Meazzi/Tape Echo Question

[asimmd]

Hi All

I am a bit tired of the those who can afford a tape echo going on about how good they are,yes they might be but we can't all have one.......or can we?

I was on the USA the well known auction site site recently and the there were a lot of tape echo's for sale,none of which would so us any favours regarding echo type,etc.

Don't take this the wrong way,I love my Q2 and Charlies patches but I wonder just how difficult it would be for one of our electronic guru's to come up with a tape echo circuit that would at least compete with the unobtainable Meazzi's?

I remember speaking to someone about tape echo's a while ago and I asked what he did if a part was no longer available,the answer was simple,,,you just make it.

So, there it is,rant over and I feel better for it.
Any constructive comments would be appreciated,if only so I can understand what the problems are.

Thanks

Alan

[didier]

Jun 23, 2010 8:10:00 GMT asimmd said:

I wonder just how difficult it would be for one of our electronic guru's to come up with a tape echo circuit that would at least compete with the unobtainable Meazzi's?

The Meazzi schematics are simple, but the main problem is to built the mechanical parts and to find some components (such as high impedance magnetic heads).

Didier

[asimmd]

Hi Didier

Well at least you didn't have a go at me for being stupid so that's got to be worth a thank you.
I remember a few months ago someone posted a link to a new tape echo that was new to us,I wonder where they got the heads from for that.

If I was any good with electronics,I would love to have a go,especially as you say the Meazzi circuits are not difficult.

Alan

[stratomaster]

You just missed a Meazzi chassis including the all important echo box with the heads and motor on Italian the well known auction site
This was the link cgi.the well known auction site.co.uk/ws/the well known auction siteISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180518554206&ssPageName=STRK

[asimmd]

Wow,I bet Amanda would have loved that lot to play with.

Knowing what to buy is always the problem.

Alan

[Charlie Hall]

Every tape or drum echo unit has its own sound and that includes all the different Meazzi models.
Regards,
Charlie

[didier]

Jun 23, 2010 8:33:43 GMT asimmd said:

Hi Didier

Well at least you didn't have a go at me for being stupid so that's got to be worth a thank you.
I remember a few months ago someone posted a link to a new tape echo that was new to us,I wonder where they got the heads from for that.

If I was any good with electronics,I would love to have a go,especially as you say the Meazzi circuits are not difficult.

Alan

Patrice Bastien took a valve Binson echo unit, and made a Meazzi clone out of it.
It involved totally rewiring the unit according to the Meazzi schematics, and modifying head positions to get the same echo timing as on the Meazzi.
According to what he told me, this was nevertheless a huge work...
But the results are there !

Didier

[asimmd]

Thanks didier,
It's a pity the parts are not readily available,we could keep Amanda busy forever.lol

Alan

[didier]

Jun 23, 2010 18:05:23 GMT asimmd said:

Thanks didier,
It's a pity the parts are not readily available,we could keep Amanda busy forever.lol

Alan

I belive that Amanda is looking forward to do the same thing as did Patrice Bastien...

Didier

[asimmd]

Wish I knew how to do it.

[erikMAMS]

If I'm not mistaken the ESE echomatic's are/was very close to the Meazzi's Echomatic 2 - if not identical (different type of heads used probably, due to availability).
I've had the opportunity to play a model IV a couple of times - sounded OK - but much to my surprise it did nothing special for me, didn't "feel" right somehow (YMMV). Today I get much better results with my VESpreamp/Q2 project.

Still have a Binson waiting for the "transformation" if/when I get the time.

Erik

[asimmd]

Hi Erik

I have to agree with you regarding the ESE echo's.I was lucky enough to try one for a week a while ago and my thoughts were exactly the same,there was just something not quite right.

I had considered a Pre-Amp,I believe Hank uses one though the make and model I do not know.

I read with interest your thread about the preamp,and although most of it was above my head,it was interesting to read.

Alan

[stratomaster]

I mentioned in another post how in the early days when all we could afford was a Watkins CopyCat, I used to put sleeves on the motor spindle (tape drive) to slow the tape speed down to match the slower speed of the very much more expensive Meazzi or Binson units.

Necessity is the mother of invention and all that ;D

[didier]

Jun 24, 2010 17:49:36 GMT erikMAMS said:

I've had the opportunity to play a model IV a couple of times - sounded OK - but much to my surprise it did nothing special for me,

At a ShadTech meeting I had the opportunity to listen to a comparative test of various echo units. Among them there was an ESE Echomatic VI, but I was disappointed by its sound. It lacked the warmth you can expect from a valve unit. The couple Q20 + PB Box sounded much better.



The owner told me later that he found better settings which improved a lot the results.

Didier

[fenderplucker]

Hi Alan,

Hank used a TVS3 for the last Cliff and The Shadows Reunited CD and the recent tour.

Paul.

[Deleted]

HI PAUL & ALL , I guess there will alway's be this question of the ''meazzi-sound'' & I know that you did so much research & experimenting ,in your developement of the TVS3 & had also a genuine ''meazzi''belonging to ''spike'' to compare result's of your analog TVS3 ..
TO ALL interested I have a good ear for ''That-sound'' and I had the priviledge of hearing paul's TVS3 in his home in WA ,where paul played several shads tune's with his strat to TVS3 to his AC15 clone [self-built] & no other effect's used & I can definatly say ''THAT-SOUND'' was there ..
I know how expensive these unit's are to hand build [as paul-does-build these unit's in his private work-shop] & can understand the retail-price ..
Unfortunatly they are not in my budget [unless I have a win in the lotto ] HA.HAAR ..
SO my best choice so far is my Q2 with charlie's ''magic'' 79-09 patch set . followed closely by my refurbed & modified ''ace-tone'' tape-echo , & I have tried a few other digital unit's !!

We get what we pay-for I guess & it depends on our need to get that original sound 100%, or can we be happy with 80% ?,my playing ability is not even 80% HA.HAAAR..

CHEERS TO ALL shads guitar fan's & other's ...............barry..