Echoplex
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Echoplex is a tape delay effect, first made in 1959. Designed by Mike Battle,[1] the Echoplex set a standard for the effect in the 1960s and was used by most of the notable guitar players of the era; original Echoplexes are highly sought after.
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[edit] First Echoplex
The predecessor of the Echoplex was a tape echo designed by Ray Butts in the 1950s, who built it into guitar amplifiers, including those of Chet Atkins and Carl Perkins. Tape echos work by recording sound on a magnetic tape which is then played back; the tape speed determines the delay, while a feedback variable (where the delayed sound is delayed again) allows for a repetitive effect.[2]
In the 1950s, Maestro was a leader in vacuum tube technology. It had close ties with Gibson, and often manufactured amplifiers for Gibson. The first Echoplex, which utilized vacuum tubes and followed Butts' design, was made by a company called Market Electronics in Cleveland, Ohio; the first "real" Maestro Echoplex came about when Maestro started marketing, under its own name, tape echos built by Harris-Teller, a Chicago company. This tube-powered tape echo, the EP-1,[1] set the standard for the delay effect, with its "warm, round, thick echo."[3] The effect is "still a classic today, and highly desirable for a range of playing styles...warm, rich, and full-bodied."[4] The delay could be turned off and the unit used as a filter, thanks to the sound of the vacuum tubes; this is how Andy Summers uses it, for instance.[5] A later model was called the EP-2.[1]
While Echoplexes were used heavily by guitar players (and the occasional bass player, such as Chuck Rainey, or trumpeter, such as Don Ellis), many recording studios also used the Echoplex.[6]
[edit] Solid-state Echoplex
Beginning in the 1970s, Market built the solid-state Echoplex for Maestro.[3] Named the EP-3, it was disliked by its inventor, Mike Battle, who sold his interest in the company.[1]
[edit] Notable users
- Chet Atkins[1]
- Wes Borland[7]
- Don Ellis[8]
- Eric Johnson[9][10]
- John Martyn[11]
- Brian May[5]
- Gary Moore[12]
- Jimmy Page[1][5]
- Chuck Rainey[13]
- Andy Summers[5]
- Eddie Van Halen[14][15]
- Mike Ratledge<
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Cleveland, Barry (August 2008). "Passing Notes: Mike Battle". Guitar Player 42 (8): 60.
- ^ Milano, Dominic (1988). Multi-Track Recording. Hal Leonard. p. 37. ISBN 9780881885521. http://books.google.com/books?id=flNjvqwwCAgC&pg=PA37.
- ^ a b Hunter, Dave (2004). Guitar effects pedals: the practical handbook. Hal Leonard. pp. 77-78. ISBN 9780879308063. http://books.google.com/books?id=myP-4CZWyxcC&pg=PT78.
- ^ Hunter, Dave (2005). Guitar rigs: classic guitar & amp combinations. Hal Leonard. p. 55. ISBN 9780879308513. http://books.google.com/books?id=p1-kULtG9tgC&pg=PT55.
- ^ a b c d Campion, Chris (2009). Walking on the Moon: The Untold Story of the Police and the Rise of New Wave Rock. John Wiley and Sons. p. 62. ISBN 9780470282403. http://books.google.com/books?id=ODs8IEzC4Z0C&pg=PA62.
- ^ Hurtig, Brent (1988). Multi-track recording for musicians. Alfred. p. 51. ISBN 9780882843551. http://books.google.com/books?id=ByJG1iwUHBAC&pg=PA51.
- ^ Newquist, H.P.; Rich Maloof (2004). The new metal masters. Hal Leonard. p. 70. ISBN 9780879308049. http://books.google.com/books?id=3Yw_qDQxNLAC&pg=PA70.
- ^ Yurochko, Bob (2001). A Short History of Jazz. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 175. ISBN 9780830415953. http://books.google.com/books?id=C5xPc2jwkNEC&pg=RA1-PA175.
- ^ Prown, Pete; Lisa Sharken (2003). Gear Secrets of the Guitar Legends: How to Sound Like Your Favorite Players. Hal Leonard. pp. 20. ISBN 9780879307516. http://books.google.com/books?id=vqQjuzPrqIwC&pg=PA20.
- ^ Fischer, Peter (2006). Masters of Rock Guitar 2: The New Generation, Volume 2. Mel Bay. pp. 67. ISBN 9783899220797. http://books.google.com/books?id=ctDTmoh3vDAC&pg=PA67.
- ^ "John Martyn Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=JOHN. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
- ^ Prown, Pete; Lisa Sharken (2003). Gear Secrets of the Guitar Legends: How to Sound Like Your Favorite Players. Hal Leonard. pp. 10. ISBN 9780879307516. http://books.google.com/books?id=vqQjuzPrqIwC&pg=PA10.
- ^ Friedland, Ed (2005). The R&B Bass Masters: The Way They Play. Hal Leonard. p. 17, 19. ISBN 9780879308698. http://books.google.com/books?id=QqNdKMf6q8UC&pg=PA19.
- ^ Newquist, H.P.; Rich Maloof (2004). The hard rock masters. Hal Leonard. pp. 31, 34. ISBN 9780879308131. http://books.google.com/books?id=nOKYUcPvysMC&pg=PA31.
- ^ Gill, Chris (March 2007). "Some Kind of Monster". Guitar World 28 (3): 56-62, 104. ISSN 1045-6295. http://books.google.com/books?id=gvsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
