Q: I just got a brand-new amp. It sounds great except for the reverb, which sounds like it’s a series of discrete echoes rather than a wash of sound. Is this a problem with one of the tubes? And if so, is it user-serviceable?
A: Unlike the vacuum tube-driven circuits of old, most modern reverb circuits are part of the overall circuitry of the amplifier, though they are still 100% analog. Only the costlier high-end guitar amplifiers and reissues still have tube-driven reverb. In any case, if you are hearing individual echoes, there might be a problem with the amp or possibly with the spring reverb tank. Consult a qualified technician!