Old-Ass Echoplex Has Its Way With a DX7

Stepping away from the Matriarch for a few minutes to showcase a couple of recent acquisitions - a Yamaha DX7, and - more specifically - a Market Electronics Echoplex (no mention of Maestro anywhere on the unit). This particular delay is rather peculiar. It is basically a solid state model EP3 in the chassis of the tube model EP2. I don't have the whole story on it. Perhaps someone out there has more insight they can share with us.
Anyway, here's a short droney ambient piece that showcases the feature that makes the Echoplex unique. The delay time is adjusted by moving the playback head back and forth along the tape path. Moved quickly, this makes for some really crazy modulations.
A couple of good examples of this are Tommy Bolin's solo on the song "Quadrant 4" from Billy Cobham's Spectrum LP. and ( I think) Mark Farner's solo on "The Locomotion" From Grand Funk's Shinin' On LP.
Sorry for the cut on the hand. It's not as bad as it looks.
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[@Giannett0]

AMAZING!!!!

[@ericmuhs]

I've owned 3 different Maestro Echoplexes, and they all had the tape head slider directly behind the knobs, not on the other side of the cartridge. So not Maestro, but it certainly looks to be assembled from almost identical parts, with a somewhat redesigned slider mechanism to avoid patent infringement. Maybe somebody struck out on their own after working at Maestro - that happened a lot in the music gear biz. (Ampeg/Sano/Hilger) or (Fender/Music Man). But who cares? Keep the tape heads clean. :)

[@dougllewellyn4620]

I heard (third-hand) that this was one of a number that were made from EP2 chassis and mechanical parts, but have the electronics of the then-brand new EP3. The faceplate is a hybrid of the 2 models. Like maybe they were using up old stock where they could. It's definitely legit. The nameplate says Market Electronics, the maker of the units. I guess when Maestro started marketing them, the Maestro name replaced Market Electronics on everything.
But you're right! Who cares? This thing kicks ass!