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Post by asimmd on Jun 23, 2010 8:10:00 GMT
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
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Post by didier on Jun 23, 2010 8:22:46 GMT
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
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Post by asimmd on Jun 23, 2010 8:33:43 GMT
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
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Post by stratomaster on Jun 23, 2010 9:00:04 GMT
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
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Post by asimmd on Jun 23, 2010 9:28:03 GMT
Wow,I bet Amanda would have loved that lot to play with.
Knowing what to buy is always the problem.
Alan
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Post by Charlie Hall on Jun 23, 2010 12:23:01 GMT
Every tape or drum echo unit has its own sound and that includes all the different Meazzi models. Regards, Charlie
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Post by didier on Jun 23, 2010 17:59:11 GMT
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
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Post by asimmd on Jun 23, 2010 18:05:23 GMT
Thanks didier, It's a pity the parts are not readily available,we could keep Amanda busy forever.lol
Alan
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Post by didier on Jun 23, 2010 21:04:57 GMT
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
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Post by asimmd on Jun 24, 2010 14:34:35 GMT
Wish I knew how to do it.
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Post by erikMAMS on Jun 24, 2010 17:49:36 GMT
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
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Post by asimmd on Jun 24, 2010 20:53:17 GMT
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
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Post by stratomaster on Jun 24, 2010 21:06:49 GMT
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
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Post by didier on Jun 25, 2010 7:57:30 GMT
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
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Post by fenderplucker on Jun 26, 2010 1:34:48 GMT
Hi Alan,
Hank used a TVS3 for the last Cliff and The Shadows Reunited CD and the recent tour.
Paul.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2010 8:18:51 GMT
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..
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