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Post by Cruachan on May 6, 2015 11:50:42 GMT
Hi Charlie and John, Just wondering if you guys are getting any fan mail from fans of Jerry Hall and Joan Collins lately ? I googled the new echo unit and got images of the 2 ladies. regards gary Hi, Perhaps more to the point, is anyone aware as to whether the great man HBM himself is aware of what's happening right now? I'm certain we are all thinking about this possibility and it seems perfectly reasonable to ask the question in view of his previously documented interest in other echo units. Mischievous Mike
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Post by Steve Reynolds on May 6, 2015 12:49:40 GMT
Hi Charlie and John, Just wondering if you guys are getting any fan mail from fans of Jerry Hall and Joan Collins lately ? I googled the new echo unit and got images of the 2 ladies. regards gary Hi, Perhaps more to the point, is anyone aware as to whether the great man HBM himself is aware of what's happening right now? I'm certain we are all thinking about this possibility and it seems perfectly reasonable to ask the question in view of his previously documented interest in other echo units. Mischievous Mike To be honest on that point i cant see it happening , Hank seems to be full on gypsey jazz now and i cant see a return to the strat in the near future. Shame but i guess he has done everything there is to do Strat related now.
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Post by Steve Reynolds on May 6, 2015 12:51:53 GMT
hi John & Charlie, Steve Reynolds gave us all a demo of the new unit H&CSE at the Burnham-on-Crouch Shadows Club last night. In this 'live situation' the H&CSE sounded superb! On a closer look could find nothing to moan about, to the point of turning it over and seeing that the feet were screwed on; NOT just stuck with double sided tape. Well done both of you and many thanks to Steve for last night. I for one will be ordering one from the 2nd batch! Regards Ivan Hi Ivan Im pleased you liked my unit, it was nice to hear it used by a few different players. The song that really impressed me last night was Jims version of La Comparasa, it was really magic tone and everyone there commented on the sound of the songs played through it, it has a very organic sound compared to the other units.
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 6, 2015 14:14:39 GMT
Hi Charlie and John, Just wondering if you guys are getting any fan mail from fans of Jerry Hall and Joan Collins lately ? I googled the new echo unit and got images of the 2 ladies. regards gary Hi Gary, That's funny! Regards, Charlie
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Post by Auganais on May 6, 2015 14:35:11 GMT
Hi Charlie,
Just received my unit (No.193) at lunchtime today, having spoken to and given my payment details to Derek's team at lunchtime yesterday!! Fantastic service.
I can only endorse what has been said previously on this thread, the unit is unbelievably good.
Many thanks to you and John for the pleasure that you have given to me and no doubt countless others for producing this amazing piece of "magical equipment".
Kind regards. Trevor
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Post by kevind on May 6, 2015 15:20:22 GMT
Hi Charlie and John
My unit arrived safe and sound in Canada on Monday exactly as indicated by the courier. What a solid piece of gear! What a sound. I've used just about everything else in the past but nothing quite did it completely right to my ears and it usually involved a lot of time wasting tweaking to get close. This just works straight out of the box and sounds spot on without any kind of special set up. It's a joy to just play. I have no plans to edit anything at this stage and if I did it would be only to set up my desired series of adjacent patches. Your Shadows patches are superbly accurate and don't need any changes. Once I've relived the Hank sound for a while I'll give the other patches for units such as the echorec 2 a whirl with some Floyd tunes and then I'll see how the unit does with other effects in front of it. I'll let you know when I get to that point but for now I'm enjoying the authenticity of the Shadows tunes where it all started for me.
The verdict so far? Well built and solid. For Shadows sounds there's just nothing else that I've heard that comes close. Well done and thanks
Kevin
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Post by philbarker on May 6, 2015 15:53:41 GMT
Mine arrived about an hour ago and first impressions are exactly the same as Kevin above plus I can't believe there is no added reverb. It's fantastic! PhilB
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 6, 2015 16:51:16 GMT
Hi Carl, Glad to hear you are pleased with the unit. You should leave the controls at 3 o' clock and use the volume control or master voluime control on your amp to set the volume level to suit the amount of overdrive you want from your amp.
Hi Mike, I think the same as Steve, while I should keep an open mind, I think Hank may be more interested in gypsy jazz these days.
Hi Trevor, Thanks, and I am glad to know you are pleased with the unit.
Hi Kevin, Thanks, and I am glad to know you are pleased with the unit. Also, I will be very interested to know what you think of the Echorec 2 sounds when you have tried them.
Hi PhilB, Thanks, I am glad to know you are pleased with the unit. Believe it or not, we did not deliberately seek to get any reverb kind of sound from the unit. All we did was to model the original echo units as accurately as we could.
Regards, Charlie
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Post by carlos65 on May 6, 2015 17:03:09 GMT
Hi Charlie and John
As promised another review of the unit, when I got home from work last night about 22:30 I watched a bit of tele with the mrs (got to make a effort)and then I locked myself in my conservatory and played and experimented with the HCSE I am literally blown away couldn't drag myself away was up until 04:00hrs. The sounds are really authentic I can not tell the difference from a genuine Meazzi tape echo which is something I did not think was possible I have heard the TVS 3 and this unit is just as good if not better. Thanks to you Charlie and John you have created something really special.
Regards
Carlos
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 6, 2015 17:18:19 GMT
Hi Carlos, Thank you for your enthusiastic review. It is good to know the sounds we have tried to reproduce are heard the same way by the new owners. Regards, Charlie
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Post by mikeab on May 6, 2015 17:34:09 GMT
Terrific piece of kit as others have said. Only fault is it hurts to change patches in just your socks!
I'm going to keep my old RFX 2000 in a send/return loop and have the HCSE 'straight in' - which means I will be bypassing the 2000 most of the time. Can anyone please advise if the Zoom FS01 pedal does that simple on/off job ok, as that would save having to find the bypass button.
Again - well done the designers - well worth the wait and the price (although it also confirms how great the RFX 2000 with EFTP deal was) - and the HCSE has totally revived a somewhat fading interest which is what I had hoped for.
Now - what can you do about arthritis gentlemen!!??
Mike
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stevec
Member
my new email address is stephenchristian371@gmail.com
Posts: 36
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Post by stevec on May 6, 2015 17:38:38 GMT
hi Charlie just a quick question I get my hcse in the morning ihave 2 amps a vox ac30 cc2x or a jmi ac30/4 which amp do think would best thanks stevec
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Post by localhero on May 6, 2015 17:49:53 GMT
Regarding the price of the Hall & Collins Signature Echo, in 1960 a Meazzi would have set you back just over £100. The price of the Hall and Collins is £599 today but in 1960 that equates to £28.80, which was cheaper than a Watkins Copicat costing 38gns. Food for thought ? Incidentally the £100 for the Meazzi would have been £2079.72. today - makes you think.
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Post by bernie on May 6, 2015 17:57:20 GMT
Hello Charlie and John,
I just want to let you know that my unit arrived on monday in excellent condition. It was well packed and looked so beautiful. Yesterday I had the first real opportunity to try out the Hall & Collins Signature Echo. It sounds great together with my Vox AC15C1 and my Vox Mini 3. A subtle important difference to other units is the beautiful smooth distortion that the preamp brings - without valves! I love it! The echo patches on the HCSE are simply wonderful. Just like a kid I look forward to the years of playing with it!
Thank you very much for your wonderful work to create such an awsome unit.
Kind regards, Bernie
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Post by Cruachan on May 6, 2015 19:25:31 GMT
To be honest on that point i cant see it happening , Hank seems to be full on gypsey jazz now and i cant see a return to the strat in the near future. Shame but i guess he has done everything there is to do Strat related now. I think the same as Steve, while I should keep an open mind, I think Hank may be more interested in gypsy jazz these days Hi Steve, Charlie You may both be right and, quite clearly, the 'Hall & Collins Signature Echo' unit's ongoing success will not be dependent exclusively on a favourable review from Hank. Since the release of this remarkable creation the feedback on 'Charlie Hall & Friends' is demonstrating unswervingly high praise for the unit itself, the unit's developers and the quality of delivery from the manufacturers. This is indeed a seminal moment in the history of 'The Shadows' and deserves to be acknowledged as such. Accepting this to be true, I feel it is only fitting that Hank now becomes involved, for this may be the final chapter in the history of the emulation of 'those sounds' we all have come to know and love. I predict that the popularity of music played by The Shadows will enjoy a resurgence in the years to come and new generations of guitar players will, with confidence, be able to experience those joyous historic sounds knowing they are being produced with the utmost fidelity and that this will likely continue for as long as the 'Hall & Collins Signature Echo' unit remains in production and, possibly, far beyond. I do hope that Hank will become involved, if only to close the circle which, very tantalisingly, has remained open for far too long. Best regards, Mike
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Post by istvan on May 6, 2015 19:33:18 GMT
Hi John,and Charlie! Late, but finally in my hands is the Echo.I played on my new Fender Pro Junior Grey Tweed FSR,with Jensen speaker some tunes,and I must say the Sound is fantastic!Zanbesi,The Lonley Bull and the others are very authentic!Of course I will play on Roxlut too,and on the others too! Thank You for your work! Regards istvan
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Post by notrabian on May 6, 2015 20:14:48 GMT
My pedal arrived safe and sound this afternoon, what a fantastic, solid well built piece of kit. On top of that it sounds great too.
Many thanks to Charlie and John for the design, but also thanks to Derek and the team at Electromech, the customer service I received from everyone involved has been exceptional.
I'm very pleased that I am not at work this week, since this afternoon I've been slightly distracted.....
Ian
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 6, 2015 20:58:35 GMT
Hi Mike, Thank you too for your report. I am glad to know you are pleased with it! I have checked the RFX-2000 manual and it is not very informative. As far as I can see the FS-01 should work with the BYPASS socket. You've given me an idea about marketing socks with leather patches, like they put on the elbows of jackets (do people still do that?). Sorry about the arthritis. I haven't had too much trouble with it yet but I think it is coming. Hi stevec, I think the AC30/4 for the older Shadows tunes up to around 1963. The cc2 might be better for later sounds like Shindig onwards. Let us know how it sounds with both please! Hi Bernie, Glad to hear that your experience is much the same as most others. The valve sound definitely makes a big difference and yet at the same time it is quite subtle. Hi Mike, Only Hank can decide if he wants to be involved in some way. Who knows what could happen? Hi Istvan, I am pleased you have your unit after the hold up in Germany. I am looking forward to seeing some new videos later! Hi Ian, Great to hear your experience is also positive! Regards, Charlie
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Post by brawn on May 7, 2015 8:12:59 GMT
Hi Charlie I have a 1962 Vox AC30 fitted with Roger Alcocks EF86 preamp using the H and C through it. The early shadows sounds are more suited using that preamp, and the later shadows sounds sound better through Vox AC30/ 6. Richard.
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 7, 2015 9:32:07 GMT
Hi Richard, Thanks. Is the AC30/6 side on your amp top boost or normal? Regards, Charlie
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Post by brawn on May 7, 2015 10:57:20 GMT
Hi Charlie, Top boost AC30. Regards Richard.
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Post by localhero on May 7, 2015 11:05:32 GMT
I had an AC30 /6 and it was non Top Boost, I always used the brilliant channel and years later when I met Hank, he told me he used the Normal channel. I shall be trying the Hall & Collins with the EF86 based AC30/4 which I'm looking forward to, as that was the definitive amp that gave us many of those recordings, though Charlie suspects that Apache may have been a different amp and I agree as it is a one off sound. Possibly a Selmer 1 x 12 or 1959 Fender Tremolux, as they were on the scene at Abbey Road at that time. All interesting stuff and good fun trying to get the sound.
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 7, 2015 11:12:46 GMT
Hi Richard, Thanks. That should give the widest range of Hank sounds from the one amp. Regards, Charlie
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TonyL
Member
Vintage stuff
Posts: 190
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Post by TonyL on May 7, 2015 11:59:59 GMT
Hi Charlie Two things 1. I'm not unfortunatelly in the position to buy one of your units at the moment but if I scrape the cash together in say a years time will they still be available? 2. Regarding Hank's involvement, why not just send him a unit and say "what do you think cobber"?
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 7, 2015 12:23:06 GMT
Hi Tony, I don't see why there won't be a unit to purchase in say a year's time so it should be fine. We are planning to get the unit reviewed in at least one of the guitar mags at some point fairly soon, which I hope will give it more widespread appeal. Regards, Charlie
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Post by Scotocaster on May 8, 2015 2:21:17 GMT
Hi Charlie, my unit arrived today, and WOW! right of the box it sounds fantastic, I have a bit more time tomorrow to get into trying all the patches but as is.... it's the best echo unit i've ever owned. Tnx to you John I can play till my hearts content with all The Shadow tunes. Have a great day. Scott
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Post by tonyparnham on May 8, 2015 8:00:30 GMT
Hi Charlie and John, Received my HCSE a couple of days ago so have spent some time enjoying it's potential. I have like many others had a number of EFTP units over the years and thousands of happy hours with them all. Congratulations to you for such an amazing feat of creative ingenuity at a very reasonable price. I wish you every success in the open market, it's a smashing piece of kit. Regards Tony
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 8, 2015 8:32:19 GMT
Hi Scott, Thanks for your enthusiastic report. I am pleased you like it and hope you will enjoy using it for many years.
Hi Tony, Glad to hear from you with your report, and of course glad to know you are pleased with it. We tried to use the lowest cost options that could still work well. Things like the solid state valve/tube emulation which saves high voltage and expensive power supplies as well as physical space, and driving the digital echoes with analogue signals, again from solid state design, that act a lot like overload distortion as heard with over cooked tape delays.
Regards, Charlie
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Post by rogerbayliss on May 8, 2015 19:10:22 GMT
Our club The Hankies gave it a thumbs up this week when used in a live setting at the club. Some great sounds usually with added EQ pedals. Many positive remarks on the sounds we got over the range of Shadows tunes.
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 8, 2015 19:26:42 GMT
Hi Roger, Thanks for what I think is the first report about the Hall & Collins unit being used at a club event. Did everyone play through the same unit and if so was it your unit? Regards, Charlie
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