Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

jeremy said:
sweet! never played a 2 before but the 3 is great, can only imaging how good it will sound all tuned up
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My only concern about the 3 are the integrated circuits that are going to be hard to replace. The guts of the 2 are basic in nature.

The 3 does have a sweet preamp tone. I don't think it'll be a bad move either way.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

DankStar said:
cool

- does the tape have a lifespan? I would imagine you could only record with it so many times
- do you have to demagnetize it like a tape deck? (I'd figure)
- can you find new tape for them?
- is old tape hard to come by?

thx
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Yes but tape is replaceable when you know where to look. Pete says he has six miles of it. Yes demagnetize not sure how often. I used to have one of those. When the tape gets bad, it starts sounding kinda of warbly. Wow and flutter and such.

The big thing is the motor. The 2's had better motors I'm told. When it comes to the 3's, I'm told 70-72 magic years. 73 was transitional and it takes a good eye to spot.

If I don't love it, I'll flip it.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Fantastic machines. The official Tommy Bolin runaway effect... Enjoy!

Love those things. I used to have 2, and sold both to go digital. That was almost forty years ago; I didn't know about the always-on preamp circuit. When my tone didn't sound as good after the change, I figured it was some sort of impedance/level mismatch. Wish I'd kept 'em.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

I hate gear regrets. But we didn't have the internet back then with the wealth of info a few clicks away.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Oh snap. I sniped another late 60's Echoplex EP-2 off ebay last night. I've got a 14 day return on it. Estate sale. If I get any tone out of it at all, it'll go to Pete for a refurb, possible sale or I'll keep it for parts long term.

Now I've got to sell some more stuff out of my shop. Crap.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Cleaning up the 65 is.

ec30cf1ff0b15eaf18bac9df0e6211e9.jpg


a273ff7c6e425f74ba6434320cb0da89.jpg
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Ain't a T-Rex Replicator + EP Booster a usable and more robust alternative to these? Anyway, for historical value it is great idea to have it fixed, maybe you can have a participation on those pawn shop reality shows or something like that :)
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

The difference perhaps between a modeling amp and a blackface deluxe reverb vintage Fender? We will see.

Not something that will ever leave my shop.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Nobody buys an echoplex or space echo for practical reasons these days.


It's all about the tone and vibe, and the wow factor of owning something so legendary. 40 years later no-one will care about our little echoplex analog dry through sim pedals of today.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

While I agree about digital sims, do you really think the difference between a vintage Echoplex and a T-Rex Replicator is the difference between a vintage tube amp and a modeler? I've not played one but still... How about a Fulltone?

T-Rex:
t-rex_replicator_001.jpg


Fulltone:
fulltone-sste-top-front.jpg
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

I would say it's an accurate comparison. Real tape, vacuum tubes, mechanical controls. Vs a digital approximation. I'm not dissing the pedals at all. Hell the Belle Epoch is unbelievable. I am going for that 10% better thing if it's out there.

The Fender Mustang is the best modeling amp I've played. It's really good.

Fulltone is desirable and expensive. Way more expensive than what I'm getting. And the ep-2 is 51 years old. I'm 54. I guess a lot of that rocks my world.

Hell I might hate it! I've not played one live. I'm basing all on sound clips and videos and the modeling versions from two different companies. The joke might very much be on me when I get it. But I'm okay with that.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Scott_F said:
I would say it's an accurate comparison. Real tape, vacuum tubes, mechanical controls. Vs a digital approximation. I'm not dissing the pedals at all. Hell the Belle Epoch is unbelievable. I am going for that 10% better thing if it's out there.
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I'm just curious, because the T-Rex and Fulltone are real tape and mechanical controls, and the TTE is tube as well. (And heck, people like the preamp of the EP3 as much as the EP2)

I definitely get the vintage aspect, I really like my vintage fender, and think it's better than the reissue equivalent.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Salami Salami

:bowdown:

THose things are so great as a leave on boost that they made a pedal of it that Pete Thorn uses. You just might sell all your other OD's.

If I ever get anything, it'll be a fulltone one day I hope, but i bet it doesnt sound as good as the real deal.
 
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Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Well
The good news is I will have a 65 and a 69 to compare both; both are refurbed. The better tone wins. Fuller has a bit of. Reputation. Of being hard to deal with but I hear his stuff sounds great but not necessarily vintage Maestro
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

Dave Wronski from Slacktone uses an echoplex (even live) and when I saw them at CBGBs a few years ago the sound blew me away.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

I'm waiting anxiously.
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

im sure! im curious to hear what you think once you have em both
 
Re: Pulling the trigger tomorrow on a Echoplex EP-2 circa 1965

I got the eBay one. Dirty inside. I cleaned the heads and demagnetized. It needs new tape badly and sounds like it. But it makes sound and it appears to be in great working condition for something built in 1969. I'm digging it but man the tones are ultra spacey right now.
 
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