Reverb systems

[Pat Baysinger]

My first car was a 56,000 mile '64 Pontiac Grand Prix which I purchased in 1969 (for $600). It was a 2-dr hardtop with bucket seats and a console automatic, and the best of any used car I'd ever owned. One of the things I really enjoyed was that it had a reverb system mounted under the dash. I'd always assumed it was added on by the original owner, but I've recently learned (if correct) that reverbs were factory or dealer installed options, though it doesn't appear in any of my '63 Buick literature. The reverb I had in my Grand Prix was a self-contained unit which mounted under the dash, but I just purchased a Delco reverb that came out of a '63 Olds, and it has a small switch for mounting under the dash, while the unit itself mounts in the trunk. The man I bought this reverb from believes this type was factory or dealer installed. I don't stray far from originality with my car, but this is one item I'm making an exception for becausse the sound from a reverb is very cool, especially with certain music. Does anybody know the history of reverbs?

Pat

[Guest Skyking]

Pat I can't tell you which car they did come through in but when I bought my 64 Chevelle new I purchased a reverb for it. You are right about it being very cool.......I wish I had kept it. Sometimes you see them poping up on ebay..

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

WOW A reverb-verb-erb-rb-b !!! Man, like I haven't heard one of those in years, actually haven't even thought about 'em. I had one in my 57 Chevy back in 66. Every time you hit a bump as in a R/R track it really shook it up, right. I think I ended up blowing mine out a coulpe of years later when Inagodadavida came out!!! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Guest Skyking]

That's right, I forgot about the bumps!! I had mine hooked to my 45rpm record player. Some how I managed to keep the record player, but not the reverb. I now have the record player in my Invicta.......

[rocketraider]

I know for fact Olds and Pontiac offered reverb but the systems are also different enough that I don't know how well the Olds unit will work in your Buick. I don't think I've ever seen a Buick with one, though it stands to reason if the others had it, Buick would have too.

Oldsmobile's "Reverbatone" used a fader control for front-to-rear balance and the reverb triggered off the rear speaker lead. The reverb power plugged into the radio power lead with a jumper harness and was controlled by a simple rotary on-off switch.

Pontiac's "Verb-a-Phonic" used a 3-position switch to control it and you could select front speaker only w/o reverb, front and rear with reverb, or rear only w/o reverb. It triggered from the front speaker lead and had a power lead coming out the side of the radio for reverb power.

We just went thru this with a buddy's Pontiacs. The 64 GP's reverb was disconnected, having had its power lead usurped to control an aftermarket power antenna. We put the corect antenna on and wired the reverb back in, and it works nicely, "boinging" every time you hit a bump. The one in the 66 Bonneville Brougham was working when he got the car so we have left it alone.

My blue Starfire is a factory AM-FM reverb car. The green one has AM radio and an Archer reverb, with switch underdash and reverb unit in the trunk. I need to go under there and check it because the way it's wired in, I have no front-to-rear fader. I may eliminate it entirely, because I'm considering having the AM converted to AM-FM stereo and I don't really like having aftermarket stuff hanging off the dash.

[Guest my3buicks]

I'm not sure when Buick actually first offered reverb, but it was available in 1967. It was group 9.665 part # 980869. It shows appication 1964-1967 ex Special and Skylark Convertibles. List price in 1967 was $34.45

Here's what it says about it

Tone Reverberator

This new dimension in musical reproduction will excite and enthuse the most casual listener and provide the ultimate listening pleasure to the music lover.

The Tone REverberator produces concert hall effect by electronic means. A portion of the sound is heard directly from the front speaker. Another portion is routed through the Reverberator, where it is delayed, reverberated and amplified through the Rear Seat Speaker.

Hope this helps some.

[riv2x4]

My 64 part book shows grp# 9.65 part # 980869 All, Reverberator Unit, Radio, must be used with RR Seat speaker. I have a reverb unit in my 64 Riv that I added a couple of years ago. It does plug into the wiring harness at the radio and mounts over the rear axle. If I recall right I had to make a couple of splices when installing. I have a knob that mounts under the dash that turns it on and off. It does have a unique sound.

Larry

Larry

[Guest Skyking]

If I remember correctly, mine had a switch mounted under the dash, you would turn it left for the front speaker, right for the rear speaker, then pull it for the reverb sound. You had to leave it in the rear speaker position for the full reverb to work. The unit was a rectangle box mounted in the trunk.... As Archie Bunker would say "those were the days"