Why Did I Buy A Vintage Tape Echo?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Tape Echo is one of my favorite effects, not just for guitar but just about any other instrument. Its warm, and full of imperfections and quirks that make a tape echo inspiring to play. In this video we look at how Tape Echo works, and compare it to a modern day counterpart, the Strymon Volante.
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Rhett Shull that is a very neat piece of analog circuitry! when are you going to be having a video about the Mulecaster?
What do you say about Echo Fix EF-X2 Tape Echo? It's a modern one and very expensive also.
@Rhett, I've heard you say you use pre-made drum tracks for your videos. Can you share where you got them?
Thank you for showing the abilities of the Multi echo! I’ve had one for many years with the original cover in excellent condition.
Do you have any videos about all your outboard? I always see a lot of cool stuff in the background ;)
2 minutes into the video. "heads to reverb"
hey robert
@@pau.c_himself rip
Great video!! I need to get one.
You should!
Hi Rick!!!!!!
don't you have one already!? meanwhile you might want to use a 4-track reel to reel tapecorder, eg. a revox 77 or something, as an analog delay. I myself have a 1970s sony tc-630, which I auto-feed with anything i can connect to it. So much fun, plus you can overdrive the signal by boosting the internal preamp. Cheers from Italy!
One friend of mine has Roland re-201 for producing reggae music and it's amazing, you can use those tape delays with everything. First time I heard that thing almost thrown my boss dd20 through the window
Noooooo!
the tragedy of tape echoes is stumbling onto a sound you love and then never being able to find it again
You gotta write down your settings! That's a whole mood man
Powerful
The Chad Pad what Nick meant is that a true tape echo machine may not replicate the exact sound again because of how the tape and the rotars wear over time... it’s the imperfections of a wearing-down machine that creates the unique delay repeats
Collin Johnson - if you load the cartridge with 8-track tape that will last a very long time. This is a trick Nash the Slash passed on to the former owner of my EP-3, I also have the same 8-track Nash gave him (spare tape.)
j freed - right, I’m not saying that true tape machine can’t be maintained/repaired to extend it’s life. Just acknowledging the original comment that sometimes certain delay sounds come from a precise way the tape wore down, and that the odds of getting that exact same sound again (after replacing the tape) can be difficult...it’s my guess as to what Nick must have meant 🤷🏽♂️
Josh has everyone out here buying more gear just because they watch one of his videos 😂
Josh: Hey you guys need the super fuzz it’s only $60. Reverb: super fuzz is $600000
Does he have the box ? 😂
...I've a $1100.00 analog high E string .... crazy how much more retro it ....I don't know , twangs ?
i believe the drop in the volume, the "flaw" is where the tape is spliced and taped togather again.
I had an Echoplex EP-3 that I sold a couple of years ago. The tones that came out of that thing were magical. I'm still kicking myself of selling it but I needed the money at the time.
I love the analog journey you’re on. I’m reliving some if the gear and techniques of my younger days (club/tour from 82-97, recording in 87, 88, 92 and now with UA and logic.
That overdrive it gave...Jesus that's the sound there
Sometimes I think YT content has been too in the moment and then we get this one.. anyone else with this unit will rewatch this a million times. Great stuff!
Holy wow & flutter... never had one of these. It looks and sounds pretty hip. I still wish I had my Binson Echorec. I think it was my favorite “old school” unit.
The vintage tape echo versus something like a Strymon is akin to the argum ... err ... discussion of vinyl vs CD/digital. It's truly a matter of taste and there is no right answer beyond, "What do I prefer?" For me, at 58 now, I can tell you that I spent countless hours brushing and washing vinyl in a desperate and, ultimately, futile effort to preserve the sound. When digital came to be, I couldn't abandon my LPs and cassettes fast enough. And lest some of you come to think I don't appreciate the warmth of analogue audio, I worked at several studios in the '80s with Neve consoles and analogue tape decks. I also have and appreciate tube amps.
For me, the issue is that I'm just not a fan of the inability to reliably reproduce tones. For Rhett, the charm of the novel degradation of tape and mechanicals is precisely the thing that would drive me to distraction. When I saw the guts of the box, my first thoughts were of the pain of finding reference tapes and then aligning and degaussing all those heads all too damn frequently. I'm just not captivated by that aspect of the gear.
TL;DR -- Different strokes, y'all.
and that's what I love about gear and music, one mans heaven is another ones hell
Great perspective. Thanks for sharing.
Good vid, I used to have a Roland tape delay back in the 80's. I loved it. I made some really fun and strange recordings with it. I used it on guitar and on vocals. Vocals on tape delay are a trip.
I bought an Echo Fix unit about a year ago, and have rarely used any of my other vintage tape or disc echo's. All the goodness of a vintage machine, except it's brand new, and has many controls of brand new digital simulators. Well worth the $1800, considering most used machines will cost at least that much or more with an overhaul.
It also helps that they've been repairing, and selling parts for most tape echo's for years. All of that repair work, surely comes off in the design and build of their own unit.
For disclosure, I'm in no way linked to the company, just a happy user.
Love your videos, Rhett. I really appreciate the way you get to the point. 15 minutes of video= 15 minutes of useful info. Thanks!
Another great video, Rhett! I play mostly acoustic guitar, but still love to experiment with unique & beautiful tones and effects when I plug in one of my electrics. A while back I found an old rack-mount vocal effects processor. It's from the 80's, has multiple R & L inputs and outputs (1/4", xlr), and offers a wide variety of controls for reverb/echo, frequency enhancement, time delay, feedback, depth, attack, different levels, gain/boost plus master volume, an EQ.. and though it's a "vocal" processor, the sounds/tones/effects when used for guitar are sometimes incredible. Because I'm mostly an acoustic player, that's normally the focus of my bigger purchases.. so the pedals I have to compare to are 2 different multi-effects pedals, the Boss ME-80 and the Line 6 POD HD500X. I'm a big fan of using a little less common tools for creativity and come up with great unique tones and effects.
Keep the uploads coming!
Sending Peace & Love from Missouri -Todd
This is awesome... my MX-201 just doubled in value overnight.
312 is better
I can assure you good man. If you had one recorder recording threaded to the next recorder playing back. That delayed sound would not happen quickly.. It would sound like you played it yesterday. Like five seconds earlier. But good try there.
You see my dear boy. All the professional recorders of the early era. Most had 3 heads, the erase head. Followed by the record head. Then followed just 80-100 ms later by play head. That you could then recirculate back into the record circuitry. To create echoes.
The trick really came when you started adding extra playback heads. And variable speed. And an extra recorder just use for echoes.. And the next thing you know. Les Paul had created Sergeant peppers lonely hearts club band. Indirectly. And then if you had a pair of 2 check machines. You could be playing the same recording back on above. At the same time. And use your fingers. To keep them in sync. And make this other cool sound called, flanging.
So no doubt those tape echo units go down in history with some of the coolest known recorded rock guitar sounds. And those two other things. Also that through those gizmo Tron's.
And then we got metal springs and big pieces of sheet metal. That would make reverb. What would the Beach Boys are the Moody Blues have done without that? Don't ask. That and some tape slap. From a recorder or one of those gizmos in a recording studio. All good. It's all good. It's how we used to get into trouble without hurting anybody. And going fast without crashing and dying. Mama told me not to come. That ain't no way to have fun.
Mama lied
RemyRAD
Dude, your band is killin these shows! Thank you so much for sharing.
Is it weird that the first thing I thought about is "I wonder how it would sound playing Rob Scallon's Rain"
Too much youtube, boy
Great video, Rhett. Heads-up to those who want to run right out and buy one (read on...). I own original tape echo machines....the Echoplex EP-3, Echoplex EP-4 and a Roland SRE-555 Chorus Echo, and I love them to no end! The pure , natural, saturated and sometimes eerie and neat sounds produced out of pure analog and magnetic tape is something unmatched and in a league of it's own, hands down. However, I should make a disclaimer that with any good, we're faced with the evils. On the downside to the magic of these tape echo machines, comes the reality of it all. Let's face it, even the youngest of these units are already decades old (some older are 50+ years now). That's a long time!! Sadly, parts are hard to find or very expensive, maintenance and calibration are an ongoing necessity and finding technicians to actually want to refurb or work on these things are increasingly getting to be a uniquely specialty job like blacksmithing and glassblowing, so good luck taking it to your local Guitar Center or such. Aside of that, repairs, parts (if they can even be found [some are even now custom made]) and upkeep are quite expensive! Heck, buying the actual unit in original (and unmaintained) condition can easily run many hundreds of dollars and over $1k at times....and that's not scratching the surface that you'll almost always need to immediately have it serviced/refurbed/overhauled/recapped right from the start....at minimum.
I have had my one Echoplex motor simply die on me without warning and there it sits in my closet for the past few years, since I was unable to locate another. This same Echoplex has had various other issues regarding high noise level, flutter, dried rollers and issues with the erase head (which I understand that it's pot is factory sealed with epoxy and cannot be repaired or salvaged). Who knows if or when that machine will ever gets fixed OR if I can afford it. Keep in mind that finding a tech may mean finding one online....which means packing and shipping it out....which means risk of damage/lost package or calibration isses.....which also means high shipping costs to/from locations. These old units are HEAVY...so keep in mind that weight = high shipping costs alone. My SRE-555 must weigh like 40 or 50 pounds....no lie!
For all of the people commenting that they want to head online and pick up one of these used echo machines, just be forewarned. These are 30-50+ years old now. They are machines which are electromechanical and contain numerous components and parts which are all susceptible to FAILURE over all of these years. Parts can be hard or impossible to find, knowledgeable and enthusiastic techs can be hard to find, machines are old/dirty/worn out/rusty/broken, tapes will need to be bought/reloaded, maintenance/calibration/demagnetizing heads/oiling/cleaning heads are ongoing, costs, etc... These are the challenges you'd be faced to deal with, so you'd need to question these things first.
In no way am I trying to discourage anyone. I own these things and love them. I am just pointing out that these are finicky beasts and aren't generally plug & play and forget like some modern day digital machines/pedals are. Be forewarned of what you're getting yourself into PRIOR to investing on an original tape echo.
16 seconds in: organic/natural sounding angel-echoes. No way that was a bad buy. Thanks Rhett.
My GOD that thing sounds amazing.
Tilly is going to be an old lady before she gets her house...😆😆😆
Hi Rhett ... Love the video it makes me miss my Roland Space Echoes { I owned 4 of them }. Used them with my Gretsch guitars ...a sound to die for.
Never been able to reproduce that sound without them.
The only problem was they were a pain in the arse to keep working well and I kept them up to scratch. Cost me a fortune.
So lovely to see how you are enjoying your Tape Echo.
Love the slapback sequence you played at 13.30 that is Tape Echo at it's finest.
Enjoy ... Enjoy ... Enjoy.
Keep safe.
Dave.
The Multi Echo unit is cool, but something like the Strymon clearly makes more sense for most people.
Thank God I already have a Volante, or I'd be buying one right now.
Anyone else moved by that first melody he played!! Sooo sick Rhett!!
Would love to know how ya made it!!!
One of the coolest vids I've seen in ages!
You can see how excited Rhett is when he discovered that weird effect while filming this video...hehehe...great video Rhett...
I have a vintage delay. It a 30 year old Digitech 2 second delay model PDS 1002. Not all cool and analog but has its own charm.
Really enjoyed this - have been toying with idea of buying a vintage unit - you might have pushed me over the edge - love that Novo too!
I have a re-201 space echo and stupidly use to gig with the thing... It can sound amazing, but it can also be one of the most temperamental, oversized, hissing, impractical units ever created. If you are on the fence in getting one, dont as it will be the start of a frustrating rolloercoaster relationship. Hands down go the volate! User friendly, works every time, more versatile, no tape and no need to service! That said I will never sell the space echo as it has that collectable vintage vibe. Awesome video Rhett!
The Strymon is reliable. I’ve owned two MX-201’s in my life and they break down a lot, at least mine did. Wasn’t worth the effort to continually maintain. To me they sound dark, muddy and loose compared to modern versions. Those quirks show up in the most annoying ways when you are attempting to record, heck that even happen to you while filming. I think it’s cool that you are somewhat exploring the past for tone but somethings are better left there, this is one. Especially since there is a modern version which is nearly an exact copy of the concept except the tone in the Strymon is crisp, clear, bright and consistent. I’d sell it now that this video is going to raise demand and price... then bam one shows up on reverb for a nice profit on the flip.
Tape delay is my favourite delay EVER!!!! I’d rather it over anything in my opinion.
You bring some of the neatest "toys" to your channel.
You can also use a 3 head cassette ta[e deck and a mixer for a similar effect. Mix playhead and recordhead to taste, and can add pedals into the chain.
Great video with a lot of very useful information, especially when it comes to modern daily use on stage etc.
Well, I am a drummer but also possess some synths, and, of course, I had to get my hands on some vintage echo units: Dynacord Echocord Mini, Korg Stage Echo SE 300 (similar to your machine) and, my latest shot, an Echolette E 51 tube echo. I will always love these classic machines, and once properly maintenanced they will provide a fairly constant sound... Best regards from Germany, Martin
Rhett, I completely understand why you love real tape echo. Nothing sounds quite like it, at least when heard in isolation. Once mixed into a track, well... Look, I've owned a few of these, a grey/green box, tube Echoplex, a Space Echo and some others. I own none of them now. Did I hear you ask why? Well, I'll tell you anyway.
They do sound incredible when heard all by themselves, but as you mentioned, they aren't consistent. Somedays great, others, nothing but a headache. Maintenance is expensive if competently done and is required too frequently for me to take the time and funds to have it done. Forget using it live unless you are the kind who goes into a casino thinking that you're gonna come out with more money than you came in with. Charm? Well, I have found that "charm" wears off rather quickly in most cases.
You mentioned the Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe. I have one and it always sounds exactly as I heard it the time before (not all surprises are good) and it never needs a new tape or a setup or any other damn' thing. Also, it does overdrive just as well as a real Echoplex. Mixed into a track I would bet that you couldn't tell what kind of echo was being used.
The Strymon is great but gives me option freeze and all those cute little tape nuances are fine but useless in practical operation and inaudible mixed into a track, which is just as well.
I'd be interested to hear how long you keep the Mutivox.
Real Tape Echo is the Holy Grail! But I get by with my 70s DMM, which I get stellar tones out of, especially with P90s.
Back in the day I always loved the sound guitarists got using the Echoplex playing live. It must have been quite cumbersome and a bit hit and miss. I have and use a Roland RE 20 Space Echo. It also has some cool analog tape and spring reverb sounds. I'm a happy little Vegemite too.
The tape all snaking about gives me anxiety, I’m irrationally afraid its gonna get jammed 🙄😄... very cool unit, I bought the boss re20 space echo pedal which i love... i know its a digital recreation but i love it... id love to afford a unit like this
In ATL here. I have a Roland RE-301 in great shape with an extra Roland tape. Multivox is definitely more versatile. Nothing like and "actual" tape echo.
The difference is still very audible between the "too perfect" Volante, and the very analog and imperfect Multivox. Same thing with the new Boss RE-202, it's still too perfect to faithfully recreate all of the magic of a Roland RE-201. The only upside to this is that if you don't have a Multi Echo or a RE-201 next to a Strymon Volante or a Boss RE-202, you'll probably be more than satisfied with the digital emulations.
Always well done man. I never knew the name of this effect, but I surely recognize it on the spot. It's so Heavenly and mysterious. Awesome work!
I use a Boss RE-20... I get some interesting grungy sounds out of it and I use the hum and noise from my drives and other pedals to make those otherworldly sounds.
Heads, rollers, tape. Keep those extras in stock for when they're no longer made.
Nice sounds but I prefer my Roland Space Echo RE-201 and now my Boss RE-20 (Digital Space Echo). :-)
Na I have a 201 this is way better especially that you can mod it and have each head go to an individual out which he doesn’t mention here .. this is like a Roland re201 v2
Sounds killer.
I played around a while with a Roland Chorus Echo I was checking out for someone. Totally impractical, but man, it was several hours of fun. I totally lost track of time playing with it.
For live gigs, yes! Go for the pedal, but, it sounds different, for recordings is worth it go the extra mile for the cool sounds...
Omg I remember the “ badoomph “ of the tape join on my Wem Copycat every time the tape went round, ha ha
Me too! I bought a used 'valve' Copycat about 1972. Moved the tape heads to get longer delays. The tapes soon got noisey, but I always remember the the brass flywheel would start a resonant whine after a few minutes. Loved that thing, cost me 7quid :-)
I've gotta say that the tape unit definitely sounds better, but if I hadn't the comparison, I would be cool with sounds from the pedal.
I loved my EP3 Echoplex when I owned one. Kinda regret selling it now. I even toured with it around the US. Cleaning the heads on the tour bus became a fun ritual
I would have loved that as a kid. I was obsessed with echo and reverb and saved my money to buy a new Maestro Echoplex EP4 when all my friends were buying cars and they thought I was nuts until they heard it. I modified my Echoplex to accept 8 track tape cartridges which were plentiful then and were already a tape loop. You had to carefully draw the tape from the cartridge to avoid binding it but once set up it worked great.
T-Rex actually sells tape delay pedals. Pedals, but with tape in it
Volante is a little brighter and the multi echo is darker-great studio tool. But like you said, much easier to use modern DSP based stuff on gigs/the road. Now I want one for at home noodling
Loving your t-shirt - I bought an awesome pigdog fuzz pedal there - one of my best buys
I love my El Capistan. A buddy of mine has Lee Ritnour’s EP-3 on “extended loan.” Haha. Might have to spin that puppy up.
From a practicality aspect, the tape echo simulators are a great way to get a lot of the feeling of a physical tape unit. That said, the real tape unit had a sound and feel that took it to another dimension. On the longer, more ambient passages of playing on this video, I closed my eyes and I could feel a more oval, almost irregular egg shaped pattern to the repeats where the Strymon sounded close but the repeats were more even, oval shaped repeats, close, but not the same feel. Still, given my financial and time constraits I will probably start out with a Carbon Copy or a HX Effects. lol
Would have been cool to check out the SOS mode in the Multi Echo
Those are some crazy tones
Vintage gear is just so wild. At some point though, depending on your budget, you may just have to embrace the new technology.
I love my Ibanez DE 7 delay echo.
As a Volante owner, I think multi Echo sounds great! But, I don’t see myself spending the time, money, and space to have a Multi Echo.
But when your amp goes to 11 it doesn't matter!
Dude, The MX-201 has at least 5 "chips" in it!!! An "Integrated Circuit" (IC) is often referred to as a "chip" and they come in BOTH digital AND analog styles. Most of your pedals contain analog "chips" in the form of operational amplifiers (OpAmps). But OpAmps can also be made using discrete semiconductiors such as bipolar junction transistors (BJT), field effect transistors (FET) in the form of Junction style (JFET) or insulated gate FETS known as MOSFETS, and OpAmps are even made from vacuum tubes.
Hi Rhett.Hi Rick.Hi Butch.
I had an old Echoplex - the pre-amp alone was worth the price of admission...
Belle Epoch Deluxe is awesome with expression pedal.....next best thing, same pre amp circuit really sounds great!
Very cool 😊🎸
The echo on this sounds natural. The problem I have with all but the most expensive echo pedals analog or digital is that they seem to have a harsh start of the sound repeat. To my ear, it sounds like a click at the beginning of every repeat. These old analog echo machines with real tape don't have that and I think it's because of the way the tape eases onto each read head. It's ever so gradual, not sudden. To my ear, it makes it sound like a natural echo. It's probably just me but I've not found an echo pedal that makes a real sounding echo.
Strymon el cap
@@samchoate1719 Agreed, the El Capistan is the closest I've heard to the real deal.
I remember cutting and pasting new tape from my reel to reel when my old tape echo became bad.
So when is someone going to come out with a rock album that goes platinum? Or gold at least.
Plug it into the 4 track you bought and really warp that tone. I want to hear some Rhett on cassette. Do it!
My digitech obscura is looking at me with worried eyes 😂 cool imitation of the OG though
🙂 great video 🤙🤙🤙
Damn, now these are gonna be really hard to get. The Multi Echo sounds amazing! Totally agree, the awesomness of these is that you can't always dial up the same sound, kind of like a modular synth. It forces you to commit to an idea or a sound. I've had a few different models of the Echoplex and a Roland 201. Now I have an EchoPlex Maestro 4 and the Volante but now I'm going to be wishing I had one of these.
The Strymon comes super close close but the mechanical wear can't quite get there for me - it's not random enough and can feel like a cheesy chorus pedal. I just use mine as a 'very well-maintained' tape unit (with old tape). My Korg Stage Echo SE-500 isn't going anywhere but the Volante is close enough that I use it at least half the time.
The analog tape machines are gloriously cool... but I have to say, The Volante is a remarkable pedal. I get lost of hours playing with mine. And I love how it does react and sound like a real tape echo. When you compare back to back, especially if you are running a worn tape, the Volante does sound brighter, but it doesn't sound fake or digital. Like I said, its pretty remarkable.
I've been gassing for the Volante (more so than a real tape machine). I think the idea of real tape is more attractive than the reality of maintaining it.
I agree, in real life actual tape machines are not for everyone that think they want them.
....you described a great girlfriend.
In a studio application, with occasional use, the vintage unit would be perfect, but for gigging you’d have to go with a modern pedal.
11:30 Love how you go EXACTLY where 90+% of us guitarists heads are thinking when testing out the Volante. Definitely next on my list but I've splurged so much ( and still dig my acoustic MOST) , find it hard to drop 400 on a pedal but yeah the analogs are a 1000 minimum, so I guess it's a relative issue. Thanks brother. Lookin forward to next live installment. Stay well
Boss re-20!
I'm not interested in playing Stairway
But you can bet I figured out how to play Run Like Hell the very first time I plugged into delay effects
which song is that? I know its Pink Floyd.... forgot the name though...
Akai 4000ds is a cheap alternative ! It sounds really good !
I hate to be that guy but, damn this would work great on top of a hot rod deluxe for some indie goodness
Two Revoxes side by side? Frippertronics/Skysaw :)
Back in 1968 my guitar teacher played his Firebird through a genuine tape echo while I was learning on my cheap Decca acoustic. The beautiful tone he was getting inspired me to keep moving forward. 👍🎵
I’ll tell you why you bought it. If you can keep it running it’s beyond amazing
I'd much rather have the vintage myself but, have you looked at one of those T Rex Replicators? Kinda a mix of both worlds maybe??? Cheers
It's important to note that the TRex uses cassette tape(1/8 inch) while all the classic tape echo machines use 1/4 inch tape. Major differences in fidelity between the two.
Still trolling the Trex, eh? Gotta admire your devotion and thoroughness.
@@hoover728 the first reason for my comment is to let people understand that the echo is in a different sound quality category. Many think all tape echo that includes magnetic tape and heads will sound similar.
1. See Josh's video ....
2....think of buying gear.
3. Fight with wife...
4. Repeat 1,2 and 3.
I’m a man who absolutely embraces all the new tech for guitars such as the Lenore but there’s just something magical about vintage tape echoes and spring reverbs that can’t be replicated yet.
Yes why did you buy a vintage tape echo. You can get a Brand New Echo Fix EF-X2 or EF-X3, that's probably better than the original tape delay units. Around $2300.00.
Things I’ve bought because of youtubers, a Peavey Bandit because of Johan Segeborn (probably spelled wrong), a DOD Grunge pedal because of Fluff (I had one as a kid) and a Jazzmaster kit because of Puisheen.
Just picked up my mx-312 yesterday from Acorn amplifiers here in Atlanta,it’s been on the table getting restored for the past few months.Hey Rhett we should jam sometime,I stay in Douglasville about 20 miles west of Atlanta.I’m a guitar player of 20 years and I graduated from SAE institute of Atlanta in 2017 for music production as well.Really enjoy the channel man,keep it up!!!
I’m more of a bucket brigade kinda guy
ibanez time machine, where you can destroy the universe with the feedback!
I feel ya... DOD Rubberneck is my go-to! Especially with the additional 3 button switch pedal... Amazing.
Analogman Analog Delay Ardx20 is an incredible unit.
The problem is really the material the wear and tear parts are made from......because they deteriorate due to OZONE in the atmosphere more than wear.....BUT only if they actually made the belts and other items out of the right modern materials. One of your issues which is common because of friction......the drive wheel is probably polished out and smooth and shiny......you have to take that glaze off with a emery nail filing board but being careful not to distort the surface level.....you have to do it evenly and lightly with the abrasive. Its not the motor drive.....its that rubber drive wheel. Some people without knowledge use a spray with a lube in it, on some of the belt pulley's which will make them slip. Other than that, you have to clean the heads from time to time and de-magnetize them.......which were all common things you could buy at radio shack back in the day when TAPE was king.....now there is no radio shack...so you have to search for the items. Its not much different than changing a 9 Volt battery in your pedals. If you are hard core, you will measure your battery's all the time and learn where the pedal tapers off in performance due to battery voltage drop from wear and use.......and swap out batteries before they reach that point so they don't die during a performance. BUT THAT'S IF YOU USE BATTERIES. When you play bar gigs.....sometimes AC outlets on a stage can be less that what a band needs and sometimes power strips can introduce issues.....>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>other than cleaning the heads now and then......you can avoid magnetizing the heads by NOT letting the magnetic tape rest on the heads when the machine is not being used and stored.......but everybody is lazy and doesn't do that
One killer feature on the Strymon I've been using more and more is the SOS (sound on sound) feature as a second tape delay with its own decay and level. The decay rate (repeat level) can be adjusted via the secondary function of the repeats knob and the volume (loop level) by the secondary function of the echo level knob. This allows for the SOS to handle longer loops while the heads handle shorter loops such as slapbacks and chorus/flanger like effects. Just splice (tap) the SOS tape length and set the decay and volume and you're off to playing with the tape heads, modulation and tape saturation. Lots of fun!
The MX-201 has an SOS switch as well, it just wasn’t demo’d here. You can’t adjust the length of it without replacing the tape for a longer/shorter loop so I guess that’s where the Strymon wins. Typically, an echo like this has a VERY long tape loop though, not sure how long you can record on the Strymon. SOS as a feature gets most interesting when the loop is super long and you have no idea what’s coming back around, or when.
@@jayc6170 the sos can record 16, 32 or 64 seconds depending on the speed switch setting.
I was also hooked on the long looper type delays the sos does until I realized the use of splicing two beat or dotted eight tape lengths. This opened up a multitude of possibilities using the tape heads in really short delay setting I couldn't before.
Aside from the ridiculously high tape speeds it also has variable tape head spacing and head panning for stereo effects. So this adds more things to explore as the short delays can be panned in a ping pong way or wet dryish by leaning the heads to one channel.
Rhett, you need to look up an old Uncle Doug video on the Tel-Ray Super Organ Tone, an oil-can delay and mechanical tremolo/vibrato kind of thing. It can sound like a theramin, or every 50's sci-fi or horror film you can think of. It's a very cool thing, and I want one badly!
That overdrive you got from the tape echo was absolutely killer!
What’s your opinion of the Empress Effects Tape Delay? Obviously it’s supposed to emulate tape delays, but it has a setting that allows you to choose between three different tapes (new, vintage, and old).
I was just curious if you were familiar with it and, if so, your thoughts on it.
Just so you know. I just subscribed to your channel...for the third time. I have never unsubscribed from your channel.
Naughty Rhett pushes my Gas buttons more than any other TH-camr for some reason, I think its his faux reluctance....Do I really need this Iridium?, Ox?, Volante?, Deco? and by the end of the video your like of course I need it, it sounds immense there is no consideration necessary.
Maybe I’m reaching but... maybe Rhett is making this video to justify his impulse buy lol 🙃
Still great tone and content Rhett