantly different to those of off-the-shelf effects units. Please read this instruction manual 
carefully before using the unit – you’ll be rewarded with a unique and beautiful sonic toolkit for your music. 
It’ll take a while to learn how you want to work with your amplifier, but once you’ve got to know it, you’ll find 
it’s very easy to love. 

Included with your purchase 

 

4u rack-mountable AAE valve amplifier/distortion unit 

 

2 x spring reverb tanks (short and long spring) 

Summary of Contents for Stereo Spring Reverb/Valve Amplifier

Page 1: ...igned and hand built by Argiriadis Analogue Electronics This unit is bespoke and has been designed using purely analogue components so its construction and operation are significantly different to those of off the shelf effects units Please read this instruction manual carefully before using the unit you ll be rewarded with a unique and beautiful sonic toolkit for your music It ll take a while to ...

Page 2: ...ive a spring reverb tank Do not connect this output to any other audio equipment mixers or effects processors since doing so may result in damage to your equipment 6 Out main audio output to mixing desk etc This output is nominally at line level but the unit is capable of generating very loud signals 7 Tank return input audio input from output of spring reverb unit This input is designed to receiv...

Page 3: ... passed to the unit s output mix 6 Original level this knob controls the level of original unaffected signal passed to the unit s output mix 7 Effect switch when up the unit s reverb and amplification distortion stages are muted 8 Master Out knob controls the overall level of the unit s output mix 9 Triode Pentode valve mode switch selects the unit s amplification distortion mode 10 Standby mains ...

Page 4: ... the front panel s stand by mains switch front panel 10 to its down mains position The unit is now fully powered up and the front panel s green LED will light up The unit is now ready for use Operation mute buttons Important when changing valve mode triode pentode changing the setting of the input gain switch or setting the effect switch press and hold in the mute button of the relevant channel Th...

Page 5: ...the level of the amplified distorted signal in the unit s output mix Switching the effect switch to its up position mutes the amplification distortion effect Operation reverb First check that the effect switch is down so that the unit s reverb and amplification distortion stages are not muted Turn all knobs fully anti clockwise Now turn up the reverb knob and the master output knob about halfway T...

Page 6: ...and a little sustain to signals Very good with synth drones pads and ambiences but I d recommend investigating with all kinds of signal with the right settings you can make effects in which distortion harmonics fade in and out gradually adding I think very beautiful movement to pads and atmospheres Hard distortion Higher master drive settings will create harder harsher distortions remember to turn...

Page 7: ...al sound This effect works particularly well with percussive noises you ll hear sudden transient signals wobbling the spring You can turn down the original signal completely so that the unit s output mix contains only reverb This setting allows you to use the unit as a spring reverb send effect Reverb times Shorter springs generally mean shorter reverb times so you can get different effects from t...

Page 8: ... return of the unit is an ordinary screen jack to phono lead This unit can drive the springs really hard and as a result you can obtain this very characteristic unique type of reverb distortion This can be achieved by turning up the master drive and using the reverb to control the level of reverberated distorted signal Very occasionally however springs might fail because the coils of the spring ar...

Page 9: ...y twist anti clockwise and pull on the valve holders To put back line up notches to the caps and twist clockwise very carefully Again caps do not have to be on if unit is not to be transported or moved around a great deal However it may be slightly noisy without the caps Valves 3 and 4 have to be replaced about once a year if using unit every day Cost per valve 1 50 Valves 1 and 2 replaced less of...

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